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Favorite garden books?

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I have a stack of gardening books that I keep handy in my living room.

I delve into the books for information to put into this blog or whenever I’m looking up a new plant and want to learn all about it before purchasing it, or in most cases after I’ve purchased it. Yes I’m an impulse plant purchaser.

I was wondering what kinds of gardening books my readers have at home? Here’s a list of what I have on hand:

  • Botanica’s Pocket – Annuals & Perennials
  • Ortho’s All about Azaleas, Camellias & Rhododendrons
  • 500 Popular Roses
  • 100 Easy to Grow native Plants for Canadian Gardens
  • The complete book of Garden Flowers
  • Readers Digest Illustrated Guide to Gardening in Canada
  • Complete Guide to Gardening (Better Homes and Gardens)
  • Botanica – The illustrated A-Z of over 10,000 plants

I think I’ve got a good start to my collection. What do you have that I should be sure to get for myself?






Coral Bells

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Heuchera micrantha commonly known as Palace Purple

This is a seed-grown strain, rather than clonal cuttings, so the plants vary wildly. Growing them in light shade seems to protect the foliage from burn, and on some of the superior forms, the flowers make a light, airy effect that is highly appealing.

Palace Purple does not seem as prone to develop woody stems that need to be divided as frequently as some of the other heuchera types, although this varies widely by plant.

This lovely, often purple foliaged plant grows to 12-18 in.. When planting space 24-36 in. Coral Bells are quite hardy, and should thrive in USDA zone 3a – 8b. Coral Bells prefer to be in a shady to partial sunny spot. The blooms that spring up on tall stalks are white or off white.

Coral Bells bloom from late spring to mid Fall, and blooms repeatedly. The folliage is deciduous and should not be covered with mulch in the winter or it may rot. Heuchera has average water needs and should not be over watered.

Propagation can be achived by collecting the seeds from the dried blooms. Sow the seeds indoors before the last frost and plant out in the early spring after the last frost has passed.

October Gardening Tips

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If you live in a cool climate here are a few things that you should do for your garden this month:

  • Plant scattered clusters of early flowering bulbs, such as crocus, throughout your lawn in order to achieve a more-relaxed, “natural” look, but, don’t mow the area until the foliage dies the next summer.
  • Clean up the area around your perennial flowers, such as rose and peony. If left on the ground, leaves and stems can harbor diseases and provide convenient places for pests to spend the winter.
  • Ferns can be planted or transplanted in fall.
  • Wear gloves when handling hyacinth bulbs as they have an oil in the bulb that may make some people itch. Also remember to wash your hands with cool water and soap immediately after planting.
  • Cut stems and foliage of herbaceous perennials when the leaves begin to brown.
  • Occasionally some spring-flowering bulbs to send up a few leaves in the late fall or early winter. The bulbs will remain safe over the winter and will still produce flowers next spring.
  • If cannas, dahlias, and gladioli are not hardy in your area, bring them inside after the tops are browned by frost. Allow to dry, clean off soil, and store in peat moss or vermiculite in a cool location free from frost.
  • Move and divide crowded perennials. Give some to your friends and neighbors if you have too many!
  • Let a few of the seeds of your favorite delphinium and hollyhock ripen on their stalks. When they mature, you can plant the seeds in a garden bed where they will grow into little plants that survive the winter well.
  • Add mulch to your garden beds. A 1-inch layer of chopped leaves or weed-free straw will help conserve soil moisture, protect the root system, and reduce plant loss by soil heaving during the winter.
  • lily bulbs are never dormant, you must plant them as soon as they are purchased. Prepare your beds ahead of time.
  • Mark the spots where late starting perennials will come up next spring as you clean out the flower beds, so that you can avoid damaging them while working in the beds next year.

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