Wednesday, May 05, 2021

By Debbie Rosenberg

It's May and that means it's officially time to start planning and planting gardens!  Whether you are planning on flowers or vegetables, have a balcony or a yard, we have books to help.

Just getting started? These are great for beginners.

          
Gardening Basics by Steve Frowine is a new book in the "for dummies" series, well known for step by step instructions. The proven winners garden book : simple plans, picture-perfect plants, and expert advice for creating a gorgeous garden by Ruth Clausin starts with the basics of preparing the soil and includes several simple garden plans. Small garden style : a design guide for outdoor rooms and containers by Isa Eaton can help even apartment dwellers get started gardening.

 

          
For the perfect edible garden try The modern homestead garden : growing self-sufficiency in any size backyard by Gary Pilarchik or The new heirloom garden : designs, recipes and heirloom plants for cooks who love to garden by Ellen Ogden.  Grow your own cocktails, mocktails, teas & infusions : gardening tips and how-to techniques for making artisanal beverages at home by Jodi Helmer not only tells us how to plant, maintain, and harvest each ingredient, she gives us recipes to enjoy the bounty from our garden. 

 

Don't forget about the bees, birds, and butterflies!

          
Attracting birds and butterflies : how to plant a backyard habitat to attract winged wildlife by Barbara Ellis is a quick reference for attracting beauties to your garden.

Planting for honeybees : the grower's guide to creating a buzz by Sarah Lewis will give you ideas from a window box to shrubs that will help our pollinators.  Butterfly gardening with native plants : how to attract and identify butterflies by Christopher Kline not only has plant information and garden design, he includes a photo guide for identifying the butterflies you attract.

Debbie Rosenberg is a member of Fond du Lac Public Library's reference department.