GARDEN BOOK READING LIST - RECOMMENDATIONS FROM UCEMGVA READERS
by Donna Thrasher, UCEMGVA Class of 2011
One of the many benefits to being a Union County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer is the opportunity for continued learning and one of our more social learning opportunities are our monthly potluck “learning luncheons”.
Its remarkable how many of us enjoy both gardening and reading, in fact, one of my favorite pastimes is what I call my “weed and read days”! At a recent luncheon, we shared and discussed some of our favorite garden books with each other and now want to share a list of ten titles with the community at large.
Books on native plants, including local authority and author Larry Mellichamp, retired director of the UNC Charlotte botanical gardens; books on landscaping; books on plant photography; books on “how to change the world”; books with personal choices and opinions…
Whether you are a life-long Southern or a recent transplant from wherever else, whether interested in a practical guide for gardening, or interested in a point of departure and inspiration for your own creativity, or interested in just looking to spend some quiet time with fellow gardeners - we believe there is something for everyone in these selections.
We hope these recommendations will add to your gardening life.
What are some of YOUR favorite garden books? If you have a moment, we would love to know!
Happy Reading, Happy Gardening!
by Donna Thrasher, UCEMGVA Class of 2011
One of the many benefits to being a Union County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer is the opportunity for continued learning and one of our more social learning opportunities are our monthly potluck “learning luncheons”.
Its remarkable how many of us enjoy both gardening and reading, in fact, one of my favorite pastimes is what I call my “weed and read days”! At a recent luncheon, we shared and discussed some of our favorite garden books with each other and now want to share a list of ten titles with the community at large.
Books on native plants, including local authority and author Larry Mellichamp, retired director of the UNC Charlotte botanical gardens; books on landscaping; books on plant photography; books on “how to change the world”; books with personal choices and opinions…
Whether you are a life-long Southern or a recent transplant from wherever else, whether interested in a practical guide for gardening, or interested in a point of departure and inspiration for your own creativity, or interested in just looking to spend some quiet time with fellow gardeners - we believe there is something for everyone in these selections.
We hope these recommendations will add to your gardening life.
What are some of YOUR favorite garden books? If you have a moment, we would love to know!
Happy Reading, Happy Gardening!
*All of the Book Descriptions are from the
Goodreads Book Review Site and are Listed Randomly.
Goodreads Book Review Site and are Listed Randomly.
Onward and Upward in the Garden
by Katharine S. White, E.B. White, editor
Katharine White began working at The New Yorker in 1925, the year of its founding, and was an editor there for thirty-four years, shaping the careers of such writers as John O'Hara, Vladimir Nabokov, and Jean Stafford. Throughout and beyond those years she was also a gardener. In 1958, when her job as editor was coming to a close, White wrote the first of a series of fourteen garden pieces that appeared in The New Yorker over the next twelve years. The poet Marianne Moore originally persuaded White that these pieces would make a fine book, but it wasn't until after her death in 1977 that her husband, E. B. White, assembled them into this now classic collection.
Whether White is discussing her favorite garden catalogs, her disdain for oversized flower hybrids, or the long rich history of gardening, she never fails to delight readers with her humor, lively criticism, and beautiful prose. But to think of Katharine White simply as a gardener, cautioned E. B. White in his introduction to the book, would be like insisting that Ben Franklin was simply a printer. Katharine White had vast and varied interests in addition to gardening and she brought them all to bear in the writing of these remarkable essays.
Onward and Upward in the Garden is an essential book of enduring appeal for writers and gardeners in every generation. Intensely personal and charged with emotion, the essays remain timeless.
by Katharine S. White, E.B. White, editor
Katharine White began working at The New Yorker in 1925, the year of its founding, and was an editor there for thirty-four years, shaping the careers of such writers as John O'Hara, Vladimir Nabokov, and Jean Stafford. Throughout and beyond those years she was also a gardener. In 1958, when her job as editor was coming to a close, White wrote the first of a series of fourteen garden pieces that appeared in The New Yorker over the next twelve years. The poet Marianne Moore originally persuaded White that these pieces would make a fine book, but it wasn't until after her death in 1977 that her husband, E. B. White, assembled them into this now classic collection.
Whether White is discussing her favorite garden catalogs, her disdain for oversized flower hybrids, or the long rich history of gardening, she never fails to delight readers with her humor, lively criticism, and beautiful prose. But to think of Katharine White simply as a gardener, cautioned E. B. White in his introduction to the book, would be like insisting that Ben Franklin was simply a printer. Katharine White had vast and varied interests in addition to gardening and she brought them all to bear in the writing of these remarkable essays.
Onward and Upward in the Garden is an essential book of enduring appeal for writers and gardeners in every generation. Intensely personal and charged with emotion, the essays remain timeless.
Grace from the Garden: Changing the World One Garden at a Time
by Debra Landwehr Engle
"Gardening is the most basic of languages, the labor from which we're all born and nourished. . . ."
In these pages, we travel the country with Debra Landwehr Engle as she visits 20 gardens and gardeners from California to Maine and Minnesota to Arkansas, showing us that grassroots campaigns actually can and do involve roots--and seeds and garden trowels. That any person with a steadfast resolve and an open patch of dirt can help bridge the gap between multinational refugees. That lush vegetation and running water and cool stones can help spark the fading memories of our elderly. And that our children can learn about where food comes from, labyrinths, wetlands systems, and healing from grief and loss just by digging in the earth with a caring adult hand to guide them.
As the stories in this remarkable collection demonstrate, the simplest act of gardening can produce significant changes in the lives of people we might never even meet. Consider the man who sends seedlings and greenhouses halfway around the world to feed hospital patients, or the immigrant woman who began selling her own flowers as a way to raise money for overseas charities, or the couple who offers their land as a midday retreat for the residents of nearby nursing homes. These acts and others are not heroic--or even unusual--as Ms. Engle tells us. We see ourselves in these uplifting tales from the garden, as they inspire us to transform our own little parts of the world into places of greater peace, repose, play, and healing. For gardeners, community activists, and those who understand the spiritual value of putting a spade in the soil, these stories capture the promise renewed each time we plant a seed and give us fresh ideas for changing the world, one garden at a time.
by Debra Landwehr Engle
"Gardening is the most basic of languages, the labor from which we're all born and nourished. . . ."
In these pages, we travel the country with Debra Landwehr Engle as she visits 20 gardens and gardeners from California to Maine and Minnesota to Arkansas, showing us that grassroots campaigns actually can and do involve roots--and seeds and garden trowels. That any person with a steadfast resolve and an open patch of dirt can help bridge the gap between multinational refugees. That lush vegetation and running water and cool stones can help spark the fading memories of our elderly. And that our children can learn about where food comes from, labyrinths, wetlands systems, and healing from grief and loss just by digging in the earth with a caring adult hand to guide them.
As the stories in this remarkable collection demonstrate, the simplest act of gardening can produce significant changes in the lives of people we might never even meet. Consider the man who sends seedlings and greenhouses halfway around the world to feed hospital patients, or the immigrant woman who began selling her own flowers as a way to raise money for overseas charities, or the couple who offers their land as a midday retreat for the residents of nearby nursing homes. These acts and others are not heroic--or even unusual--as Ms. Engle tells us. We see ourselves in these uplifting tales from the garden, as they inspire us to transform our own little parts of the world into places of greater peace, repose, play, and healing. For gardeners, community activists, and those who understand the spiritual value of putting a spade in the soil, these stories capture the promise renewed each time we plant a seed and give us fresh ideas for changing the world, one garden at a time.
Illustrated Guide to Gardening
by Reader's Digest Association
Featuring stunning new illustrations and up-to-date information on plants, pest control, fertilizers, gardening techniques, and more, this favorite book of gardeners for more than ten years illuminates both the fundamentals and the special flourishes with easy-to-understand language and clear illustrations.
by Reader's Digest Association
Featuring stunning new illustrations and up-to-date information on plants, pest control, fertilizers, gardening techniques, and more, this favorite book of gardeners for more than ten years illuminates both the fundamentals and the special flourishes with easy-to-understand language and clear illustrations.
Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens
by Douglas W. Tallamy
As development and subsequent habitat destruction accelerate, there are increasing pressures on wildlife populations. But there is an important and simple step toward reversing this alarming trend: Everyone with access to a patch of earth can make a significant contribution toward sustaining biodiversity.
There is an unbreakable link between native plant species and native wildlife — native insects cannot, or will not, eat alien plants. When native plants disappear, the insects disappear, impoverishing the food source for birds and other animals. In many parts of the world, habitat destruction has been so extensive that local wildlife is in crisis and may be headed toward extinction.
Bringing Nature Home has sparked a national conversation about the link between healthy local ecosystems and human well-being, and the new paperback edition — with an expanded resource section and updated photos — will help broaden the movement. By acting on Douglas Tallamy's practical recommendations, everyone can make a difference.
by Douglas W. Tallamy
As development and subsequent habitat destruction accelerate, there are increasing pressures on wildlife populations. But there is an important and simple step toward reversing this alarming trend: Everyone with access to a patch of earth can make a significant contribution toward sustaining biodiversity.
There is an unbreakable link between native plant species and native wildlife — native insects cannot, or will not, eat alien plants. When native plants disappear, the insects disappear, impoverishing the food source for birds and other animals. In many parts of the world, habitat destruction has been so extensive that local wildlife is in crisis and may be headed toward extinction.
Bringing Nature Home has sparked a national conversation about the link between healthy local ecosystems and human well-being, and the new paperback edition — with an expanded resource section and updated photos — will help broaden the movement. By acting on Douglas Tallamy's practical recommendations, everyone can make a difference.
Fine Art Flower Photography
by Tony Sweet
A striking new collection from the author of "Fine Art Nature Photography" Includes instructions for creating varied photographic effects Detailed specs and equipment given for each picture with "before" and "after" versions provided for many images Acclaimed nature photographer Tony Sweet helps us to see a familiar subject through new eyes in this astonishing collection of flower photography. Ranging from the elegiac to the experimental, these pictures offer a kaleidoscopic survey of innovative photographic techniques--including multiple exposures and "slide sandwiching" --along with instructions for creating similar effects in your own photography. Perfectly balancing grace and spontaneity, "Fine Art Flower Photography" ensures that none of us will look at (or photograph) flowers the same way again.
by Tony Sweet
A striking new collection from the author of "Fine Art Nature Photography" Includes instructions for creating varied photographic effects Detailed specs and equipment given for each picture with "before" and "after" versions provided for many images Acclaimed nature photographer Tony Sweet helps us to see a familiar subject through new eyes in this astonishing collection of flower photography. Ranging from the elegiac to the experimental, these pictures offer a kaleidoscopic survey of innovative photographic techniques--including multiple exposures and "slide sandwiching" --along with instructions for creating similar effects in your own photography. Perfectly balancing grace and spontaneity, "Fine Art Flower Photography" ensures that none of us will look at (or photograph) flowers the same way again.
Growing and Propagating Showy Native Woody Plants
by Richard E. Bir
Bir identifies some of the showiest woody plants native to the eastern United States and tells how to propagate and care for them. He describes more than ninety species of native plants, most illustrated with a color photograph, and includes several useful appendixes listing nurseries that stock these hard-to-find species.
by Richard E. Bir
Bir identifies some of the showiest woody plants native to the eastern United States and tells how to propagate and care for them. He describes more than ninety species of native plants, most illustrated with a color photograph, and includes several useful appendixes listing nurseries that stock these hard-to-find species.
Home Landscaping: Southeast Region
by Roger Holmes, Rita Buchanan
"Home Landscaping: Southeast Region" shows how to beautify 23 common landscape situations, such as front and back entries, walkways, borders, slopes, and patios. Design variations incorporate more than 200 of the best plants for the southeastern states. Readers also learn all they need to know to install the paths, fences, walls, arbors, and trellises that make up the designs. Step-by-step instructions show how to tackle each project. Plant descriptions also explain planting and care.
by Roger Holmes, Rita Buchanan
"Home Landscaping: Southeast Region" shows how to beautify 23 common landscape situations, such as front and back entries, walkways, borders, slopes, and patios. Design variations incorporate more than 200 of the best plants for the southeastern states. Readers also learn all they need to know to install the paths, fences, walls, arbors, and trellises that make up the designs. Step-by-step instructions show how to tackle each project. Plant descriptions also explain planting and care.
Armitage's Native Plants for North American Gardens
by Allan M. Armitage
The popularity of native North American plants has soared in recent years, for many good reasons. Whatever draws you to native plants, you'll find no better or more authoritative guide than Allan Armitage. Widely acknowledged as one of the world's foremost horticulturists, Armitage describes more than 630 species and cultivars of perennials, biennials, and annuals that are native to the United States, bringing to each plant a wealth of practical knowledge and the full weight of his experience and expertise. Each entry includes a general description of the plant plus essential data you need to grow it successfully, including habitat, hardiness, correct garden site, maintenance, and propagation — all in a clear, easy-to-use format. Whether you are a native plant enthusiast or simply wish to use plants that work in the landscape, you'll find everything you are looking for in this readable, information-packed volume.
by Allan M. Armitage
The popularity of native North American plants has soared in recent years, for many good reasons. Whatever draws you to native plants, you'll find no better or more authoritative guide than Allan Armitage. Widely acknowledged as one of the world's foremost horticulturists, Armitage describes more than 630 species and cultivars of perennials, biennials, and annuals that are native to the United States, bringing to each plant a wealth of practical knowledge and the full weight of his experience and expertise. Each entry includes a general description of the plant plus essential data you need to grow it successfully, including habitat, hardiness, correct garden site, maintenance, and propagation — all in a clear, easy-to-use format. Whether you are a native plant enthusiast or simply wish to use plants that work in the landscape, you'll find everything you are looking for in this readable, information-packed volume.
Native Plants of the Southeast: A Comprehensive Guide to the Best 460 Species for the Garden
by Larry Mellichamp
Using native plants in a garden has many benefits. They attract beneficial wildlife and insects, they allow a gardener to create a garden that reflects the native beauty of the region, and they make a garden more sustainable. Because of all this, they are an increasingly popular plant choice for home and public gardens. Native Plants of the Southeast shows you how to choose the best native plants and how to use them in the garden. This complete guide is an invaluable resource, with plant profiles for over 460 species of trees, shrubs, vines, ferns, grasses, and wildflowers. Each plant description includes information about cultivation and propagation, ranges, and hardiness. Comprehensive lists recommend particular plants for difficult situations, as well as plants for attracting butterflies, hummingbirds, and other wildlife. Native Plants of the Southeast will be the definitive reference on the region's native flora for years to come.
by Larry Mellichamp
Using native plants in a garden has many benefits. They attract beneficial wildlife and insects, they allow a gardener to create a garden that reflects the native beauty of the region, and they make a garden more sustainable. Because of all this, they are an increasingly popular plant choice for home and public gardens. Native Plants of the Southeast shows you how to choose the best native plants and how to use them in the garden. This complete guide is an invaluable resource, with plant profiles for over 460 species of trees, shrubs, vines, ferns, grasses, and wildflowers. Each plant description includes information about cultivation and propagation, ranges, and hardiness. Comprehensive lists recommend particular plants for difficult situations, as well as plants for attracting butterflies, hummingbirds, and other wildlife. Native Plants of the Southeast will be the definitive reference on the region's native flora for years to come.
Best Native Plants for Southern Gardens: A Handbook for Gardeners, Homeowners, and Professionals
by Gil Nelson
"Best Native Plants for Southern Gardens" highlights and illustrates several hundred readily available and easy-to-grow native species for gardeners and landscapers living in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia
by Gil Nelson
"Best Native Plants for Southern Gardens" highlights and illustrates several hundred readily available and easy-to-grow native species for gardeners and landscapers living in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia
ONLINE PLANT CATALOG RECOMMENDATIONS:
*Sample image of one plant varietal offered.
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*Sample image of one plant varietal offered.
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