Book Review: The Grumpy Gardener: An A to Z Guide from the Country's Most Irritable Green Thumb by Steve Bender

The Grumpy Gardener: An A to Z Guide from the Country's Most Irritable Green Thumb by Steve Bender. Gardeners from across the country have turned to Southern Living Senior Garden Editor Steven Bender for his keen knowledge and gardening know-how with equal doses sarcasm and sidesplitting humor for nearly 35 years. This book collects some of the wit and wisdom from the magazine columnist in a single A - Z volume, providing gardeners from coast-to-coast with his valuable tips for planting, troubleshooting, and growing flowers, vegetables, shurbs, trees and more. Sidebars throughout the book - "Ask Grumpy" - help readers tackle common garden problems ("How do I get ride of little house ants?"), and readers from the past 35 years take part in the book when Grumpy shares his favorite reader's responses to some of his advice, his favorite rules for gardening, and Q & A's covering your favorite plants and flowers are all inside. Additionally, beautiful line-drawings and illustrations throughout make the book as beautiful to look at as well as entertaining to read.

The Grumpy Gardener: An A to Z Guide from the Country's Most Irritable Green Thumb is a wonderful resource, and highly entertaining for any garden enthusiast to thumb through for reminders or to simply enjoy the dry humor and snark that accompanies the information throughout the book. I love that the information is very accessible, even for those that have no gardening experience, or have had little success with their gardening attempts thus far. I learned many things about plants I thought I knew well, and will adjust my gardening accordingly. I feel like going back to re read occasional will help remind me of important things, and maybe bring things I missed the first time around or forgot to my attention. The sidebars of reader responses, questions with Bender's answers, and line drawings add an extra layer of humor, and occasionally beauty, to the book as a whole. I will be referring back to this volume regularly, both when garden planning and when I am stumped on how to fix or maintain something that should be growing.

Book Review: Plants Can’t Sit Still by Rebecca E. Hirsch

Plants Can’t Sit Still is a children's non fiction picturebook written by Rebecca E. Hirsch and illustrated by Mia Posada. Have you ever seen a plant move on its own? Plants might not walk, but they definitely don't sit still! Discover the many ways plants (and their seeds) move in this fascinating picture book.

Plants Can’t Sit Still is a book that shows young readers that while plants might not be able to get up and walk, they are definitely not immobile. it is an easy read and will appeal to pre-school and kindergarten readers, and might be useful when talking about science, particularly what is alive. plants move quite a bit, as they grow and seek light for the most part, but in other ways as well. The bright illustrations and simple text do a nice job of explaining the way plants move and why, while leaving the readers to think about the plants in their own yard, on the paths they know, and how they might be moving or might have already moved to get where they are. A nice book to share and read, particularly if you want to instill a love and curiosity about nature. 

Early Book Review: Wildflowers of New England by Ted Elliman and the New England Wild Flower Society

Wildflowers of New England by Ted Elliman and the New England Wild Flower Society is currently scheduled for release on March 9 2016. This book is a comprehensive guide which describes and illustrates more than 900 species of wildflowers commonly encountered in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. It includes perennials, annuals, and bulbs; both native and naturalized. The plants are organized first by flower color and then by petal shape.  this helpful guide boasts thousands of color photographs.

Wildflowers of New England has thousand of color photographs showing the details needed to positively identify any of the over 900 included species. There is a good amount of introductory information for those using the guide. This information includes an explanation of plant parts, keys to the plants, and information on plant names. Each plant's photograph is paired with the scientific and more common information about the species such as state they are found in, whether parts of the plant are toxic, and so much more. There is so much information included in each entry, and the organization and detail make this a wonderfully helpful guide for anyone interested in identifying the plants that might spring up in their yards or that they might discover on a hike or while foraging.

Wildflowers of New England is a great tool for those looking to identify plants, and to get detailed information on the species that they see around them. 

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. 

Early Book Review: Where do Fairies Go When It Snows by Liza Gardner Walsh, Hazel Mitchell

Where do Fairies Go When It Snows is a picturebook written by Liza Gardner Walsh and illustrated by Hazel Mitchell. It is currently scheduled for release on September 15 2015. This picturebook poses questions that many fairy lovers have had over the years. How do fairies interact with the plants and animals around the world, and what do fairies do during the different seasons, particularly during the winter. The book  uses rhyming question and charming illustrations to explore the idea.

Where do Fairies Go When It Snows is a whimsical, rhyming picturebook that will capture the imaginations of many young readers. Those that already love fairies and/or nature will enjoy, and the question filled minds will read eagerly just to find some answers. The illustrations are cute and charming, pairing pretty perfectly withe the rhymed questions and answers. I really enjoyed the activities and information at the end that encourages children to care for others, like the fairies care for nature, and how to help fairies and their friends weather the winter weather.

Where do Fairies Go When It Snows is a fun and entertaining picturebook that will keep many young readers entertained during multiple re readers. The themes of caring for the world and other living things that is intrinsic to the fairy's lives are great for readers of all ages to take in. While my daughter and I have already put a fairy garden together, however I think reading this will give her new ideas and have us making our backyard even more animal and fairy friendly.

Book Review: Herbs for Long-Lasting Health: How to Make and Use Herbal Remedies for Lifelong Vitality by Rosemary Gladstar

Herbs for Long-Lasting Health: How to Make and Use Herbal Remedies for Lifelong Vitality by Rosemary Gladstar is a well organized guide to herbs and health in middle age and beyond. The book goes through the specific health issues and some specifics about them, as well as the properties of dozens of specific herbs, both familiar are previously unknown to me. The book is a precise guide to choosing the right herbal remedies for common situation.

Herbs for Long-Lasting Health is a solid resource for novice and experienced herbalists. The book details many herbs and their properties including astragalus (which was new to me), bilberry, and milk thistle. The book offered recipes for herbal remedies, how to use herbs safely, and details about some of the most common battles those reading the book are likely to be trying to fight. The book was well organized and the appendix was particularly useful for precise and detailed information.

I would recommend Herbs for Long-Lasting Health to readers that are looking to begin their journey, or solidify their knowledge, in working with herbs for their personal health. There are recipes and herbal properties that are very well explained and organized.

Book Review: Herbs for Stress & Anxiety: How to Make and Use Herbal Remedies to Strengthen the Nervous System by Rosemary Gladstar

Herbs for Stress & Anxiety: How to Make and Use Herbal Remedies to Strengthen the Nervous System by Rosemary Gladstar is an accessible guide to the uses of herbs in combating  the affects of stress on the body. There is detailed information on the herbs used, recipes, and instructions for using the herbs and recipes safely.

Herbs for Stress & Anxiety is an accessible guide about how to make your herbal remedies to strengthen your nervous system and address a wide range of symptoms, including panic attacks, depression, insomnia, anxiety, headaches, migraines, herpes, neuralgia, and more. I liked that the book went into the specifics of the maladies to be treated and the herbs being mentioned. I do not always enjoy reading the personal philosophy that is included, but the information is well explained and some of the recipes included are ones that I will try.

I would recommend Herbs for Stress & Anxiety to readers that are looking to begin their journey, or solidify their knowledge, in working with herbs to manage some minor physical and physiological aspects of stress and anxiety. The recipes and herbal properties included are very well explained and organized.

Book Review: Rodale's Basic Organic Gardening: A Beginner's Guide to Starting a Healthy Garden by Deborah L. Martin, Editors Organic Gardening

Rodale's Basic Organic Gardening: A Beginner's Guide to Starting a Healthy Garden by Deborah L. Martin, is a great resource for those starting out in gardening, and for those that now a bit about gardening but want to go organic. The guidebook starts with the questions any begining gardener will have, such as "Do I need to dig?", "Where do I dig?", "How do I plant a seed?", and "How much should I water?". questions and their answers are presented in growing-season order, from garden planning and planting to growing and harvesting. other important subjects such as soil, compost, seeds, pest control, and weeds are explained in simple language to ensure success. over one hundred common garden terms are defined, and flower, vegetable, and herb finder highlights plants with good track records.

Rodale's Basic Organic Gardening offers the answers to just about every question a novice, and some more experienced, gardener might have. as someone that has always been around gardens and plants there were still small bits of information for me to make use of in this current growing season. I really liked that there were no-dig garden methods, simple garden layouts, and tips and hints on just about everything. I found the troubleshooting section particularly helpful since it targeted the most likely problems, and offers realistic solutions for gardeners of all skill levels.

If you are looking for an all around guidebook on getting started with a garden, particularly an organic garden, I suggest making use of the Rodale's Basic Organic Gardening. It is a good starting place, and a nice reference to keep around for the entire season as your garden, plants, and possible complications grow.

Early Book Review: Plant a Pocket of Prairie by Phyllis Root, Betsy Bowen

Plant a Pocket of Prairie, written by Phyllis Root and illustrated by Betsy Bowen, is a non fiction picturebook scheduled for publication on April 15 2014. The prairie once covered almost 40 percent of the United States and is currently one of the most endangered ecosystems. This book explains what a prairie is, why they are important, and how readers can bring back a little of the prairie in their own backyard.

Plant a Pocket of Prairie does a nice job of explaining the nature of prairies and the variety of wildlife in the ecosystem. There are specific suggestions for what readers might plant in order to help displaced or hungry animals and insects, as well as how to go about growing those plants. The airy illustrations capture the feel of the prairie and just might inspire a few pockets of prairie before readers finish the book. The text offers some great information, but did not really flow like I wanted it to. However, the book is still a lovely book and inspired me to change up my spring planting a little bit this year.

I would recommend Plant a Pocket of Prairie for school and library collections. I think this book would be a good classroom or homeschooling resource for talking about the environment, the prairie, and the webs of life. It might be particularly engaging for those that live in areas where there were once vast prairies.

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.