Miniature Moss Gardens - by Oshima & Hideshi Kimura (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Miniature Moss Gardens presents expert advice and techniques from Japan, the birthplace of miniature gardening.

In Japan, moss is revered for its sublime colors and textures, inspiring gardeners and non-gardeners alike. Moss can be found everywhere--in your garden, in crevices between stones, and in cracks in the city concrete. In the tiny world of terrariums, container gardens, dish gardens and kokedama (moss ball gardens), moss is a magic carpet that turns a diminutive plot of soil into a self-contained living world.

You'll learn about:

• Finding and collecting moss
• Choosing soils and containers
• Designing your garden for visual effect
• Choosing the best plants for your mini garden
• Making a perfect kokedama moss ball garden
• Enhancing your moss garden with rocks and other design elements
• Designing a gorgeous terrarium
• And much more!

Miniature Moss Gardens offers expert advice and techniques from the birthplace of miniature gardening. One of the only books in print to focus on moss and miniature gardens, it is friendly enough for total beginners and full of ideas and tips for experienced gardeners.

Review Quotes

"...once one starts reading it, one realizes the wealth of information and advice to which one now has access." --The Journal of the Japanese Garden Society

"All the information you could want about moss is included in this book: parts of moss, types of moss, when to gather moss and tools for collecting moss and for creating your own miniature moss garden...Even if you've never considered starting a moss garden, this book will make you into a moss fan. This beautiful, informative, and fun book is well worth reading." --San Francisco Book Review

"I full heartedly recommend this book. Having found a good bonsai store online and with the clear and beautiful illustrations at my side, I feel that even I could make a simple miniature moss garden." --Gardening Products Review

"I'd highly recommend this book for gardeners or nongardeners looking to green up their homes, office spaces, or small gardens." --Washington Gardener magazine

"If you need more calm, green, space in your home, then you should take a look at Miniature Moss Gardens: Create Your Own Japanese Container Gardens. This beautifully illustrated book contains tons of photographs and illustrations to help you learn all about different kinds of moss and the small container gardens they can be used in." --Seattle Book Review

"Readers will ooh and ah while riffling through the pages of Oshima and Kimura's illustrated guide to miniature Japanese moss gardens." --Publishers Weekly

"This is a charming book that encourages everyone with a busy life to let eternal green moss soothe the soul. More than just touchy-feely, the 128-page hardback book is an informative, descriptive guide to the art and science of growing the soft, clumping plant." --The Oregonian

"You can create your own miniature masterpiece with help from Megumi Oshima and Hideshi Kimura." --Garden Design Magazine

About the Author

Megumi Oshima was born in Saitama Prefecture. Raised among abundant nature in the countryside near the Tonegawa River, Oshima became familiar with plants. While working for a production company, she started to grow bonsai and kokedama on the balcony of her Tokyo apartment. Oshima left her production company job and began working in garden management for flower markets and hotels. In 2006 she opened garden store Midoriya Nicogusa in Kichijoji, Tokyo, and began running workshops on bonsai and kokedama. Oshima is a plant consultant and interior coordinator.

Hideshi Kimura is a member of Japan Horticulture Society Tray Landscape Artist. After obtaining his bonsai master license, he began making moss tray landscapes more than 20 years ago and to date has made more than 2000 works. Not limited to bonsai pots, he has received acclaim for his original designs, which incorporate driftwood, bamboo and so on as receptacles. Kimura runs moss tray classes and is an instructor at Minamisunamachi Culture Center in Tokyo's Koto ward.