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Thursday, December 17, 2009

Good Reads for Gardeners


Got that "garden withdrawl" feeling this winter? Feeling those "wish I could garden" blues? Try snuggling up with one of these good reads recommended by Jefferson County Master Gardener, Carol King. They would also make a great gift for a fellow gardener.




Coffee Table Books

Colorado’s Great Gardens: Plains, Mountains & Plateaus, Text by Georgia Garnsey, Photography by Rob Proctor.  Westcliffe Publishers, 1998.
Don’t let the date on this fool you.  This is a beautifully photographed, inspirationally written book about local gardeners.  It makes you want to be a part of the second edition!  If only............

Earth on Her Hands; The American Woman and Her Garden, by Star Ockenga. Clarkson N Potter Publishers, 1998.
Another older edition but a classic.  Winner of the American Horticultural Society’s Book Award, this lovely tribute to America’s master gardeners takes readers from coast to coast.  Perfect for your women gardener friends!

Plant Driven Design; Creating Gardens That Honor Plants, Place, and Spirit, by Scott Ogden & Lauren Springer Ogden. Timber Press, 2008.
The latest by this respected couple. They are reported to be creating some of the most important and horticulturally sophisticated gardens in America. This book offers hours of enjoyment and inspiration.

Jefferson County CSU Extension Master Gardener Library
These are some of our most important reference works from the hotline library. They are the backbone of our work and would very helpful for the home gardener. Consider one of them for your gardener friends who are really into plant and insect identification, diagnosing their own garden ills and proper pruning techniques.

Guide to Colorado Insects, by Whitney Cranshaw and Boris Kondratieff. Westcliffe Publishers, 2006.

An Illustrated Guide to Pruning, by Edward F. Gilman. Second Edition. Delmar Publishing, 2002.

Insects and Diseases of Woody Plants of the Central Rockies, a Project of Colorado State Cooperative Extension and the Colorado State Forest Service. 2004.  Available at CSU 877-692-9358.

Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses, by Michael A. Dirr. Stipes Publishing.  1998.

Random “Much-Loved” Gardening Books

The Education of a Gardener, by Russell Page. Random House, 1983.

The Garden in Winter; Plant for Beauty and Interest in the Quiet Season, by Suzy Bales. Rodale Press, 2007.

From the Ground Up: The Story of a First Garden, Amy Stewart, St. Martin’s Griffin, 2001

Gardening on a Shoestring, by Rob Procter. Johnson Books, 2006.

My Garden (Book) by Jamaica Kincaid. Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1999.

A Natural History of North American Trees by Donald Culross Peattie. Houghton Mifflin, 2007.

Otherwise Normal People: Inside the Thorny World of Competitive Rose Gardening, Aurelia Scott, Algonquin Books, 2007.

Passionate Gardening; Good Advice for Challenging Climates, by Lauren Springer and Rob Proctor.  Fulcrum Publishing, 2000.

The Undaunted Garden; Planting for Weather-Resilient Beauty, Text and Photographs by Lauren Springer. Fulcrum Publishing, 1994.

Xeriscape Plant Guide. Denver Water.  Fulcrum Publishing, 1998.

The Zen of Gardening in the High and Arid West, by David Wann. Fulcrum Publishing 2003.
Favorite Gardening Magazines

The American Gardener, Magazine of the American Horticultural Society.

Fine Gardening, Taunton Press.

Garden Gate, August Home Publishing.

Gardening How-To, National Home Gardening Club.

Horticulture, The Art and Science of Smart Gardening, FW Media, Inc.

Garden Website Subscription

Dave’s Garden Weekly. How about a year’s subscription to this fact, fun filled website!