Book Review: The Pollinator Victory Garden by Kim Eierman

The Pollinator Victory Garden
by Kim Eierman (639.97 Eie)

The introduction to this book sums up the entire point of this publication: Pollinators are critical to our food supply and responsible for the pollination of the vast majority of all flowering plants on our planet. But many pollinators are in trouble and our landscapes have little to offer them. Providing habitat that is pesticide-free and carefully choosing plants that are native to your area can help provide a garden that is good both for the environment and for the pollinators. This is an excellent book which describes in great detail the pollinators that work in our environment to help pollinate flowers, trees and plants. I enjoyed reading through this book with its beautiful photographs and excellent charts showing examples of the best plants for your garden and how to attract the animals to pollinate them.

[ official Pollinator Victory Garden page on the official Kim Eierman web site ]

 

Recommended by Kim J.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

 

Have you read or listened to this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide Blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life by Marta McDowell

Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life: The Plants and Places That Inspired the Classic Children's Tales
by Marta McDowell [635 McD]

This book combines two of my favorite things: gardening and the works of Beatrix Potter. The author describes the life of Beatrix Potter through the eyes of a gardener, showing the plants and flowers that inspired Beatrix in her personal life as well as in her work as an artist. I was especially impressed with the indices in the back of the book, showing how Beatrix described plants in her personal letters as well as her books for children. The photos and illustrations in this book are quite outstanding and make me wish I could visit Hilltop Farm in the Lake District of England! -- recommended by Kim J. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try any works by Beatrix Potter.]

[ official Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life page on the official Marta McDowell web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

New Booktalk Booklist - A Green Thumb or Maybe Not So Green

Here we are in late February, and a lot of readers' thoughts are probably already turning to Spring -- gardening and other outdoor pursuits. Here's a booktalk booklist we haven't previously shared to the blog -- A Green Thumb or Maybe Not So Green. Longtime Gere BooksTalk volunteer host Pam B. presented this talk back on April 9, 2012 -- sharing both fiction and non-fiction with a gardening theme. Hopefully this will get you started on plans to return to the great outdoors...once all the snow is gone!

[Click here to check out the current schedule of Book Talks.]

Staff Recommendation - Plants That Merit Attention, Volume II: Shrubs

Plants That Merit Attention, Volume II: Shrubs
by the Garden Club of America [635.976 qGar]

This book is an extremely valuable reference source for anyone who is trying to decide which shrubs to plant. The pictures are helpful in providing the reader with an idea of the plants proportions to other trees and structures. There are also up close pictures of the flowers and berries for the shrubs. The text provides a comprehensive description of the plant and its uses in the landscape, as well as its wildlife attractions. What sets this book apart from the others is its listing of the botanical gardens where the individual plants can be seen. The University of Nebraska is listed among those gardens. If a plant is listed as being at the University of Nebraska you can call the UNL Landscaping Department and ask where the shrub is located so you can view it in its natural surroundings. For those gardeners who like to make informed decisions, this book is the one to read. -- recommended by Patty L. - Walt Branch Library

[ official Garden Club of America web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think?

Ten new reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog over the course of the entire month.

Staff Recommendation - 100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names

100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names

by Diana Wells [582.13 Wel]

Winter is a great time to dream about flowers and flower gardening. Plotting and planning next season's garden will be even more satisfying when you learn the origin of the names of some of your favorite blooms. Fuchsia, camellias, lobelia and clematis-their stories are all here. What will truly amaze readers of this delightful little book is the danger and difficulty early plant collectors went through to bring these garden stalwarts back to the West. Death, disease and utter devastation were often the price that these botanical pioneers paid to send back plants that we now take for granted. Hopefully, after looking through this book, you appreciation for these common garden flowers will "grow"! -- recommended by Lisa V. -- Bennett Martin Public Library/Reference

Have you read this one? What did you think?

Ten new reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog over the course of the entire month.

Brand New Booklist -- Murder With a Green Thumb

Murder with a Green Thumb

I accuse Major Mallory, in the arboretum, with the hoe! No, no, no! It was Mrs. Phillips in the rose garden with a deadly dose of herbicide!

No matter "who done it", there's little question that the gardening mystery has become so popular. Nearly everyone has spent some time tilling the soil, planting their perennials and cursing the weeds that attempt to take over their garden plots. Throw in the menacing plots of your fellow human beings, and the Garden becomes a prime location for deadly deeds. Whether you're interested in historical gardening mysteries, like those solved by herbalist and medieval monk Brother Cadfael, or contemporaries, such as the stories featuring herb shop owner China Bayles or landscape designer Celia Grant, you should find something to fertilize your fancy. So, plant yourself on a garden bench, and kick back with some Gardening Mysteries! Oh, and watch out for that stranger with the weed whacker!

Check out the new list of Gardening Mystery Fiction at BookGuide!