Summer reading for nature lovers
Enthusiastic gardeners and nature lovers enjoy writing and teaching. They produce hundreds of books and videos each year. When requesting review copies, I ask for the ones that I think will appeal to a wide audience.
This list reviews books and a DVD published between 2008 and 2011. They are about garlic, projects for grandparents, attracting pollinators, vines, disastrous bugs and organic solutions for plant problems.
The information includes the publication information plus the full price and the online booksellers’ price.
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Armitage’s Vines and Climbers by Allan Armitage. Published 2010 by Timber Press (www.timberpress.com and 800-327-5680) 205 pages. $30 to $20.
Whether you prefer woody vines and climbers or herbaceous (ones that die back to the ground in the winter), Armitage’s wisdom will guide you to choose the best selections for the space you want to cover.
“Attracting Native Pollinators: Protecting North America’s Bees and Butterflies” by Xerces Society authors Eric Mader, Matthew Shephard, Mace Vaughan, Scott Black and Gretchen LeBuhn. Published 2011 by Storey Publishing Books for Country Living (www.storey.com and 413-346-2100) 365 pages. $30 to $20.
Everyone has a vested interest in reversing the frightening reduction of pollinators in our environment. One-third of our food relies on the health of butterflies, bees, flies, wasps and moths. You can help preserve them.
“Complete Book of Garlic: A Guide for Gardeners, Growers, and Serious Cooks” by Ted Jordan Meredith. Published 2008 by Timber Press (www.timberpress.com and 800-327-5680) 325 pages. $39 to $21.
This is a beautifully photographed and illustrated, coffee-table worthy, book for gardeners and those who love to cook and eat garlic. Grow your own!
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“Phlox: A Natural History and Gardener’s Guide” by James Locklear. Published 2011 by Timber Press. 300-pages. $50 to $27.
In mountains, flower beds and grasslands, Phlox is one of the most popular flowering plants. “Phlox” has their history and horticultural preferences as well as gorgeous photos and scientific notes.
“Pruning Shrubs with Your Personal Gardener: Learn how to prune your shrubs with the guidance of your personal pruning coach” – DVD by Carol Chernega. Published 2008 by One Garden at a Time (www.onegardenatatime.biz and 724-575-2106) a one hour DVD $35.
If you have a shrub or a tree in your yarden (yard/garden), you want this DVD. Everything you need to know presented by a patient teacher who garden in PA.
“Resilient Gardener: Food Production and Self-Reliance in Uncertain Times” by Carol Deppe. Published 2010 by Chelsea Green Publishing (www.chelseagreen.com and 802-295-6300) 320 pages, paperback. $30 to $18.
This is a self-sufficiency book about raising poultry for eggs and growing seven foods that store well. Deppe is a gluten-intolerant food scientist and plant breeder.
“Toad Cottages and Shooting Stars: Grandma’s Bag of Tricks” by Sharon Lovejoy. Published 2010 by Workman Publishing (www.workman.com and 800-722-7202) 200 pages, paperback. $15 to $7.
Recipes for food and fun with children cover the artistically illustrated pages: Alphabet soup, sprouting potatoes, firefly lanterns, pumpkin patches, etc.
“What’s Wrong with My Plant? (And How Do I Fix It?)” by David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth. Published 2009 by Timber Press. 450 pages, paperback $25 to $14.
Written by plant pathologists, “What’s Wrong?” thoroughly covers diagnosis and cure in 3 parts: Simple to follow, illustrated, flow charts of problems, organic approaches to cures and photographs to clarify diagnosis.
“Wicked Bugs: The Louse that Conquered Napoleon’s Army and Other Diabolical Insects” by Amy Stewart and illustrated by Briony Morrow-Cribbs. Published 2011 by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. 270 pages, 5”by 7”. $19 to $11.
Stewart humorously tells the stories of over 100 bugs including hornets, millipedes, bookworms and Japanese beetles. An entertaining summer read.
This list reviews books and a DVD published between 2008 and 2011. They are about garlic, projects for grandparents, attracting pollinators, vines, disastrous bugs and organic solutions for plant problems.
The information includes the publication information plus the full price and the online booksellers’ price.
Armitage’s Vines and Climbers by Allan Armitage. Published 2010 by Timber Press (www.timberpress.com and 800-327-5680) 205 pages. $30 to $20.
Whether you prefer woody vines and climbers or herbaceous (ones that die back to the ground in the winter), Armitage’s wisdom will guide you to choose the best selections for the space you want to cover.
“Attracting Native Pollinators: Protecting North America’s Bees and Butterflies” by Xerces Society authors Eric Mader, Matthew Shephard, Mace Vaughan, Scott Black and Gretchen LeBuhn. Published 2011 by Storey Publishing Books for Country Living (www.storey.com and 413-346-2100) 365 pages. $30 to $20.
Everyone has a vested interest in reversing the frightening reduction of pollinators in our environment. One-third of our food relies on the health of butterflies, bees, flies, wasps and moths. You can help preserve them.
“Complete Book of Garlic: A Guide for Gardeners, Growers, and Serious Cooks” by Ted Jordan Meredith. Published 2008 by Timber Press (www.timberpress.com and 800-327-5680) 325 pages. $39 to $21.
This is a beautifully photographed and illustrated, coffee-table worthy, book for gardeners and those who love to cook and eat garlic. Grow your own!
“Phlox: A Natural History and Gardener’s Guide” by James Locklear. Published 2011 by Timber Press. 300-pages. $50 to $27.
In mountains, flower beds and grasslands, Phlox is one of the most popular flowering plants. “Phlox” has their history and horticultural preferences as well as gorgeous photos and scientific notes.
“Pruning Shrubs with Your Personal Gardener: Learn how to prune your shrubs with the guidance of your personal pruning coach” – DVD by Carol Chernega. Published 2008 by One Garden at a Time (www.onegardenatatime.biz and 724-575-2106) a one hour DVD $35.
If you have a shrub or a tree in your yarden (yard/garden), you want this DVD. Everything you need to know presented by a patient teacher who garden in PA.
“Resilient Gardener: Food Production and Self-Reliance in Uncertain Times” by Carol Deppe. Published 2010 by Chelsea Green Publishing (www.chelseagreen.com and 802-295-6300) 320 pages, paperback. $30 to $18.
This is a self-sufficiency book about raising poultry for eggs and growing seven foods that store well. Deppe is a gluten-intolerant food scientist and plant breeder.
“Toad Cottages and Shooting Stars: Grandma’s Bag of Tricks” by Sharon Lovejoy. Published 2010 by Workman Publishing (www.workman.com and 800-722-7202) 200 pages, paperback. $15 to $7.
Recipes for food and fun with children cover the artistically illustrated pages: Alphabet soup, sprouting potatoes, firefly lanterns, pumpkin patches, etc.
“What’s Wrong with My Plant? (And How Do I Fix It?)” by David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth. Published 2009 by Timber Press. 450 pages, paperback $25 to $14.
Written by plant pathologists, “What’s Wrong?” thoroughly covers diagnosis and cure in 3 parts: Simple to follow, illustrated, flow charts of problems, organic approaches to cures and photographs to clarify diagnosis.
“Wicked Bugs: The Louse that Conquered Napoleon’s Army and Other Diabolical Insects” by Amy Stewart and illustrated by Briony Morrow-Cribbs. Published 2011 by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. 270 pages, 5”by 7”. $19 to $11.
Stewart humorously tells the stories of over 100 bugs including hornets, millipedes, bookworms and Japanese beetles. An entertaining summer read.
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