5 comments about Designing California Native Gardens: The Plant Community Approach to Artful, Ecological Gardens.

1. This book is excellent, with many good photographic examples of complete native landscape. It also set for an excellent philosophy for landscape design for the both the use of native and non-native plants. However it really shouldn't be thought of as a complete source for native gardening. I would also suggest that you pick up 'California Native Plants for the Garden' by Carol Bornstein, David Fross, and Bart O'Brien. Even between these two books all of the possibilities for beautiful California native plants and landscapes created using them have not yet been fully explored, but these books are an excellent start.



2. -We need more books like this to make Native Gardening more amenable. What "Landscapers' Challenge" did for Landscaping, this book will hopefully start to do to open up the still rather arcane world of Native Plants. It is practical and full of detailed, appropriate, high quality photographs of sample materials. Visually on par with "Landscape Plants for Western Regions" by Perry.



3. Love this book, gets you to think in terms of plant groupings & not just on a singular level.



4. This book is a must have for the California native gardener. I'd say the book's biggest strength is in its' inspiration- contains nice photographs of natural landscapes and gardens modeled after them. It groups plants by communities which is nice, though maybe hard to do. I know I live in an area which doesn't fit exactly into of any of the communities they list, but I can still get the idea they are trying to convey, and look around at what is in my community. California is so diverse you almost want a bunch of more specific and in-depth books for different areas inside California, but I guess maybe those areas of interest are too small to sell enough books to make it worth the while.
   
   It does a good job listing different kinds of plants, my only complaint with this book is that I would have liked more pictures accompanying each plant for which information is given- because you really can't tell from the brief physical description what the plant looks like. As someone else has mentioned, this book is best paired with California Native Plants For The Garden. However, this complaint should be taken with a grain of salt, for designing a California native garden I think this book is the best on the market. Together, these two books provide the backbone to build your California native plant book collection around.



5. I was looking for a book that would give me a comprehensive guide to xeriscaping with native plants. This book contains one section that approaches my needs but is more of an overview over the native plants of the many diverse vegetation zones of the states. For what it is, it is a nice book. Just not a match for me.

5 comments about The Southern Living Garden Book.

1. this is a wonderful guide to all the plants growing in the SouthEast. i treasured this book thru gardens in maryland, virginia, and south carolina. however, if you move to Florida, this is not the book for you. here, the growing seasons as well as many of the plants change. but it is a fantastic reference for everyone else.



2. This book is an indispensable resource, both for my work answering homeowner gardening questions and for my own gardening interests. The plant descriptions are easy to find (both common and Latin names are in the index) and a breeze to understand. This is a great reference manual for Southern gardeners.



3. This is the most comprehensive book on a single subject I have ever seen. An absolute must for the beginner or seasoned gardener. If you have only one book on southern gardening then buy this one and forget the rest. Steve Bender and Southern Living have created a reference work of true beauty. I am retired and considered the extent of my gardening knowledge was my ability to dig a hole and turn on the water. This book gave me the confidence to discover the joys of home gardening.
   
   I ordered my copy in soft cover and may order a hard cover edition to pass on to my children as a sourthern classic.



4. This book is very informative. It's everything one would expect from Southern Living. Nice pictures. Up to date varieties. Would strongly recommend to Southern gardeners.



5. I am new to the world of gardening and also the south. I found this book helpful in picking native plants for my area and how to keep them looking beautiful year after year.

4 comments about Earth User's Guide to Permaculture 2nd Edition.

1. Well, I am no expert, but if one book were going to get me there, this is the one. It has everything from suggested diagrams for planting your permaculture yard or acreage, to planting techniques for us late starters. If you only get one book on the subject, this is a good choice.



2. The author has had many years of international experience in training people
   in all aspects of the permaculture philosophy and lifestyle.
   With global warming making the whole issue more pressing, the book is
   easy to read, covers all areas including disaster planning and shows how
   fulfilling is is to tread lightly on the earth and regain control of basic
   aspects of living. To become a permaculturist is to join a world-wide
   movement of individuals determined to leave the world a better place.



3. I stumbled across the Earth User's Guide to Permaculture when I was searching for good books on the topic as I was looking for material to help start our permaculture garden, and the good reviews I read online convinced me to buy it. And am I glad I did!
   
   I only had a very general idea about permaculture, and most of it was "theoretical". There's a plethora of free information available online as to WHY permaculture, but there isn't much about HOW. This book is an excellent guide which addresses this need, explaining in a simple manner the varied and multi-faceted techniques and processes of creating and nurturing your own permaculture garden/farm.
   
   The book is divided in to 6 main sections:
   Part 1: An observing and appraising eye
   Part 2: Ecological themes in permaculture
   Part 3: Applying permaculture
   Part 4: Adding resilience to design
   Part 5: Social permaculture
   
   The first two parts talk extensively on the WHY of permaculture, and the next three sections talk about HOW in detail.
   
   If you are like me, a newbie to permaculture, this is the one book you should have on your shelf. I'm sure veterans too would find it quite useful.



4. This is my favorite Permaculture book so far. I've read several, but "Earth User's Guide to Permaculture" seems to have the most practical, hands-on information. It is presented in an easy to understand format, with exercises that will help the reader gain the necessary skills. A wonderful overview of Permaculture.

5 comments about Weeds of the Northeast (Comstock Books).

1. A very useful book for those of us in the northeast seeking to identify weeds and wildflowers. Certainly a one-of-a-kind publication.



2. Because this book is selective and regional rather than comprehensive, it has been extremely useful in identifying and providing info on the "weeds" I am likely to see. The descriptive information on all stages of the plant, in combination with photos, rather than a focus on flower and secondarily on leaves, make this easy to use for nonexperts like myself; it also sets it apart from the (also useful) Newcomb book and other field guides I have. (In gardening, it is especially useful to be able to identify weeds at their early stages.) The organization of the book is reasonable, but it is also easy enough to leaf through to spot weeds by photo.
   The "weed management" focus of the book (weeds being viewed from the standpoint of crops, orchards, and nurseries) means that it includes native as well as nonnative plants (although the descriptions mention where the weed is a native). It is interesting to me to see what native plants are considered nuisances. My own primary interest is in environmental balance, the promotion of native plants, and the control of invasive nonnatives, and while this not a main resource for me, I find it very useful.
   Incidentally, I have Eastman's "The Book of Field and Roadside," which is an extremely entertaining, idiosyncratic adjunct.



3. A comprehensive book, easy to locate the various types of weeds. I was puzzled by a weed? that popped up last year and again this year Only in increasing numbers. I was finally able to locate and identify it using this book.



4. As many have said, this book is very useful for identifying weed-like plants. I have already used it to id more plants more easily, than I have with any of my other id books.
   
   The downside, is that it essentially ignores whether plants are native or not. To me, that matters A LOT. Native plants may be considered weeds, but they are much more supportive of wildlife and in tune with the ecosystem, and I think the distinction is worthy of being made. Even descriptions for non-native plants that are considered to be invasive make little mention of this fact.



5. This book was recommended to by by a university professor who uses this as a textbook in class, and I can certainly see why. There are several outstanding features besides the excellent disctiptions and pictures of plants at diferent stages of growth. How to identify a weed, a dichotomous key, shorcut ID tables, and a grass chart. Every gardener should have this book in her/his library. Of course, along with the knowlege in this book is the old "chestnut" every gardener should know, "A plant is a weed if it's growing where you don't want it to grow."

5 comments about American Horticultural Society Pruning & Training (American Horticultural Society Practical Guides).

1. I kill plants! Not on purpose just some people are green thumb challenged. My husband and I bought quite a few fruit tree last summer and we had no idea how to prune them this book has saved me it is easy to understand(for those of us who are not gifted in yard care things) and easy to follow with lots of good information. It also is not a pruning for dummies book it really is for anybody I think even experienced gardeners would love it. It is just clean and uncomplicated.



2. This book is the best I have seen on pruning all types of plants. Good use of pictures as well.



3. Recommended by a professor of horticulture as an excellent pruning manual, this book has excellent charts and diagrams of many different woody plants.



4. This is a well illustrated and thought out book covering alot of material. It goes into depth on some items but not all of the ones I was hoping for. However, on the bright side, I learned some things that I didn't know and filled in a gap or 2 on some things I was already pretty familiar with. Great book if you want to cover alot of ground, not so good if you are looking for very narrow specifics.



5. Saw this book at regular retail store but it was too expensive. Checked Amazon and the price was right! I thought I knew all about pruning and found it a "therapeutic pleasure" then I learned so much more from this publcation. It's excellent. Lots of detail, color pictures and virtually all plants, trees & shrubs and their structure types are covered. I highly recommend this one - puts the others in the shade with clear up-to-date & authorative ideas & instructions.

5 comments about Sunset Western Landscaping Book.

1. The best garden book overall. A smart book. Creative. Great pics. VERY Comprensive. Wish Id bought hardback.Complete. Very readable. Projects are suberb. Voluminous. A must for every serious gardener.



2. Famous Landscape Architect Thomas Church once wrote: " Landscaping is logical, down-to-earth and aimed at making your plot of ground produce what you want and need from it."
   
   The original bestseller, "Sunset Western Garden Book" is one of the best encyclopedia and is the "Bible" of Western Gardening. I am very happy to read its companion, "Sunset Western Landscaping Book." This new addition to the Sunset family is a great attempt in covering the design aspect of landscaping. It covers topography, climate, lifestyle, plants, and environment. It starts with the purpose, design and planning of gardens, microclimates, seasons, soils, understanding of site, Western garden styles, the process from plan to reality, and gardens in different regions of the West. It continues to explore the use of various garden structures (arbors, decks, fences, fireplaces, gazebos, kitchens, paths, patios, steps, walls, etc) and garden plants (trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, annuals, bulbs, herbs, fruits and vegetables, ornamental grasses, wild flowers, and succulents, etc) in landscaping. It also discusses finishing touches (lighting, containers, birdhouses, garden art, water features, etc), regional problems and solutions, materials and techniques, and landscape plans.
   
   I like the color landscape plans in "Sunset Western Landscaping Book." I can tell Fiona Gilsenan and Kathleen Norris Brenzel and their team put in a lot of effort in creating and selecting the plans. They also have good, professionally trained eyes. The colors of the plans are harmonious and pleasant. They can be used as good samples for selecting colors for landscape presentation plans.
   
   "Sunset Western Landscaping Book" has 416 pages and many color interior photographs. It is a fine companion to "Sunset Western Garden Book" and a must-have for personal, professional, academic, and community library Gardening & Landscaping reference collections.
   
   Gang Chen, Author of "LEED AP Exam Guide" & "Planting Design Illustrated." LEED AP, AIA
   
   



3. This book has some really good ideas for gardening and landscaping in the desert. Anyone who lives in the desert knows what a challenge it is to grow a beautiful garden AND be a good steward of the limited, precious resources. The only negative comment is that the garden examples are mostly from California. It would be more helpful to me if there were more examples and discussion on high desert gardening in places like Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico.



4. This book has a host of sensible ideas for gardens and outdoor living spaces. Totally suitable for New Zealand lifestyle and climate.



5. I've purchased several landscaping books recently, and this is by far my favorite. There are hundreds of pictures for inspiration, so I often flip through it when I'm feeling bored. The organizational style is very user-friendly, which makes it easy to find ideas for specific landscaping projects. I really like the lists they include of their favorite types of plants for certain settings (broken down by region and specific use). The garden plans are very nice; however, they don't include dimensions, which would be extremely helpful. Overall a very valuable household resource. It also makes an excellent housewarming gift.

5 comments about California Native Plants for the Garden.

1. I bought this book several weeks ago and am very happy with it! Lots of helpful and useful information...and great photos too. This book is definitely a great resource if you are interested in landscaping with California native plants.



2. This is one of two must have books if you are interested in gardening with native California plants. This book is definitely the 'guidebook' half of that collection (the other being Designing California Native Gardens). It does an excellent job of getting you acquainted with all the different plants you may be wanting to bring into your garden, and in giving you actual photographs of the plants! One giant peeve of mine in gardening books and guidebooks is the use of hand done illustrations- in other contexts they are charming but you really can't get a feel for a plant unless you are looking at its' actual picture. It just gives you a much better feeling for the plant- the texture of it's leaves, the weediness of its' growth habit, that kind of thing. This is a book you will find yourself using as a reference again and again. Five stars are given enthusiastically.



3. A beautifully written and edited book that is a must have for the avid gardener. Possibly the 'Bible' of California native plants. I keep it close by for reference or when heading out to do my buying.



4. This book is beautifully illustrated and very comprehensive. I know I'll be using it for many years to come. It is a cut above the others.



5. In additon to a wonderful collection of native plant profile which you'd expect from a book of this kind, this book also provides plant selection recommendation for different function or desired feature which I found to be most practical. You also get a list of nurseries for purchasing, botanic gardens or similar for learning native plants. That's not all. The short yet informational introduction of the history, design and care of native plant is educational. It's a great book for an out-of-state person like me, native plant beginners, or even professionals.

5 comments about Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades: The Complete Guide to Organic Gardening.

1. This is the bible for NW people and gardens....clay soil? Fertile valley soil? It helped me work on the best soil and is great for the unpredicatable NWest winter, spring and summer. Add this to your collection and be sure to read it !



2. This is a great resource for gardeners in the PacNW. My only caveat is that it's not geared towards beginners. If you're looking for something to help you get started you should probably get this and something else in conjunction. This'll help you tailor your garden to the unique conditions of the Northwest.



3. I found this book to be incredibly useful. I get tired of being told to wait until my soil thaws in the spring, and articles talking about those humid summer nights are definitely not by locals. Much of the advice that applies well to gardeners across the continent comes up pretty short around here. From soil fertility to choosing suitable varieties to planting schedules, Steve Solomon covers all the specifics that make Cascadia a unique growing climate.
   
   He is realistically, thoughtfully organic. Most organic authorities seem to blindly promote anything that seems like a natural product, and shun anything that seems like a chemical. Steve realizes that blood meal comes from the meat industry and may not be in line with the goals of healthy gardening (Mad Cow, anyone?) although he chooses to take his chances. He suggests Roundup in a couple of sections and explains why it's not just another persistent harmful chemical.
   
   The only irritation I have is that he clearly has a bigger garden than I do. I've got about 200 sq. ft. He talks in fractions of an acre. Sheesh.



4. I am a novice gardener in the PNW, but I am having considerable success thanks almost entirely due to this book. I have read it cover to cover several times, and whenever I have a question I look here first. Thus far, the suggestions I have implemented have been practical, affordable, and shown good results.



5. I have learned so much from this book. I am new to vegetable gardening and have found this book so rich with information, including fertilizing, watering, year round gardining, raised beds, pest management, cold frames, tunnels, planning, varieties, priorities, soil types & preparation, composting, pros/cons of high-density gardening vs traditional gardening, and so much more - and all of this specific to the maritime northwest. I cannot praise this book enough.

5 comments about American Horticultural Society Plant Propagation: The Fully Illustrated Plant-by-Plant Manual of Practical Techniques.

1. As a Texas Master Gardener, I bought the book to deepen my knowledge of plant propagation, especially out-of-patent roses. This book has excellent pictures of techniques for alternative propagation methodologies and a extremely wide treatment of many species. I cannot imagine anyone who would need any other book. I've read five other propagation books but this book has it all, written in well thought out descriptions and illustrated with great pictures. Highly recommended!!!



2. Beautiful color photos and illustrations, sturdy binding and slick paper, expert practical advice, with readily understood and easily adapted procedures for the whole range of plant species. Complements their other larger book on plants.



3. Ok for basics but not specific for the varieties of plants for propagation. If you want to learn about root cuttings and division it's good, but don't expect much detail when it comes to specific plants, ie; when to take cuttings or when to divide certain plants for particular varieties. Very basic.



4. This book is so easy to use and has very detailed directions! Great book for a beginner and an expert!



5. I,ve tried to propagate plants by cuttings for two years now; all without any success. This book has all the answers to questions I've had and has shown where I've made mistakes. This is the "Bible" of plant propagation...

5 comments about Western Garden Book (Sunset Western Garden Book).

1. The Western Garden Book Western Garden Book (Sunset Western Garden Book)is THE standard reference work for gardening from California to the Pacific Northwest, the desert Southwest up to western Montana. Includes descriptions and scientific names for plants that will grow in various climate zones. Plant descriptions include growing conditions, when to prune, and dealing responsibly with diseases and insect pests. It has been produced for over 40 years with many editions. Used editions are still good. Get a new one every ten years or so if you are a serious gardener. Makes great holiday/birthday gift for the new homeowner in the West.



2. I have not come across a book that actually tells which plants would thrive in specific regions in the Bay Area. My roommate said it's the bible for gardening here in California.



3. I purchased this book as a textbook requirement for a college horitculture class. Since purchase, it has become an very valuable tool both in my class work and my personal garden planning. I would highly recommend this book regardless of your level of experience in the dirt! It may clear up some very common questions you may have!



4. I ordered 2 books, going to 2 different addresses, & they both came right on time.



5. I have relied on Sunset's Western Garden Book, in its various issues, for many years. From time to time, about every 3-4 years or so, they re-publish it. This particular issue has become my favorite "Working Bible" and I keep one copy in the house for reference and another in my garden/yard supply area. I bought this copy to give to my daughter and her husband, to introduce them to gardening in the Northwest, and to reduce the number of times I have to answer her questions by phone. Now I can simply refer her to the appropriate page of her own "Sunset Garden Book".
   
   The two or three recent re-issues of Sunset's Western Garden Book have become more "posh" and sophisticated, like coffee-table issues, not meant for nitty-gritty work in the yard.
   
   The particular volume I bought on Amazon was in incredibly perfect condition; my guess is that the original owner had never even opened it (it was inscribed as a Christmas gift from his parents!) And the price was amazing.