# Gardeners -- Whatcha Readin'? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2005, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-whatcha-readin/300351 "2005-04-21T02:43:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-whatcha-readin/300351/1 "2005-04-21T02:43:27Z")
Spring has sprung, and being a Doper, my thoughts naturally turn not only to my garden, but my library of gardening books. I’ve got way too many of them (just as I’ve got way too many books on just about any subject that interests me – but that’s a different thread). These are of three varieties: [ul] [li]Technical and reference books – plant IDs, propagation techniques, etc.[/li][li]Coffee-table books (a.k.a. garden porn)[/li][li]Literary books – essays, meditations, etc. Unlike the other two kinds, these may have absolutely no illustrations whatsoever. :eek: [/li][/ul] I have a lot of all three kinds – but this thread is about the third. One of the books I’m currently reading in Eleanor Perenyi’s [_Green Thoughts_](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/037575945X/qid=1114050287/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-8388086-3622309?v=glance&s=books&n=507846), a series of essays (some only a page or so, some going on at some length) arranged alphabetically, so it starts with Annuals, Asparagus, Autumn, Azaleas and Rhododendrons … and ends with Weeds, Wild Flowers, and Women’s Place (a long essay I haven’t gotten to yet). I’m enjoying it – I’m reading it an essay or two at a time in between other books. (This, BTW, is part of the Modern Library’s series of reissues of classic literary garden books, several of which I’ve bought, but this is the first I’ve read.) The series editor on this is Michael Pollan, who’s another writer I like very much. I strongly recommend his [_Second Nature_](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385312660/qid=1114050911/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/104-8388086-3622309). He starts out with high ideals and becomes a gardener. Another book by Pollan (which I’ve recommended here at the Dope multiple times before) is [_The Botany of Desire_](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0375760393/ref=pd_sim_b_1/104-8388086-3622309?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance), about humankind’s quest for sweetness, beauty, intoxication, and control as illustrated through our interrelationships with four plants (apples, tulips, marijuana, and potatoes). I’ve regularly recommend the first book to other gardeners – I’ve recommended the latter to non-gardeners as well. So – what else should I cram into my gardening library? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-whatcha-readin/300351/2 "2005-04-21T02:45:38Z")
I don’t read gardening books, I just plant things, water, and keep my fingers crossed, tee hee! Besides my bulb flowers I’ve planted tomatoes, cucumber, and hot peppers. My sole goal is to make fresh salsa later this summer. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-whatcha-readin/300351/3 "2005-04-21T02:49:25Z")
Wow. I guess this proves we’re not _identical_ twins! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Selkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Selkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Selkie)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-whatcha-readin/300351/4 "2005-04-21T03:26:51Z")
**twickster** , if you haven’t read [The Private Life of Plants](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0691006393/qid=1114054019/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-7426994-7375120?v=glance&s=books), you need this book NOW! Glad you reminded me about _Botany of Desire_. I’ve seen you recommend it before and meant to buy it, but just never got around to doing so. Off to rectify that omission … ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-whatcha-readin/300351/5 "2005-04-21T12:19:46Z")
That looks really good, **Selkie**! I’ve added it to my wish list (after all, I’ve got plants to buy over the next month or so… 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-whatcha-readin/300351/6 "2005-04-21T13:49:29Z")
Hey, I have been interested in growing some herbs, so I figure y’all are the right people to ask. I’ve never attempted any kind of gardening before, even though my mom has a green thumb and a talent for landscaping. I mainly want to grow basil (sweet and Thai varieties, if possible), maybe jalapeno peppers, tomatoes, chives, not sure what else. I live in Orlando, Florida, where we get lots of sunshine and quite a bit of rain in the summer. What chance do I have to get these growing, and what kind of initial investment am I looking at (for seeds, pots, whatever else)? Would I want to plant things like this in the ground, or in pots? ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-whatcha-readin/300351/7 "2005-04-21T14:10:17Z")
I’ve mostly been reading about houseplants and how to grow new plants from cuttings. I currently have some philodendron cuttings I’m attempting to grow. I’m also growing catnip from seeds. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-whatcha-readin/300351/8 "2005-04-21T16:05:04Z")
**BBVL** – psst! I started a thread on gardening questions over [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=313032) – at least in part because I know there are a slew of people who are far more competent than I to answer your questions. ---
**Author:** ![Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Long_Time_First_Time)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-whatcha-readin/300351/9 "2005-04-21T19:02:06Z")
This year I’ve decided to follow The Impatient Gardener by Jerry Baker. At least as far as the lawn care section goes. [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0345309499/002-0254002-6133605?v=glance](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0345309499/002-0254002-6133605?v=glance) Time will tell if the advice helps the overall appearance of the FTLT estate. For now I can tell you that it is easy to read and logically put together. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-whatcha-readin/300351/10 "2005-04-21T20:11:06Z")
**The Victory Garden** , by James Underwood Crockett (the original host of the PBS show). I’ve had the same copy for about 20 years and I’m continually using it. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-whatcha-readin/300351/11 "2005-04-21T20:33:27Z")
[This](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0894803166/qid=1114115631/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-8388086-3622309?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) is my favorite reference book – the one I check when I need the basics on a particular plant or a reminder about a technique. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-whatcha-readin/300351/12 "2005-04-21T21:03:26Z")
I have been reading various books on cacti and bonsai lately. Also, I often read the poetry of Billy Collins. His writings tend to be garden-friendly. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![hanna\_the\_curious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/34f0e0/32.png) [@hanna\_the\_curious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hanna_the_curious)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2005, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-whatcha-readin/300351/13 "2005-04-22T01:17:28Z")
I constantly reread Thalassa Cruso’s now long out of print books: _Making Things Grow_, _Making Things Grow Outdoors_ and _To Everything There Is a Season_. If you don’t have them from years ago, alibris and ebay sometimes have them at a reasonable price. I like her sense of history, which in the 60s was pretty good and now is (I guess) amazing. A lot of what I do with my plants comes from her. Plus she’s got that British no-nonsense thing going and (unlike Vita Sackville-Baggins … er, West) Ms Cruso’s got humor. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2005, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-whatcha-readin/300351/14 "2005-04-22T01:31:49Z")
I have _Making Things Grow_ and very much enjoy it. Climate is kinda harsh here and I lean on a gardening book by Lauren Springer called The Undaunted Gardener. Have let my subscription run out, but for years enjoyed the periodical called GreenPrints, the Weeder’s Digest, edited by Pat Stone. [GreenPrints](http://.greenprints.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Selkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Selkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Selkie)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2005, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-whatcha-readin/300351/15 "2005-04-22T02:04:21Z")
**twickster**. if you’re looking for books at the intersection of “garden porn” and “meditations”, try the [Remarkable Trees of the World](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0393049116/qid=1114135306/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-7426994-7375120), and _Meetings with Remarkable Trees_. They’re definitely tree porn, but the stories are as interesting as the pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Eyed\_Stranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@Green\_Eyed\_Stranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Eyed_Stranger)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-whatcha-readin/300351/16 "2005-04-22T03:28:29Z")
I’ve got [The Berry Growers Companion](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/088192489X/102-0827786-9776950?v=glance) checked out from the library right now. My strawberries and raspberries are doing fine. The grapes are so-so, and the blueberries are dead 🙂 (It’s okay, I don’t really like blue berries anyway). Take care, GES