Marin IJ Articles

Winter Reading

by Diane Lynch

The holidays are almost history and January is a slow month in the garden. Pruning the roses shouldn't take too long unless you have a garden full of them. So you should have the luxury of some time to browse the garden catalogues you have been saving since the fall and maybe read a book or two. There is an extensive cornucopia of garden books out there, from old classics to new classics-in-the-making. Some of the Master Gardeners have serious book accumulation problems. Some of our favorite books are:

Among the great narrative garden books:

• ÒSecond Nature: A Gardener's EducationÓ by Michael Pollan is the lively and absorbing account of one man's experience in the garden. It explores man's relationship to nature in an entertaining, profound and beautifully written manner.
• ÒDeep in the Green: An Exploration of Country PleasuresÓ by Anne Raver is a collection of her garden columns from the New York Times. Insightful, philosophical and lyrically written, these short essays are perfect reading for short bits of time.
• ÒIn Search of Lost RosesÓ by Thomas Christopher is a delightful chronicle of his search for old roses, those originating before 1867 when hybridizing of roses began.
• ÒEpitaph for a PeachÓ by David Mas Masumoto is an eloquent piece of nature writing by a young author with a farmer's calluses and a poet's soul. It's a compelling story about saving a peach, a farm, a family, ultimately saving a way of life.
• ÒGreen Thoughts: A Writer in the GardenÓ by Eleanor Perenyi is a classic treasury of short horticulture essays, fun to read, full of practical wisdom.
• Mirabel Osler has written several books (ÒA Breath from Elsewhere: Musings on GardensÓ; ÒA Gentle Plea for ChaosÓ) which capture the essence of gardening. Osler's argument--to break the golden rules, follow your instincts, and create the garden that you desire--is made ever stronger by her personal approach, pointed humor, and skillful storytelling.
• ÒGardening by Heart: the Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary GardenÓ by Joyce McGreevy reflects on her own experiences, urging people to behold the natural world in this memoir/philosophy/garden tip volume.
• ÒThe OrchardÓ by Adele Robertson is a moving memoir of a woman's struggle to save her small family apple farm during the depression.
• ÒWest Coast GardenwalksÓ by Alice Joyce is a pocket guide to the best gardens from San Diego to Vancouver, containing highly readable essays on public and a few private nurseries and winery gardens.
• ÒThe Orchid ThiefÓ by Susan Orlean is the true story of orchid madness strong enough to inspire larceny among collectors.
• Mia Amato's ÒA Yardscapes YearÓ is a seasonal collection of essays that deal with all sorts of tips for gardening in the Bay Area, including great resources and websites for gardening related information and items.
• ÒThe Gardener's Gripe BookÓ by Abby Adams is an entertaining compendium of advice, history and great garden quotes.
• ÒEarth on Her Hands: The American Woman in Her GardenÓ by Starr Ockenga is a beautifully photographed collection of profiles of 18 women who have created outstanding gardens over several decades.

More in the realm of practical, how-to books on gardening include:

• ÒThe Landscaping Revolution: Garden with Mother Nature, Not Against HerÓ by Andy and Sally Wasowski is a practical guide to just what the title implies. The Wasowskis are funny but the principles put forth are important and passionately stated.
• ÒMaking More Plants: the Science, Art, and Joy of PropagationÓ by Ken Druse is a beautifully illustrated book about propagation that also presents the science and technique behind this magical process.
• ÒThe Forgotten PollinatorsÓ by Stephen Buchmann & Gary Nabhan delves into the little known and fascinating world of pollination. The authors, an entomologist and an ethnobotanist and nature writer, illustrate in clear yet proficient language the importance of this interaction between insect and plant.
• ÒThe Complete Book of Edible LandscapingÓ by Rosalind Creasy is a hefty, feature-packed book showing how you can create beauty around your home, grow delicious healthful produce, and save money and natural resources all at the same time -- by landscaping with edible plants. Check out her other books on edible herbs and Italian gardening.
• ÒSerene Gardens: Creating Japanese Design and Detail in the Western GardenÓ by Yoko Kawaguchi reveals how the Japanese approach to design can be adapted to create peaceful, contemplative gardens. A beautifully illustrated book with tips on plants and materials to create your own oasis.
• ÒThe Explorer's Garden: Rare and Unusual PerennialsÓ by Daniel Hinkley, owner of Heronswood Nursery in Washington state, tells of his love of hunting down rare plants in their native habitats and offers information on how to grow them.
• ÒGarden StructuresÓ by Linda Joan Smith is a Smith & Hawken book that beautifully illustrates that what separates the special garden from an ordinary one is not only what we plant in it, but also how we shape it. These elements have the power to define a garden's mood, guide its uses, anchor it in time, and deepen its meaning.
• ÒWorld of Garden Design: Inspiring Ideas from Around the Globe to Your BackyardÓ by Susan Dooley is a gorgeous tour of world gardens. Scant text and scrumptious photos make this book inspirational as a travel guide as well as providing ideas that can be adapted to home use.
• There are many books on medicinal plants including ÒMedicinal Plants of the Pacific WestÓ by Michael Moore and ÒEncyclopedia of Medicinal PlantsÓ by Andrew Chevalier. Moore's book includes range maps and drawings of the plants of the west with detailed information about how to use each plant. Chevalier's is an alphabetical reference guide on the chemistry and properties of herbs around the world including information on how to grow, harvest and store medicinal plants.
• ÒLittle Acorns: An Introduction to Marin County Plant LoreÓ by Ruth Stotter provides an introduction to our native plants and how they were important to early Californians.
• ÒSeed to SeedÓ by Suzanne Ashworth provides definitive information on seed gathering, processing and storage techniques for non-hybrid varieties. Hybrid seeds are in the control of large companies. You can be in control of heirloom varieties that do best in your garden. Happy eating.
• ÒGolden Gate GardeningÓ by Pam Peirce is a guide to food gardening in the Bay Area that is really much more than a vegetable book, with excellent chapters on microclimates, soils, pesticides.
• ÒGardening with a Wild HeartÓ by Judith Larner Lowry of Bolinas is a plea for growing more natives in our gardens and restoring California's native landscapes. Why have a garden that could just as well be in Kansas rather than a unique California garden?
• ÒBotany for GardenersÓ by Brian Capon is a practical guide to the structure, function and evolution of plants, a clear overview of botany as related to horticulture.

  For involving children in the garden try Sharon Lovejoy's books such as ÒHollyhock Days, Sunflower HousesÓ and ÒRoots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with ChildrenÓ, full of gardening ideas and odd tidbits that will foster a sense of wonder about your own backyard.

  Where to stop? There are so many wonderful garden books that this list is just a beginning. The American Horticultural Society has a terrific list available on its website (www.ahs.org) of "75 Great Garden Books" to celebrates its 75th anniversary. Amazon.com is a wealth of information on garden books. And don't forget to browse the garden section in your local library for interesting reading.

  
  

  This article appeared in the Marin Independent Journal on December 30, 2000.