- by Andree Levie-Warrilow for the Grey County Master Gardeners

Happy New Year!!
Winter may not bring much glee to the hearts of gardeners, but it is a perfect time to curl up with some excellent books to inspire you with thoughtful gardening ideas.

Here are five highlights I’ve selected from last year’s crop by many well-known writers in the field of eco-responsible gardening. Happy winter reading!

The Plant Propagator's Bible by Miranda Smith

Quarto Group 2021

Clear full - colour photos and illustrations amply illustrate the steps involved in propagating techniques - everything from seeds and cuttings to division, grafting, layering, and budding.

Bonus points go to the plant directory: very helpful for detailing the best methods for propagating ornamental plants, shrubs, trees, vegetables, houseplants and wildflowers.

If all that wasn't enough, Smith also includes information on tools, equipment, and troubleshooting.

GARDEN ALLIES The Insects, Birds & Other Animals That Keep Your Garden Beautiful and Thriving

by Frédérique Lavopierre

2021 by Timber Press

Garden Allies depicts fascinating portraits of life forms we may not have realized are of great benefit to us: beetles, spiders (ulp), bats, snakes, birds - and more.

Beautiful pen & ink renderings by Craig Latker of the helpful reptiles, mammals and insects busy pollinating our flowers and vegetables and keeping pests in check, add to this very enlightening - and often surprising - book about the communities we share space with in the garden.

Frédérique Lavoipierre is a biologist and former Director of Education at the Santa Barbara Botanical garden.

Gardening Your Front Yard by Tara Nolan

Cool Springs Press 2020

Gardening Your Front Yard is a well-organized, thoughtful resource that shows you how to treat your front yard like a backyard - from choosing the right plants to DIY projects (with full diagrams) such as building walkways and setting up a front yard patio.
A book to show you how to make garden hardscaping dreams come true.

The Well - Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature by Sue Stuart - Smith

Scribner, 2020

This is a unique book that deals with the garden as a vital place of escape for the brain, and how gardens help us shape our minds through action as well as thought.

We know that gardening is one of the quintessential nurturing activities, but Stuart - Smith, a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, shares case studies and provides a new perspective on the power of gardening to change people's lives.

In the Well-Gardened Mind, the author investigates the many ways in which mind and garden can interact, and explores how the process of tending a plot can be a way of transforming people’s lives.

The Nature of Oaks, by Douglas W. Tallamy

Timber Press, 2021

Did you know oak is the genus with the most carbon-absorbing species of trees?

My final book suggestion for a winter's reading has to include The Nature of Oaks, if for no other reason than your own edification about the mighty oak. Doug Tallamy continues to teach and edify in his role as one of the conservation movement’s most respected and knowledgeable advocates. This book examines in great detail the rich ecology of North America’s most essential native tree. Tallamy travels through the lifecycle of oaks, including detailed science-based information on subjects such as the best oak trees for your area. Oaks produce enormous root systems that greatly influence carbon sequestration, soil stabilization, and watershed management. Whether you already have or are considering having oaks in your yard, this book will leave you with both appreciation for these amazing and valuable trees - and inspiration on how you might make a difference in the future of the planet and its inhabitants.

All the books reviewed are available from the Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library

For more information please check our website - greycountymastergardeners.com