Book Description
North America's eastern half, roughly from the Midwest to the Atlantic, was once a great deciduous forest. Although centuries of human intervention have cleared much of the land, the timeless forest remains in the spirit of the place. Today, even the shortest period of human neglect allows for the resurgence of the process of forest creation. The greatest gardens — and happiest gardeners — in this area will be those that take into account the nature of the land.
In his unique, and often thought-provoking new book, award-winning author Darke promotes and stunningly illustrates a garden aesthetic based on the strengths and opportunities of the woodland, including play of light, sound, and scent; seasonal drama; and the architectural interest of woody plants.
While written from a compelling and fresh perspective, The American Woodland Garden never strays from the realistic concerns of the everyday gardener. Information on planting, soils, and maintenance provides a firm foundation for horticultural accomplishment. An alphabetical list of woodland plants offers useful advice for every garden, emphasizing native trees, shrubs, vines, ferns, grasses, sedges, and flowering perennials that fit the forest aesthetic. More than 700 of the author's stunning photographs show both the natural palette of plants in the wild and the effects that can be achieved with them in garden settings. Many of the most striking photos in the book were taken at classic gardens that are paragons of an ecological style.
The American Woodland Garden is a clarion call to a new awareness of our relationship to the natural world. This book will take its rightful place among the classic works that have influenced our concept of the American landscape.
Customer Reviews:
Food for the soul........2007-07-10
If you live near the edge of woodlands as we do, you'll find this book to be a valuable source of information. It's a challenge to landscape the transition from woodland to home, but this book provides the knowledge needed to make that happen. And if you love to live in or near woodland areas as much as we do, you'll appreciate the wonderful photographs.
Must have book for woodland gardeners.......2007-05-14
This man is the best photographer of the woodlands and a great speaker. Would purchase any book by him.
Great Book!.......2007-03-26
I am a novice gardener but this book gives great advice and great choices from groundcover to shrubs and trees for the woodsy landscape. I refer to this book all the time.
Inspiration for Your Own Woodland Garden.......2007-03-18
A gorgeous, substantive book. It's not a how-to in a conventional sense, but it will definitely get your creative juices flowing in terms of your own woodlands. If you've never thought about "color palette" for plantings, you'll really enjoy this book.
A book of wonders........2007-02-12
This is simply the best book in my garden library. It is a way of looking at the environment around us, an ethos complete with pictures, information, and instruction. Be sure to buy this book in hardback, because paperback binding will never survive the hard useage this book will receive in your home.
Amazon.com
Shade can be a gardener's curse or delight, depending on how it's managed. Even a heavy grove of mature trees needn't have bare ground beneath; they can be surrounded with any number of shade-loving foliage, grasses, or grasslike ground covers, including galax, dichondra, ivy, vinca, wintergreen, maidenhair fern... the list of possibilities is a long one. Druse himself gardens in the shadow of a Brooklyn brownstone, so his advice is by no means limited to gardeners with woodland acreage. This book also successfully punctures the myth that a shady flower garden must be colored in greens and subtle pastels: a parade of brilliant camellias, columbines, clematis, and primula proves that a shade gardener's crayon box is as varied as any, and the well-organized Druse sorts the herbaceous perennials by color in an addendum at the back of the book.
Book Description
Ken Druse's Natural Garden Guides:
Award-winning gardening expert Ken Druse offers a personal selection of 80 ideal plants for the natural gardener, drawn from his best-selling classic
The Natural Shade Garden.
This companion guide is illustrated throughout with 130 of Druse's spectacular color photo-graphs. All-new descriptions discuss the origins of each plant, supply the pronunciation of their Latin names, and offer information on their ultimate size, time of bloom, light and soil requirements, cold hardiness, and special interest, such as colorful berries or butterfly attraction.
Here, too, is indispensable advice for using these plants with companions to create striking designs. Each section has an original introduction presenting valuable techniques for making your own natural garden. An appendix gives mail-order sources.
In
80 Great Natural Shade Garden Plants Ken Druse selects the best plants for natural gardening in the shade: Ornamental Shrubs ¸ Perennials for Flowers ¸ Perennials for Foliage ¸ Ground Covers and Vines ¸ The Best Hostas ¸ The Best Ferns
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful Pictures, mind-numbing text.......2005-07-07
If you like pretty pictures, then this book is for you. I bought it in conjunction with "The Complete Shade Gardener", which is black and white, to be a sort of color companion. The section of the book titled Plants and Plantings goes through the author's favorite plants for shade (which very well may be all of them) and gives a text description that does very little to give you any real understanding of the plant-not what it looks like, or how to grow it. Perhaps worst of all, the pictures in this section don't seem to correspond to the text of what the author is describing at all, so you are forced to thumb ahead or behind to see a picture of the plant the author is talking about at the time. This makes it very hard to read as you are always thumbing through the pages to find a picture of the flower the author is talking about.
The first 60 pages deal with inspiration and design, and are much easier to understand, as well as being laid out better than the next 100. The last part of the book, which presents individual garden examples also seems to be better organized and well written, although I haven't read it through yet.
Since about 2/5 of this book was enjoyable, I am giving it 2 stars. The middle section has all the monotony of a plant encyclopedia with half the information, and none of the organization. The strengths of the book stand out as the beautifully photographed plates, and the pleasant tone of the author, which still manages to be witty and friendly even during the monotonous middle section.
Beautiful Shade Garden book.......2005-03-20
We have a shady, sloped yard in Texas which is highly unusual for this part of Texas. This means we usually can't grow many of the plants that most people in our community do. So, my husband and I went to the bookstore and found this book. There were others on shade gardening, but this had the best photography. The publisher obviously used high-quality printing techniques on this book to get the vivid color. So, this makes just a beautiful book to look at. I used to feel a little disappointed that our yard was so shaded (except that it's cooler in the hot Texas sun than others!), but when I saw this book I realized we could make it into quite a gem.
I will admit that I am a novice gardener, but I found this book inspiring with lots of ideas for plants that we could use in the shade. I am not sorry that I spent $40 on this book!
A must have book for every gardener.......2004-11-10
Ken Druse delivers a great perspective on shade gardening, providing an understanding of different types of shade and the plants that are successful. The wonderful photography makes this book a joy to peek into successful gardens and plant combinations. The text is for moderately experienced gardeners, but flows well and is well organized.
As mentioned by several others, Druse too often suggests invasive plants such as ivy, porcelain berry, and purple loosestrife, so a word of caution is in order. I would like to see Druse taking a leadership role in awareness of these problem plants.
On the whole, this is another terrific book from Ken Druse and I highly recommend it to everyone who loves a shady garden on a warm summer day.
inspiring and practical.......2002-02-07
If you have a shady garden space, this book will make you feel like the luckiest gardener in the world. Ken Druse structured the book around the organization of natural woodland plants: understory, middle layer, and overstory. (Note that this is not the right book for you if you are looking to create a formal shady garden.) The beautiful photographs, both closeup and scenic, and the detailed yet readable text make this book a success on two fronts. There is enough practical advice to take you from designing your shade garden to keeping it healthy and beautiful through the seasons and years. There is even a resource list to help with ordering your plants. Did I mention how amazing the photographs are? This is my favorite garden book so far, and I am accumulating quite a little collection.
Partial shade, dappled shade, and deep shade are all addressed with beautiful pictures of plants and gardens and with descriptive, practical text.
Not for the beginner...........2001-04-14
THE NATURAL SHADE GARDENER by Ken Druse is a beautiful book even if the photos are slightly "touched up." I have to laugh at the oxymoronic title, however. There is nothing natural about shade gardening, and this is not the WILD GARDEN William Robinson wrote about where drifts of plants are allowed to form naturally. I can tell from Druse's photos someone has been working very hard. Nature's version of vegetation in shade is quite different. Plants in nature tend to run to riot. If you don't think so, take a walk in the "real" woods. In nature, the toughest plant wins.
For example, Druse says English Ivy is a good ground cover in shade. Well, it is. English Ivy will grow in shade---and grow and grow and grow. Recently, a group of local volunteers in our area pulled English Ivy from the trees in a local nature preserve. The stuff kills. Another vine Druse recommends without a warning is Porcelain-berry which is becoming a major problem in along the east coast. Are you old enough to remember the introduction of the new wonder vine Kudzu??
On the other hand, Druse says Tradescantia, a native of Virginia brought to England where it was hybridized at Kew Gardens is a pest. Well, it is a prolific plant if you reintroduce it in a Zone 7 garden, but it can be controlled without a great deal of effort, unlike Lysimachia clethroides (White Gooseneck Loosestrife) which Druse recommends without warning that it will take over if you invite it into your garden. Allen Lacey and other garden writers have ID'd Gooseneck Loosestrife as a "thug in the garden" and I can tell you from personal experience they are absolutely correct (of course I had to find out for myself!!).
I tend to agree with the reviewer from Maplewood NJ below who says THE NATURAL SHADE GARDEN by Ken Druse is not for the beginner. This book is for advanced gardeners who can "take what they need and leave the rest." Shade gardening is something you take up after you've mastered other less complicated types of gardening. Of course, if you're stuck with shade you'll have to start somewhere.
I have been using George Shenk's book THE COMPLETE SHADE GARDENER for years. It's not as colorful, and contains those annotated lists of plants which some do not like, however, Shenk's plant classifications are not exhaustive so you won't be overwhelmed, and the trees, shrubs, etc. are classified by their behavior--i.e. what will work in which circumstances. Like many gardeners I once planted a Maple tree in my yard. Shenk's book contains a listing of shade trees and from it I discovered Maple trees are shallow rooted and not at all friendly toward other plants. I also discovered the Black Walnut can be a killer. In the nick of time had the Maple tree removed and planted a Persian Walnut instead. I've been able to grow Crepe Myrtles, Viburnums, Nandina, and a host of other plants under the Walnut, though I sometimes have to water in August. Some of us don't want to end our gardening experience in order to have a shady patio in July.
Book Description
Crafters, birders, gardeners, naturalists and home decorators alike will delight in making these charming birdhouses. Featuring thirteen projects suitable for the beginning crafter to the experienced woodworker, it presents readers with a variety of techniques to help them build rustic, whimsical and all-natural birdhouses.
Author Lucinda Claire Macy provides readers with step-by-step instructions for finding environmentally-friendly building materials, creating fully functional and effective habitats for their outdoor companions, and everything in between. They'll learn how to create:
* Houses designed for specific birds
* Wall-mounted and hanging birdhouses
* Functional toad homes
* Decorative fairy and gnome houses
* Designs using ready-made birdhouses for the non-woodworker
Macy's designs look just as marvelous perched on a bookshelf or patio as they do outdoors. The designs are not only natural, they are totally unique, original and new.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful Book.......2007-08-08
This is one of the most beautifully put together books I have ever read on the subject of making birdhouses. They look so complicated, yet she breaks it all down in easy to follow instructions and offers suggestions on making similar houses with different materials. And some of her techniques are so clever. I think it is a must have for any woodworker or crafter who likes to make birdhouses.
Beautiful results but dangerous practices.......2007-06-12
I bought this book for my husband and son. My husband is a builder and looked at the practices in the book with horror. He says that the way the author bores out the insides of the log is a good way to lose a few fingers. I am currently looking for a naturally hollow log so I can make one myself but we won't have our son attempt making any with the methods described. There is one house that is made with pipe and pebbles with no cutting that is charming and we may attempt that. Truly a beautiful book with darling little bird homes resulting -just watch out for your hands!
beautiful.......2005-08-05
My husband saw this book at the library and he had to have it. The projects are photographed beautifully and you can see every detail. We can't wait to make our own versions of the projects. The techniques are very clever. This book has very well laid out step by step instructions with lots of pictures. Anyone into nature will love this book.
What an inspiring book!.......2002-03-26
If you enjoy nature walks and love the idea of using found materials, this book is too much fun! I found the projects fascinating and yet I came away thinking "I can do this." I also appreciated the way she used some store bought materials so you don't have to live in the country to try creating some of these charming cottages. And the lovely little illustrations throughout make it a pleasure to look through even if your aren't inclined to actually make any of them.
functional and stylish!!!.......2002-03-19
Author Lucinda Macy's "Enchanting Woodland Birdhouses" is one of the finest step by step, do it yourself craft books that i've had the opportunity to use. Her excellent descriptions and pictorials make any of the projects inside a straightforward task to build on your own. Ranging from the simplest of designs, to those that will challenge even a skilled craftsman, there is something to be had for everyone. Furthermore, all birdhouses are designed to National Audobon Society specifications for their intended feathered inhabitants, making them not only beautiful, but very functional as well. Nature enthusiasts and hobbyists of all ages won't want to miss out on this treasure of a book, a great addition to any great library.
Book Description
The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook is a hands-on manual that provides a detailed account of what has been learned about the art and science of prairie restoration and the application of that knowledge to restoration projects throughout the world.
Chapters provide guidance on all aspects of the restoration process, from conceptualization and planning to execution and monitoring. Appendixes present hard-to-find data on plants and animals of the prairies, seed collection dates, propagation methods, sources of seeds and equipment, and more. Also included is a key to restoration options that provides detailed instructions for specific types of projects and a comprehensive glossary of restoration terms.
Written by those whose primary work is actually the making of prairies, The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook explores a myriad of restoration philosophies and techniques and is an essential resource for anyone working to nurture our oncevibrant native landscapes back to a state of health.
Customer Reviews:
Just a reprint of 1997 edition.......2006-09-26
If you don't already have the original 1997 edition, then this is definitely a 5 star title. However, if you DO have the original, don't bother to buy this one. Despite the various developments mentioned in the preface to this 2005 edition -- advances in no-till planting techniques, restoration strategies for woodland wildflowers, methods for integrating native biodiversity into agriculture, and exploding Internet resources -- none are dealt with here. There is no updated information about weed problems and herbicides, despite the ongoing advance of invasives and development of new products. Lots has happened in the field in the decade since the prior edition was written, but you learn none of it here. This is just a reprint of the original -- and this is quite disappointing.
That said, what is covered is truly excellent. It just could have been far better with a thorough rewrite.
The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook : For Prairies, Savannas,.......2001-07-30
Let me just say that it is nice that someone wrote more than just what plants to use. It is fairly easy to find prairie journals and books that describe everything except how to implement your prairie project. Packard had the good sense to know that seeding rates and implementation techniques are necessary information.
Amazing.............2001-01-05
This is a top rate restoration hand book. Amazing amount of information from people who are out doing the work. It is a collection of essays/chapters written by the front-runners in the field. Everything you wanted to know from site selction to seed collection to fire management. Since it is written by actual prairie restorationists, not theorists it is practical and easy to understand. I will recomend it to everyone who is interested in the field.
The prairie restoration and management bible........1999-08-18
As a prairie biologist, I refer to this seminal volume frequently. It is the very best compendium of prairie restoration and management information.
Anyone who has been taken by the ecological romance of the tallgrass prairie, and hopes either to know in detail the ecology of these biomes, or to plant or manage one, needs to have this in the personal library. It's mostly technical, but wonderfully engaging for the "prairieophile." One doesn't really know the prairie until having read this book.
Average customer rating:
- So Much More than a book on the Sutter Buttes
- One beautifully written natural history book
- A Natural History with Passion
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Inland Island: The Sutter Buttes
Walt Anderson
Manufacturer: Natural Selection
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 096107227X |
Product Description
As a mountain range, the Sutter Buttes of California stands apart, an island of upland in the great sea of lowland flanked by the Sierra Nevada and the Coast Ranges. Its softly rounded hills and angular pinnacles are cloaked in grasses, shrubs, and trees in patterns that reflect nature's design, not man's. Naturalist Walt Anderson provides an insiders view of this special mountain, telling stories with both insight and humor. The rocks, plants, animals, and the ecosystems they collectively form are given personal faces through Walts insights and unabashed humor. Humans are also a part of the natural history of this place, and their roles, from prehistoric to modern, are discussed.
Customer Reviews:
So Much More than a book on the Sutter Buttes.......2005-06-04
As a Professional Biologist I approached Walt Anderson's book with a critical eye to accuracy and detail. As a natural history student I approached his book with a curiosity about the Sutter Buttes, a place I have not yet visited (but now plan to).
In both instances I was thoroughly satisfied and excited by what I found. Clearly, Walt Anderson is a gifted writer and teacher. His subtle use of wit makes the reading most enjoyable. I felt as though the author and I might be standing on a hillside in the Buttes while he offered his observations, filtered through is obvious joy of knowing this special place.
His ability to introduce the natural history novice to advanced concepts and terms, while maintaining a sophistacted and scholarly treatment of the subject that will satisfy even the most critical naturalist, reflects his talent as a writer and teacher. In fact, I am now using his book as a resource for a book I am presently working on about another special place. Thanks Walt for the deep research and reporting.
Sure, this book is filled with fascinating facts about the Sutter Buttes, from its geological formation through minutia about the life histories of wild residents of the Buttes, but the book is much more than a dry treatise on the natural history of the Sutter Buttes. Rather, it is a journey through this special place in the natural world with a most talented guide. Don't miss this most complete and enjoyable tour from the perspective of one who truly knows this place.
One beautifully written natural history book.......2005-05-10
Jean Campbell's review of "Inland Island: The Sutter Buttes" is right on. This is an incredibly beautiful natural history book, both in its design and its text, and the drawings and color photographs are also marvelous!
Even the forwards (by David Cavagnaro and Craig Childs) are wonderful and informative.
I think this book will become the most-read natural history of The Buttes, but it is also in large part a natural history of much of northern California. I recommend it highly to all naturalists and environmentalists....it's a gem....
A Natural History with Passion.......2005-01-19
Inland Island: The Sutter Buttes is one of the best natural histories that I have seen for going beyond mere descriptions of parts (flora, fauna, and geography) and imparting a true sense of place. Without question, a sense of place requires a detailed description of all the parts for these are its building blocks. Walt Anderson catalogues these parts for the Sutter Buttes as well as can be found in any number of monographs of local natural histories. However, the parts are just the parts and its not until we become aware of their interactions through stories of living actions that a sense of how everything comes together to give a place its character begins to emerge. Here, Walt Anderson excels in giving us several stories such as Red Tail Hawks catching ground squirrels and Turkey Vultures pelting him with excrement as he lectures to a class. He does this with tongue-in-cheek humor and with the warm sentiment that conveys a deep and abiding passion for the whole of the place as well as for all its parts. I believe that a sense of place is primal in finding the deep satisfaction that can come from connecting with the natural world. Walt Anderson does this for us with uncommonly good writing and an obvious passion. His passion sets this book apart from others.
Book Description
From majestic Redwoods to ancient Western Bristlecone Pines, California's trees have long inspired artists, poets, naturalists--and real estate developers. Verna Johnston's splendid book, illustrated with her superb color photographs and Carla Simmons's detailed black-and-white drawings, now offers an unparalleled view of the Golden State's world-renowned forests and woodlands.
In clear, vivid prose, Johnston introduces each of the state's dominant forest types. She describes the unique characteristics of the trees and the interrelationships of the plants and animals living among them, and she analyzes how fire, flood, fungi, weather, soil, and humans have affected the forest ecology. The world of forest and woodland animals comes alive in these pages--the mating games, predation patterns, communal life, and the microscopic environment of invertebrates and fungi are all here.
Johnston also presents a sobering view of the environmental hazards that threaten the state's trees: acid snow, ozone, blister rust, over-logging. Noting the interconnectedness of the diverse life forms within tree regions, she suggests possible answers to the problems currently plaguing these areas. Enriched by the observations of early naturalists and Johnston's many years of fieldwork, this is a book that will be welcomed by all who care about California's treasured forests and woodlands.
Customer Reviews:
An excellent, well-written guide to California forests.......1997-12-17
This book serves as a helpful and approachable guide to anyone wishing to become more familiar with the flora and fauna of California. The state's different biomes are represented in separate chapters, each of which includes detailed descriptions of common vegetation and animals, rare sights of the area, and spotting tips.
Average customer rating:
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park: The Place of the Blue Smoke (Woodlands Press National Park)
Tim McNulty , and
Pat O'Hara
Manufacturer: Woodlands Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0917627113 |
Average customer rating:
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A Woodland Counting Book (Bur Oak Book)
Claudia McGehee
Manufacturer: University Of Iowa Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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A Tallgrass Prairie Alphabet (Bur Oak Book)
ASIN: 0877459894 |
Book Description
Towering oak and hickory woodlands once fringed the tallgrass prairie of the Midwest. In a wondrous mixture of plant and animal life, big mammals like black bears and cougars thrived alongside gray foxes and ovenbirds. But as more people arrived, the woodlands, like the tallgrass prairie, were cleared with amazing speed. Now only small portions of this special habitat remain, and many of its animals and plants are endangered or extinct. Despite the great loss, many people are working to restore and enlarge what remains so that woodlands can continue to support a rich wildlife community. And so we can all enjoy a walk in the woods. A Woodland Counting Book helps children learn about the woodland family. From one splendid white oak to fifty busy carpenter ants, illustrator Claudia McGehee counts the wonders of the woodlands in this beautifully illustrated companion to her previous children’s book, A Tallgrass Prairie Alphabet. As she follows spring to summer to fall to winter, returning at the book’s end to springtime in “one woodland community,” McGehee introduces more than twenty species of plants and animals. From the white oaks that tower overhead to shelter the woodland citizens to the delicate showy lady’s-slipper orchid and from the barred owls with distinctive hoots and calls to tiny evening bats which roost in hollow trees, we meet a wild world of woodland life. We find luna moths and serviceberries, shagbark hickories, blue spotted salamanders, wild turkeys, red squirrels, orchard orioles, and a host of other familiar and not-so-familiar plants and animals. A section of woodland notes gives common and scientific names of and interesting information about all featured species. These vibrantly colored scratchboard illustrations reveal the beauty of our woodland communities, guiding nature lovers and children of all ages through a much-loved landscape.
Customer Reviews:
Great overview of the Topic.......2005-12-09
McEvoy (Sen. Jeffords only wrote the foreward) presents an excellent introduction to the topic of sustainable forestry management. There are numerous external references for other sources on specific topics and sample contracts for woodlands owners. McEvoy's very easy and enjoyable writing style make the read quick and interesting. I am ordering his other book on the more technical side of contracting, taxes and estate planning.
Book Description
Updated and revised.
This book is both a valuable reference and a practical how-to guide to hundreds of plant species suited for cultivation beneath a canopy of mature trees. Here is all the information needed to get started: design, plant selection, planting and maintenance. These principles can be applied anywhere in North America in any size garden, from large estate to a cramped city lot.
This revised edition of
The Woodland Garden features new, beautiful color images throughout, a larger format and more text.
An authoritative guide for gardeners and landscape designers, this edition focuses on:
- Designing the woodland garden
- Building the woodland garden
- The canopy, plus a list of woodland trees
- The understory, plus a list of woodland shrubs
- Plants of the woodland floor
- Climbing plants
- Planting, pruning and maintenance
The authors list their favorite plants with detailed descriptions of the best woodland garden performers including lilies and rhododendrons. Practical information is provided for soil characteristics, adapting a property, working with a new site and converting an old garden. There are sections on fragrance, water, rocks, pathways, scale and unity, how to analyze a site and much more.
Helpful tips throughout offer useful advice gleaned from the authors' decades of collective experience: dealing with weeds and pests, preparing the land, watering, mulching and propagation.
Customer Reviews:
Thorough but dull.......2004-05-09
This is an updated version of a book that first appeared in 1999. It contains a great deal of well organized information presented in an attractive format. While much of the information is based on experience in the Pacific Northwest, it has validity for other areas too.
The writers are well-known and respected in the Pacific Northwest. They start by discussing the design of the woodland garden on various sites, and then offer ideas for building and developing the garden. This is followed by a chapter each on the canopy, understory, woodland floor and climbing plants. Each chapter concludes with plant lists. There follows a chapter on planting, pruning and maintenance and a list of the authors' favourite plants. There are pleasant colour photographs, black and white designs for gardens and sketches of rock placements.
The writers are knowledgeable and thorough but the writing tends to be dry and tedious to plough through. Other writers have addressed the topic in a much more readable style. I found no inspiration here - just text book-type info.
Impressions of "The Woodland Garden".......2001-04-05
This book focuses on the design and structure of woodland gardens. Content describes the layers of groundcover, upper story and middle layer. Extensive lists of appropriate plants with zone and cultivation information are provided and are very useful. I found the book a great help in thinking about my shady woodland area, and inspiring in terms of design ideas. The focus is on general principles of woodland design rather than giving diagrams to follow. There are some pictures of plants, but I would have preferred more pictures of general woodland scenes. I have read sections over & over and continue to find it enjoyable and useful.
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