The English Garden (1-year auto-renewal)

This bimonthly magazine is a wish book for those of us who don't have two full-time gardeners on staff, or a few acres of woods to devote to bluebells, or the ruins of an ancient abbey to train roses against. My Regency ancestors were breaking their backs on hardscrabble New England farms, rather than building follies or planting mazes, or having their grounds landscaped by Capability Brown.

Oh, but what if....

I've subscribed to "The English Garden" for many years now, and I don't think I've ever gotten anything useful out of it, but the gardens photographed within its glossy pages are to dream for: acres of blooming rhododendrons; statuesque old sequoias that were planted when Victoria was queen; lavender hedges; outdoor rooms that have been replanted to a 17th century plan; a sundial pool; and of course, a bluebell wood.

There are plenty of suggestions for the serious gardener. For example, the current issue (July 2005) features the following:

* For year round colour, buy a couple of peacocks. Their screams will also scare away the burglars

* One gentleman favors beer for slugs, "Although I don't dare use it here the gardeners would drink it!"

* Hazel twigs bent over beds and urns will deter the peacocks

* Add a touch of history to your garden with an Italian carved white marble seat. It can be picked up at Sotheby's Garden Statuary sale for a mere 25,000 40,000 pounds. (I absolutely lust for this bench, but alas my pension must be spent elsewhere)

* "Use perfumed plants in the conservatory because the warmth generated by the glass pumps fragrance through the house"

* Plant marigolds in your walled kitchen garden to keep "eelworm and whitefly at bay"

* Flank the path to the summerhouse with rhododendrons and white narcissi

* To break up a long path, use arches "lightly clothed with jasmine or clematis"

If some of the above tips are a bit too steep for your pocketbook, you can do like me and drool over the marvelous photographs of someone else's jasmine arch and Italian carved marble.

When I moved from my house with a small, elaborate and alas poorly-maintained garden in London to a house in the midwestern United States with a plot of land that would command millions were it in the centre of London, I had visions of majestic hedgerows and beds of flowers and vines and garden paths. Indeed, I have such (at a friend's house!). I have a few plots that are irregularly tended, but, over the course of the past decade, they have grown bit by bit each summer into more interesting plots. Part of what has given me inspiration is the idea of the ideal English Garden, perhaps the quintessential gardening goal.

To this end, 'The English Garden' has fueled my thoughts and my ambitions, plant-wise. I am particularly pleased with the latest issue, for they are beginning a series entitled How to create an English Garden, something that, while I have striven for aspects to match, has alluded me these past many years.

Articles in each issue are classified under the following categories: Glorious Gardens, a section that seeks out particular, interesting gardens around England, small and large, that conform to the English Garden ideal, as well as the occasional garden from abroad; Gardening Matters, in which the mechanics of gardening are explained, including design, planning, acquisition, seasonal transitions, and problems; Out and About, which looks for travel opportunities, gardening events worldwide, and product information; and Regulars, which includes letters, question and answer section (both very informative), book reviews, and a column entitled Kitchen Garden which talks about food-gardening as well as well as small, indoor garden plants. Regulars contributors include master gardeners David Manson, Rory Mower, Susan Chivers, and Helen Gunn.

The past few issues have included articles entitled In Town: An Artist's London Garden, which shows that the tradition of painting in one's garden didn't stop with Monet, and requires talent in both painting and gardening for most; Historical Perspectives: The Queen's Secret Walled Garden which has recently been opened to the public, and Opening Out: Restoration in the Wye Valley, a story on the resurrection of a garden in the west, near one of my favourite parts of Britain.

I always turn green with envy upon seeing the wonderful gardens, and it makes me wish I had a green thumb and much more time and energy to devote to cultivation of beauty. Alas, 'tis not to be in my life for the foreseeable future, but I do learn quite a bit by reading English Gardens, and it helps me maintain my sense of England.

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I've been a subscriber for a few years, and always eagerly devour the issue from cover to cover. It sends me back to England every other month, and for the hour or two that it takes me to read it, I couldn't be happier. Sometimes I find wonderful gardening information that applies to my small, urban CA garden, but the beautifully written articles and glorious color photographs would keep me enthralled anyway. Don't be put off by the review posted that said there was no way to reach anyone about a missing subscription. First, given that it is only published every other month, and the delay in getting things back and forth over the Atlantic, it isn't too surprising that there could be a few month delay in beginning a new subscription. But there IS a phone number (...) and email address (...) for their US distributor, The British Connection, which also handles their sister publication, The English Home. I started with the gardening magazine and added the home one about a year later, and I love it just as much. I feel like I've given myself a very special treat whenever one arrives in the mail box, and I've never had a problem with either subscription. Give it a try, they are very special, unique publications! What a lovely gift!

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The magazine is aptly titled and the pictures are beautiful. This will be one of those magazines that friends dropping by will pick up and browse through, gardeners will be inspired and probably, those blasted subscription cards will be put into use. It certainly is a quality production and the text that accompanies the stories is informative as well.

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photos are so good I look at these mags over and over and use them as coffee table books!!

The information contained in them has great value when considering what kinds of plants to choose.

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Hemmings Motor News

You can't go wrong with any of the Hemmings publications. I always purchased this magazine each month (when I could find it) So I figured I might as well try a subscription. The magazine NEVER disappoints, and it has been delivered in a timely fashion. What's not to like?? Oh yeah, and you save $$$ too!

Hemmings is not as big as it was 20 years ago but still offers a great selection of collector car information. A good resource for collector cars, parts and services nationwide. The online product is also good.

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I was expecting something more affordable to buy, I am not rich and most of the stuff in here was way out of my price range. Good reading if you like to fanticise about owning one of those automobiles. Sorry, I can't do this at all.

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If you like old cars, this is the magazine for you. Great articles about cars, and also has cars for sale throuout the magazine. Love it!

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Banjo Newsletter

As a newcomer to playing the banjo (< 5 years), I find the Banjo Newletter to be a wealth of information about the 5 string banjo and the various styles. They also review banjo teaching aids (books, CD's, DVD's etc.) as well as recent releases of CD's of interest to the banjo world. Each issue has a large range of articles for all interests, including interviews with musical celebrities, and lots of songs in tablature format. The paper newletter is supplemented with a very robust web site with MP3's that can be downloaded. This is very helpful to hear the timing of various licks. You can also order older newsletters with interviews or songs of interest.All in all, the money for the subscription is money very well spent. The banjo newsletter authors really love their work and it shows! Keep up the excellent newsletter!

I have subscribed to about 40 music magazines in the 43 years I have been playing various instruments. Too many of them have so much stuff that is not about music, that you have to struggle to find something useful. One doesn't care about how some top musician gets along with his wife, dresses himself, or signs contracts with big shots. We care about picking the banjo, setting up the banjo, and finding good music.

That is what BNL specializes in. It has tabulature and music for every kind of banjo player bluegrass to minstrel, beginner to expert. Its interviews focus on real banjo playing issues. I am happy to see articles in it by people whom I actually know and respect as banjoists, dealers, and historians of the music.

It is worth the money!

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This has to be the best on-going publication for five string banjo players in the world. If you have a question, it will probably be answered in Banjo Newsletter. Songs, tabs, licks, interviews, tips, tricks, you name it. If it has anything to do with the five string banjo it will be in Banjo Newsletter. Truly a labor of love presented by people who want to see this wonderful part of Americana remain alive and not flushed down the toilet. Highly recommended.

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If it is about banjo--Banjo Newsletter has it. Bluegrass, old time, classical, jazz, minstel, gourd--all styles are featured in this magazine. Interviews of artists, builders, historians. Information on festivals, camps, and classified ads. My copies are always on time and this last year--there are now color photos instead of just black and white. The monthly print newsletter is supported by an online page of MP3s of the tablatures in the newsletter.

BNL has an international following and I have made many friends from this contact.

BNL is both a joy and a bargain.

Vintage Banjo

Walkin' That Banjo Home

Banjo Dreamin' Suwannee Nights

A Secret Life Of Banjo

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I love this magazine! Interesting articles, great bits of tab for advanced and beginner alike. A terrific magazine for the dedicated banjo player.

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Countryside & Small Stock Journal

This magazine is not your usual one with glossy-pages, full of advertisements with long-lashed, heavily made up models. It is printed on recycled paper and if full of articles from readers and the publisher.

It is like a library full of information on self-reliant living. I keep all of my copies for reference, because I return to each one constantly.

You'll find everything from how to make your own yogurt [it was easy and delicious] to how to build your own log home.

Great reading, great publication.

We just recently discovered this magazine. We were at our local library and saw an old copy. We borrowed it from the library and we're glad we did. The magazine is filled with wonderful articles. We have subscribed to the magazine, and it will become another resource to help us as we simplify our life.

The magazine was established in 1917. It is still popular today and supports the voluntary simplicity movement by providing articles to sustain a simple life

The magazine features reader-written personal experiences and photos. Each magazine is packed with lots of good information from people who are actually living a simple life.

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This magazine is like no other. All the articles are written by subscribers. They cover any and all topics of small scale farming, simple living, homesteading, etc. There are classifieds where people can ask for help with projects or ask for people to send info on a specific topic. Each magazine is **FULL** of information. I LOVE this magazine. I recommend it for any and all who have even the slightest interest in simple living.

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If you live in the country and have a hobby-type farm, this magazine is bulging with valuable information. I was surprised to find no color pages at first, but the magazine is recycleable paper printed with soy ink...very cool. Out of all the country type magazines I've read, this one is the best.

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I recently renewed my subscription to Countryside after 11 years. I don't remember the editor being so far-left. Neither my husband or I can stomach his articles praising Obama (preparing for the repurcussions desined to follow this man's disasterous policies are why we are seeking to live more self-sufficiently). We overwhelmingly prefer BackHome Magazine for useful information and articles written by like-minded limited-government, self-sufficient enthusiasts.

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Stuff - England

I've always loved this magazine...purchased it while I was stateside...found it in a B&N in Dayton, Ohio and have been hooked ever since. That being said, when I discovered I could order it via AMZ...I thought I was back into being ahead of the game on new tech...but as of this writing I have still yet to receive my first issue since ordered the magazine via AMZ in September...it will have been two months in two days...I guess that is how long it takes to get a magazine that is published in the UK...but wow! I'm sure it will come...and I'll love it again...BOTTOM-LINE if you want to know what's hot and what's coming to the states...if it ever does...this is the magazine for you. MY 5 -stars is for the magazine content...not the ordering/servicing process...too bad both (ordering/servicing and product content) are usually tied to each other.

if you love gadgets and need to keep up to date on the latest and greatest in electronics, this is the magazine you need. Does have a fair amount of overlap from month to month.. could be issued every two to three months without missing much, but I still look forward to every issue

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Onze Mondial (French)

This is definitely one of the best soccer magazines anywhere on the planet and before you say "I don't speak French" you really don't need to to appreciate the scope of this magazine. It's handy to know a foreign language and if you know Spanish or Italian, you are more likely to understand their language, but even that aside, if you are a big soccer fan like I am, every month they have a full color poster of the top players of France and in the world. The posters are two sided and conveniently can be taken out of the magazine in good shape if you open up the staples some and then, press them back down to make it like before. I mean I got an excellent poster of Portugal and Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo and it is a class poster all the way even if say, he's not my favorite player, they make the walls look sharp. The posters alone often makes it worth buying. A bit similar as well, every month they have 2 pages with 4 players on each page of what can be best described as cards of soccer players and from all of the leagues in Europe, Italy, Germany, France, England and others. These kinds of things seemingly would appeal more to kids, but satisfy yourself if you are a fan of "Le Foot" the French word for footy, football, what we Americans call soccer.

It is also one of the most reasonably price magazines around though the price may vary in different outlets and for some in the USA it may be only readily available on amazon but it's a good buy full of color photos, stories, standings and statistics. So many of the French players are reknown and playing in leagues outside of France that one can relate to it still, for example, Thierry Henry played for Arsenal all of those years and now is at Barcelona. This magazine has had him in articles on his career with those teams and the National team of France, otherwise L'Equipe de France. Chances are you'll pick up some basics on the French language and now, France has broke through with major victories in world soccer with such players as Zidane in recent years. France has been one of the best teams over the past decade or so.

Another thing, is it is well written and well presented. It doesn't digress into silly articles that I see in so many magazines nowadays, it is straight forward and it seems balanced in reporting. Besides, it often gives updates on the European leagues. Onze Mondial is a magazine that is in fact, popular in Africa and even in non-French speaking countries in Africa people read it. It's also a plus to be reading on the French league which it covers in detail. I've read soccer magazines in a few different languages, Kicker is from Germany and it compares favorable to it as well as the top knotch English publications World Soccer and FourFourTwo. There is added suspense with reading Once Mondial at the moment with the country's own national team in a bit of a jam about making the South African World Cup in 2010, but no matter who goes, they will cover it as they did the last World Cup, though France lost on penalty kicks to Italy, the banner headline on the cover was "Italia Bella" and I thought, they certainly are good sports. I think Onze Mondial magazine with the posters and cards do something that American magazines rarely do anymore and give the reader something of real value. You don't see that much anymore. It has been a real find for me.

My son is a 3rd grade French immersion student and I was looking for a way to get him to read in French for fun. This was the perfect solution! We'll be renewing our subscription.

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Company

I couldn't find this magazine at bookstores any longer, so I subscribed via amazon. Nothing wrong with the subscription itself, but the magazine has undergone a drastic change. It's not a glossy mag anymore, very rough newsprint bound paper. Also the content is all strange ads and nothing but fashion. Company used to be a magazine for the modern woman, with articles, advice columns, etc, but it's now for a very young woman without substance. I was quite disappointed, and I usually LOVE all things British, and previously loved Company magazine.

I could no longer find this magazine at any of the newstands so I ordered it through Amazon. I am enjoying it so much!!

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Classics Illustrated Regular

Beginning in 1941, Albert Kanter's CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED series introduced millions of young readers to "Stories by the World's Greatest Authors." Now the comics-style literary adaptations are offered again in the original format by Jack Lake Productions for a new generation to discover. Old favorites such as THE THREE MUSKETEERS, THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS, MOBY DICK, A TALE OF TWO CITIES, and THE TIME MACHINE have returned to print with vintage 1950s artwork by George Evans, John Severin, Norman Nodel, Joe Orlando, and Lou Cameron -all as vibrant as ever. For collectors, a previously unavailable British edition of THE AENEID (pencils by Reed Crandall) has been added to the revived North American series as issue No. 170. Other reissued titles include GULLIVER'S TRAVELS, HUCKLEBERRY FINN, FRANKENSTEIN, SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON, TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, TREASURE ISLAND, THE CALL OF THE WILD, THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, ROMEO AND JULIET, and A JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH. First-timers and faithful fans alike should be pleased.

Quiet & Electric Flight International

Although a bit pricey, the Brit's seem to be much more objective in their reivews and the content is much more extensive than their American counterparts!

Bass Angler Magazine

Listen to Mike Iaconelli talk about the benefits of Bass Angler Magazine. When you're looking to catch more bass than just pick up a subscription to Bass Angler after just one issue you will become a better angler.

American Scientist

This bimonthly magazine contains science articles written by scientists for the scientifically literate reader (primarily other scientists). W Boudville's review is, in my view, incorrect on most points. His/her claim that the American Scientist is simply the American equivalent of Nature is totally wrong. Nature is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that contains (tersely written) professional articles at the cutting edge of modern research. The American Scientist contains articles that are written by scientists but for a much wider audience, it is certainly not meant to publish latest/greatest scientific results. It is not a peer reviewed journal, and the articles are not research papers and are meant to be accessible to a wider audience. Virtually all areas of the natural and physical sciences are covered in this publication including physics, astrophysics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, geology, paleontology, psychology, neuro-chemistry and many others. There are also occassionally contributions in the fields of enginerring and architecture as well. This may sound like a real hodge-podge, but the articles are generally well written and informative. There are typically 10 or so articles in each issue as well as 10-15 book reviews. I've been a subscriber for 10+ years. Some of the articles that have been most memorable include one on the complex chemistry of the iron in African rocks and how difficult it was for ancient Africans to smelt iron, a recent article on the complex geology of the Moon and what it tells us about it's formation and early evolution, and some surprising results about the Riemann Zeta function. The level (and amount of technical detail) of the articles is well above Scientific American or Sky and Telescope for example, and it is typically assumed that the reader has at least a batchelor's degree in science or engineering. If you are broadly interested in science and want to read a wide range of interesting, technical detailed articles, this is the magazine for you.

I was a Scientific American (SA) subscriber since the early seventies but for the last eight years I have switched to American Scientist.

The writing, content, and timeliness of American Scientist is what SA used to be. I have nothing against SA but for the money I get better value with American Scientist. To sustain market share SA has had to make some compromises which may be a good thing IF it reaches a wider audience. But if you are even marginally literate in matters of science my choice would be American Scientist.

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Giving this magazine such a lofty epithet may seem a bit presumptuous, but for a non scientifically trained outsider this magazine offers a fresh and challenging look at the fast paced world of science that doesn't shy away from humor and the use of terms and ideas that may require its readers to go online and define a term. And in some cases it may inspire the reader to pick up a book on science by such greats as Hawking and Greene in order to better grasp some of the concepts dealing with time, space and atoms. This magazine isn't dumbed down. It includes well placed and efficient illustrations to help explain some of the more abstract points. It is not designed in the way popular magazinea are, in so much as they only touch upon a topic in the simplest manner and then move on before the audience is lost. Yet this magazine keeps the attention of the reader by combining explanatory notes that help people with no background knowledge have some grasp of the topic and by using humor and well written articles to clearly make their points.

For a magazine with a serious and well researched list of topics having small cartoons the likes of the New Yorker shows how comfortable this magazine is with itself. From the moment I picked up this magazine for the first time I felt like every word I read mattered and was worth my time to read. (Not true of many other magazines) American Scientist may not have the audience of Discover or National Geographic, nor is it as accessible as said titles, but for those with a true interest in science willing to challenge themselves and commit to real learning this magazine may be a perfect fit. At $4.95 it is certainly worth it to pick a copy on the news stand and try it out.

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After years of growing disgust with Scientific American (I've been a subscriber to Sci Am since 1975), I vented my frustration with SciAm by writing a scathing review on Amazon tonight. After writing the review, I perused the numerous other reviews from frustrated former SciAm lovers. Several of them recommended AmSci. I spent an hour checking out the AmSci website and I was hooked. I gave them my credit card and I am now a proud subscriber! Long live AmSci, good riddance to SciAm.

Will update this review as often as needed. The only reason I gave it 4 out of 5 stars is because AmSci has only 6 issues a year not enough! Make it a monthly and I will raise my rating to 5 stars!

[Update Feb 27, 2011]

Now that my first print copy has arrived, I am glad to report that I am very, very pleased. Sci Am could learn a lot by looking at Am Sci. The magazine is dense! There is hardly any whitespace. Photos and illustrations are not full-page, but they add essential information. The articles are satisfying, thought-provoking and rigorous. Each one is written by a real, working scientist or full professor. I actually LEARNED things from this issue, instead of (as in the case of Sci Am), fuming about errors. And the book reviews! What a delight about 6 pages of reviews! Each review was thorough, detailed, and nearly a page long.

Instead of stupid politics, there was a great essay on ethics in science.

I still wish this was a monthly! I would gladly pay twice as much for 12 issues a year.

The contrast between AmSci and SciAm is extreme. My March issue of SciAm went largely unread; I have put it on the shelf without finishing it. When my current SciAm subscription lapses, I will not renew. Instead, I plan to donate what I would have spend on SciAm to AmSci!

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American Scientist is to Scientific American as polished gold is to golden polish. The former stands out for its quality, the latter for its shine.

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Murder Most Foul

Though "Murder Most Foul" also features true crime stories, it is a quarterly magazine [only published 4 times a year]. The stories do make for riveting reading, focusing on crimes committed in the UK and also US. There are photographs that accompany the articles. Recommended to fans of true crime though I prefer the monthly publications such as True Crime and Master Detective.

great true crime stories glad at least England still has mags like this very hard to find here in the states wish it was monthly but hey I'll take what I can get...

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