Whether it's a treehouse perched among the branches or a rustic gazebo by a pond, a small-scale playhouse or a whimsical dovecote, shelters in the garden conjure thoughts of childhood and long-ago summers.

A Shelter in the Garden inspires readers to re-create these bygone days by constructing their own outdoor features: arbors and pergolas, greenhouses and potting sheds, tiny cottages and canopied cabanas, birdhouses and birdfeeders.

With 175 photographs of shelters in beautiful garden and backyard settings, this book showcases a huge array of ideas for outdoor projects, some largely decorative, others more utilitarian.

Detailed instructions are given for making 50 of these projects, with illustrations explaining the techniques and materials used.

Bringing out the builder and the dreamer in all of us, A Shelter in the Garden can help anyone turn their garden or yard into an enchanting and personal space.