The first day of school, no matter the grade, brings a flood of emotions. Joy, relief, sadness, excitement, and regret are felt by children, parents, and grandparents alike. The start of a new school year full of promise brings joy as well as sadness that they lazy days of summer are over. Excitement about seeing friends again and regret about those summer activities that families didn’t get a chance to do. Each year on the evening before elementary school began, my children and I would read the book It’s Going to be Perfect by Nancy Carlson. It talks about children growing up and managing expectations at different stages of their lives. While I was grabbing the book off the bookshelf, my son would grab the Kleenex box. In the hopes that all of us have a few extra moments this fall to read here is information about a few gardening books, blogs, e-newsletters and a YouTube channel that I thought you might enjoy.
The First Time Gardener: Growing Plants and Flowers by Sean and Allison McManus
This newly-released book is focuses on educating gardeners about the basics of plant health and growth. They emphasize eco-friendly ways to maintain and expand your outdoor living area. Step by step methods are included to give gardeners the greatest chance of success possible. Common gardening problems are addressed along with common sense solutions. More information is available at www.Spokengarden.com.
Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden; Planting and Tending Small Fruit Trees and Berries in Gardens and Containers by Christy Wilhelmi
This book empowers its readers by helping them grow peaches, plums, strawberries and a variety of other fruits. It emphasizes the ability to grow fruit in containers and small spaces. Growing your own fruit has both financial and health benefits. Check out this book and capitalize on both. More information is available at www.gardenerd.com
Houseplant Warrior; 7 Keys to Unlocking the Mysteries of Houseplant Care by Raffaele Di Lallo
This bible of houseplants and their care is a must have for anyone that enjoys growing plants indoors. Educated as an engineer, Raffaele’s detailed approach allows readers to act as their own detectives and solve plant care problems. The color photographs that fill the book highlight both common and unique houseplants. More information is available at www.ohiotropics.com
The Lifelong Gardener; Garden with Ease and Joy at Any Age by Toni Gattone
Gardening as we all know, can be physically demanding. Toni emphasizes adaptive gardening practices that help reduce the affects that working outdoors can put on your body. Keeping gardeners safe while allowing them to enjoy being outside and working in their yards is Toni’s mission with this book. More information is available at www.tonigattone.com
The Grumpy Gardener; An A to Z Guide from the Galaxy’s Most Irritable Green Thumb by Steve Bender
With sarcasm and humor Steve gives his readers numerous hints and tricks to achieve gardening success. The question-and-answer section of the book where readers ‘Ask Grumpy’ is particularly helpful. Gardeners of all ages and abilities will come away from reading this book armed with a wealth of knowledge. More information is available at www.southernliving.com/garden/grumpy-gardener
Are gardening blogs more your style? Check out the University of Illinois Extension Service blog at extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing
Their regular posts cover a variety of topics from new plants to yard clean up.
KidsGardening.org publishes a monthly E-Newsletter designed to help parents by suggesting fun gardening projects that kids of all ages will love. www.kidsgardening.org/for-caregivers/
With almost 1.5 million subscribers Laura from Garden Answer is hugely popular on YouTube. The 9 seasons of videos contain a wealth of gardening knowledge across a wide variety of topics. Don’t have time to read a book? Check out one of her hundreds of videos. They are very informative.
Christopher, my son, will be reaching for the Kleenex box once again this fall. He will be studying abroad in Mannheim Germany as he enters his senior year of college. Yes, I do have our book ready for one last reading.
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc.,a landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or emailing her at Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
