MN

This book gives general principles of gardens with prairie plants, examples of actual gardens, a few plans and lots of information on specific plants. The information on the plants is the highlight of the book. The plans that they show are excellent.

[Gardening with Prairie Plants by Sally Wasowski], Native Plant Society of Texas News, 20 (March April 2002): 5.

Convincing people that native flora are ideal for their home landscape should be easy. Colorful native plants flower as early as late February and continue to bloom until late June. After a respite during the intense heat and withering drought of summer, a riot of blossoms emerge again from September until the first frost of late autumn. Few gardens comprised of commercially popular non-native plants can compete with the duration of such a showy display. And few can match the low maintenance, the reduced water requirements, and the environmental benefits of native-flora horticulture.

Sally Wasowski's latest book, Gardening with Prairie Plants, is aimed at converting skeptics who doubt that native-plant landscapes can make any difference in the world. These are people who argue the futility of trying to reverse the course of things in any given region. In reply, Wasowski points to native-plant landscaping as one way to preserve biodiversity. Biodiversity is like the human auto-immune system; it provides an eco-system with the means for successfully adjusting to disruptive new conditions.
Wasowski has a good chance of succeeding against the skeptics because her volume-reasonably-priced and readily available in Texas bookstores-is excellently produced. Not only is her well-informed commentary accessible to the average reader, but Andy Wasowski's accompanying color photographs are spectacular. The publisher wisely opted to print large illustrations, and the 241 that appear in Gardening with Prairie Plants prove the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words. Since Texas is a prairie state, there are attractive photos of Brown County, Quitaque, Gruene, Fort Worth and Lubbock, among other Lone Star State locales.

Gardening with Prairie Plants commences with several instructive definitions, such as the difference between short-grass prairies, which tend to be found in dry regions subject to very hot weather, and long-grass prairies, which tend to be found in wet regions subject to very cold weather. But such distinctions can become somewhat more complex, and Wasowski negotiates various qualifications in an easy-to-understand way. Her book then proceeds to consider the design, installation and maintenance of prairie gardens. This section is highlighted by photographs of homes, schools and museums exemplifying successful transitions to native landscaping. The impressive experiment at Selah Ranch in Johnson City is also featured.

Most of Wasowski's book is devoted to plant profiles, which comprise a richly illustrated section of the volume and are accompanied by helpful horticultural data and numerous floral distribution maps. The flowers populating this portion of the book are so appealingly presented that it will be hard for some readers to resist wanting to adopt all of them. Consider, for example, the allure of the beautiful photograph of needle-and-thread (Hesperostipa comata), accompanied by this description: "Needle-and-thread sways in the slightest wind with a motion like water, and the awns have a silvery cast. ... Wind blows the 'needle' onto the soil. The threadlike 5-to-8-inch awn is twisted behind the needle, and as it unwinds, the seed is literally drilled into the soil."

Gardening with Prairie Plants is an admirable work. It will be cherished by anyone devoted to native flora, but it will appeal equally to those who have as yet made only a modest foray into native-plant landscaping. Gardening with Prairie Plants is not only extraordinarily useful, it is also exceptionally beautiful-a lavishly designed book for enthusiast and dreamer alike.

William J. Scheick, a former NPSOT vice-president, is also a member of the Central Texas Horticulture Council and a frequent contributor to Texas Gardener.

I purchased this book for my public library and it has been very popular. This is a fantastic gardening resource for all green thumbs in Illinois because all the information is specific to growing in Illinois. Wonderful color pictures on every page. I can't wait to purchase Aldrich's other books! Highly recommended.

I picked up a copy of this book at Chicago Flower and Garden show recently, and found it written to reach not only the master gardener, but also the novice or inspired homeowner wishing to fill their gardens with perennials native to the area. The photos are clear and precise, making identification easy for the untrained eye.

The book provides accurate information for growing conditions in Illinois. I will recommend this book to my college interns and fellow members of several garden clubs as well as homeowners I design perennial gardens for.

Highly recommended.

I've followed the Calder family for 3 gererations now and am looking forward to reading about the next 2. Can't put these books down.

Webb fought the newcomer's who rushed to claim grasslands where Calder cattle grazed. Lilli is a proud young immigrant married to a man who instigates fights with the Calder's. When her husband dies, she marries Webb and they fight droughts and harsh weather together along with Webb's nemesis Krueger. This man goes mad and kills Lilli. Webb is devasted. The love of his life... he only had a couple of years...is dead. BUT....they had a son, Chase!

This is an excellent book. Hundreds of color photos and growing related information for the Michigan gardner. The book is a convenient size with rounded edges. The Perennials for Michigan book is a well written book as well and a good compliment to this one.

This easy to read, well organized book has a massive amount of information and valuable resources. Most books talk down to the readers or go way over their heads. Anderson relates to the reader and provides just what is needed - practical advice and a good reference manual.

"Commonsense Approach To Coronary Care is an outstanding comprehensive review of cardiovascular nursing which is a "must read" for all new nurses entering this field or a good review of information for the more experienced cardiovascular nurse. Subjects include anatomy & physiology of the heart, EKG's, Oxygenation & Acid-Base Balance,Fluids & Electrolytes, Coronary Artery Disease, Electrical Complications In Coronary Artery Disease, Intraventricular Conduction Disturbances, Mechanical Complications in CAD,Heart Failure & Shock, Pharmacologic Intervention in CAD, Electrical Intervention in Cardiac Disease, & The patient without CAD in the CCU. This wide range of subjects really brings together all the very important aspects of cardiovascular nursing in one simple volume

Usually the Princeton Notes are written for specialists in the field. This book by Knapp is a definite exception. The didactic quality is excellent, and the background assumed of the reader is meager compared to what you can take away by reading this book. The reader is only assumed to have an undergraduate background in complex analysis and modern algebra...not bad considering the frontiers that Knapp reaches in this book. The Eichler-Shimura thoery is treated in the next to last chapter of the book, and at a very understandable level. After reading the book one takes away an understanding of many deep results in the theory of elliptic curves. The author gives the reader a rare gift for most modern mathematical texts: insight. Proofs are given for most of the results, but the main emphasis is on understanding how elliptic curves are studied and why they are useful mathematical objects. This is definitely a book to be read by everyone interested in the theory of elliptic curves. String theorists, cryptoanalysts, physicists, and aspiring mathematicians whose interests and applications are in the theory of elliptic curves should definitely read this book. A mere $50.00 will get you a copy...but it is definitely worth four times that. If you are coming to the theory of elliptic curves for the first time and have a background in comnplex analysis and modern algebra, read first Joseph Silverman's book on rational points on elliptic curves, and then Knapp's book. Then move on to Silverman's two books on the arithmetic of elliptic curves. For both theory and applications, this sequence should prepare anyone for entering this very interesting world of elliptic curves. If only more books in modern mathematics were written like Knapp's Elliptic Curves...............

I borrowed this book from the library, and did not get to look through it extensively, but I am a beginning gardener and would definitely like to add this book to my home library to have on hand as a reference. I liked the fact that the book is broken into sections by annuals, perrenials, shrubs, etc. Also, I think every plant mentioned includes a full color picture. That was a high point for me as I am just becoming familiar with many of these specimens. I wish I could give a more thorough review, but at first glance I was very happy with the content of this book.

Ohio is not the most hospitable place for gardening. With cold winters and hot often dry summers, gardening can be a balancing act. This book is a terrific guide for selecting and cultivating plants in this area. This book has helped me improve my black thumb to almost green. Recommended for all Ohio and surrounding areas.

If your grandma were an expert gardener, this is like having all her advice right in one place. I have used this inexpensive, thorough gardening book much more than my expensive hardcover gardening books. This book is great for a novice gardener, and also for more experienced gardeners. He gives a full 2-pages for each plant, telling where to plant, when to trim, when to plant, varieties/cultivars, and much more. He answers pretty much any question you could have about a certain plant. I take this with me when I'm shopping for my plants, because he tells you lots more than the plant tag will. I highly, highly recommend this book for anyone who likes to garden! Too bad he doesn't cover vegetables or herbs, though.

Very readable and useful book. Tells you when to plant, where, and how, along with maintenance and other information about add'l species and cultivars. Tells you the type of sun needed and advantages of the plant, and zone where it belongs.

I could wish that the pictures were a little more close up, and listed with the flowers so you don't have to keep flipping to the middle section - but this is quibbling. Highly recommended.