This home and garden book is a visual delight and a true source of inspiration for anyone interested in gravel landscaping. Page after page showcases stunning photography that highlights how versatile, inviting, and beautiful gravel gardens can be. The images alone are enough to spark ideas, but the book goes a step further by showing how gravel can be thoughtfully paired with pollinating plants, succulents, and flowering varieties to create spaces that feel both serene and alive. From soft, natural pathways to bold plant groupings buzzing with pollinators, each spread offers practical inspiration without feeling overwhelming.

This is a really beautiful and helpful book. It is brimming with good information, gorgeous photos, and inspiration from all kinds of gravel gardens around the world, both public and private. The author does a great job of showing how environmentally friendly gravel gardens are and how much easier they are to maintain. The deep layers keep the roots cooler, make them need far less watering, and keep out weed seeds. They are tidy looking while incorporating native plants that help nature, and the gardens featured are so beautiful. There’s a wide variety, from old English estates to abandoned lots that have been adopted and planted to gorgeous gardens in neighborhoods with HOAs. Each garden features a biography and story, lots of photos, advice about its style, and profiles of plants used.

Highly recommended.

I read a temporary digital loan of this book via netgalley.

Pretty interesting and a good introduction to the concept of gravel gardens. Good "how-to" guides and pictures. Although it was a bit text-heavy, it was a good idea to include the different personal anecdotes to visualize different ways of implementing the gravel garden concept.
Only critique is that it was very clearly targeting an American audience and thus isn't really applicable to an international audience which I found a shame.

I absolutely loved this. It made me want to run outside and tear up my yard to create a garden. I love how there was inspiration, information, and instruction. This book is absolutely helpful of you are interested in improving your outdoor space. The photos are breathtaking. Well done.

I would give The Gravel Garden a solid 4 out of 5 stars. It is an absolutely inspirational and practical guide for anyone interested in sustainable, low-maintenance gardening, especially in the face of our changing climate. The book successfully makes a compelling case for this planting style, showcasing that these gardens are far from being stark or boring; they are lush, beautiful, and ecologically sound alternatives to traditional lawns.

Pros & Cons
Inspirational Photography: The book is filled with visually stunning photographs by Bob Stefko of 20 different gardens in the US and Europe, including Epping's own home garden. These images are a "game changer" for those skeptical about the aesthetic value of a gravel garden, offering a diverse collection of innovative landscapes.
Practical & Detailed Guidance: Epping provides excellent, detailed instructions on how to plan and create a gravel garden yourself, covering everything from soil preparation (excavating existing topsoil is key to minimizing weeds) to plant selection. This information is valuable for both new and experienced gardeners looking for an effective, drought-defying technique.
Ecological Focus: A major strength is the emphasis on using drought-tolerant, deep-rooted perennials and native grasses that support pollinators and local fauna. The book highlights how these gardens require little to no supplemental water once established and minimal inputs like fertilizer or organic mulches, which is great for the planet.
Minor Critique on Depth for Experts: While the book offers a dynamic breadth of information, some very experienced horticulturists might find themselves wanting even deeper dives into the nuances of plant pairings or the long-term management of specific, self-sowing varieties. It covers a lot of ground well, but perhaps a little less broadly and more deeply in a future edition would push it to a perfect five stars.
Overall, The Gravel Garden is a must-read for anyone looking for a beautiful, resilient, and less work-intensive way to garden. The insights and visual evidence are enough to convince most gardeners to give this method a serious try.

While this isn’t something I can do in my life right now (I wish!) this was so fascinating to read through!

If you’re experienced this may not be for you, but if you’re just getting started or even just curious about having a gravel garden, this is a great book to pick up!

The layout is well done and the photography is so beautiful, it really makes you want to get out there in the garden!

Everything is easy to understand and it has so much helpful information about getting started, public gardens, plant suggestions, and even compromising with HOAs.

This is a great book that I would love to someday be able to use for my own gravel garden!

This is a gorgeous book! Filled with full page photos and interspersed with projects and information, this is a great reference for anyone looking for help with gravel gardens. From how to establish a new garden to how to refresh an existing gravel garden, it’s all there. The book provides lots of planting options and so many great ideas for different types of locations.
5 stars!