Gardening Books Both Helpful, Fun

Fri., Nov. 14, 1997

Phyllis Stephens The Spokesman-R

I just finished planting the last of the tulips. And just in time, I might add. The ground is already frozen in the shady areas. I’m afraid it’s time to pack it in for the season.

This isn’t a terribly unhappy prospect since I have plenty of projects to accomplish indoors. But those too will have to wait a bit. For now, all I wish to do is curl up and relax with a few good books.

At the top of the list is the Reader’s Digest “Indoor Plants: The Essential Guide to Choosing and Caring for Houseplants,” by Jane Courtier and Graham Clarke. (Oh, did I neglect to mention my list of good books are all on the subject of gardening?)

Indoor Plants is an essential tool for anyone who enjoys houseplants. It’s a comprehensive reference guide to more than 300 plants, with details on care, origin and more. I put it to the acid test, so to speak. I looked up gardenia to see if it could be of any assistance to my premadonna of the compost pile. Yes! I knew that gardenias thrived in acid soil, but how about the water?

According to the book, these plants detest water that is on the alkaline side. In our area, we should be watering gardenias with tepid, SOFT water or distilled water.

Here’s another bit of information out of this excellent guide: Did you know that the forest, not the desert, is home to the holiday cacti? They thrive with a bit of humidity. If you mist them, do it with lime-free water - again, soft or distilled.

In addition to little tidbits like these, we can also find photographs of the actual plants along with a listing of a particular plant’s potential problems. This excellent houseplant guide also makes a handsome coffee table book.

Though I am not an avid herb gardener, I do enjoy growing a few of them as ornamentals. Plants like sage, rosemary and thyme add a certain charm to the garden. However, after skimming through “The Herb Gardener” by Susan McClure, I may be forced to carve out a bit more lawn next spring.

I believe an herb “knot garden” would be absolutely charming nestled near a rose-covered arbor and an old weathered picket fence. McClure offers plenty of designs to choose from, so the planning should be fun. The actual growing of the herbs and their care should be a piece of cake.

The author takes us season by season with all the how’s and wherefores of growing these delightful plants. Along the way, she throws in “how-to” pictures, quick reference tips, craft ideas and recipes. If you are looking for an all around excellent book for either the novice or the advanced herb grower, this is it. “The Herb Gardener, Guide for all Seasons” retails for $29.95 through Storey’s Publishing.

I am a glutton for garden craft books. I enjoy drying flowers and I am always on the lookout for ways to use them. A new book out (also through Storey Publishing) is “Scented Treasures” by Stephanie Donaldson. This book walks us through the seasons using the highly scented plants for her projects.

Though we may have seen similar crafts in other publications, Donaldson adds some special interest to each undertaking. She intertwines a bit of lore and historical background on the flowers, fruits and herbs used in the projects. For example: Did you know the rose is a symbol of secrecy? It was traditional to suspend a rose above a dinner table to indicate that all that was said would be in confidence or sub rosa. This is the origin of the decorative plaster “rose” on ceilings in period houses.

Donaldson also shares her recipes for making such delights as rose sugar, furniture cleaner, rosemary hair rinse, woodland potpourri and much, much more. It’s an inspirational book to be enjoyed with a hot cup of herbal tea.

Of course, my list of favorite books would not be complete without one on roses. I was given a Smith & Hawken’s book titled “100 English Roses for the American Garden” by Clair G. Martin. I was so taken by each of the full page pictures and accompanying descriptions that this fall, I purchased 12 of the roses. Of course, a little more grass had to be removed to accommodate them, but if they are anything like their description, the large bed will be well worth the effort.

Any or all of these books would make wonderful Christmas gifts. They can all be ordered through our local book stores in time for the holidays. , DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Phyllis Stephens The Spokesman-Review

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