The Coastal Garden is essential reading for gardeners and garden designers interested in native plants and wanting to reconnect with their location, using both plant and site knowledge to stimulate design and planting ideas. Landform, location, geology and life-forms are inextricably woven together into distinctive landscapes around New Zealand's shores. Chapter by chapter, The Coastal Garden investigates these differing environments and draws on ecological knowledge to inspire designers. Not just information about individual species, but ideas about communities of plants and the conditions they are responding to. Approaches to small gardens, large gardens and restoration projects along the coast vary, so there are tips for dealing with irrigation, nutrients and pests to suit plus a quick-reference plant identification section. There is a section devoted to colour palettes and textures of the native coast, and tips for hard landscaping and utility planting. The Coastal Garden is essential reading, not just for the enthusiastic gardener and professional landscape designer but also for all of those interested in the protection of our threatened coast.

Author Biography: ISOBEL GABITES is an ecological consultant who works with developers and councils on achieving ecological best practice and interpretation display design in parks and public spaces. Isobel is passionate about writing books that combine her broad ecological knowledge with gardening advice in order to contribute to the groundswell of awareness of New Zealand's plight, especially when the target is our precious coastline. She has authored several natural history and gardening books, including The Native Garden: Design themes from wild New Zealand, a finalist in the Montana Book Awards in 1999.