Lexington, KY - Gardening books are wonderful to behold, lovely to relax with and chock-full of inspiration. A gardener always appreciates a well-chosen book, especially on December 25, since there are still a few months left to dream before it's time to pick up the trowel.
I just spent a couple of hours blissfully ensconced in the garden sections at several of our locally-owned bookstores. Research, you know. What a chore.
There I was, books on the floor all around me, sorted into three stacks to reflect the landscaping process: first you design your garden, next you need to know how to install it, and finally it is important to maintain it in an eco-sensitive manner. Once you've figured all that out, it's time to select your plants. So, I added a bonus stack - books about the great native plants of Kentucky.
Design
John Brookes has been creating award-winning gardens for decades. His expanded and re-illustrated book "Small Garden" mirrors his deep understanding of the design process. Within a larger yard we create smaller, more intimate spaces, so this book will be useful even if your property isn't small.
"Small Garden" is great for the beginning designer but will also inspire those who have more experience.
How To
Hardscape projects, drainage, irrigation, lighting and planting - "Complete Landscaping: Lowe's," edited by Michael MacCaskey, doesn't sound very glamorous, but it's a good, basic how-to manual. While this book is great for those with the do-it-yourself attitude, it also provides an easy way to understand your landscape project so you can communicate with your contractor effectively and feel confident in the work that is being done for you.
Every page has full-color photographs or line drawings that not only illustrate the how-to aspects but also offer good design ideas.
Eco-Gardening
The human hand creates gardens, so right from the get go, the green spaces are not exactly natural. Nonetheless, our gardens can be ecologically sensitive. "Grow Organic," from DK Publishing, is a beautiful book that covers it all: care of the soil, watering, weeds, plant health, wildlife and plant diversity. The gardener will be inspired by the introduction, which says: "The organic approach recognizes the marvelous complexity of our living world; the detailed and intricate ways in which all living organisms are interconnected. It aims to work within this delicate framework, in harmony with nature."
There are other books with this or a very similar title. This book is published by Dorling Kindersley Books, as part of their line of "Made With Care" books, using local printers, Forest Stewardship Council paper and non-hazardous vegetable inks. So you can also be an eco-sensitive gift giver.
Picking Plants
Now it's time to fill that empty garden bed, soften the edges of that deck, or give yourself some privacy from your neighbors. In short, it's time to choose your plants. Native plants are becoming more and more popular everywhere, and Kentucky is no exception. Plants that look beautiful, require less care and nourish our insects, birds and butterflies are not to be ignored.
Our own Dr. Thomas Barnes, an extension professor in the Department of Forestry at the University of Kentucky, wrote a wonderful book titled "Gardening for the Birds" -
an easy-to-use guide for transforming a yard into an oasis for urban wildlife. Barnes tells us that "by planting the right kinds of flowers, trees, shrubs and grasses, you may soon be enjoying the sounds of a Carolina wren, following the graceful movements of the black-tailed swallowtail butterfly, or watching the antics of a chipmunk gathering food for the winter." Who wouldn't want that?
William Cullina's "Growing and Propagating Wildflowers of the United States and Canada" is a delightful picture book packed with information, including useful lists of wildflowers for various sites.
Books truly are a pleasure to give. After all, you get to hang out in a bookstore. And a good book is always a successful gift, so everyone is happy.