Books in the Spotlight

Time-Tested Plants: Thirty Years in a Four-Season Garden.
Pamela J. Harper. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2000. 351 pages. Publisher's price, hardcover: $31.96. Buy this Book

Few are the garden books that the reader can open at random and find entries that salute plants like the climbing bleeding heart (Dicentra scandens) not only with readable text but with a stunning picture, too. Pamela Harper's Time-Tested Plants: Thirty Years in a Four-Season Garden is full of such engaging descriptions and photographs.

In writing about snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) Harper's words of praise are linked to detailed directions for its culture, then capped with a charming photo of snowdrops blooming through a canopy of cyclamen leaves. And let's not forget her mentions of the hardy begonia, both for the white flowers of Begonia grandis 'Alba' and a photo of the backlit leaves of the pink-flowered variety, where the veining is dark red against a background of flushed light maroon. All of the 250 photographs in the book were taken by Harper and, with the exception of two, all are of her own gardens.

Harper has long had the knack of growing plants in great combinations, whether of flower, texture, or color. After all, she's been gardening, writing about gardens, lecturing about gardens, and taking great photographs for 45 years. She's written several acclaimed gardening books since moving to the United States from England in 1968. One, Perennials: How to Select, Grow and Enjoy (1985), has gone through 17 printings; another, Designing with Perennials (1990), was selected in 1997 by the American Horticultural Society as one of 75 Great American Gardening Books. 

I suspect I'm one of the few gardeners in America who has a signed copy of her first book, The Story of a Garden, written back in 1972. It's the tale of a small house on an acre of land, and how she and her husband, Patrick, worked together as plants and ideas multiplied.

Harper now lives on two acres in Seaford, Virginia, where she has spent nearly 30 years developing her gardens-while carefully observing and recording her successes and failures. In this new volume, she offers us the benefit of her experience of watching plants develop from one season to the next over several years. It's an examination of plants that last, of gardens that mature.

If I had to make a criticism about Time-Tested Plants: Thirty Years in a Four-Season Garden it would be of its bulky title. The marketing folks must have decided that 30 years would seem too daunting to the average garden reader in this transient era. I can imagine the Marketer suggesting to the Sales Department, "How about using a main title like Time-Tested Plants? That's talking about time in a good way!"

So, in stark contrast to many of today's gardening books, there is no attempt at the old soft sell that pretends gardening is easy or as glamorous as matched cauliflowers on an 18th-century plate. Here are the nuts and bolts-and beauty-of gardening with Pamela Harper. -Peter Loewer

Peter Loewer has authored numerous horticultural books including The Winter Garden, The Wild Garden, and The Evening Garden. He lives in Asheville, North Carolina.

The Plantfinder's Guide to Garden Ferns. Martin Rickard. Timber Press, 133 S. W. Second Ave. Suite 450, Portland Oregon, 2000. 192 pages. Publisher's price, hardcover $27.96. Buy this Book

This book by Martin Rickard is a beautifully illustrated encyclopedic guide to the cultivation and identification of hardy ferns. Based on observations gleaned from years of research, propagating, and gardening at his hardy fern nursery in Kyre Park in England, Rickard offers readers his first-hand knowledge and keen insights.

Now president of the British Pteridological Society, Rickard was for many years the editor of their horticultural publication, the Pteridologist. His practiced attention to detail and editing skills are evidenced in the book's crisp and informative text. In addition there are 20 line drawings and 121 color photographs that both illustrate the text and tantalize the gardener with the possibilities afforded by this distinctive group of plants.

The introductory chapters provide a brief overview of botany and history of ferns and suggestions for their garden uses. Part Two is an A-Z of ferns with descriptions of more than 700 temperate species and cultivars. Martin's entries bring the reader up-to-date on current fern introductions. In Part Three Rickard offers concise recommendations for propagating ferns and for dealing with pests and diseases. 

I was delighted with Martin's caution toward revising botanical names. While botanical accuracy is certainly a worthy goal, all too often a new name is assigned, then later rejected, leading to confusion. Martin is also notably conservative in evaluating cold tolerance-he gardens in a region of Britain with temperatures comparable to USDA Zones 8 and 9. I am delighted to report that a number of his entries are rather hardier than noted. Experimentation is recommended.

There are a few areas where the descriptions do not match the material we are familiar with in North America. I have a particular problem with his lumping Dryopteris championii, D. cystolepidota, D. fuscipes, D. gymnosora, and D. purpurella as possibly under the aegis of Dryopteris erythrosora. Here they are quite distinct, but as Martin notes, more research is clearly required.

The fern community went for many years with little useful horticultural literature. This all changed with the welcome publication of Reginald Kaye's Hardy Ferns in 1968, David Lloyd Jones' Encyclopaedia of Ferns in 1987, and John Mickel's Ferns for American Gardens in 1994. Now we have Rickard's The Plantfinder's Guide to Garden Ferns, a visual delight and a valuable, up-to-date resource. I wouldn't be without it. -Sue Olsen

Sue Olsen is the owner of Foliage Gardens, a mail-order fern nursery in Bellevue, Washington, and is the editor of the Hardy Fern Foundation's quarterly newsletter.

Gaining Ground. Maureen Gilmer. Contemporary Books, Lincolnwood, Illinois, 2000. 200 pages. Publisher's price, hardcover: $22.36. Buy this Book

There are a lot of books on the market that purport to provide solutions to the challenges of tiny garden spaces, but few deliver on their promise as successfully as Gaining Ground by Maureen Gilmer.

Gilmer begins each chapter with a thorough discussion of specific problems, and offers practical and creative solutions. For example, she points out that in tiny gardens where there is room for very few plants, the plants should be, "the most beautiful, interesting, and varied subjects you can find." Where homes are very close together, Gilmer suggests using foliage and artifice, rather than high walls, to create separation and privacy.

Chapters cover topics such as making a tract home or condominium garden unique within the constraints of the neighborhood; reclaiming "lost" land such as the narrow strip at the side of your home or even your front garden; and creating a private, secure outdoor retreat where garden space is minimal. A chapter on integrating water features into a small garden is rich with tips on installing various types, including fountains, and adding accessories such as dramatic lighting.

Landscape design concepts are backed up with case studies of actual garden design projects. Using examples from the work of California landscape designer Michael Glassman, Gilmer summarizes the challenges presented by the various properties, and then walks the reader through the creative process of solving them. "Before" and "after" photographs enhance the text and dramatically illustrate projects such as the transformation of a dull, barely noticeable tract house entrance into a significant entryway. Gilmer quotes Glassman: "The front walkway should…never [be] in a straight line, or it looks like a gigantic tongue coming out of a front door mouth."
Still, it would have been nice if Gilmer had included the work of other designers, thus adding to the vitality and variety of the book; not all of Glassman's designs are to my taste, although his creativity and cleverness at problem-solving is readily apparent. A final quibble: the book has no index, which is a great frustration for those who want to use it as a handy reference.
But all and all, the book is a pleasure to read. It offers some great ideas for maximizing garden space, the text flows easily, and although the featured projects are all California gardens, the principles illustrated are transferable to anywhere in the country. -Catriona Tudor Erler

Catriona Tudor Erler's most recent garden books are Complete Home Landscaping, The Frugal Gardener, and Garden Rooms: Create and Decorate Outdoor Garden Spaces. She writes and gardens in Vienna, Virginia.

Gardener's Books

The books listed here have not been critically evaluated; they have been chosen for description based on unusual subject matter or substantive content. 

The American Horticultural Society Gardening Manual. Gillian Roberts, Editor. Dorling Kindersley Publishing, New York, New York, 2000. 420 pages. Publisher's price, hardcover: $31.96. Buy this Book

This comprehensive gardening guide is divided into four main parts: "Planning Your Garden" invites you to consider what makes a good garden and how you can make the most of your landscape. "Making and Looking After Your Garden" provides instructions for seeding a lawn, installing decking, constructing a water feature, and maintaining hedges. "What Looks Good When" is a photographic catalog of plants-with a brief description of the cultural requirements for each. Finally, "What to Do When" is a schedule of gardening reminders.

Lots of color photographs help illustrate activities, projects, and materials. An extensive index allows users to quickly find the information they are seeking.

Ball Culture Guide: The Encyclopedia of Seed Germination. Jim Nau. Ball Publishing, Batavia, Illinois, 1999. 243 pages. Publisher's PRICE, softcover, $49.95. Buy this Book

Though written for professional growers, this easy-to-use manual provides important information for anyone who likes to grow herbaceous ornamental plants from seed. Organized according to crop type-bedding plants, potted flowers and foliage plants, herbs, cut flowers, perennials, and ornamental grasses-plants are listed alphabetically by botanical name. Detailed germination information is provided for each of the more than 300 entries, including expected germination percentage, optimal temperatures for both germination and growing on, days to germination, and more. Tips and cautions are provided throughout to help your germinating efforts be more successful.

Smith and Hawken: Garden Structures. Linda Joan Smith. Workman Publishing, New York, 2000. 246 pages. Publisher's price, hardcover: $28. Buy this Book

This beautifully illustrated book discusses structural elements in the garden and suggests their importance in creating a mood, serving as guideposts, establishing a sense of history, and promoting memories. Part One tackles "The Garden's Boundaries," including gates, doorways, fences, walls, and edgings. Parts Two and Three cover "The Garden Above" and "The Garden Underfoot" respectively. Part Four, "The Living Garden" spans subjects from espalier and pleaching to potting sheds and greenhouses. Sidebars are sprinkled throughout the text, offering specific advice on such topics as what to plant between cracks and how to build a classic potting bench.

Serene Gardens: Creating Japanese Design and Detail in the Western Garden. Yoko Kawaguchi. Trafalgar Square Publishing, North Pomfret, Vermont, 2000. 144 pages. Publisher's price, hardcover: $29.95. Buy this Book

Author Yoko Kawaguchi presents Japanese garden design as a viable option for western landscapes. She discusses traditional Japanese style and components of the Japanese garden, providing practical advice on how plants, paths, fences, rocks, and borrowed vistas can be combined to achieve a pleasing affect. Over 100 color photographs and drawings illustrate concepts and provide inspiration for the reader. 

Choosing Small Trees. Peter McHoy. Laurel Glen Publishing, San Diego, California, 2000. 128 pages. Publisher's price, hardcover: $19.95. Buy this Book

This book is a guide to selecting, planting, and caring for trees that will reach a maximum height of 30 feet. It profiles over 40 species, includes abundant color photographs, and provides helpful information about using trees as part of your overall landscape design. A short section covers caring for trees grown in containers.