Price : $15.24

Product Description

The pressures on wildlife populations today are greater than they have ever been and many gardeners assume they can remedy this situation by simply planting a variety of flowering perennials, trees, and shrubs. As Douglas Tallamy points out in this revelatory book, that assumption is largely mistaken. Wild creatures exist in a complex web of interrelationships, and often require different kinds of food at different stages of their development.

There is an unbreakable link between native plant species and native wildlife. When native plant species disappear, the insects disappear, thus impoverishing the food source for birds and other animals. Fortunately, there is still time to reverse this alarming trend, and gardeners have the power to make a significant contribution toward sustainable biodiversity. By favoring native plants, gardeners can provide a welcoming environment for wildlife of all kinds.

Healthy local ecosystems are not only beautiful and fascinating, they are also essential to human well-being. By heeding Douglas Tallamy’s eloquent arguments and acting upon his recommendations, gardeners everywhere can make a difference.

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2008-11-23
This is a very important book for everyone to read. Tallamy has been an incrediable influence in Northen Michigan to take action in planting native plants. We also now have the research that he has shared in his book to give concrete reasons why to plant native plants.

Review date : 2008-09-21
Bugs are good! That’s the takeaway message of this book. Tallamy is an entomologist so his affection for insects is not surprising, and he clearly admires them for their aesthetic beauty and clever evolutionary adaptations. But he also argues, persuasively and passionately, that there are sound ecological reasons for welcoming insects into our landscapes with open arms–and a smorgasbord of native plants.
Healthy insect populations are essential to sustainable ecosystems that support the birds, butterflies, mammals, reptiles and other "charismatic megafauna" we cherish. Birds, especially, rely on insects and their larvae to feed their young. In the areas we humans have disturbed with our roadways and infrastructure, commercial buildings, residential developments, and agricultural plantations, we have wiped out the native plant diversity that supports wildlife. Tallamy estimates that perhaps only 3% to 5% of the United States remains as undisturbed, natural land, and much of that is composed of "ecological islands" that preclude immigration, making both plant and animal species vulnerable to local extinctions. So unless all of us actively work to convert human-disturbed lands–including our suburban gardens–for the preservation of wild creatures, we will no longer have the opportunity to observe nature on a daily basis. We will have to travel to outlying preserves to visit the few remaining species that survive.
So, what’s the connection to native plants? All plants convert the sun’s energy into organic matter usable by life. They are the first "trophic level." Insect herbivores eat plants and, in turn, provide food for all the other animals in higher trophic levels: insect carnivores, birds, mammals, reptiles, etc. But insects are often specialists, able only to eat those plants they have evolved with. And in our residential landscapes and agricultural plantings, we have systematically chosen exotic plants or created plant cultivars that are distasteful to our native insects. We have done this to protect our valuable food crops and because we
view our landscapes as mere decoration, wanting them to be aesthetically perfect and unmarred by chewed leaves. But deliberately excluding insect herbivores in this way deprives our ecosystems of a vital link in the food web. And introduced exotics are doubly problematic because these "pest-free" species escape our grasp and themselves become pests, precisely because they are distasteful to the insect herbivores that keep native plants in check. Our native plants, by contrast, are tasty insect food, and insects provide the basis for all the other animals.
To help us choose plants that are insect-friendly, the chapter "What Should I Plant?" identifies and describes those plant genera that have demonstrated the greatest ability to support butterfly and moth larvae. This criterion was chosen because Lepidoptera comprise over 50% of all insect herbivores in the US, because caterpillars are important components of many vertebrate diets, and because there is more published data about host plant
use by butterflies and moths than there is for other insects. Tallamy’s plant descriptions are interesting both for his suggestions for landscape applications and his knowledge about which caterpillars make use of each plant group.
The cleverly-titled chapter "What Does Bird Food Look Like?" describes various insect families, including but not limited to Lepidoptera. Tallamy tells us what plants these insects eat, what eats them, and describes interesting or curious facets of their life histories. (Initially I was tempted to skip this chapter but was glad I didn’t because I found it fascinating.)
The book is illustrated throughout with wonderful color photographs of plants and insects, and has useful appendices: a list of native plant species that have both wildlife value and desirable landscaping attributes (sorted by region and plant type), a checklist of host plants of butterflies and showy moths, and a summary of Tallamy’s survey data that demonstrates his thesis. I enjoyed this book immensely and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to make landscape choices that are more likely to attract birds, butterflies and other creatures. Whether you read the book or not, when you see insects dining on your
landscape, rejoice!

Review date : 2008-05-27
This is a very important book. I reluctantly purchased it after hearing several people that I admire recommend it very highly. I am not much into gardening but am interested in birds, biodiversity and restoring natural habitats. I have read hundreds of books on biology and the environment over the years and have been to hundreds of meetings and conferences regarding solutions to the many problems that beset our natural environment. It is not often that I hear of a very simple solution to a ubiquitous problem, that of a decline in the overall population of birds and mammals and the increase in the ravages of diseases affecting our forests, grasslands and deserts.

In addition to offering a novel solution to major problems the outlook of the book is optimistic and the reading is interesting and pleasurable. Dr. Tallamy is a fine writer and also furnishes fascinating descriptions of the plants, insects, mammals and birds that he has studied. One that I remember from the chapter on insects was the defensive strategy of some insects called leafhoppers that are preyed upon by wasps. The mother protects her offspring that are feeding on the stem above by intercepting attackers from below. If a wasp starts an attack from above her young drum out a distress message that vibrates through the stem to her so she can rush up and try to kick the wasp away. Another insect, a tree-boring beetle, flies to the top of mountain ridges to scan for forest fires with infrared vision to locate trees weakened by fire that are prime targets for feeding and breeding locations.

In addition to these insights into the world of insects and plants the book gives you an understanding of the significant danger from the spread of alien plant species. I agree with all the high recommendations for this book. Everyone that reads this will have a new outlook on nature and even the gardeners will enjoy it.

Review date : 2008-05-27
This book is a must read for all. It highlights and informs about the small steps we can each take to create a better world in our own back yards.

Review date : 2008-05-16

I thought this book was great, and now I’m "sold" on only using native plants in my garden. And for those who say that not all alien plants are bad, and that this book doesn’t tell the whole story or whatever, I would retort "well why NOT use native plants only?" To me there’s something more "right" about using plants that are native to the very land you are on.

The back of the book contains a terrific appendix that lists good native plants to grow by U.S. region. I was very disappointed however that there was no index for the Northeast region(which is where I live)…

Many of the tasks that need to be done in the garden are the same for most types of plants. So if you’ve recently added roses to your garden, you will find that you’re already many of the required tasks to keep them healthy and flourishing. Still, there are some particularly things that need to give your roses the proper care and attention they need. Here are some tips to remember when maintaining and cultivating your rose garden.

When you’re first planting out your rose garden, make sure you allow plenty of room between the rose bushes. Leave at least eighteen inches between standard garden varieties, up to thirty inches between bushes, and as much as eight to twelve feet between climbing roses. Miniature roses aren’t as fussy, and can be planted as close as twelve inches apart. If your roses are smothered and competing for the available food and water, they won’t thrive and reward you for your effort.

It’s important to give your rose garden plenty of water. Roses are very thirsty flowers, and it’s important to make sure you always saturate your roses when watering. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that sprinkling your rose bush with the house for five minutes a day is sufficient. Take the time to soak the soil around your rose bush thoroughly, so that the water can seep down deep into the soil and supply plenty of water for your roses to drink.

Roses love the sunshine, so make sure you plan your rose garden to maximize the amount of sunlight your roses receive. However, rose blooms can get burnt by the sun, so if you live in an area that’s particularly sunny and warm, you might want to be careful about which breeds of roses you plant in your garden. Your local nursery should be able to help. Even so, most roses like to receive at least six hours of sunlight a day, so plan accordingly. If your garden is a little shadier than that, take the time to choose shade tolerant varieties.

By planning your rose garden sensibly in the first place, and then taking the time to give your roses what they need, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful rose garden that all your friends will envy.

Price : $12.16

Product Description

Pamela Crawford has created a complete guide to simple container gardening designed for anyone who has ever killed a plant. It includes illustrated instructions to create gorgeous, fool-proof container gardens that even you can t kill! This book introduces blue ribbon plant combos that you plant in the spring and just add water for the entire growing season. That’s right: no trimming, no fertilizing, and no spraying for up to seven months! Learn the 48 easiest plants and how to arrange them into 70 fabulous container recipes.

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2008-10-15
Extremely well done. Lots of great information and fabulous photos. Can’t wait for the next book. I am telling all of my gardening friends to purchase this book. Everyone should have beautiful containers to adorn their homes.

Review date : 2008-06-04
I very much enjoyed this book. I do a lot of containers and this book gave great tips on plants that do well in containers. The containers the author uses are much bigger than mine, but the concepts are the same, I just use fewer plants. This book is a keeper, and one I will refer to time and again.

Review date : 2008-05-21
This book is great. When I use a garden book, I like photos and this one is loaded with them. It is also simple to follow and has great advice for new container gardeners or veterans. I adapted some of the ideas to a garden bed as well and they look great.

Review date : 2008-03-12
Living in Georgia and loving gardening and I am transitioning into container gardening !
"Easy Container Gardens" explain, educate and walk you through textures, colors, and color combinations of plants to recipes of success for containers. My reaction to the cover photo is "I can do that," showing complimentary plant blooms. There is a lengthy chapter on container basics. And another chapter on "Best Container Plants" sums up the Blue ribbon winners and container successes. The color photos are just beautiful and an inspiration to be creative with plants.

Review date : 2008-03-08
Wow! Pamela did it again! I already owned another book by Pamela so when I saw Easy Container Gardens on a friend’s coffee table I just had to take a look. Once I got into the book I didn’t want to put it down, even for the supper call! I had to have my own copy. I love the quote on the front, "For anyone who has ever killed a plant!" She might as well add my name to that list. Pamela’s books are always so helpful with directions, pictures (wow, what pictures), and suggestions for keeping your plants among the living. Easy Container Gardens is written so that it is easy to read with lots of step by step directions that will make you look like a pro. I feel that Pamela has a personal connection with every living thing by the way she knows her stuff. I highly recommend this book to those who garden, those who want to garden, or those who just like to look at beautiful pictures of gardens. Go get your own copy. You’ll be glad you did!