Garish Gardens-Outlandish Lawns
 Ronald C. Modra & M. B. Roberts
 (Reviewed by The Editor - Rebecca Brown)
 1998 Willow Creek Press, Minocqua, WI USA
  ISBN: 1572231408
Amazon's Value Price is: $15.95

Pink flamingos, elves & gnomes, ceramic geese & plastic ducks, oh my! Americans, from coast to coast, have a penchant for decorating their yards with gizmos & gadgets that please & tease.

This little book jumped off the shelving cart at me, did a somersault & landed wide open at a pair of gardeners - one of a Harley biker in black leather, holding his infant in one arm & a watering wand in the other; the other photo is of a curling rollers Medusa with lethal looking snippers in hand. Everyone at the library who saw Garish Gardens - Outlandish Lawns in my hand, gave a good laugh, commenting how they too had enjoyed the read.

Here is a journey Ronald Modra & Mary Beth Roberts made across this outlandish land, from state to state, garden to garden. Mary Beth does the writing & Ronald takes the photos. Later they tied the knot.

This is a charming little book, impish, ironic, crass & funny. What kind of people place metal cut-out characters at various points on their lawns so they appear to be having a conversation? Who lives in a house by a lake where the front & back yards are carpeted with animal statues, old mailboxes & year-round Christmas decorations? Who is the Pink Flamingo King?

A man takes an old brass headboard & drives it in the ground. Then he plants flowers in a rectangle configuration in front of the headboard. Voila, "A Flower Bed." Who would do such a thing? Quite a few people, as it turns out.

There are chapters like: What's Good For The Goose, The Gentle Mania & Mailbox Martyr. Lots of well-taken, bright & funny photos.

A delightful gift & a neat addition to your shelf, just wholesome gentle fun with mischievous gardeners. Lovely stuff!
(06/12/99)

Rebecca