Early Book Review: Mini Meadows: Grow a Little Patch of Colorful Flowers Anywhere around Your Yard by Mike Lizotte

Mini Meadows: Grow a Little Patch of Colorful Flowers Anywhere around Your Yard by Mike Lizotte is a nonfiction gardening book that is currently scheduled for release on March 5 2019. The word “meadow” conjures images of wide expanses of land, but a mini meadow, a kind of informal flower garden started with seed sown directly into the soil, can be any size. It can also be fun, easy to grow, and good for the planet. With as little as 50 square feet and for less than $20, gardeners can plant a colorful meadow that demands little in the way of space, mowing, or maintenance, uses less water than a traditional lawn, and provides habitat for pollinators, not to mention a natural exploration space for children. From choosing the right variety of seeds, preparing the soil, sowing evenly, and watering well, this book guides readers through the process of successfully creating a miniature meadow that suits their climate, soil, and growing goals, whether planting to beautify a hellstrip, halt erosion, fill a boggy spot, or establish a nesting area for bees and butterflies.

Mini Meadows is detailed and well organized, with a pleasant conversational feel. Towards the end ogf the book there are some regional planting guides that I found particularly helpful. I know my planting zone, but I think the regional breakdown is slightly more accessible.  I liked getting to know a bit about the author and his family as I learned about planting, planting, and caring for meadows. I love the look of fields of flowers, but I never thought my small yard and small gardens could be anything like a meadow.  This book offered me ideas and inspiration to take some of this space and enjoy some mini meadows. The fact that they can be so low maintenance fits in my my increasingly busy life, and how little I have been enjoying the summer heat each year. I like how the author gave additional resources in the endpages, including seed sources, gardens to visit, and further reading. 

Mini Meadows is a book that I will be looking to revisit in the late winter. It has given me many ideas, and I think it will help other gardeners looking for some information and inspiration.

Shrubs: Discover the Perfect Plant for Every Place in Your Garden by Andy McIndoe

Shrubs: Discover the Perfect Plant for Every Place in Your Garden by Andy McIndoe is currently scheduled for release on February 5 2019. This book gives home gardeners the information and advice to help them pick the right shrub for their yard. Shrubs can be the perfect plant; typically low-maintenance, with a variety for nearly every need, and widely available at garden centers and nurseries. This handy guide might make it easier than ever for gardeners to decide which shrubs to add to their space. The book includes shrubs challenging growing conditions, shrubs for restricted planting spaces, and shrubs chosen for their desirable characteristics, including hardiness in shade, difficult soil, and harsh conditions. Plant profiles include complete growing information, color photographs, and recommended companion plants.

Shrubs is a book I should have read years ago. I have areas of my property where I have had a terrible time keeping things thriving or even alive. Thanks to this resource I have a plan to revitalize the border near the street, and the shady area near my magnolia tree. The book is divided by the deciding factors of the area readers are looking to plant in. Each area type, such as shady and damp or drought prone, has description of each recommended shrub and some companion plants that readers might want to consider. The photographs and descriptions were very helpful, as were the details about potential size and hints to give your shrubs the best chance to thrive. I am still undecided as to what I want to plant in my trouble spots, but I have plenty of viable options now.

Shrubs is a well organized and valuable resource for gardeners and homeowners looking to use shrubs in their landscaping. I would recommend libraries and those that work in landscaping or garden related jobs pick it up, but the rest of us should borrow it from our local library as needed.

Early Book Review: The Culinary Herbal: Growing and Preserving 97 Flavorful Herbs by Susan Belsinger, Arthur O. Tucker, Shawn Linehan

The Culinary Herbal: Growing and Preserving 97 Flavorful Herbs by Susan Belsinger, Arthur O. Tucker, and Shawn Lineman is a wonderful resource about herbs which is currently scheduled for release on January 27 2016. This book details 97 different variety of herbs including how to use them, how to care for them, and a variety of other important information. Plant profiles are organized alphabetically by herb type and have wonderful full color photographs. Additional information includes step-by-step instructions for harvesting, preserving, and storing, along with techniques for making pastes, syrups, vinegars, and butters.

The Culinary Herbal is a well organized and very informative guide to culinary herbs. I found the information to be comprehensive and useful. I grow many herbs that were included in the book, and thought that the collection of information was very useful and I enjoyed reading more about the herbs that I have never grown. The herbs are categorized alphabetically and are complete with full color photographs and important information. The photographs were particularly helpful, showing multiple views and varieties of the herbs to add in identification and proper usage. The scientific and growing information was also complete and well organized. This is a great guide for herb growers and those that enjoy using fresh herbs in their kitchen. 

The Culinary Herbal is a fantastic resource for reference and planning a home herb garden. It offers complete information on each herb, even some less common varieties, as well as usage and care information. I think it would be a valuable reference guide for anyone interested in getting serious about growing and using herbs. 

Early Book Review: Container Theme Gardens: 42 Combinations, Each Using 5 Perfectly Matched Plants by Nancy J Ondra

Container Theme Gardens: 42 Combinations, Each Using 5 Perfectly Matched Plants by Nancy J Ondra is a resource that is currently scheduled for release on January 26 2016. This book helps gardeners of all skill levels create container plantings with very little stress. It maps out 42 plans for container arrangements, each using just five specific plants that are readily available. There are a variety of themes and ideas so there should be something for everyone; including a meadow in a box, a pond in a pot, a simple salad garden, and a combination that will attract hummingbirds. Each plan includes photographs of what the full planting will look like, as well as a handy shopping list and alternatives so you plan accordingly.

Container Theme Gardens is a well organized and thorough collection of information to help start and maintain themed container gardens. I liked the variety of themed gardens, based on color, season, location, wildlife, the container being used, and other special themes. Space needed, plant sizes, and plant care are included. The full color photographs of the individual plants used and the possible finished products are helpful and inspiring. 

Container Theme Gardens is a good collection of ideas and plants combinations. I liked many of the settings and found the variety to be nice. The only thing I found lacking was the hardiness zones, although with seasonal containers that is not always relevant. 

Book Review: The Wildlife-Friendly Vegetable Gardener: How to Grow Food in Harmony with Nature by Tammi Hartung

The Wildlife-Friendly Vegetable Gardener: How to Grow Food in Harmony with Nature by Tammi Hartung is a book that can help nature lovers understand how to make their yard and garden friendly to the wildlife around them while still maintaining a vegetable crop of their own. Co-existence

between man, animals, and the insect world is the goal here, and the book offers some great suggestions for working with nature rather than trying to tame it and trying to force it to fit our vision.

The Wildlife-Friendly Vegetable Gardener works to foster understanding and supports working with the surrounding environment instead of continually fighting it. The goal here is to reap a larger harvest with much less stress and effort. Solutions begin with a hardy and healthy garden, creating beneficial relationships through smart planting, attracting helpful insects and pollinators, intentionally creating habitats for wildlife, and much more. My only issue with the book is that most of the idea and issue dealt with are aimed at individuals with large amounts of land. Even mentions of 'smaller' gardening spaces dealt with spaces much larger than what my suburban home offers, however I do know people just a quarter mile away that could make great use of the information. I enjoyed reading about the efforts to work with rather than against nature and despite my very small gardening spaces, there was some information that I fully intend to put to good use this spring.

The Wildlife-Friendly Vegetable Gardener is a wonderful resource to gardeners that have large plots of land and/or have issues with wildlife taking more than they would like of their harvest. Offered solutions are simple and mindful or the greater good and environment.