I can't remember how many times over the years -- at conferences, lectures and the like -- that I asked Larry Weaner when he was going to write a book.
Finally, it's here: Garden Revolution: How Our Landscapes Can Be a Source of Environmental Change
As those of you who have heard his presentations know, there's a way to design and plant that's beneficial to the environment, that looks beautiful, and that saves you -- the homeowner -- from a lot of toil and trouble. The secret is knowing which plants do best in your own local area, planting them, and letting them go. It's a system that's friendly to wildlife, that changes with time, and that's beautiful and dynamic year after year.
Most of the gardens profiled in the book are on the larger side -- gardens that are suited for a natural meadow, which is Weaner's specialty. Still, the principles he outlines can be adapted for almost any garden, so it's a book that you'll want on your bookshelf.
He explains how to identify plants that want to be there (native or not); how to analyze the presence of wildlife; how to connect habitats; and how to develop the criteria you need to guide your plant selection. Beautiful photographs and drawings throughout the book illustrate the authors' main points.
In the back of the book, there's a full list of resources for further study: websites, journals, organizations, books. This is a book that's long, long overdue.
And, if you haven't attended one of Weaner's conferences sponsored by his firm, New Directions in the American Landscape, check out his website here and make sure to go to one next January. You won't regret it. I know some designers who go every single year.
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