January 2016 Book Review Published in 2014, this book by Baylor Chapman, entitled The Plant Recipe Book-100 living Arrangements for Any Home in Any Season is a beautifully photographed book for any coffee table and yet very useful. The publisher is Artisan Division of Workman publishing Company Inc. This is a cookbook for creating living plant arrangements. The author, who craved greenery after moving to San Francisco from the Midwest, started a business that created living centerpieces and mini container gardens that lasted for weeks or even months and could be repurposed in other gardens or other arrangements. The plants used are listed by their common and botanical name and are readily available in most areas, but the author emphasized that other similar sized or shaped plants can be used. A list of container gardening tools was included in addition to a section on matching vessels/containers to plants used. For example, a high humidity requirement plant such as moss could use a glass jar as a terrarium, or a dry arid plant use a low bowel with appropriate soil, amendments and decorative top dressing. Think of the color of the plant and the container and the theme; they should complement each other in the final overall look. As the author stated a mushroom may look more comfortable in a log vase than in a flashy neon bowel. As you look through this book and find a living arrangement you like, you can recreate it by following the recipe. The ingredient list has all the plant items you will need, where to place them in your container, the soil, the decorative top dressing, how and when to water, light requirements, etc. So bring the greens in doors and have fun cooking up living arrangements. Happy Arranging
February 2016 Book Review The new revised bible of southern gardening is finally here. Edited by Steve Bender and published in 2015 by Oxmoor House- The New Southern Living Garden Book- The Ultimate Guide to Gardening-features 2000 color photos-500 garden ideas and 8000 flowers, vegetables, trees and more- all in 768 pages. What a resource for the beginner and also the experienced gardener. Give it as a wedding present to a young couple starting out or as a house warming gift to those northern friends that have finally moved south. This book answers the question What makes a garden Southern? Basically it has to do with location (any place South of the Mason-Dixon Line) and also shared common traits such as long, warm summers and short mild winters. It also has to do with Southerners sharing not only their personal treasures such as food and clothing, but also their garden treasurers-plants. You may not remember the name of the plant or if it is native, but you ll remember who gave it to you and possibly how you shared it with your friends and family. So what has changed over the past decade in the Southern garden, the list includes; 1. More gardening in containers; 2. Extending our lives by creating outdoor rooms; 3. Growing more of our own food; 4. Raising backyard chickens; 6. Using our gardens in a sustainable and environmentally responsive way. In the Plant Finder Section, you will find categories of plants such as annuals, bulbs and trees grouped together with further references on plant characteristics, plant conditions and tips on how to grow them. The latest Southern Living Planting guide is also included. Then a section entitled Practical Guide to Planting lists tools needed and preparing the soil, fertilizing, watering and planting. A section on container gardening and pruning offers how to and practical tips. The full color photos in this book are gorgeous and show the many different aspects of Southern Gardening which we are privileged to share in the South. Happy sustainable Southern Gardening
March 2016 Book Review Bizarre Botanicals by Larry Mellichamp and Paula Gross, a Timber Press 2010 publication, is a fun book, not for everyone possibly, but some of you adventurous gardeners will find it very enjoyable. 78 of the most outlandish plants that can be grown at home are included in this interesting book, all with full color photos. The authors provide growing instructions for every plant and rate their growing difficulty from 1 to 3 (easy to hard) so even beginners can try growing these freaky botanicals. The book forward states you will be amazed by these stories of sex, death and other botanical wizardry (sounds like a lead in for a racy romance novel) and answers the question What is a weird plant? These weird plants are not accidental monstrosities, but naturally growing, unusual adaptations of roots, stems and leaves to their environment and nutritional requirements. You ve heard of the Venus Fly Trap plant that grows in the wet, swampy soil of coastal South Carolina. Their leaves have been modified to capture insects, break them down into nutrients especially nitrogen and phosphorous that the poor growing environment is deficient in and which allows them to thrive. There are orchids in this category too, as well as cacti. How about the popular air plants that we often see at garden shows-tillandsia, that is often glued on a stick or magnet stuck on your refrigerator. These are also included in this handy book. The Spanish Moss often seen in southern landscapes is also a bizarre botanical. I m sure you can satisfy your horticulture curiosities while staying in your skill level with this delightful book. Happy weird plantings
April 2016 Book Review What a wonderful resource how to book is this month s selection, Pollinator Friendly Gardening by Rhonda Fleming Hayes, with a Forward from P. Allen Smith. Published in 2015 by Quarto Publishing Inc., it fits in as a guide and aid to the serious problem of the decrease in our pollinator population throughout the world and as a serious concern expressed by the NGC to all garden clubs. The author shares the 3 basic principles of pollinator gardening; 1. Provide food with blooming plants throughout the season, 2. Provide nesting and overwintering sites, 3. Avoid pesticide use. She also states that she doesn t want you to rip out your landscape to help pollinators, but offers easy practical tips for enhancing your garden habitat so that it s enjoyable for both you and the vital creatures that live in your garden. Alternatives to insecticides, pesticides, etc. are given as well as hints on discrete safe use if and when needed. Plant lists of best perennials for bees and best trees for butterflies (yes, treesbutterfly larvae like willow, ash, cottonwood and birch trees) to develop from larvae to the chrysalis stage. What is so special about Milkweed? It s simple, no Milkweed- no Monarch Butterfly. There is a rethinking of urban sprawl now and the Milkweed is showing a reemergence from a weed to a wonder plant and its connection to the Monarch Butterfly as it migrates fascinates all of us. Tips on providing nesting sites for different pollinators, a watering station, feeding stations and providing different shelters are also described in this book. Pollinator friendly resources, recommended reading, and useful websites, for those who want more information ends this very easy to read and packed- full of ideas book. Happy pollinator gardening
May 2016 Book Review How to books can be very helpful if you re a novice gardener by giving step by step instructions with color photos and simple explanations. This 2013 British publication by Simon Akeroyd entitled Kitchen Gardening for beginners accomplishes this task. Some of us were fortunate to grow up with parents who had a farming background. They passed that knowledge to us and we in turn taught our children about growing a backyard garden with fruits and vegetables. But our grandkids have missed that whole experience. They live in cities with no yards, their food is over-processed and only comes from the grocery store. They have no concept nor the joy of seeing a seed sprout and produce a tomato or other vegetable. This book teaches them how, what, where to plant while taking your environment into consideration and what plants grow well together. The author groups them into categories such as roots (beets, sweet potatoes), stems (asparagus, leeks), soft fruits (raspberries, blueberries), trees and vines (apples, grapes) and then explains the basics of routine care and tips on storing and using this homegrown produce. Did you know you can grow your melons vertically, by attaching netting to form a sling when the fruit reaches baseball size, you will prevent them from rotting in the damp soil. There are several chapters dealing with problems and how to fix them. The photo gallery of pests, diseases, nutrient deficiencies and weeds is especially helpful. Pruning and propagating are covered as well as composting and creating defenses against wildlife invasion. This is certainly a book packed with advice and hints for all gardeners. This will be the last book review for this season. I ll start up in September again. If you have any garden books, that you feel would be of interest to our members feel free to contact me. Happy vacation gardening