Books for a gardener's winter reading
Once the holidays are over, gardeners settle in for a long winter indoors. An armchair and a stack of garden books help scratch our gardening itch until we can once again sink our green thumbs in spring soil. There are a bevy of volumes to devour - here are just a few titles you will enjoy.
"The Living Landscape" by Rick Darke and Doug Tallamy is a beautiful guide to creating and maintaining a landscape that is not only beautiful and functional for its human inhabitants but also offers food and shelter for wildlife. The authors begin by examining layered landscapes in natural settings from tree canopies at the top, to the ground layer of organic matter with a multitude of living organisms including earthworms, insects and fungi. Then they show us how to apply these principles in home landscapes. Regional charts listing ecological and landscape functions of trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials are a great resource. The inspiring text and striking photographs encourage readers to consider their landscapes in a whole new way.
In "Coffee for Roses … and 70 Other Misleading Myths about Backyard Gardening," C.L. Fornari takes on garden practices passed down through generations. With wit and wisdom, she dispels long-held beliefs like pine needles acidify the soil and a layer of rocks at the bottom of a pot improves drainage. "Coffee for Roses" is a fun, short read perfect for a snowy afternoon.
R. William Thomas gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at Chanticleer public garden in "The Art of Gardening: Design Inspiration and Innovative Planting Techniques from Chanticleer." It is filled with down-to-earth gardening advice while showcasing the grand beauty of the garden's diverse areas - from the bulb meadow and shade garden to the vegetable garden and Asian woodland. Readers can easily transfer ideas to their own gardens. A pen and paper should be kept close by for jotting down tips and beginning a plant wish list for spring. The photography by Rob Cardillo reveals the magical beauty of the garden - perfect for winter daydreams.
The longer I garden, the more I appreciate the foliage of plants. Karen Chapman and Christina Salwitz share their passion for the texture and color of foliage in "Fine Foliage: Elegant Plant Combinations for Garden and Container." They reveal the design secrets of professional designers and give gardeners more than 60 recipes of plant partnerships - some for sun, some for shade. Whether you prefer subtle textural blends or high energy, contrasting combinations, you will start planning your summer containers. The exquisite photography in "Fine Foliage" will surely chase away the gray from winter days.
Shawna Coronado proves the lack of space cannot stand in the way of gardening. In "Grow a Living Wall: Create Vertical Gardens with Purpose," Coronado shows how to garden vertically in a wide range of styles. Gardens are shown, with step-by-step instructions, in 12 themes, including culinary, herbal, pollinator and budget-conscious. Her passion for growing is infectious. Another reason I love this book is the author planted and displayed many of her vertical gardens at The Planter's Palette. We felt privileged to watch them grow into living works of art.
• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist and the garden center manager at The Planter's Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield. Call (630) 293-1040, ext. 2, or visit planterspalette.com.