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November/December Recommended Garden Books
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The following books are
recommended garden books from the November/December 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.
 The
Tropical Look: An Encyclopedia of Dramatic Landscape Plants
Robert Lee Riffle. Timber Press. 1998. 524 pages.
Recommended, but review unavailable.
Buy this book!
 Trees
of the Central Hardwood Forests of North America: An Identification
and Cultivation Guide
Donald J. Leopold, William C. McComb and Robert N. Muller. Timber
Press. 1998. 509 pages.
Recommended, but review unavailable.
Buy this book!
 California's
Wild Gardens: A Living Legacy
Phyllis Faber, editor. California Native Plant Society. 1997. 236
pages.
If you enjoy seeing plants in their natural setting, and traveling
to California is in your plans, you may want to pick up this book
and some good maps. This stunningly photographed book features
essays on more than 100 specialized plant communities found within
10 larger ecological regions of the state. Images include both
closeups of individual plants and spectacular vistas that reveal the
dynamic juxtaposition of plants within the different communities.
California’s geologic and climatologic diversity make its flora
especially rich. The state is home to more than 6,000 native plants,
or nearly a quarter of all taxa found in North America. The state’s
ecological regions run the gamut from coastal plain to mountain, and
from desert to temperate rain forest. The localized plant
communities profiled in the book are described as botanical “hot
spots” where environmental conditions favor a specific ensemble of
rare or endemic plants. The essays are written by botanists and
ecologists who are intimately familiar with these unique habitats.
The book contains a wealth of information on conservation of native
species and threats to various plant communities. Numerous sidebars
cover related topics of interest, such as the role of fire in
rejuvenating plant communities and bees whose specialty is
pollinating plants found in vernal pools. This is an inspiring book
that celebrates the diversity of our native flora and the natural
landscapes that support it.
Buy this book!
 Jeff
Cox's 100 Greatest Garden Ideas: Tips, Techniques, and Projects for
a Bountiful Garden and a Beautiful Backyard
Jeff Cox. Rodale Press. 256 pages.
This latest book by the host of HGTV’s “Grow It!” and contributing
editor to Organic Gardening magazine represents 30 years of
coast-to-coast gardening experience. As the title indicates, Cox
provides 100 tips that he promises will “make gardening easier and
harvests better and more abundant.”
While the serious gardener may find some of the tips a bit
simplistic, the novice gardener will pick up some great ideas. The
ideas are categorized by season, so it is easy to find a project for
any time of year. Each entry is accompanied by clearly labeled
illustrations for further ease of use.
Cox covers a wide range of topics, from vegetable and ornamental
gardening to hardscape construction. One of his more interesting
tips involves making “bug juice” as a natural method of fighting
pests. Following the assumption that some pests in any given
population will be diseased, Cox provides a recipe that involves
throwing half a cup of a troublesome pest into a blender with some
water to make a wonderful concoction that you can spray onto your
plants to spread diseases specific to that particular pest. Another,
less gruesome, tip involves soaking willow cuttings in water to
create a solution of the natural rooting hormone contained in its
branches. These tips are representative of Cox’s organic approach to
growing healthy plants.
A list of sources for the plants and products mentioned in the book
is included, as well as recommended readings for those who want to
learn more about composting, insect and disease identification, and
other topics. If you haven’t been gardening long enough to have
learned all these tricks of the trade on your own, this book makes
the perfect “cheat sheet.”
Buy this book!
 Uncommon
Fruits and Vegetables: A Commonsense Guide
Elizabeth Schneider. William Morrow. 1998. 546 pages.
First published in 1986, Uncommon Fruits & Vegetables invites you to
add some variety and excitement to your daily meals by describing
the exotic produce that is appearing more and more in local grocery
stores around the country. Among the nearly 100 fruits and
vegetables Schneider covers are uncommon ones such as morels,
salsify, carambolas, pummelos, and fiddlehead ferns, as well as more
familiar ones such as arugula, jicamas, plantains, and shiitake
mushrooms. Information on nomenclature, selection, storage,
preparation, and nutrition is provided in each illustrated entry, as
well as easy-to-follow recipes. A great book for fruit and vegetable
gardeners and adventurous cooks.
Buy this book!
 Maria
Rodale's Organic Gardening: Your Seasonal Companion to Creating a
Beautiful and Delicious Garden
Maria Rodale. Rodale Press. 1998. 352 pages.
Organic gardening is presented in a new light by one of the leading
names in the field. Maria Rodale is Vice-Chairman of Rodale Press
and the granddaughter of J.I. Rodale, originator of the organic
gardening movement in the United States. With the help of a
season-by-season gardening calendar, interviews with experts on such
topics as composting and pruning, and 600 color photographs, Rodale
addresses the planning, planting, and maintenance of the organic
garden. In addition, Rodale includes many recipes to help readers
enjoy the fruits—and vegetables—of their labor.
Buy this book!
 The
Savage Garden: Cultivating Carnivorous Plants
Peter D’Amato. Ten Speed Press.
The history and origins of hundreds of carnivorous plants are
explored in this fascinating book by one of the leading cultivators
of these plant oddities. D’Amato includes species descriptions,
information on how and where to grow your own carnivorous plants,
and a complete list of resources to help get you started on your own
little shop of horrors. Beautiful and—occasionally—delightfully
morbid color photographs grace nearly every page.
Buy this book!
 The
Gardener's Iris Book
William Shear. Taunton Press. 1998. 169 pages.
A practical reference for one of the most popular flowers in
cultivation. Shear covers the most popular of the Iris
genus—bearded, Siberian, and Louisiana—and then moves on to other
sorts grouped by their major gardening characteristics. The book
focuses on identification, culture, planting tips, division,
hybridization, pest control, and choosing the right iris for the
right spot. More than 150 color photographs by Roger Foley
illustrate irises in their natural habitats and in garden settings.
An up-to-date list of iris sources is also included.
Buy this book!
 The
Gardener's Guide to Growing Penstemons
David Way and Peter James. Timber Press. 1998. 160 pages.
The first monograph of this increasingly popular genus of North
American natives, this new book describes the botany and history of
penstemons, as well as their cultivation and propagation, handling
pests and diseases, and selecting companion plants for them in the
garden. An exhaustive survey of species and an encyclopedic listing
of all garden forms of penstemons currently in cultivation make this
book an indispensable resource. Color photographs are included
throughout.
Buy this book!
 The
Secret Garden
Adapted from the original novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
Harper Collins. 1998. 32 pages.
Young readers can now unlock the mystery of The Secret Garden with a
new picture book, adapted from the 1912 children’s classic. This
abridged version, illustrated with colorful paintings by Mary
Collier, tells the story of an orphaned girl in Edwardian England
who learns the magic and wonder of bringing a garden to life. A
wonderful gift for the young child in your life.
Buy this book!
 Gardening
with Children
Beth Richardson. Taunton Press. 1998. 160 pages.
This new full-color book aims to get children involved in gardening
without overwhelming them with too much responsibility. It will help
you create an adult-centered garden that includes and celebrates
children’s efforts. The book covers topics such as making gardening
fun for children, theme gardens, and garden-related projects.
Ninety-nine color photographs and 17 drawings help illustrate the
joys of gardening with children.
Buy this book!
 The
Gardener's Computer Companion: Hundreds of Easy Ways to Use Your
Computer for Gardening
Bob Boufford. No Starch Press. 1998. 302 pages.
Planning gardens with design software, researching plants using
on-line resources, and calculating fertilizer and water requirements
are just a few of the many topics covered in this timely reference
book. The book includes a cd-rom containing reference databases of
plants and chemicals, garden calculators and cataloging programs,
and garden organizers and planners. The Gardener’s Computer
Companion will help any gardener use a computer to its full
gardening potential.
Buy this book!
 Garden
Ornament: Five Hundred Years of History and Practice
George Plumptre. Photographs by Hugh Palmer. Thames and Hudson,
New York, 1998. 256 pages.
As well as a being a beautiful coffee table book, Garden Ornament is
a serious study of the historic use of ornaments in Western
landscaping. The author shows how over the last 500 years designers
have used stone, wood, and metal to enhance and modify the natural
features of gardens. A catalog of garden ornaments available to
today’s collector is included along with 506 illustrations, 150 in
color.
Buy this book!
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