There is no shortage of garden-related titles from which we can choose. As drought tightens its grip on some areas of the U.S., water is on the minds of many gardeners. Those living in drought-prone areas definitely need a copy of "Requiem for a Lawnmower-Gardening in a Warmer, Drier World" by Sally Wasowski with Andy Wasowski. The second edition of this title was released by Taylor Trade Publishing.
The authors encourage gardeners to take their cues from nature and create naturalistic, low maintenance landscapes with native species that will attract birds and other wildlife. This book encourages readers to forego the usual bedding plants. Written in an engaging, no-nonsense style, it explains how to go about designing and planting highly diverse native plant communities adapted to local conditions. The authors explain how these plants will survive just fine without pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and frequent irrigation. The authors are visionaries, but their advice is down-to-earth, and is sure to nudge the unconvinced towards the naturalistic gardening path.
With its many lush photos and format, one might mistake "New Gardens of the American West-Contemporary Gardens and Inspiring Landscape Elements" to be a coffee table book. However, nothing could be further from the truth. This inspiring title with text by Sarah Chase Shaw, published by Watson-Guptill, has much to offer in the way of practical landscapes for problem sites.
It presents ten entirely different residential landscapes by Design Workshop, an award-winning international landscape and design firm based in Aspen. For each design, the author presents a drawing, how the different elements come together to create a unified picture, and an explanation as to how and why that approach was chosen. These designs work because they create a sense of place. One chapter is devoted to the individual elements, such as terraces, stairs and paths, and water, and explains how these can be integrated into landscapes. Among the ten designs are ones for mountains, ranches, farms, and streamside homes.
In recent years, the time-honored vegetable patch has suffered from lack of attention as gardeners became more interested in perennials and other ornamental plants. If "75 Exciting Vegetables for Your Garden" by Jack Staub from Gibbs Smith doesn't spark interest in vegetables, then nothing ever will.
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