I have been in the garden writing industry for more than 35 years, so naturally, I have accumulated some gardening books. Most of them are really good and fun to read. In this day and age, books don’t have to be all text. They can and probably should include lots of pictures. I have picked books that I refer to often, and although some of these books may be hard to find, they should be in your gardening library.
“Bulb” is a short title for a big book. Anna Pavord covers in detail more than 540 types of bulbs that gardeners can grow. There are great photos covering every kind of bulb, and Pavord explains everything you need to know about growing all of them. This book came out in 2009 and sold for $40. It is hard to find, but I discovered it on Amazon, used in good condition for just $7. You can’t afford to pass up a price like that.
If you have plants in your backyard pond, you need “Encyclopedia of Water Garden Plants.” Greg Speichert was the most knowledgeable plant person I have ever met. He was also extremely kind. He had a water garden plant nursery and knew everything about every plant. He passed away way too young. Fortunately, he and his wife, Sue Speichert, condensed the important things we need to know about wetland plants into this beautiful book. The hardcover version is on Amazon for $63, but you can find it used for less. Greg and Sue also wrote the “Timber Press Pocket Guide to Water Garden Plants,” which sells for only $20.
“The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual” covers how to grow 150 species of houseplants. I have only grown about 76 of the ones in the book, so it looks like I need to step up my game. It gives the same information in the same way for every plant, which makes it easy to compare plants that you already grow to see whether the plant you want to grow requires the same or similar conditions. It is on Amazon for $15, but it is from 2005, so you can probably find it used for less.
The Bible starts with mankind in a garden, and gardening provides some of the most meaningful passages in the Bible, from grapevine pruning to the parable of the mustard seed. By reading the “God’s Word for Gardeners Bible,” you will enjoy a bountiful spiritual harvest as you read the garden-themed essays and devotionals set for an entire year. It is just $24 on Amazon.
