Westerly Sun Column | Library Has Oodles of Gardening Books

Point me in the direction of the gardening section” is a request I hear often this time of year, and one that I typically respond to with “Can I help you find something specific?” Much like the cookbook and travel books, this section is so large, and there are so many different types of books related to the overall topic, that it’s often helpful to narrow it down a bit! The good news is, whether you’re looking for books on soil testing, seed saving, perennial gardening, or landscaping, I guarantee you’ll find a book somewhere in this section that can help.

Pollinator-friendly gardens have been very popular the last few years, as more and more people are doing what they can to at home to support bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. “The Bee-Friendly Garden” by Kate Frey and “The Pollinator Victory Garden” by Kim Eierman are excellent resources that both inform on the importance and ecological impact of pollinators, and provide useful information on how to transform your own garden space into one that will attract and support these populations. If you’re more interested in the ecological aspects, you may enjoy “Protecting Pollinators: How to Save the Creatures That Feed Our World” by Jodi Helmer, a compelling and highly accessible book about pollinator conservation.

Gardening with native plants is one way to support the pollinators, and the earth, and it can even be easier on your wallet! Native plants are generally less expensive, and they require less water and other maintenance than your lawn, saving you money in the long run. Books like “The Northeast Native Plant Primer” by Uli Lorimer and “Native Plant Gardening for Birds, Bees & Butterflies: Northeast” by Jaret C. Daniels include a ton of information on how to select and care for native plants, to get you started. As someone who is both interested in environmentalism and utterly terrible at gardening, I was all ears when my coworker brought up the trend of “rewilding”; essentially, this is the process of restoring your land to its natural state. “Tiny + Wild” by Graham Laird Gardner is a great introduction to the topic, that may inspire you to try this out on (at least part of) your own yard!

Pollinator-friendly and native-plant gardens aren’t the only topics of interest, of course. If you dream of a charming, cottage-inspired garden, you can check out “English Cottage Gardening for American Gardeners” by Margaret Hensel. If you yearn to fill your home with beautiful floral arrangements from your own yard, “Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden” by Erin Benzakein may be for you. For my food-focused friends, there are innumerable options related to vegetable and herb gardening, and even creating a food forest! Since I don’t love gardening (but I do love food), I’m focusing my attention on cultivating crops that help me make my favorite foods all summer long. Though intended for kids, I’ve found “So You Want to Grow a Taco?” by Bridget Heos immeasurably useful in this quest

by Cassie Skobrak, Adult Services Librarian