Nothing makes me sadder than to admit I compromised on outdoor space when I bought my condo. It was a first-time buyer mistake. I had it on my list of must-haves but it was the dead of winter when I signed on the dotted line and I decided a Juliet balcony would suffice (apparently cold temperatures had erased summer from my mind completely). It does not. At all. And I now loathe the term Juliet balcony, too. It’s a door to nowhere people, we call that a window! But I digress…
I’m just feeling sorry for myself now that all the amazing, new gardening books are piling up on my desk. I want a garden with beautiful flowers and delicious vegetables. I want to make salsa with sun-warmed tomatoes and to arrange my own fresh flowers centerpieces. But instead I will have to rely on my local farmers market for these things and I’m hoping I can make a deal to live vicariously through you dear readers. Here’s my offer, I’ll share some sweet reading recommendations and in return you’ll share pictures of your success in your garden. I think it’s a fair trade, so what do you say? I’ll even go first.
From top left:
Grow Organic by Nick Hamilton (New Holland, 2009), $21, available at Chapters
Packed with practical information for fruit, vegetable and herb gardeners who want all natural solutions for planting, pests, diseases and harvesting. This is a excellent go-to resource.
Ecological Gardening by Marjorie Harris (Random House Canada, 2009), $22, available at
Chapters
Canadian gardening guru,
Marjorie Harris has reissued her guide to gardening gently (first published in 1992) with a complete update for the 2009 gardener. Harris was an organic gardener way before it became trendy and she shares years of green thumb wisdom and experience in this book.
The Book of Weeds by Ken Thompson (Dorling Kindersley, 2009), $20, available at Chapters
Everyone knows the key to winning any fight is knowing your enemy. In his first book since Compost, Ken Thompson introduces gardeners to the weeds in their gardens and helps them to understand and balance the delicate backyard ecosystem.
Garden Design by Royal Horticultural Society (Dorling Kindersley, 2009), $45, available at
DK Canada
If you’re planning a backyard makeover this book is a must-have. Informative and detailed, it deals with every aspect of garden design from planning to planting, and includes helpful illustrations and step-by-step instructions. It’s great resource for rookies and veterans alike.
Now here’s hoping you’ll keep up your end of the bargain. E-mail me your pictures. I can’t wait!
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