My favorite gardening books

[spinbaby]

After a hot morning in the garden, I spent some time with my favorite gardening books—Mrs. Greenthumbs and Mrs. Greenthumbs Plows Ahead, both written by Cassandra Danz, who sadly died before she could write more. Both are out of print and not apparently available as ebooks, but if you spot either of these titles, grab it.

Mrs. Greenthumbs’ books are engaging fun reads and full of good advice. It was she who inspired me to enclose my front yard in a picket fence and grow a cottage garden, which is one of the best garden decisions I’ve made. Anyway, I thought I’d share her five rules of gardening:

1. Create the garden as a separate place away from the world.
2. Plant perennials and plant them abundantly.
3. Use plants that grow easily in your climate and location.
4. Have something in bloom throughout the gardening season.
5. Don’t plant magenta next to taxicab yellow!

I found myself with magenta next to taxicab yellow last summer, so I took another bit of her advice and cut the taxicab yellow zinnias and plunked them in a vase in the kitchen.

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. Thanks for the book rec...will seek it out. Mine are...

The Victory Garden books by Jim Crockett. Read them many times cover to cover.

[spinbaby]

3. They are also out of print

They’re great, but more focused on vegetables. I don’t really grow vegetables, partly because I have a farmers market within walking distance and partly because my only sunny area is the front yard.

[NRaleighLiberal]

5. He has a complete book on flowers, and one on indoor gardening - both are superb

try to find them at a library!

Hoping my own books end up being read for many years!!!

[spinbaby]

6. I missed those

Only have Crockett’s Victory Garden. I also like one called How to Grow More Vegetables.

[jxl]

2. gardening books

I read this site ALL the time--but I never post!

Your post made me reply--I love Mrs. Greenthumbs--she is hilarious and she gives fabulous gardening advice!

[spinbaby]

4. Her advice is always solid

You can tell that she loved gardening and was realistic about what you could do. It’s a shame her books aren’t still in print, even as ebooks. It might be an estate issue.