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American
Horticultural Society
The American Gardener
September/October 2003
Recommended Garden Books
Because the AHS Horticultural Book
Service was discontinued as of June 30, 2000 no further phone or mail orders
are filled. However, AHS members are still be able to order books at a
discount by linking to Amazon.com through the Society's Web site. Through this
partnership with Amazon.com, AHS members can receive better discounts on most
titles, faster delivery, greater inventory, and improved access to
hard-to-find 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 following
books are our current recommended garden books from the September/October 2003 issue
of The American Gardener. To
read the review just click on the book title. You can then order the book
directly from Amazon.com by clicking on "Buy this book!" that
follows each review.
BOOK REVIEWS
Recommendations for Your Gardening
Library
GARDENER’S BOOKS
Noteworthy New Titles with a Regional
Twist
BOOK REVIEWS
Recommendations for Your Gardening Library
 The
New Book of Salvias: Sages For Every Garden.
Betsy Clebsch, illustrations by Carol D. Barner. Timber Press, Portland,
Oregon, 2003. 344 pages, Publisher’s price, hardcover: $20.97.
Buy This Book
In The New Book of Salvias, Betsy Clebsch, a noted amateur botanist and
horticulturist who gardens in northern California, displays once again her
experience with and extensive knowledge of this useful and diverse genus.
Color photographs and line drawings illustrate detailed descriptions of
approximately 150 beautiful, garden-worthy species and significant hybrids. An
update of her A Book of Salvias, this volume includes information about more
than 50 new salvia selections that she has evaluated since the first edition
was published in 1997.
The author’s expertise in growing salvias shines through in the advice given
on design, planting, pruning, and propagation. Statements begun with “In my
garden…” and “I have found…” not only lend credibility but also impart a
friendly tone, as if Clebsch and I had bumped into each other at the garden
center and she was giving me advice on a prospective purchase.
Clebsch’s species descriptions
satisfy my curiosity about the plant’s origins—geographic location, habitat,
and elevation range—as well as the meaning behind the botanical name. Tidbits
on discovery and historical usage also appeal to my desire to know more than
just the physical characteristics of a given plant and its culture.
Many readers will find themselves
immersed in the book, drawn from one finely crafted description to the next.
Shortcuts are also available for gleaning information quickly, including lists
of salvias suited for various uses and conditons—such as “Salvias for
Containers,” “Salvias with Especially Handsome Foliage,” “Salvias for a Hot
and Humid Climate,” and “Water-wise Salvias.”
Finding a public garden in which to
view fine collections of salvias first-hand is facilitated by “Where to See
Salvias,” and perhaps the most satisfying list is “Where to Buy Salvias,”
particularly for gardeners who have become enamored with one or many species
thanks to Clebsch’s rich descriptions.
—Judy Mielke
Landscape architect Judy Mielke of Phoenix, Arizona, is author of Native
Plants For Southwestern Landscapes and has taught courses on landscape plants
and Arizona native plants at Arizona State University's College of
Architecture and Environmental Design.
 The
Flower Gardener’s Bible: Time-Tested Techniques,
Creative Designs, and Perfect Plants for Colorful Gardens.
Lewis and Nancy Hill, photographs by Joseph de Sciose, illustrations by Elayne
Sears. Storey Books, North Adams, Massachusetts, 2002. 352 pages. Publisher’s
price, softcover: $19.25.
Buy This Book
So the dynamic duo has done it again. Lewis and Nancy Hill, the Vermont couple
who are nursery owners as well as home gardeners, have co-authored their fifth
book. Once more they have given readers a book overflowing with sage advice
and solid information. Best of all, they have again created a work that is fun
to read, easy to understand, and so exhaustive it seems a veritable
mini-encyclopedia.
The book begins with an extended
introduction to gardening in general and flower gardening in particular that
should appeal to both advanced and novice gardeners. There’s always something
to learn from such knowledgeable folk, and in this first of the three sections
in which the book is organized, advice ranges from a discourse on design and
site considerations, to a primer of garden terms, and an introduction to pests
and diseases. All the basics, including a sampling of propagation techniques,
are presented in the Hills’ clear, user-friendly style.
The second section is a presentation
of nearly two dozen variously themed flower gardens illustrated with drawings
and photographs. Included for each garden is a short list of plants suited for
areas with specific environmental conditions, such as shady corners, water
gardens, and hillsides. Specialty sites—wildflower, rose, rock, and herb
gardens—are also covered.
The third and largest section of the
book is an illustrated plant dictionary. Titled “A Feast of Flowers,” this
section provides an alphabetical listing of dozens of plants, each with a
summary of the vital statistics of bloom time, good companions, and hardiness
zone. Included, too, is information on preferred species and cultivars, along
with tips for best growing.
Between Abelia, a summer-blooming
shrub, and Zantedeschia, an exotic bulb better known as calla lily, a wide
selection of familiar and not-so-familiar candidates are covered, which, as
the subtitle aptly suggests, are indeed the perfect plants for colorful
gardens.
—Linda Yang
Linda Yang is author of four garden books, and contributor to the recently
published New York Times 1000 Gardening Questions & Answers (Workman, 2003)
 The
Encyclopedia of Planting Combinations. Tony Lord, photographs by
Andrew Lawson. Firefly Books, Buffalo, New York, 2002. 416 pages. Publisher’s
price, hardcover: $41.97.
Buy This Book
In his introduction, author Tony Lord offers a bit of a disclaimer about how
to use this book, noting that it should not be viewed as a series of recipes
for perfect plantings, but rather as a menu of creative suggestions for the
reader to choose, revise, reject, or augment.
He also recommends using the book in
conjunction with a plant encyclopedia so that a reader can evaluate the
combinations with reference to cultural requirements, propagation information,
and a greater range of varietal choices.
From my own perspective, I would add
that American gardeners may be hard pressed to find and successfully grow some
of the plants listed in this British-based reference, but if readers approach
the book with these caveats in mind, I believe it can serve as a valuable
resource for design ideas.
After a brief but constructive
discussion of the art of combining plants, the bulk of the book focuses on
planting combinations divided among shrubs and small trees, climbers, roses,
perennials, bulbs, and annuals. More than 4,000 photographs are included, and
an index permits readers to look for combinations containing specific plants.
Overall I found the plant combination
suggestions to be very useful, especially those that highlight textural
interplay. Some good examples are the reddish-purple leaves of ‘Royal Purple’
smoke bush intertwined with the mauve-pink flowers and chartreuse foliage of
‘Claridge Druce’ geranium; easy-to-grow rugosa rose with ‘Sioux’ miscanthus
and ‘Herbstsonne’ rudbeckia; and the bright dainty flowers of snowdrops draped
over the bold colored leaves of Bergenia cordifolia ‘Purpurea’ in early
spring.
Andrew Lawson’s photographs are
evocative, but as with any printed images, they don’t always convey the real
essence of a particular color combination. In browsing through the images, I
was reminded of a spectacular exhibit I saw at this year’s Philadelphia Flower
Show, where red-twig dogwood was underplanted with brilliant white crocuses.
The combination was a perfect melding of beauty and simplicity to which no
photograph could have done justice.
It’s incumbent on the gardener, then,
to take these ideas to the garden center, evaluate the suggested combinations
in person, and determine if he or she personally likes the fusion.
Overall the book offers beginning
gardeners a wealth of creative ideas for planning their gardens, and it
contains enough innovative combinations to be of value to more experienced
gardeners and landscape designers.
—Mark Miller
A horticulturist and garden designer, Mark Miller is deputy director of
national programs for The American Horticultural Society.
GARDENER’S BOOKS
Noteworthy New Titles with an
Eye for Design
Garden design can be approached from many directions, as the selection of
recently released books on the topic indicates. Some lead you through the
process of developing a design from scratch, others suggest ways to add new
life to an old design. And if your interest in garden design leans toward the
historic, there are books to fill that bill as well.
 For
a short course in garden design theory, John Brookes’ Garden Masterclass
(DK Books, 2002, $28) is just the ticket. Brookes identifies and explains the
principles of garden design with illustrated examples from around the world.
Each chapter is devoted to an element of design, such as setting, shape,
direction, levels, and enclosure. Although his chapter on planting emphasizes
the importance of selecting plants and styles that suit the location, Brookes
goes on to cover textural and color combinations; cottage, prairie, meadow,
and steppe plantings; designing with existing trees and shrubs, and “matrix
planting” with perennials. Brookes provides examples based on his own designs
and those of other innovative landscape designers. -
Buy This Book
 Modern
Garden Design: Innovation Since 1900 by Janet Waymark (Thames & Hudson,
2003, $28) provides an overview of garden design in the last century. This one
is not a “how-to” but a book about design theory as it evolved from the
Victorian era through the age of Land Art. Waymark surveys the work of
outstanding 20th-century designers from around the world—from Gertrude Jekyll
to Wolfgang Oehme and James van Sweden. Included are discussions about art and
architecture in the garden, garden designs that address social concerns, and
how the Americas set a course apart from colonial influences to develop their
own styles. More than 200 illustrations—both photographs and line
drawings—help define and exemplify the topics covered. -
Buy This Book
 You
can find both inspiration and practical suggestions for dealing with a wide
range of design issues in Your House, Your Garden: A Foolproof Approach to
Garden Design by Gordon Hayward (W. W. Norton, 2003, $27.97). Hayward’s
designs focus on specific areas: from the entrance garden to side and back
gardens, from patios to the areas between and around outbuildings. His
approach is based on the principles he has employed in his 25-year career as a
garden designer.
Each chapter is divided into two parts: design ideas, and “practical problems
solved.” Sketches of plans, as well as photographs and watercolor
illustrations, complement the text as Hayward describes solutions for such
issues as screening to hide utility areas or to provide privacy; planting over
a septic tank or disguising the septic tank vent; integrating driveways and
parking areas; and utilizing the awkward space under a raised deck. -
Buy This Book
 Tired
of mowing your front yard? Looking for alternatives to turf? Front Yard
Gardens: Growing More than Grass by Liz Primeau with photographs by Andrew
Leyerle (Firefly, 2003, hardcover: $35, softcover: $17.47) may have just the
ideas you need to convert that sorry patch of grass into a collage of color
and forms, combining site appropriate plants in a welcoming design. Primeau
showcases more than 70 gardens from across the country that tackle the
challenge of front yard design from a variety of perspectives. From small city
gardens to expansive prairie landscapes, from minimalist gardens to opulent
borders, this book is full of interesting options for anyone who is
considering removing or reducing his or her lawn. -
Buy This Book
 There
are several worthwhile new books that can help you make the most out of
specific areas of the landscape. Pool Scaping: Gardening and Landscaping
Around Your Swimming Pool and Spa by Catriona Tudor Erler (Storey Books,
2003, $13.97) shows you how to transform that “big blue box in your backyard”
into an “oasis, complete with a waterfall…or a secluded tropical pleasure
garden.” With stunning photographs—many by Roger Foley—as well as watercolor
illustrations, this book will inspire you to create a design that meets your
needs for both practicality and beauty. Paving and coping material, fencing,
planters, lighting, and of course, suitable plants are well covered. There is
even an example of an organic swimming pool that employs bog plants rather
than chemicals to keep the water clean. -
Buy This Book
 For
that shady corner of the yard, pick up Shady Retreats: 20 Plans for
Colorful, Private Spaces in Your Backyard by Barbara Ellis, illustrated by
Gary Palmer with architectural plans by Julie Burns (Storey Books, 2003,
$13.97). Whether your shady site is the edge of a woodland, a shaded terrace,
deck, pergola, arbor, or an old-fashioned front porch, Ellis offers detailed
plans and specific plants to add color and seasonal interest. -
Buy This Book
 If
serenity is what you seek, Feng Shui Garden Design: Creating Serenity by
Antonia Beattie (Tuttle, 2003, $18.95) may have the answer. Feng shui is
the ancient Chinese art of placement. This book explains how the principles of
this art can be applied to designing a landscape that promotes the flow of
energy and balances positive and negative forces. Use of light, color, sound,
water, and movement are addressed. Abundant photographs by Leigh Clapp and
easy-to-follow diagrams help illustrate concepts. -
Buy This Book
 Adding
stonework to a garden can help define boundaries, contribute drama, and set a
mood. To learn how to achieve design-enhancing effects with stone, check out
Garden Stone: Creative Ideas, Practical Projects, and Inspiration for
Purely Decorative Uses by Barbara Pleasant with photographs by Dency Kane
(Storey Books, 2002, $20.97). Pleasant discusses the design and construction
of stone walls and steps, pathways, rock gardens, and stone-enhanced water
features. Photographs offer examples of a wide range of stone garden
ornaments, including benches, lanterns, water bowls, and statuary. A chapter
on “Working with Stone” takes the reader through the nuts and bolts of stone
work, from collecting or purchasing the right material through moving,
cutting, and setting the stone.
So before you get out your rakes and shovels to tackle any landscape
renovation this fall, take the time to investigate the expert advice available
at your library or bookstore. -
Buy This Book
—Rita Pelczar, Associate Editor
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