Plants for Atlantic Gardens

Plants for Atlantic Gardens: Handsome and Hard-working Shrubs, Trees, and Perennials

by Jodi DeLong

252 pages

Nimbus Publishing, 2011

List price: $29.95

Don't let the "Atlantic" in the title put you off, just because you don't live in that part of the country. And in this case, Atlantic means Atlantic Canada. Again, don't dismiss this book because you think it doesn't apply to you. You'd be missing out on some valuable gardening information if you do.

DeLong lives and gardens in the many times harsh conditions of coastal Nova Scotia. Her garden and mine are in USDA zone 5, and although I'm well inland, I've sought her advice many times. You see, the Atlantic Canada provinces can be a challenge for gardeners. Between the weather and the soil, Mother Nature creates many conditions that are not unlike many of ours; it's just that there, they experience just about all of them.

When DeLong says she can grow it, chances are pretty good that I can, too. Describing herself as a compulsive gardener, DeLong has grown nearly every one of the 100+ plants profiled. In her conversational style that has won the hearts of many readers, Jodi describes each plant in detail, including their needs, habits, and her own experiences with them to help you better choose great growers for your own gardens. Over 200 color photographs illustrate the text.

Plants for Atlantic Gardens is DeLong's second book. In 2005, she authored The Atlantic Gardener's Greenbook, which I described as being a good basic book for beginning gardeners, no matter where they live. This book has equally widespread appeal.

Jodi DeLong is a contributing writer, photographer, and long-time gardening editor for Saltscapes magazine, and she also writes regular gardening columns for other publications, including the Halifax Sunday Herald and the Atlantic Co-operator. Visit her popular gardening blog at: bloomingwriter.blogspot.com.

__________________

The publication being reviewed in this blog post was the sole compensation for reviewing the product. All opinions expressed here are mine. If I like it, I'll say so. If I don't, I'll say that, too.