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Bayshore Summer: Finding Eden in a Most Unlikely Place by Pete Dunne.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 272 pp $24

I loved this book.  Bayshore Summer: Finding Eden in a Most Unlikely Place is by Pete Dunne, a seasoned and entertaining writer, who presents his case for the shore well.  The second part of that title tells the story; Eden surely has gardens and birds and fish and forests.

Dunne tells those stories and what they mean for us as people through the stories of The Delaware Bay which has been inhabited by fishermen and farmers since the Lenape Indians before the Euros arrival.

There are 50 million fishermen in the US. Ranked North America’s third favorite activity after gardening and bird watching, fishing attracts

people from all walks of life. They are all in this book.

So begins Pete Dunne’s narrative, which so well captures his beloved South Jersey Delaware Bay Shore.  It became obvious fast that this was more than a narrative on the stunning beauty of his favorite natural spot; it’s where he also lives. It is a stunning treatise of American cultural life as we’ve come to know it, seen through the eyes of a very wise man who happens to love the Jersey side of the Delaware Bay.

In telling the story of the peoples who lived here through time he tells the story of man on earth played out in a bird’s eye view, one that is rapidly disappearing from the planet.

It’s not presented through the eyes of any one category of political view but really from the middle of the row. He’s sympathetic to hunters and fishermen and naturalists and preservationists without managing to insult any of them. It’s not just the fishing and gardening and bird-watching which he recounts often with hysterical tongue in cheek wit. It’s all that too– weakfish and crabs and oysters and black-polls and juncos and laughing gulls. It’s

fog and boats and  asteroids and meteor showers. It’s Henry Hudson and the Jersey tomato. It’s a way of looking at who we are as Homo sapiens

compared to who we were up until 50 years ago. A native New Jerseyite, Dunne frequently sounds more like a man from Maine, at once endearing

and sweet with the love of nature and also cynical about man’s appreciation for it or lack thereof. He, with his gift of storytelling,

explains the history of this piece of American Colonial real estate in such a way that farming and astronomy and living by the tides, and the

economy of salt marsh hay and the Civil War and his own Irish genealogy all come together to soothe and entertain with that tinge of Hibernian lamenting.

Dunne is the director of The Cape May Audubon Bird Sanctuary.  He has managed to write a beautiful philosophical narrative filled with arcane, well-researched tidbits surrounding the

lives of the people who once lived and presently live in this one small place. In telling that story he is pleading for anyone who can to save

what we have before it’s too late, Greenie and hunter alike.

I read the uncorrected proof. I hope they don’t remove a single sentence.

Fayette County Master Gardener Maureen Hennessy wrote this review.

 

The 7-Minute Organic Garden   by  Rick Baker.    172 pp  $24.95 GroSmarter.com The essential parts of The 7-Minute Organic Garden techniques are  drip irrigation lines, mulch or a porous landscape weed barrier to slow down evaporation and control weeds,  application of organic fertilizers and compost to the soil, and the use of organic pest control methods.  The uniqueness of this book is its content of difficult-to-locate information. Gardeners whose experience levels widely differ should all find something useful here. For example, the objective explanation of the difference between organic and inorganic gardening is simple, but somewhat rare.  Photos illustrating the 7-minute organic garden techniques in commercial fields will enhance readers’ understanding of home gardening ideas.

Browsing through the book is well worth the time.  Much useful advice is given through photos and brief descriptions of techniques for the various steps of growing an organic garden. I have previously encountered some of the drip irrigation and self-soil testing pointers only in technical and trade brochures. Suggestions on working compost and fertilizer into the soil and how to build a tiered compost bin are  included.

A final section of the book is entitled ‘Plant Care and Other Resources.’  The first entry describes apples: common varieties, required growing conditions, maintenance, harvesting, insect pests, and major diseases.  The apple portion is followed by similar information for 30 other kinds of fruits and vegetables commonly grown in backyard gardens.  A Plant Care Guide, Pest and Disease Charts, list of suppliers and sources of information on organic gardening, and an index round out the book.

Dan Niffenegger, a Fayette County Master Gardener, reviewed this book. For more information about the Kentucky Master Gardener Program, call (859)-257-5582.

 

Fayette County Master Gardener Dan Niffenegger reviewed this book.

Lives of the Trees:  An Uncommon History

 by Diana Wells

Algonquin Books   369pp   $19.95                       This book is not solely for botanists, dendrologists, or taxonomists, nor for those who want to identify individual trees.  It is for non-experts, like most of us, who revere trees and enjoy the facts, legends and lore that will further enhance our appreciation of these ancient and varied plants.

The author has researched religious, literary, cultural, historical, botanical, and etymological sources to describe 100 trees, from the most common like apple and holly, to the most unusual and even unknown, such as monkey puzzle and welwitschia.  Included are even a couple plants resembling trees, like the saguaro cactus, which was thought to be a tree when it was found by Spanish explorers, who called Arizona “the land of the marching giants” upon first sight of these huge, tree-cacti of the desert.

Did you know that the cork tree is an oak, Quercus suber?  That date palms have been pollinated by human hand since prehistory?  Do you know the legend of the willow, as painted on the willow pattern dishes of Staffordshire?  That in the 1960s a compound discovered in the bark of the lowly yew (Taxus) was found to be a powerful anticancer drug?

In Brahmin legend, the mighty oak shades the woodsman who hews it, and the sandalwood releases its perfume with each blow of the ax, the meaning being that the perfect love their enemies.

This selection points out that the more we know of the lives of the trees, the more reason we have to love them.

Linda Corridoni, Fayette County Master Gardener

 

 Italian Rustic by Elizabeth Helman Minchilli with Domenico MinchilliArtisan , 226 pp  $35

This book is a visit to Italy, taken from your couch – just open a bottle of Pinot Grigio and bring the Tuscan charm into your own villa. Minchilli introduces us to the Italian farmhouse found in the rural regions of Umbria and Tuscany. She works her way from the exterior stone to the interior wall finishes, describing terra cotta floors, windows to bring in the exquisite light and the shutters to dim the view, the doors which are often handmade, travertine staircases, and most important to me, the garden.

The outside or setting is hard to replicate; we can only borrow from the landscape design details. The gardener should prepare to incorporate a good quantity of greenery into outdoor rooms, along with a scattering of terra cotta planters planted with the required lemon trees. Large pots are filled with geraniums and lavender, while prominent water features sprinkle the countryside.

In our mind, a trip to Italy would be incomplete without alfresco dining. To accomplish this often enjoyed dining experience, you must have a pergola. This structure is built close to the home to act as an extension or an additional room. The author shares pictures of the suggested architecture along with common materials for construction. Some plants suggested for addition to the structure are wisteria and jasmine.

Another Italian feature to embrace is the outdoor kitchen. Ovens in rural homes are typically outside and are used for grilling and baking.  We in the U.S. have also stated to enjoy spending more time in outdoor rooms, and are upgrading  areas that rival anything Minchelli suggests here, yet any home owner will benefit by recreating the ambiance found in the Italian way of life.

Hazel Combs, Fayette County Master Gardener

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Right Rose, Right Place  by Peter Schneider.  Storey Publishing  – 272 pp –  $29.95

Peter Schneider,  a rosarian for thirty years, has filled his latest book Right Rose, Right Place  with plenty of the details needed to select, plant, prune and nurture glorious roses.  He has included color photographs and information on over 350 species, from the well-known and increasingly popular ‘Knockout’ roses (in a category by themselves), to shrubs, species and Gallicas.   Each description provides excellent details about growth habit as well as outstanding features and pruning tips.  ‘Marchesa Boccella’,  for example, which is classified as a hybrid perpetual, stands out as one of the best choices for an old garden rose that never stops blooming all summer long, with its fragrant damask pink show of peony-like petals.

  Mr. Schneider gardens in northern Ohio, where winters are tough.  For those wanting help choosing cold hardy varieties, his appendix of Roses by Classification is invaluable, as is his advice on roses that work best as stand-alone specimens, for hedges, climbing, cutting and “harmonizing with others.”  His current eight-acre garden, home to 1,200 roses, has been a rich source of information on where to plant and how each species performs. 

Schneider’s first rose, the lovely and fragrant ‘Double Delight’, piqued the author’s interest and was responsible for his love of the genus Rosa, though he admits that any number of roses with better qualities might have started him on the same path.  Thanks to the influence of ‘Double Delight’ and thousands of roses that followed, readers of Schneider’s Right Rose, Right Place have a wonderful ly thorough and readable resource, which should insure their rose-growing success.  

 Reviewed by Ric McGee, Fayette County Master Gardener

 

 

The Ever-Blooming Flower Garden
A Blueprint for Continuous Color
Lee Schneller

Storey – 217 pp  $19.95

 

 Your flower garden is all planted with your favorite plants.
They begin to bloom and are magnificent!  They keep blooming and suddenly
there are no more flowers.  What happened?Author Lee Schneller has the answer!  You planted flowers that all bloom at the same time, like spring.  As a remedy, she gives us a blueprint system to design gardens that begin blooming in spring and last until the end of Autumn.  In her role as owner of Lee Schneller Fine Gardens she has successfully sued this blueprint system professionally to create, design and build flower gardens. 

The blueprint includes questionnaires and checklists for choosing the best plants.  My favorite part is the Flower Catalog,  which tells you the light needed, the height the plants will grow, the bloom time, the zone, the bloom group and the habit of the plant with at-a-glance symbols.  Five sample gardens are included, with lists of plants needed for each bloom period: spring, early summer, midsummer, late summer and fall; there is also a formula for determining how many plants you will need, as well as color photographs of each garden.  Aside from the standard gardens, ideas for  selections to use in special situations, such as groundcovers,  flowers for cutting,  those that attract butterflies, hummingbirds and honeybees, and even  poisonous plant and invasive species lists.  

Here’s a great way to develop a blueprint for keeping the bloom all summer. 

Nan Starkweather,  Fayette County Master Gardener.

 Fearless Color Gardens

Fearless Color Gardens:

The Creative Gardener’s Guide to Jumping off the Color Wheel

by Keeyla Meadows.  Timber Press.  180 pp       $27.95

You can turn your flower garden into a work of art filled with vibrant color by adding foliage, artwork, hardscape and furnishings.  In Fearless Color Gardens, renowned garden artist and photographer Keeyla Meadows takes you on a sometimes quirky journey into the how-tos of turning your garden into a riot of color:  Did you like the colors on that plate of vegetables you ate for dinner?  Recreate those colors in your garden by planting flowers that match the vegetables.  Did you break a favorite dish?  Glue the pieces to a flower pot and add it to your garden space.

The ideas in the book stem from “Keeyla’s Color Triangle,” the author’s variation on the traditional color wheel.  Meadows says the use of the color triangle will help you translate your personal color preferences into garden reality.

Throughout this whimsical book, you will discover vivid color photographs of plants and works of art. Meadows also shares lists of plants which provide specific colors, like Bright Lights chard for deep red, sunflowers for yellow, and delphiniums for iridescent blue. You’ll learn how to use edibles in color-themed gardens. Try planting Lemon Boy tomatoes, corn, summer squash, yellow beans and peppers to create a sunny and yummy golden garden.  You’ll also learn how to include a focal point of color in your garden using anything from a tree to a sculpture to a favorite object.

If you’ve always dreamed of a kaleidoscope of color and art in your garden, let Fearless Color Gardens help make that dream come true.

Visit Keeyla Meadows’  website  … CLICK HERE

Kay Hofmeister, Fayette County Master Gardener

The Pruning Book (2nd edition, revised).  Lee Reich.   Taunton Press.   240 pp.  $21.95.

Throughout the year, pruning time is near for some plants but definitely not for others.  The trick is to know which is which, and The Pruning Book is packed with information to help you decide.  If you want to train grapes, bonsai or prune clematis, roses, annuals, control the size of trees and shrubs, even houseplants, Lee Reich has prepared directions with 350 color photos and descriptive diagrams.

Take clematis, for example.  Clematis belongs to four groups; each group has a different time and place to prune, or not to prune, for best results.  If you don’t know the name or group your particular clematis belongs to, therefore when and how to prune it, diagrams are included which show you how to find the name and group.  Group one, right above ground level: group two, at the last green bud at the top; group three, right after blooming or not at all. Group four is a mix of groups two and three, and takes some experimenting each season. This group flowers on both old and new wood. If you want larger but fewer blooms, prune lightly, early. If you want a profusion of smaller blooms, prune heavily, early.

A general rule for flowering plants is to prune right after blooming. It’s late now but when lilac blossoms begin to fade, prune immediately. Better yet, cut those blooms at peak bloom for a vase. Pruning late will result in no blooms next season.

Whether pruning for beauty, size, productivity or health of the plant, this book contains the methods you’ll need to get the job done.   Also there are techniques for espalier, pollarding, topiary and pleaching, for vines, deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs and fruit and nuts.

Included are a brief glossary, list of tools of the trade and their care and suggested sources. Plants are listed by common and scientific names and categories all leading to the total experience of making you the expert pruner whether you read it straight through or use it as a reference.  For both the novice and professional, you’ll discover the when, where and how to prune with Reichs pruning guidance.

Thanks to Woodford County Master Gardener Rosemary Ewen for this review.

 

The Encyclopedia of Herbs: A Comprehensive Reference to Herbs of Flavor Fragrance

Arthur O. Tucker and Thomas Debaggio; Illustrations by Marjorie C. Leggitt Timber Press  604 pages  $39.95

Wow!  Everything you ever wanted to know about herbs and a whole lot more.  Arthur O. Tucker, a professor of botany at Delaware State University, has published widely on many herbs and essential oils, is recognized as an authority on lavenders, holds a position on editorial boards of Economic Botany and the Journal of Essential Oil Research.  His co-author Thomas Debaggio, who founded Debaggio Herb Farm in Chantilly Virginia, has worked as a professional herb grower and journalist and written extensively for leading gardening and herb magazines.

This encyclopedia is  a scholarly reference  masterpiece which covers over 500 species of herbs.  For starters, the authors provide us with each plant’s botanical name and family, as in Calendula officinalis (poet’s marigold) of the Asteracea family.  Then, the growth form and size are given; for pot marigold, that’s an annual 8 to 20 inches.  Other requirements listed for growing this plant are the hardiness, the light requirement, water use, soil type and ph.  You learn about propagation techniques, culinary and craft uses and where to raise it in the landscape.  There is quite a history for each plant telling the derivation of the name and in this case, how it figured in poetry.  Another name for the Calendula is “pot marigold” possibly from a shortening of “poet’s marigold”. Many of the plants, 140 to be exact, are beautifully illustrated with detailed botanical drawings done in pen and ink by Marjorie C. Leggitt.   This book is the co-author’s second.  For the first, both authors received the Gertrude B. Foster Award for Excellence in Herbal Literature from the Herb Society of America.

 Nan Starkweather, a Fayette County Master Gardener, provided this review.

Here is an interesting perspective and updated classic which offers some useful advice if you’re planning a vegetable garden:

Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Plantings for Successful Gardening
Louise Riotte
Story Publishing  224 pages  $14.95
I picked up this revised and updated book because the cover
was so colorful it looked good enough to eat.  After I got past the cover,
I realized that the author was giving lots of good information to help with
gardening.  Not only do carrots love tomatoes, but bush beans do well when
planted with cucumbers.  Tomatoes dislike potatoes, as well as all members of the cabbage family.

Louise Riotte has written 12 books in her lifetime, another of which was “Roses Love Garlic.”   Her books are companion planting guides and have taught a generation of gardeners how to use each plant’s’ natural partnerships to produce bigger and better harvests.  She lived on a small farm in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

My plans are to use information found in the Herb chapter for my vegetable garden.  The author says basil helps tomatoes overcome invasions of both insects and diseases,  and improves growth and flavor.  I will plant sage by
the cabbage to ward off the white cabbage butterfly.

Riotte has included line drawings of plants throughout the book.  There are also illustrations of various types of layouts,  such as companion gardens, weekend gardens, kitchen herb gardens and children’s gardens.

Nan Starkweather, Fayette County

Farm City:   The Education of an Urban Farmer

Novella Carpenter   The Penguin Press

276 pp    $25.95

     The author, Novella Carpenter is a self taught writer who lives in the city and loves city life. She dreams of having a small piece of country life in the city. When she moves into a house in Oakland she sees a empty lot next door and she decides to purchase it. Thus begins her dream and her story.

     Carpenter turns the empty lot into a ‘farm’ with chickens, turkeys, geese, pigs and she also grows vegetables. She not only wants a bit of farm life but she plans on eating her animals and vegetables that she grows. She relates to the reader with wry humor and wit her story and the adventures that happen from day to day or week to week.      For example, in talking about her egg laying chickens she has a rooster that crows daily at 4 am.  She has bees that she says make honey but they also sting people (including herself) from time to time. She says her vegetable garden produces vegetables but it also attracts rodents who breed. She says these things in such a humorous way that I find myself chuckling.

      In another part of her book she talks about her chicken coop and one can imagine her chickens walking around clucking and scratching at the soil. In this idyllic world she describes a neighbor’s broken down bike, a rusty shed and a broken mirror on the ground. Although these words are not funny as I have written them, Carpenter writes in such a way that you laugh. Carpenter shows us a slice of her life but it is shown with the everyday circumstance of reality with a bit of humor thrown in.

      The book is divided into parts that are entitled with the name of an animal or bird. For example, part I is titled Turkey and part II is called  Rabbit but don’t assume that each part talks about that particular farm animal. Read the book to find out what the chapters are about.

      What I liked most is that Carpenter is skilled at using humor and fact to tell a story that is believable. She is relaxed in her storytelling and she is able to ‘pull’ the reader into the story. This book would be a nice to give as a gift.

Sherry Thomas   Fayette County Master Gardener

 

Understanding Perennials:   

A New Look at an Old Favorite

William Cullina

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt     238 pages   $40

  Understanding Perennials is written differently from the traditional garden book. Although the Cullina starts out by defining perennials, then goes on to detail the perennial from the inside out.  Different chapters focus on different plant parts.      Chapter two focus is on the root, what is the best soil for growth, how much water and space are needed.  In others, Cullina discusses the leaves, their structure and photosynthesis; he goes on to cover stems, flowers, seeds, diseases, cultivation and propagation of the plant. In the back is a glossary of terms.

    The book contains many beautiful photographs that are in color, as well as clear and sharp, enabling readers to see specific identifiable marks on the leaves and flowers.  There is a lot of useful information included, including a section on

daffodil bulbs, which Cullina reports multiply quite fast, and should be divided after 5 years so that the bulbs will not compete with each other for nutrients and water.

In another section is a photo of a beautiful and common perennial, the peony. He states that pruning the stems of the plant in the spring is not beneficial to the plant since it would remove the flower buds and would also stunt the plant.

Cullina takes what could be daunting and complex material and makes it easy and enjoyable to understand. This book is good for beginners as well as more advanced gardeners in describing perennials and their specific needs.

Artisan , 226 pp  $35

This book is a visit to Italy, taken from your couch – just open a bottle of Pinot Grigio and bring the Tuscan charm into your own villa. Minchilli introduces us to the Italian farmhouse found in the rural regions of Umbria and Tuscany. She works her way from the exterior stone to the interior wall finishes, describing terra cotta floors, windows to bring in the exquisite light and the shutters to dim the view, the doors which are often handmade, travertine staircases, and most important to me, the garden.

The outside or setting is hard to replicate; we can only borrow from the landscape design details. The gardener should prepare to incorporate a good quantity of greenery into outdoor rooms, along with a scattering of terra cotta planters planted with the required lemon trees. Large pots are filled with geraniums and lavender, while prominent water features sprinkle the countryside.

In our mind, a trip to Italy would be incomplete without alfresco dining. To accomplish this often enjoyed dining experience, you must have a pergola. This structure is built close to the home to act as an extension or an additional room. The author shares pictures of the suggested architecture along with common materials for construction. Some plants suggested for addition to the structure are wisteria and jasmine.

Another Italian feature to embrace is the outdoor kitchen. Ovens in rural homes are typically outside and are used for grilling and baking.  We in the U.S. have also stated to enjoy spending more time in outdoor rooms, and are upgrading  areas that rival anything Minchelli suggests here, yet any home owner will benefit by recreating the ambiance found in the Italian way of life.

Hazel Combs, Fayette County Master Gardener

Artisan Publishing, 226 pp  $35

This book is a visit to Italy, taken from your couch – just open a bottle of Pinio Grigio and bring the Tuscan charm into your own villa. Minchilli introduces us to the Italian farmhouse found in the rural regions of Umbria and Tuscany. She works her way from the exterior stone to the interior wall finishes, describing terra cotta floors, windows to bring in the exquisite light and the shutters to dim the view, the doors which are often handmade, travertine staircases, and most important to me, the garden.

The outside or setting is hard to replicate; we can only borrow from the landscape design details. The gardener should prepare to incorporate a good quantity of greenery into outdoor rooms, along with a scattering of terra cotta planters planted with the required lemon trees. Large pots are filled with geraniums and lavender, while prominent water features sprinkle the countryside.

In our mind, a trip to Italy would be incomplete without alfresco dining. To accomplish this often enjoyed dining experience, you must have a pergola. This structure is built close to the home to act as an extension or an additional room. The author shares pictures of the suggested architecture along with common materials for construction. Some plants suggested for addition to the structure are wisteria and jasmine.

Another Italian feature to embrace is the outdoor kitchen. Ovens in rural homes are typically outside and are used for grilling and baking.  We in the U.S. have also stated to enjoy spending more time in outdoor rooms, and are upgrading  areas that rival anything Minchelli suggests here, yet any home owner will benefit by recreating the ambiance found in the Italian way of life.

Hazel Combs, Fayette County Master Gardener

Published by Simon McBride, 226 pp  $35

This book is a visit to Italy, taken from your couch – just open a bottle of Pinio Grigio and bring the Tuscan charm into your own villa. Minchilli introduces us to the Italian farmhouse found in the rural regions of Umbria and Tuscany. She works her way from the exterior stone to the interior wall finishes, describing terra cotta floors, windows to bring in the exquisite light and the shutters to dim the view, the doors which are often handmade, travertine staircases, and most important to me, the garden.

The outside or setting is hard to replicate; we can only borrow from the landscape design details. The gardener should prepare to incorporate a good quantity of greenery into outdoor rooms, along with a scattering of terra cotta planters planted with the required lemon trees. Large pots are filled with geraniums and lavender, while prominent water features sprinkle the countryside.

In our mind, a trip to Italy would be incomplete without alfresco dining. To accomplish this often enjoyed dining experience, you must have a pergola. This structure is built close to the home to act as an extension or an additional room. The author shares pictures of the suggested architecture along with common materials for construction. Some plants suggested for addition to the structure are wisteria and jasmine.

Another Italian feature to embrace is the outdoor kitchen. Ovens in rural homes are typically outside and are used for grilling and baking.  We in the U.S. have also stated to enjoy spending more time in outdoor rooms, and are upgrading  areas that rival anything Minchelli suggests here, yet any home owner will benefit by recreating the ambiance found in the Italian way of life.

Hazel Combs, Fayette County Master Gardener

Your flower garden is all planted with your favorite plants.
They begin to bloom and are magnificent!  They keep blooming and suddenly
there are no more flowers.  What happened?

Sherry Thomas, Fayette County Master Gardener

Rain Gardening in the South:

Ecologically Designed Gardens for Drought, Deluge, and Everything in Between

Helen Kraus and Anne Spafford

Eno Publishers 142 pages   $19.95

Rain Gardening in the South is a short book with a lot of gardening information packed into each chapter.  The focus is on irrigation management and responsible, environmentally friendly gardening.

Long-time horticulturalists Kraus and Spafford first define rain gardening and how useful it can be as a way to keep vegetation green by using simple principles. For example, they explain how a well functioned and planned rain garden can prevent runoff and remove pollution.  To illustrate how effective a grain garden can be, a table is included which lists some common pollutants, where the pollutants originate and what percentage can be removed by a rain garden.  The authors also describe how rain gardens can be the answer to drought. For example, they discuss using plants that thrive in dry conditions in a rain garden where runoff water can be stored for the plants to use. Plants like cacti and arid climate plants such as artemisia or wormwood would be good for a very dry area.    I liked this book because the authors take you step by step in creating a water garden. They discuss selecting a location, creating a depression in the soil, and plants to select. Illustrations and many colorful photographs show a variety of rain gardens and the plants they support. Some plants that are used are cat’s whiskers, elephant ear, palmetto, different grasses and berry shrubs and trees.  Be sure to check  USDA hardiness zones  when making plant choices for your area.

      Included in the book are contacts for the Cooperative Extesion Service in many southern states. If you don’t see your state then I suggest you contact your local extension service office.  Also included is an appendix on soil, a list of rain garden resources on the internet and a glossary of terms and concepts.

       The book uses easy to understand terms and explanations for anyone interested in rain gardens or who may be considering creating one.

Sherry Thomas, Fayette County Master Gardener