Q: What gardening books do you recommend sharing this holiday season?
A: Gardeners are often avid readers and there are great books to keep every nature lover inspired with the outdoors through the holidays and beyond.
After attending a recent virtual meeting with Doug Tallamy as the keynote speaker, I am again inspired with what can be achieved in every home garden. Tallamy is a professor of entomology and wildlife ecology at the University of Delaware and author of uplifting books on humans and nature. He teaches courses in insect taxonomy, behavioral ecology, humans and nature, and contributes to research publications.
Tallamy sees humans as integral in nature and advocates the many ways we can positively impact plant communities and the animal and insect environments in which we live. Diversity is key and native plants play a major role in providing food, habitat and shelter.
Check out these titles by Tallamy to enliven the winter days: “Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard,” “Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, Updated and Expanded,” and “The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden,” co-authored with Rick Darke.
Even in my postage stamp-sized garden, I am thrilled to be buzzed by hummingbirds, amazed when a hawk swoops over the wall, and so glad to enjoy the space to sit and read one of these books. I know what’s on my Christmas list to Santa!
