BOOKreviews

Houseplant Warrior: 7 Keys to Unlocking the Mysteries of Houseplant Care Author: Raffaele Di Lallo Publisher: The Countryman Press List Price: $25.00 Order Links: https://amzn.to/3zTQIOw and https://bookshop.org/ a/79479/9781682686751 Reviewer: Dorvall Bedford If you’re an aspiring plant person who is looking for guidance on taking care of an indoor plant, then Houseplant Warrior by Raffaele Di Lallo is the perfect place to start. Whether you’re confused about proper lighting or watering, this book has all the information you need to begin. The book is split into five parts that are each about what you need to do before and after you acquire your houseplants. Some of the topics that it covers include lighting, watering, potting, and common problems to look out for. Although a quick read, the book goes in depth about these subjects and prepares you for almost everything involved in taking care of a houseplant. What makes this book unique compared to all the other plant books out there are all the useful tips throughout. Many books go over the basics of lighting, but Di Lallo’s book is well worth picking up because it goes into more detail about why the proximity of a plant to a window is important and how a plant indoors will never receive the amount of sunlight it would outdoors. The book also describes how the fear of overwatering plants has led to a lot of plant parents being too scared to water their houseplants properly. Di Lallo provides many useful tips and clarifies many misconceptions that I haven’t seen addressed in other books. By reading this book, you can tell that Di Lallo knows all of this information based on prior experiences and interactions with plant parents who needed help. In Part 3, Di Lallo provides case studies based on actual situations that readers have experienced to show how you can avoid incorrect assumptions and diagnose problems your plants are facing. I highly recommend this book. Houseplant Warrior is perfect for anyone who is just starting out as a plant parent and looking for quality advice. It will give you the necessary essentials and more so you are prepared to adopt your new houseplant. o

Dorvall Bedford is a journalism major at the University of Maryland, College Park, and an intern this semester with Washington Gardener. He is a native of Frederick, MD.

The Garden Refresh: How to Give Your Yard Big Impact on a Small Budget Author: Kier Holmes Publisher: Timber Press List Price: $27.95 Order Link: https://amzn.to/3HHCphV and https://bookshop.org/ a/79479/9781643260815 Reviewer: Jamie Oberg In The Garden Refresh, Kier Holmes outlines how to both design a beautiful garden and keep it alive. Holmes’ father was a craftsperson and her mother a home gardener, making her uniquely equipped to write about garden design. Through her experiences with creating and maintaining landscapes, first from her parents but eventually as her profession, Holmes helps transform your backyard into a work of art. Initially, I thought this book would be largely unusable for me, given an apartment balcony is the only space I have for designing a garden and my thumb is more yellow than green. But Holmes makes gardening and garden design accessible to those at all budgets and experience levels.

The Garden Refresh includes a multitude of money-saving tips that often double as tips for working in small spaces. The book provides advice on multiplying plants, repurposing and upcycling household items, collecting seeds, growing groceries, shopping for plants on a budget, efficient garden chores (because time is money), and more. Holmes, while giving incredibly insightful advice, ensures that beginners aren’t left behind. The book is full of “pro tips,” like speeding up germination of larger seeds with sandpaper, and lists of suggested plants for a wide variety of conditions. Holmes explains every step of gardening, from mulch to transplanting and frost patterns to microclimates. Still, Holmes goes in depth and covers a lot of ground, ensuring even the most seasoned gardeners learn something new. And Holmes’ knowledge isn’t relegated to outside alone. Much of the information in The Garden Refresh— like how to make small spaces look big, using focal points and frames, and color use—can double as general room design insight. There are also a variety of DIY projects, like homemade rose hip tea and hummingbird nectar. Throughout the book, Holmes emphasizes working with the environment, not against it. She explains how to minimize the negative environmental impact of lawns, environmentally friendly ways to source garden water, composting, the best ways to attract and support wildlife, and multiple homemade pesticide alternatives.

The Garden Refresh is filled with beautiful pictures that elevate Holmes’ writing. The photographs serve as inspirations with beautiful and creative full garden layouts, plant arrangements, upcycling projects, and more. Without

reading a word, you will want to touch up your garden space just from the photos.

The Garden Refresh inspires readers to view gardening in a new, aesthetic way. It engages the reader and makes incredibly designed gardens feel more feasible, regardless of your situation. Holmes touches on every aspect of garden design, keeping each step of designing, creating, and maintaining a garden easy to follow. She makes gardening an art medium, highlighting how to work with all five senses in a garden design. Overall, the book embodies what Holmes would call “creative gardening.” o

Jamie Amadea Oberg is a rising senior at the University of Maryland (UMD). Jamie is an intern this summer session with Washington Gardener.

A Therapist’s Garden: Using Plants to Revitalize Your Spirit Author: Erik Keller Publisher: Black Rose Writing List Price: $19,95 Order Link: https://amzn.to/3n7DWVe and https://bookshop.org/ a/79479/9781684339143 Reviewer: Andrea Siegel Most backyard gardeners are aware that gardening benefits us in so many ways—physically, emotionally, and more—whether we take out our frustrations by digging out weeds or enjoy childlike fun just getting dirty. We also know that forest bathing and keeping houseplants are trending. While Erik Keller’s book, A Therapist’s Garden, is about gardening, it’s not about growing the perfect petunia. It is about using gardening to help people find their way, learn to cope with their personal challenges, and reflect. Readers learn about gardening and plant-related crafts along the way. Keller recounts his experiences as a horticultural therapist working with troubled youths, senior citizens, cancer patients, and others. The Connecticut resident’s book is mostly vignettes pulled from 20 years in the field, with the stories arranged month by month to cover a year. Chapters include crafts and descriptions of seasonal outings. Some of these accounts are highly clients to watch them grow and change over the long term, nor do they learn how horticultural therapy blends with other forms of therapy—that would be a different book altogether. Also, short-term benefits are not to be dismissed. These can include a brief but pleasant activity, an opportunity for a fleeting achievement, a sense of purpose, or an hour or two removed from a focus on pain. Long-term and short-term benefits, they all contribute to improving people’s lives. o

personal and tender—such as helping his elderly mother develop her garden, introducing his young granddaughter to gardening, and stories that feature his wife—clearly depicting labors of love. On the professional side, names of clients have been changed for confidentiality reasons. The stories are centered around plants but they open a window into how Keller tries to connect with his clients as individuals, using gardening tasks and results. Clients making sachets find fragrances that elicit recollections of their pasts. There are hoop houses to fill. There’s a class for adults to make vinegars flavored with the herbs of their choosing. There’s salad made from backyard weeds and herbs. A youth with a number of issues focuses on planting flower seeds with speed and dexterity to earn the reward of having Keller teach him to whittle, and although it was a risk to give the boy a knife, close supervision and a positive result made it worthwhile. The book is an interesting although not dramatic read; it is probably of greater interest to those seeking to enhance their understanding of how human beings’ relationship with plants, gardens, and nature can contribute to healing and well-being than it is for gardeners seeking a how-to manual. Often, Keller makes connections between the tasks, tools, and client abilities or need; those tend to be brief. He clearly finds joy in his work. However, readers do not get to become invested in or follow Keller’s

Andrea Siegel is a master gardener in Maryland.

Lilacs: Beautiful Varieties for Home and Garden Author: Naomi Slade Photography: Georgianna Lane Publisher: Gibbs Smith List Price: $22.99 Order Links: https://amzn.to/3xLGGMX and https://bookshop.org/ a/79479/9781423661306 Reviewer: Tori Vandergriff Lilacs: Beautiful Varieties for Home and Garden written by Naomi Slade and photographed by Georgianna Lane dives into “exquisite nostalgia” and “timeless elegance” by explaining the history of lilacs and incorporating gorgeous photographs. Slade is a journalist, author, and designer who works extensively in garden and lifestyle media, according to her website. She has won awards for the design of several show gardens and has worked as a writer for more than 25 years, which makes her the perfect person to compose an encyclopedia-esque book about the prolific lilac plant.

Lilacs opens with an introduction describing the behavior of lilacs as they grow, the history of breeding them, and the origin of the name. Slade’s descriptive language is paired with awe-inspiring pictures by Lane to create a well-rounded and interesting reading experience. The next section of the book is “The History and Botany of Lilacs,” which is incredibly informative and gives the readers more insight into how the flowers became such a popular garden flower both inside and outside the home. Slade delves into the background of lilacs (Syringa vulgaris) dating all the way back to 16th-century

European royalty. The historical information about the flower creates a great foundation for understanding the rest of the book and allows readers to connect with the story of the plant more deeply. Slade proves her designing capabilities through the “Flower Arranging” and “Designing with Lilacs” sections. In a succinct and easy-to-comprehend way, she articulates how lilacs can be used in the home as cut flowers and for events as bouquets and arrangements. This component of the book is a valuable way for how beginner gardeners, or any flower lovers, can use the plant in their everyday lives. The most interesting aspects of the book are called “Fantastic Frills,” “Cool Perfection,” “Delicate Delights,” and “Sumptuous Sophistication.” Slade provides the history, statistical measurements, and use for every type of lilac while Lane offers a beautiful photo of each one to go along with the writing. These pages are filled with amazing colors and descriptive text, giving readers all of the information they need to pick their perfect lilac. These sections are the true highlight of the book and by far my favorite part. Just as important is the “Growing and Care” section at the end of the book. Slade gives readers everything they need to not only marvel at the beauty of lilacs, but to also take care of them properly so they may thrive. She truly proves herself a seasoned gardener as she explains how to move, plant, and grow lilacs to their fullest capacity. Lilacs is a jaw-dropping piece of literature due to Slade’s elegant and informative language, as well as Lane’s incredible photography. This book would be perfect for anyone seeking to learn more about the history of lilacs, the differences in each variety, and how to care for them in the garden. I would highly recommend this book to any gardener (beginner or otherwise) and anyone who loves gorgeous flowers! o

Victoria Vandergriff is finishing up her senior year at the University of Maryland as a journalism major with a history minor. She is an intern this summer session with Washington Gardener

The View From Federal Twist: A New Way of Thinking About Gardens, Nature and Ourselves Author: James Golden Publisher: Filbert Press List Price: $55.00 Order Links: https://amzn.to/3y9SWrW and https://bookshop.org/ a/79479/9781999734572 Reviewer: Jim Dronenburg The View from Federal Twist is not a gardening book in the nuts-and-bolts sense, but a description of James Golden’s garden in New Jersey, and an explanation of the rationale behind its design. Because the garden, seemingly planted at first glance to look “wild,” is nothing of the kind. It is thought out, and re-thought out, and, per the author, remains a constantly changing work. Nor is it a garden that “takes care of itself” (there is, by the way, no such thing). Golden says that things that are tall and left to be so may be flattened by storms and fall across a path: “a major inconvenience (if) on the wrong day.” At first, I read this book up to about page 100. Then I flipped through the pictures to the end. (This qualifies, from the pictures, many from drones, as a “coffee table” book as well as a “book” book.) These pictures are superb, and include some fantastic inthe-mist shots. Then, I went back and read it again. For me, this was an acclimatization process to Golden’s writing about the design. And, of course, this book introduces ideas (and pictures) from other designers, other gardens, as an explanation of what Golden is driving at: This is how I did it; here’s where (and from whose work) I got an idea; here’s where I got a look at, and understanding of, something not to follow… Granted, Golden has opportunities that not all have: a reasonably large site (by our region’s standards); land that is NOT flat as a pancake; and stone, stone, stone. “A somber, gray stone called argillite is abundant here—most conveniently piled into rough stone rows by early settlers…and this I…used.” We all should have such luck. But luck had nothing to do with the superb way Golden uses it. Golden does mention what he planted, not in a “here’s a list to use” way but just in passing. Nevertheless, some things stand out—a tiny native seedbox (Ludwigia alternifolia), which leave your reviewer cold in bloom but are spectacular in a winter shot, illustrating, as Golden puts it, “finding beauty in collapse and decay,” and a nice, quite varied, plant palette, not just of natives but of all sorts of non-natives as well, chosen for their micro-environments. These are useful things to learn about for just about everyone. And one final note. Golden does not show Federal Twist only on a snapshotperfect day when everything is at its peak, but all through the year (many years, actually). This is an eye-opener for progressions, including the “collapse and decay” perspective. It is pricey, but is well worth it. Remember that this is a book for ideas and rationale (not a how-to), more than most “design” books. o

Jim Dronenburg is a retired accountant and now gardens full-time in Knoxville, MD.