Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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Larry Sagers Horticultural Specialist Utah State University Extension Service Thanksgiving Point Office © All Rights Reserved
For more garden gift ideas, read yesterday’s column in the Deseret Morning News. ‘Tis the season to be jolly and finding the perfect gift for the gardener or gardeners in your life sometimes gets a little complicated. Giving the right plant at this time of year is not always an option as that favorite tree shrub or perennial is not available to plant in our gardens right now.
Seeds and tools are welcome but are likely to remain in mothballs for several months waiting for the weather to catch up with our gardening desires. That being the case, I have decided to focus on gardening books as wonderful Christmas gifts that give now and keep on giving in the future.
The decision about garden books is not as simple as it might seem. Each year, dozens of new titles grace the shelves of local nurseries and booksellers. Sifting through these titles is somewhat daunting but I will share some new titles along with some old favorites.
To find the right book, look at the gardener’s interests. For a beginning gardener, a general encyclopedic overview might be a suitable choice. For a more experienced tiller of the soil a book about their chosen specialty is a good choice. Every gardener appreciates a good reference book or two on plants, pests or other pertinent subjects.
The Flower Gardener’s Bible is another new book by Lewis and Nancy Hill who are two of America’s most popular garden writers. It is billed as offering the information “… that separates folks who just stick plants in the ground from folks who know how to create a glorious garden that is the showpiece of their neighborhood (maybe even their whole town!).
The book takes a unique three-part approach to flower gardening. The first part covers practical information on how to choose the right plants for your garden and the how to create and maintain beautiful gardens.
Past two of the book includes a unique collection of 25 different garden plans. These one-of-a kind theme gardens include a plant list and detailed information on how to care for those plants. The themes include herb gardens, water gardens, cottage gardens, shade gardens and many other exciting possibilities.
The final part of the book is an encyclopedia of more than 350 flowering plants. This reference includes growing instructions and information on how to control potential insect and disease problems. Because Lewis Hill spent 55 years in the nursery business, he includes detailed information on the best way to propagate each of these flowers.
The Flower Gardener’s Bible by Lewis and Nancy Hill is published by Storey books and is available from bookseller locally or by contacting www.storey.com.
