Read any good gardening books lately?

I usually read gardening books in the winter time. They tend to recharge my enthusiasm during the "down time" from the gardening season and get me excited for the coming spring. This year has been an exception and I have been reading quite a few books lately. For one thing, gardening books seem to be coming back on the scene after a long dull period. Back in the 1990s, the publishing market was over-saturated with books on the subject and it has taken some time to reignite that interest. 

Since I am a librarian, I keep up with the trade publications (like "Publisher's Weekly" and "Library Journal") and I catch reviews of titles that might otherwise sneak by me. I also review books and often get offered copies of upcoming titles before they are published.

Here are some books that I really enjoyed and would recommend. Some were published this year and others have been out for a few years. This is not the entire list so I will do a "Part 2" soon.

Gardens for a Beautiful America, 1895-1935 by Sam Watters. Acanthus Press, 2012.

I was not familiar with Frances Benjamin Johnston. She was a photographer of architecture, presidents, celebrities and gardens in the early 1900s. Her garden photography established her as somewhat of a celebrity herself, notably in gardening circles. She was commissioned to photograph the gardens and estates of wealthy Americans and helped document the advances of beautification in this country.

This book features 250 of her hand colored glass-plate lantern slides that have been preserved by the Library of Congress. The gardens she photographed were on the East Coast, West Coast and a few Southern gardens as well. There is also a section of European gardens.

Deep-Rooted Wisdom: Stories and Skills from Generations of Gardeners by Jenks Farmer. Timber Press, 2014.


I loved this book! The author discusses methods of gardening that time and technology have pretty much swept aside. He covers a wide range of topics, from soil building techniques and propagating to the wonderful tools that our grandparents used. Each section includes a gardening mentor who influenced the author and shows how their practices work in their own gardens. 

The Forest Unseen: A Year's Watch in Nature by David George Haskell. Penguin Books, 2012.

This is not really a "gardening" book but I think anyone who loves plants and nature will find it fascinating. The author is a biology professor at Sewanee University. For this book, he conducted an experiment in which he selected a small section of Tennessee forest (he refers to it as a "mandala") and visited that spot periodically throughout the year to just sit and obverse nature in action. Each chapter focuses on a single activity, whether it is watching a chickadee foraging for food on a harsh winter's day or how a certain plant competes to survive. Interesting stuff!

Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life: The Plants and Places That Inspired the Classic Children's Tales by Marta McDowell. Timber Press, 2014.

I did not know much about Beatrix Potter and I never read the Peter Rabbit books. It turns out she was an avid gardener. She purchased many properties during her lifetime but it was in England's Lake District, where she created her garden and home, called "Hill Top",  that is preserved today for tourists and fans. This book was not only a pleasure to read but I love the way it is designed, with beautiful illustrations and photographs.

Plants With Benefits: An Uninhibited Guide to the Aphrodisiac Herbs, Fruits, Flowers & Veggies in Your Garden by Helen Yoest. St. Lynn's Press, 2014.

The author profiles 45 plants known for their aphrodisiac properties. This unique book has all kinds of fascinating tidbits about plants and their histories as well as recipes. This includes herbs, vegetables and fruits. Illustrated with great photos.


If you want to purchase any of these from Amazon, just click on the title link and it will take you there.

More to come!

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy