The middle part contains the information on appropriate xeriscape plants. It discusses ornamentals such as trees, perennials, vines, and native plants. It dedicates a separate chapter to a comprehensive discussion of native plants in a xeriscape. I was surprised to learn how many “edibles” can be grown successfully in a xeriscaped garden.
The final part contains several key appendices. I urge you to read the first appendix as soon as possible because it presents some ideas on how to encourage your community to begin discussing xeriscapes rather than traditional lawns and gardens. The remaining two appendices provide some basic plant charts and a glossary of terms.
May I urge you to add this book to your library? As the price of water goes up on a worldwide basis, every gardener will have to contend with lessening his or her dependence on supplemental watering. This book is an excellent way to learn how to change your current gardening habits.
Home Gardening Course
If you are one of the many gardeners who have wished they had time to take a formal course in this area, the Home Gardening Course, edited by Thom Shaw and published by the University of Alberta is the book for you. The book presents 16 comprehensive lessons on: soils, climate, botany, plant nutrition, plant propagation, pest control, turf (grass), woody ornamentals, herbaceous ornamentals, landscape design, vegetables, small fruit, tree fruit, house plants, greenhouses, and hydroponics.
Each lesson is very comprehensive. They start with a list of objectives followed by the lesson material text. Abundant figures, tables and sidebars supplement the text. Projects, which help you integrate the principles of each lesson, are also provided. Each lesson ends with a self-check quiz followed by a glossary of terms used in the lesson. This book is abundantly illustrated with black and white photographs or drawings.
This would be an ideal textbook for an adult education course, local garden society course, or for self-study purposes. I was very pleased with the contents and learned some new things in spite of already having an associate degree in horticulture. I urge you to consider this book if you want to dramatically advance your gardening knowledge.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Go To Page: 1 2
