It’s the coziest time of the year and there are plenty of ways to participate. A warm cup of tea or hot cocoa would do the trick. Perhaps a blanket to wrap yourself in – that would work too! Of course, this is also the perfect time to curl up with a good book. Not sure what to read? We’ve put together a book list loaded with native gardening knowledge that will prepare you for whatever spring brings. So, grab your fuzzy socks, your favorite mug, and your library card, because it’s time to get cozy!
Grass Isn’t Greener: The Everyday Conservationist’s Guide to Bringing Nature to Your Yard
Author: Danae Wolfe (Plan It Native speaker)
Grass Isn’t Greener is an excellent beginner guide to transforming your outdoor spaces to work with nature instead of against it. A 20-step guide to bringing nature to your home, this book demonstrates how small changes over time can make a big difference to the natural world around you.
Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard
Author: Doug Tallamy
“We have to fill in the blanks. And that means we’re going to fill in the blanks on farmland, on residential landscapes, in urban centers—everywhere!”
The book that has inspired so many to plant native gardens, Doug Tallamy’s Nature’s Best Hope argues that the most effective way to battle native ecosystem loss is by building it back up, plot by plot, in our own lawns. Tallamy showcases the efficacy that an individual’s action can have and empowers us to act and develop our own homegrown national parks. Read also Bringing Nature Home to learn more about the importance of planting native.
Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden
Author: Camille Dungy (Plan It Native keynote speaker)
Challenged by gardening regulations that homogenize the yards in our neighborhoods, poet, scholar, and author Camille Dungy brings light to the history and culture that is lost when society sets standards for what our yards should be. Dungy stresses the importance of diversity and community in the world of conservation as she takes us through her gardening journey in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Prairie Up: An Introduction to Natural Garden Design
Author: Benjamin Vogt
Feeling empowered to plant but don’t know where to start? This book dives into approaching native garden design, providing examples and blueprints along the way. Vogt dives into garden maintenance, the required gardening tools, and even topics like dealing with city ordinances and restrictions.
Bugwatching: The Art, Joy, and Importance of Observing Insects
Author: Eric R. Eaton (Plan It Native speaker)
The wonderful and wacky world of bugs is living all around us yet often goes unnoticed. Author Eric R. Eaton lays out how to be an active observer of the world’s smallest architects, how to bring insect diversity to your yard, and how there are endless discoveries to be made right outside your door. If you’re someone who wants a little more history before diving into your own explorations, check out Eaton’s other book Insectpedia for more lore on the bug life.
The Know Maintenance Perennial Garden
Author: Rob Diblik
The magic of Diblik’s book is that he contextualizes your garden, chapter by chapter, so you can succeed with the right plants for your space. This book emphasizes the importance of getting to know your garden, preparing your site, and considering plant communities. With the hope of easing your design experience and kickstarting your gardening journey, Diblik (a past Plan It Native speaker) provides 62 garden plans as building blocks you can build upon, as well as notes about plant combinations that will grow harmoniously together.
If you are like me and are eager to read every page of every book on this list, don’t feel like you have to break the bank to do so. Look for these books at your local library, support your local bookstores, or buy secondhand if available!
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