The Virginia Gardener’s Companion: An Insider’s Guide to Low-Maintenance Gardening in Virginia
October 4, 2010 by admin
Filed under Gardening Books
Product Description
Detailed, easy-to-understand information about the ins and outs of gardening in Virginia, from a Virginia master gardener, with advice from state gardening writers, horticulturists, and other local experts.
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browneyedgirl on Mon, 4th Oct 2010 7:15 pm
This is a great reference manual that specifically addresses the many challenges of gardening in Virginia. So many gardening manuals are either too technical, too cumbersome and entirely impractical but this is none of the above. It gives no nonsense,practical solutions to common and not so common problems that the Virginia gardener often faces. Even though this book is focused on Virginia, I feel that it would be very helpful to any gardener in the Mid Atlantic.
Rating: 5 / 5
K. Allen on Mon, 4th Oct 2010 8:50 pm
I have often wished that I could afford the luxury of a garden consultant to answer the myriad questions that arise when I tend my Virginia garden. No more wishing. Garden design professional, Donna Williamson, has been prescient enough to anticipate all those questions–and more–and put them in a beautifully written book, The Virginia Gardener’s Companion. My copy is already dog-eared from constant use. It is an easy-to-read, witty, and practical resource for both the novice and master gardener. While the book is specifically addressed to Virginia, it offers plenty of invaluable advice to anyone living in the mid-Atlantic region who dares to dream about creating a spectacular garden.
Rating: 5 / 5
N. Carter on Mon, 4th Oct 2010 9:16 pm
I wish I’d had this book when I started gardening in Virginia 25+ years ago, it would have saved me wasted labor, misspent money and failed plantings. The Virginia Gardener’s Companion is like a garden coach in your back pocket, walking the beginning gardener through all the basics in a companionable and understandable way. It’s chock full of great tips gleaned from the author’s years of experience, as well as those of her extensive network of horticultural experts, including current research that debunks some long-held, but counterproductive, gardening practices (turns out it’s best not to prune a tree at planting time), so it’s also a worthwhile reference for the intermediate or experienced gardener. Now that I’ve lived in Maryland for two years I realize this is a book for the entire mid-Atlantic region, not just Virginia.
Rating: 5 / 5
Michelle J. Foster on Mon, 4th Oct 2010 10:08 pm
If you want one book to help you make your garden and landscape more beautiful, make it this one. It’s clear, concise and to the point … and filled with practical yet expert advice. The tone is conversational, like sitting down with someone you trust.
For many years, my rite of spring has been to pour through gardening books, making lists, taking notes, and ordering plants from near and far.
The results in my garden hardly seemed worth the effort. Flowers bloomed out of their noted sequence; plants raved over in ink failed when in the ground; and my dreams of a lush, continuous display of interesting flora typically withered by mid-summer.
This book has changed that. It is specific, practical, knowledgeable and totally competent. Ms. Williamson gives accurate guidance on everything from selecting plants to dealing with pests.
She has also sought out expert advice from regional authorities – people who have years of experience and who work at Virginia Tech, the Virginia Arboretum, Chanticleer and local nurseries. Their comments add further credibility to a book that already has a strong foundation in fact and observation.
While even the most advanced gardener will gain from reading this book … it is a treasure trove for those who have enthusiasm but who need to know more about how to do it well.
Rating: 5 / 5