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Winners
Five gardening books published
in 2005 have been awarded the American Horticultural Society’s 2006 Book
Award.
The winning books, listed below, were selected by the AHS Book Award
Committee chaired by garden writer and editor Ray Rogers of North
Brunswick, New Jersey. Other committee members were Gene Bussell of
Birmingham, Alabama, a garden editor for Southern Living magazine; Keith
Crotz, owner of American Botanist Booksellers in Chillicothe, Illinois;
Susan C. Eubank, a horticultural librarian for the Los Angeles County
Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Arcadia, California; Lucinda Mays of
Chadron, Nebraska, a garden writer and producer of gardening television
shows; Marcia Tatroe of Centennial, Colorado, a writer for the Denver
Post and Sunset magazine; and Marty Wingate of Seattle, Washington, a
columnist for the Seattle Post Intelligencer.
 The
Art of the Japanese Garden
by David and Michiko Young. Tuttle Publishing, North Clarendon, Vermont.
Publisher’s price, hardcover: $40.
“This book is so
roundly written that it could, if necessary, serve as the
only book one had to introduce and explain to Westerners the
basic components of Japanese gardens,” said Lucinda Mays.
“It illuminates a style of gardening that greatly influences
American gardens, but is not widely understood,” said Marcia
Tatroe.
“The authors do a good job of bringing the historical and
theoretical together,” said Susan Eubank.
 California
Native Plants for the Garden
by Carol Bornstein, David Fross, and Bart O’Brien. Cachuma
Press, Los Olivos, California. Publisher’s price, softcover:
$27.95.
While the title of
this book seemed to imply a narrow scope, the committee felt
the book spoke to a broader audience because, as Marcia
Tatroe said, “It lists native habitat as well as range and
cultural requirements. This reflects the current trend of
planting by habitat, one which should be encouraged.”
It also garnered praise for its authoritativeness,
comprehensiveness, and overall quality. “This book presents
a great deal of cultural information, it compares plants and
explains why some are better than others, it gives many
ideas for garden use, and includes useful, good quality
photos,” said Ray Rogers.
 Growing
Hardy Orchids
by John Tullock. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon. Publisher’s
price, hardcover: $29.95.
“This book is
important for both gardeners and horticulturists because you
can’t find this useful information compiled anywhere else,”
said Lucinda Mays. “In addition, it reads like a
conversation with someone who is extremely knowledgeable,
presenting the information in a very interesting way.”
Even the committee members without a great interest in
orchids found this book fascinating and enjoyable. “I was
intrigued by this topic,” said Susan Eubank. “This book
could help anybody grow orchids outside,” she added.
The Wild Braid
by Stanley Kunitz with Genine Lentine. W.W. Norton, New
York, New York. Publisher’s price, hardcover: $23.95.
Several members of the
committee felt this book by Pulitzer prize-winning poet
Stanley Kunitz was a powerful example of how gardening can
be a lifelong passion as well as inspire other art forms
such as poetry. “This little book is a graceful bridge
connecting poetry, gardening, and growing old,” said Lucinda
Mays.
“I liked the minimalist concept, the aphorisms at length,
even the poems. The book helps teach us to listen,” said
Keith Crotz.
The interplay of photographs, poetry, and prose “captures
the essence of what gardening is about,” observed Marcia
Tatroe.
 Yard
Full of Sun by Scott Calhoun. Rio Nuevo Publishers,
Tucson, Arizona. Publisher’s price, softcover: $22.95.
“Beautiful photography
and an engaging writing style combined with useful cultural
information and planting ideas distinguish this book as the
best of this year’s offerings on personal gardening,” said
Ray Rogers.
While the book focuses on the author’s experience of
building his own house and garden in Tucson, Arizona, the
committee felt it appeals to gardeners everywhere because of
its environmentally sensitive approach to common issues such
as water use and native plants.
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