Hit the Dirt; Garden Books

Good morning. This is Sally for hit the dirt. Books make wonderful gifts. They last They're there to be read and Re-Read. And there's no shortage of good books for gardeners. I borrowed from a friend the exuberant gardener and the controlling hand by William H Frederick Jr. the subtitle plant combinations for North American gardeners at fifty dollars. It is expensive but what a treasure of information descriptions and plans of different types of gardens followed by 38 appendices from to master this specialized list such as shallow soil preferences texture fragrance a structure all divided into zones and can be crossed reference to the master list. For those interested in perennials perennials for American gardens by Ruth Clawson and Nicholas Ekstrom and Alan Armitage is the basis perennial plants are both excellent references. Armitage is my favorite with difficult genera keyed out and references to further reading for many genera. The garden should be connected to the natural world surrounding it and should be planned with Habitat for

insects animals amphibians and birds in mind. Thoughtful gifts for those that garden with wild flora and fauna in mind would be guidebooks. Peterson ordered a good series too by John Eastman the book of forest and thicket and the book of swamp and bark which describe the whole community associated with each plant and its use under law for the science and law of trees red oaks and black birches by Rebecca Robb is full of fascinating information. Another book full of information on law is the history and folklore of North American wildflowers by Timothy coffee. These are not all plants of the northeast but some such as purple coneflowers and flax are common in the garden ferns and grasses are used in the natural habitat garden and they are both difficult to identify. How to know the ferns by Francis Theodora Passons is a Dover reprint and a classic Some of the botanical nomenclature may have changed since it was first published in 1899. But the descriptions and law

are valuable and a tiny pocket guide called the fern finder by Adam Barbara Halliwell. Is put out by the nature study guild in California. It is uniquely keyed out and very helpful for grasses there's Lauren brands of grasses and identification guide. It is also keyed out and has a very clear line drawings that help in identification tying all of us together with gardening is a very thought provoking book by Sara Stein Noah's garden which is a plea for more ecological consideration in planting a garden. A plea to return to being connected with nature. Two of our greatest problems in the garden slugs and deer and there is a book addressing each. The Field Guide to the slug by the Western society of Malakal adjusts and gardening in deer country by Karen Jessica Byrne ud which suggests peaceful coexistence and the means to accomplish it. Books of essays an anthology is a wonderful bedside companions Ellen a perennial go green

thoughts Michael Pollan's second day today says the garden is I Henry Mitchell's the essential Earthman all near my bed and a couple I would like to have by my bed all the year in bloom by an Lovejoy and there are Argo book of women gardeners edited by Deborah Kellaway that is given five stars in the capability books catalog and add Pavel's gardening companion described in the same catalogue as modern fresh garden writing. Is another of my choices. My last two gems of a plant name enthusiastic Alan Coombes dictionary of plant names. And botanical Latin by William T St.. That delves more deeply in the language that is somewhat different from classical language. Happy Giving. Happy reading this is Sally for hit the dirt.