"Thu Dien Vien - Toan Tap" is the combination of author Liem Khanh Tran's previous books "Thu Dien Vien" and "Nguon Song Thien Nhien." The new 524-page "Thu Dien Vien - Toan Tap" was updated and meticulously arranged to help readers establish a garden of their own. The book is comprised of the following sections: Section 1: How To Grow Organic Vegetables. This section includes instructions on how to prepare for planting, from the time of preparing the soil to the time of harvest. This includes making your own organic fertilizer by recycling grass clips and leaves in your garden and collecting unused organic material and/or sea weed and the like. Section 2: How To Grow Fruit Trees. This section specifically discusses tropical fruit trees that are most popular in an oriental garden, types of citrus family plants and trees, and which plants are more adaptable to the local condition. It also discusses how to care for them, how to water, when to feed, when is the appropriate time to prune, and what techniques to use to promote the optimal yield of the fruit trees. Also discussed is which flowers would enhance the taste of your everyday meal. Section 3: Herbs. This section is comprised of twenty articles on garden herbs, including those readily available in health stores. Among them are ginkgo biloba, passion fruit, chia seed, flex seed, quinoa, four o'clock flower, dang quy, dandelion, ginger, turmeric, and more. Section 4: How To Design Your Own Garden. This section provides instructions on how to design your front lawn and backyard according to the oriental viewpoint. It discusses feng-shui and which plants or trees would provide flexibility in design. Here the reader will find answers to questions such as: "How do I talk to a house builder to select trees and plants of my choice?," "How do I design a garden on two, five, ten acres of land?" or "How do I build my fish pond and select plants and fish?." Section 5: The Art of Nature Enjoyment. The author incorporates all traditional customs and rituals learned from his father and his father's generation in an article on how to master the art of the tea ceremony. This section also presents ancient customs regarding the Lunar New Year (Tet) that the ancestors maintained throughout the years, including details from preparation for Tet to the celebration of Tet, concerns that the head of household may have during the Tet, and details of "Chuc Tet," "Mung Tuoi," "li-xi," and more. Section 6: Fundamental of Bonsai. This section introduces readers to the basics of bonsai, including equipment needed for successful maintenance of bonsai. Plant characteristics, how to care for them, when to fertilize, and when and how to change containers are discussed for the following trees: pine, maple, Chinese elm, bougainvillea, ficus, boxwood, olive, kumquat, Ming aralia, pomegranate, dessert rose, yew, orange jasmine, bamboo, Fukien tea, aglaia, sago palm, silverberry, dwarf barbados cherry, serissa.
