In his book, Tiny + Wild, author and landscape designer Graham Laird Gardner provides a guide for turning a small part of a yard into a mini-meadow. The area can be as small as a window box or the area around a mailbox and still support nature, contribute to biodiversity, and reduce climate change. In this book, readers will find all the information they need to create a successful low-maintenance naturalistic garden.
After discussing the many benefits of naturalistic plantings, the author provides detailed directions to site selection, garden design, soil preparation, plant selection, planting, and maintenance of a naturalistic garden while satisfying the specific wants and needs of the gardener. We learn methods of clearing the site of unwanted vegetation, strategies for plant instillation and ways to reduce weeds, pests, and diseases with the least damage to the environment.
One of the most valuable part of the book deals with plant selection and presents plants lists and charts to enable readers to choose the best plants for their climate and conditions. For example, the chart for mid-height plants for dry sunny areas include sunset hyssop, wholeleaf indian paintbrush, and pearly everlasting, while the one for mesic to wet plants in sun include boneset, northern blue flag iris, and rough goldenrod. Other charts give examples of annuals, grasses, edible plants, groundcovers, part shade plants and bulbs. Each chart provides botanical and common name, height, width, bloom time, bloom color, and native range, as well as information unique to the plant group.
Gardner makes a very good case for naturalistic planting and provides many examples of naturalistic gardens that are aesthetically pleasing. He writes in a direct, simple style that conveys the depth of his knowledge without overwhelming the reader, and is filled with enthusiasm for his subject matter. The numerous photographs educate and emphasize the beauty of naturalized garden by showing the many different ways they can be applied. Although his charts for plants selection are a great help, the inclusion of more native plants and less exotics would be desirable, especially in regard to support of wildlife. In addition, the charts could be improved by including the hardiness zones for each species since hardiness is crucial to success for perennials.
To buy Tiny + Wild from Amazon, click here.
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