A Delightful Outdoor Living Space

Book cover to Shady Retreats. (SHNS photo courtesy Storey Books)

Shady Retreats. By Barbara W. Ellis. Storey Books. 182 pages, $19.95

• Barbara Ellis states in the introduction to her book that "a shady retreat doesn't have to be grand or expensive to be successful... even the smallest space can provide a welcome respite from this all-too-busy world."

• She also assures her gentle readers that a shady retreat can be created even in lawns where there is no shade.

• And yet. Every single one of Ellis' 20 sample designs for shady retreats depends on a) a huge lawn; b) many mature trees and c)a hefty budget. Every design involves significant construction, even though the introduction says some designs can be completed over a weekend.

• Perhaps the most useful section of the book for people on a budget would be the index of plants that grow well in the shade — provided your lawn already has shade.

  (Review by Jennifer Sergent)