Books
More garden guides focused on growing in the Prairies
From Calgary, there are two new releases in the handsome series of gardening guides focused on growing conditions in the Prairies. Created by certified master gardeners Janet Melrose and Sheryl Normandeau, the latest two editions are The Prairie Gardener’s Go-to for Seeds and The Prairie Gardener’s Go-to for Small Spaces.
2021 edition of Prairie Garden focuses on flowering shrubs
The Prairie Garden is annual non-profit publication “dedicated to the advancement of horticulture in the northern Prairies.” The 2021 edition of The Prairie Garden focuses on flowering shrubs, especially roses.
Child’s play: learning about nature
The ambition of authors Monica Wiedel-Lubinski and Karen Madigan is to encourage more families to get outdoors so children can discover that nature is fun. In Nature Play Workshop for Families, they’ve provided a practical guide to 40+ outdoor learning experiences in all seasons to spark a connection to nature vital for children’s healthy growth and development.
For flower gardeners, a primer from seed starting to snipping
In this down-to-earth guide, Mastering the Art of Flower Gardening, Matt Mattus curates a collection of plant suggestions for spring and summer blooms, both annuals and biennials.
Cultivated: a celebration of floral design
In her new book, Cultivated: The Elements of Floral Style , author Christin Geall elevates floral design to a fine art in this richly informative book on the principles of floral style.
Bob Osborne updates Hardy Roses guide
Hardy Roses: The Essential Guide for High Latitudes and Altitudes, by Bob Osborne, is a new edition in 2020. Osborne, owner of Corn Hill Nursery in New Brunswick, has grown all of the roses he writes about, notably in harsh winter conditions without insecticides.
Feed the Birds book features 196 species
If you want to attract or identify birds in your garden, Feed the Birds could help. Designed as a resource for beginners as well as experienced birdwatchers, the book details 196 bird species attracted to backyard bird feeders with explanations about their behaviour and how they adapt to the environment. It also discusses a wide variety of feeders and seed types.
Savings Seeds guide to preserving plant biodiversity
Saving Seeds book advocates that home gardens have the potential to preserve vital biodiversity, if only we would let plants go to seed, harvest and preserve them. Saving Seeds, covers the essentials of seed saving, including seed selection criteria, harvest and storage tips, the role of seed-saving communities and seed companies.
New ideas for planting a natural garden
Planting the Natural Garden, by Piet Oudolf and Henk Gerritsen is an updated and expanded edition of Oudolf’s popular book, first published 30 years ago, that introduced us to the beauty and benefits of using native and naturalistic plants in our gardens.
A New York City garden unlike any other
In New York City, Wave Hill overlooks the Hudson River in the Bronx. Ngoc Minh Ngo’s photographs and Thomas Christopher’s prose pay tribute to the garden’s beauty in all seasons in Nature Into Art: The Gardens of Wave Hill.