3 Gardening Books for Christmas [REVIEWED]

Are you are looking for the garden related book for Christmas for yourself or someone else? I realized that I have reviewed 3 great gardening books here at Ewa in the Garden, so maybe this could be the moment to start to build up a list of books which could be a great gift idea.

I linked each book to the full review page and also to the Amazon page.

Enjoy!

1. Sissinghurst: Vita Sackville-West and the Creation of a Garden / Full Review - Sissinghurst is the garden that inspires many gardeners and garden designers. The book is packed with lots of information about how Sissinghurst was created, what challenges were faced and how they managed to turn weaknesses into strengths. You will find the detailed  descriptions how in the design they successfully camouflaged the exccentricities of the land, that today you can’t spot it.

2. Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: The Indispensable Green Resource for Every Gardener / Full Review - What’s best about this book? Information is not scattered all around in short entries, which makes using it more difficult if you need to dig the subject. What you will really like, all knowledge is practically organized into complete entries that provide information in a style ‘all you need to know about…’.

3. Organic Gardening / Full Review - After reading this book and – which is far more important - using it in the garden for at least one season, you will love to spread the news among your friends. It is full of easy to use  information that will keep your garden healthy and beautiful. I am sure it will answer all of your questions and doubts you may have.

Attention! If you know a fabulous gardening book that you would like to other to read as well, share it with us in comment section. If you would like to write a review for our readers let me know in an email (look for it contact section).   

Book Review: Organic Gardening

*Organic gardening* is a book written by Geoff Hamilton, one of the best British organic gardening experts. Perfect for beginning gardeners and veterans as well. If you are on either side of the experience lane or somewhere between and want to learn to garden without chemicals or pesticides, you want this book to be first hand information about organic gardening in your collection.

Definitely the best organic book you can find and that was ever published. Compact, clear information with lots of illustrations.

After reading this book and – which is far more important - using it in the garden for at least one season, you will love to spread the news among your friends. It is full of easy to use  information that will keep your garden healthy and beautiful. I am sure it will answer all of your questions and doubts you may have.

This is one of those good balanced books – great reading stuffed with myriad of information, well illustrated, and with a clear, well organized index.

Information in the book is all ‘practical’. You don’t have a feeling, that weeds magically will  spare your garden or that organic garden is a carefree wonder. Geoff Hamilton talks about real mundane world and shares advice that answers all issues the organic gardener may encounter. And what feels best, he is doing it without preaching and grumbling about chemical gardening – dark side of the gardening coin.

The book covers: soil management and improvement, fertilizers, organic pest and disease control, organic weed control, planning the garden (ornamental, vegetable, fruit, herb, greenhouse, container), basic techniques, propagation techniques and organic gardener chores in 4 different seasons of the year, raised bed, square foot and organic gardening. All is well illustrated, easy to understand, so anyone can garden on an Earth-friendly basis.

The chapter "The Gardening Year" is a must-know guide to how to schedule your garden activities according to your US location. I think also that many may truly appreciate  instructions for DIY tools, containers and fertilizers.

If you are into vegetable gardening, organic ways are especially important, as using chemical fertilizers means your veggies are not so healthy. “Organic Gardening” by Geoff Hamilton shares a lot of tips on preparing the soil and describes vegetable by vegetable on care, needs, bugs etc.

My rating: 10 out of 10 stars

This book is one of the best gardening books ever – and for good reason. It’s a must read for those switching to organic gardening or looking for good source information and expanding knowledge from best ever born practitioner.

Get your copy of Organic Gardening

Have you read any great gardening books? Give your recommendations with your reasons why in comments below. Looking forward to discovering some great gardening books.

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: DK Publishing, New Rev Up edition (February 21, 2011)
Available here:  Organic Gardening
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0756671795
ISBN-13: 978-0756671792

Book Review: Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening.

When I was looking for good and reliable source of organic gardening information,somebody recommended Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: The Indispensable Green Resource for Every Gardener Untill today I am very grateful and this is why I am going to review that book for you.

What’s best about this book? Information is not scattered all around in short entries, which makes using it more difficult if you need to dig the subject. What you will really like, all knowledge is practically organized into complete entries that provide information in a style ‘all you need to know about…’.

For example if you need to learn about fig trees, there is everything about it: selecting the trees, planting and care, container culture, pruning and propagation, winter care, problems and harvesting. All in one entry.

Another example. The entry on fruit trees is 13 pages long and covers all most important aspects connected with fruit trees.
I was also very surprised to see in respective sections the lists of vegetables, perennials and trees grouped by the specific environmental conditions they require. This makes the book very easy to use.

The subjects of organic gardening cover the complete information from the food crops to ornamental gardening.

Core entries fall into four categories:
- Gardening techniques: garden design, landscaping, planting, propagation, pruning and training, seed starting, seed saving.
- Organic garden management: animal pests, beneficial insects, compost, cover crops, fertilizers, mulch, pests, plant diseases and disorders, soil.
- Food crops: bramblers, edible landscaping, fruit trees, herbs, nut trees, vegetable gardening.
- Ornamental plants: annuals, biennials, bulbs, groundcovers, perennials, shrubs, trees.

The ratio between the amount of knowledge, tips and the price of the book is surprising. Especially if you think that there is no photos, just pure text. Instead of photos you will find here only few black and white drawings as essential illustration to some entries.

At the end of the book you will find The Glossary, Quick Reference Guide and Index.

My rating: 10 out of 10 stars

This book is one of the best gardening books ever – and for good reason. It’s a must read for those starting a garden or dreaming about English garden.

Get your copy of Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: The Indispensable Green Resource for Every Gardener Have you read any great gardening books? Give your recommendations with your reasons why in comments below. Looking forward to discovering some great gardening books.

Publisher: Rodale Inc, 2009
Pages: 706
Available here: Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: The Indispensable Green Resource for Every Gardener
ISBN-13 978-1-59486-916-7

Book Review: Sissinghurst. Vita Sackville-West and the Creation of a Garden

If enchantment by English gardens was ever part of your inspiration this book is definitely for you.  Vita Sackville-West, the British poet, together with her husband Harold, created the beauty of iconic British garden – Sissinghurst. Harold created the structure, Vita filled it with plantings. It doesn’t happen often that the garden outlives its creators, but today still Sissinghurst is one of the most visited and inspirational gardens in the world.

Sissinghurst is the garden that inspires many gardeners and garden designers. The book is packed with lots of information about how Sissinghurst was created, what challenges were faced and how they managed to turn weaknesses into strengths. You will find the detailed  descriptions how in the design they successfully camouflaged the exccentricities of the land, that today you can’t spot it. 

This is the book for everyone who was ever enchanted by the English gardens. 

“Sissingurst. Vita Sackville-West and the Creation of a Garden” is a selection of original articles published by Vita in gardening column in the Observer From 1946 to 1957 made by Sarah Raven, the co-author of the book, famous British gardener who is married to Vita's grandson Adam Nicolson. 

The book consists of 3 Parts:
- The People and the Place
- Vita’s Garden Themes
- The Smaller Canvas

What's important, this book consists of writings, not photos only. There are not too many colored photos of the garden, which is a plus, because you want to understand what is behind the photos, not just admire eye-candy. The author included enough amount of current photos to see its beauty, layouts and planting composition. There is many black and white historical photos of the palace and the gardens to see the work in progress.  

You could ask yourself if there is anything for you in the writings of a lady from over 50 years ago? I firmly confirm that you will find lots of tips and practical advice. Just to give you a sample of the writing: “Too severe formality is almost as repellant as lack of any” or “Eremurus which looks like a cathedral spire flushed warm in the sunset”.

You may also learn about Vita’s preferences not only about plants, but also about the renovation of Sissinghurst and her own possessions: “Vita allowed her possessions to age, skills to wear, wood to darken, terracotta to chip and fail. (…) Her possessions must grow old with her. She must be surrounded by evidence of time (…)”. 

What I find especially useful is the index of plants, shrubs and trees at the end of the book, very helpful in daily work, if I would like to get back and make sure about certain plants.  

My rating: 10 out of 10 stars

This book is one of the best gardening books ever – and for good reason. It’s a must read for those starting a garden or dreaming about English garden.

Get your copy of Sissinghurst: Vita Sackville-West and the Creation of a Garden

Have you read any great gardening books? Give your recommendations with your reasons why in comments below. Looking forward to discovering some great gardening books.

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, New York, 2014
Pages: 382
Available here: Sissinghurst: Vita Sackville-West and the Creation of a Garden
ISBN: 978-1-250-06005-1

Plant Whatever Brings You Joy – garden book worth to read?

If you have a look at this little garden book, it doesn’t seem to be big, just 228 pages. But if you decide to read it, your impression is changing – the book grows much, much bigger. “Blessed wisdom from the garden” becomes heartwarming book of treasure.

Romantic cover design fits perfectly the nature of the 52 short stories embracing the garden and life, written in unique style and wit. When I read a book or Kathryn’s blog I am always astonished with her easy, natural and skillful writing style. I bet, that use of words will also surprise you!

When I read it, I wanted to enjoy every page, every story as long as possible. While reading, I had a feeling that a close friend is sharing life wisdom and whispering life affirmations to my ear. This garden book is not only filled with entertaining backyard stories, it brings also intense spiritual beauty - these stories teach and nourish soul and spirit.

Plant Whatever Brings You Joy is not a gardening book, it’s the book about garden of life, filled with metaphor and stories from Kathryn’s backyard. This unique garden book makes you aware again of life wisdom available in small acts.
When I read the book I had that irresistible feeling of getting closer to the wisdom coming from universe, thanks to Kathryn…

Plant Whatever Brings You Joy - this is the garden book you need to read.

Grab your copy here Plant Whatever Brings You Joy: Blessed Wisdom from the Garden