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Designing with Plants
Piet Oudolf with Noel Kingsbury
TWG Editor: This is a book that I hope will be read by plant nurseries, for it includes all manner of plants that I have not seen for sale in the Midwest. These naturalistic plants are shown in the stunning combinations of color and texture contrast for which Oudolf is a genius. Eye popping swaths of color---the neighbors are really going to talk this time!
$28
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Gardening with Grasses
Michael King and Piet Oudolf
TWG Editor: This is a good book to have if you are developing a complete ornamental grass library; if you prefer a more American plant palette, then I would opt for the older book, Gardening with Nature, by James van Sweden [Random House, 1997] which includes diagrams of planting plans. I was particularly humored by a gorgeous photo in the Oudolf book: the garden featured cleome, purple fountain grass [Pennisetum], and datura; two of which will reseed unbelievably and the other will likely freeze to death. Don't plant everything you see in books!
$28
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Growing Shrubs and Small Trees in Cold Climates
Nancy Rose, Don Selinger, and John Whitman
Publisher's Description: If you live in a region in which winter temperatures can dip below -20°F (-29°C), then no matter how hot your summers, you live in a cold climate. In the United States, this broad northern tier sweeps from coast to coast, dipping as far south as Kansas and as far north as the coldest parts of Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, and Montana; it also encompasses most of Canada.
Growing Shrubs and Small Trees in Cold Climates provides all the help you need to select, plant, and care for cold-hardy shrubs and trees that thrive despite the challenges of your climate. Experts Nancy Rose, Don Selinger, and John Whitman have selected 750 varieties of woody plants proven--through extensive field testing--to grow well.
In clear, easy-to-use charts you will find the information you need to choose the trees and shrubs ideally suited to your area's growing conditions and your landscape design. A five-star rating system helps you select the best plants, and detailed lists of suppliers show you where to locate them.
$50
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Herbs for Health and Healing
Kathi Keville
TWG Editor: I can't say I eat my perennials yet, although I chuckled after noticing that my new bottle of "women's vitamins" contain Cimicifuga racemosa . [Had I known that false bugbane was so good for me, I would have sent the dog to dig some up, but I digress.] Somehow it is extremely comforting to read about the potions and lotions and cures that plants offer, even if I never lift a finger to actually conjure up a brew. This book is especially detailed and interesting.
$12
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Illinois Wetland Restoration and Creation Guide1
Alicia Nugteren Admiraal,
Marilyn J. Morris, Thomas C. Brooks, Jeffrey W. Olson, and Michael V. Miller
TWG Editor: This is a very practical guide to restoring our wetlands. Plain vanilla type document, but readers of TWG don't care about fancy anyway.
(217) 333-6880
$15
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Maples for Gardens
C.J. van Gelderen and D.M. van Gelderen
TWG Editor: We in the Midwest may not be able to grow every maple, but it is fantastic to be able to see photos of these gorgeous trees. An indispensable book, one which will make you want to start yet another tree collection.
$40
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Penstemons
Robert Nold
TWG Editor: A book about penstemons by an American is too good to be true. I haven't read this book yet, but any penstemon that is hardy to the Midwest is good with me. I bought some at a farmer's market in Burlington, Wisconsin, and they were still crazy with bloom in October. Do you suppose they'll be in my garden next October?
$24
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Take Two Plants
Nicola Ferguson
TWG Editor: Unfortunately this is full of plants that do not pertain to the Midwest's weather (I skipped the chapter entitled, "Winter Flowering Plants"), but the book's heart, format, and photographs are definitely in the right place. Arranged by category (aromatic foliage; purple, red, or bronze foliage; hot-colored flowers; green flowers, etc.), the book offers lots of great plant combinations. Too bad I never think of them when I'm planting.
$28
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The Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses
Richard Darke
TWG Editor: 325 page masterpiece. Simply necessary. Also available on CD-rom.
$40
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Trees of Indiana
Maryrose Wampler and Fred Wampler
Publisher's Description: All admirers of of fine nature art in Indiana and the Midwest know the distinctive and intricate paintings of Maryrose Wampler, and of her earlier book, Wildflowers of Indiana, which profiled 350 species and remains enormously popular.
Maryrose Wampler has now produced an ambitious volume dealing with Idniana's native trees. Each of the 72 color plaates depicts one species, presented as a living organism in its natural settings. Fred Wampler has contributed fascinating text to go with each plate, describing the tree's properties, natural history, uses, and special features. Trees of Indiana is a book for all art lovers and naturalists.
$50
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