From The Bookshelf

Flower & Garden Magazine, Nov, 1999 by Amy Engelhardt

Right now, many of us are busy putting our gardens to bed for winter. But take a moment to look back on this past summer. Did you notice any intriguing new garden trends or ideas that you want to try next year? If so, these new books are sure to bring your next garden right into vogue.

As in fashion, garden trends are often derivative of the past. Such is the case with the renewed interest in heirloom plants. In "Heirloom Flowers: Vintage Flowers for Modern Gardens" (Fireside, 1999; $16; 192 pages), Tovah Martin explains what heirloom flowers are and how to get them. She also includes information on seed-saving organizations, lists for further reading and case histories for a variety of plants, including historical information and USDA Hardiness Zones. Although garden fashion has resulted in the disappearance of many heirlooms, perhaps this is one trend that will aid these flowers instead of harming them.

Gardening for wildlife is another trend that would make a beneficial permanent element of our landscape. Carol Buchanan's "The Wildlife Sanctuary Garden" (Ten Speed Press, 1999; $11.95; 224 pages) rests upon three principles: using native plants to attract wildlife, understanding how plant communities work and keeping pests at bay naturally. Buchanan's own wildlife sanctuary is in western Washington, but these basic principles apply to every region. By discussing how to design a wildlife sanctuary garden, Buchanan shows us how to successfully make a happy compromise between the natural and the manmade.

Sometimes our gardens are inhabited by an altogether different kind of animal -- kids! Turn gardening into an adventure for your whole family with Sharon Lovejoy's "Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together With Children" (Workman Publishing, 1999; $13.95; 159 pages). The book includes 12 different garden projects, including a Sunflower House, the Flowering Maze and the Snacking and Sipping Garden. Each project also includes activities such as making herbal teas or "rainbow topping" (edible flowers). Not only does the book look fun with the author's own watercolor illustrations, but the projects really are fun -- they're sure to create some magical childhood memories.

If you'd like to add an exotic look to your garden, paint it with the colors and textures of the tropics with "The Exotic Garden: Designing with Tropical Plants in Almost any Climate" (The Taunton Press, 1999; $27.95; 169 pages), by Richard R. Iversen. Learn to design, install and maintain a summer garden full of tropical-looking plants like bananas, bougainvilleas and cannas. Even if you live in a cooler climate, you can still create a tropical look by overwintering your plants indoors and using unusual annuals. This book will help you decide which plants and garden designs are best for your situation. Add an exotic element to next year's garden and you'll be transported to the tropics for a backyard vacation.

Finally, are you getting tired of that same old pot of geraniums you've been planting every year? Spice up your containers with the fabulous step-by-step projects in "Colorful Hanging Baskets & Other Containers" (Sterling Publishing Co. Inc., 1999; $12.95; 108 pages), by Tessa Evelegh and Debbie Patterson. Fill your patio, deck, windows and hanging baskets with planting projects with names like "Raspberry Sorbet," "Coming up Roses" and "Sugar Almond Basket." The book includes more than 45 projects; each includes full-color photos and lists of planting ingredients. Find some companions for your lonely geraniums and your containers will reward you with abundant color all summer long.

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