Gardening with Native Plants of the South

I wasn't going to plant a native plant garden until I read this book. It's extremely well-organized and the authors infuse you with their excitement about the plants. The "personal comments" section is the best. Even though the plant might not be high on your list, the comments section may give some information that may make you desire it. They also have landscape designs that you can implement yourself. If you're interested in creating a butterfly or bird garden, this book lists what types of animals are attracted to the plant. They have the book parsed out into deciduous trees, deciduous shrubs, grasses, bog plants, etc. Each plant has several sections telling the shade, moisture, height, wildlife, fall colors, flower, fruit, and anything else you could possibly want to know about the plant. It's better than any of the other garden books that I have read, including ones from national gardens, etc.

If you live in the Southeast and want to know more about gardening with native plants, this is THE place to start. I've poured over this book time after time, and now I have to buy a second copy because a friend kept my first copy after borrowing it! This book has great info and pictures, AND it's fun to read. What more could you ask for? (Well, how about Volume 2? ;-) )

Tired of nursing exotic plants and bushes? This is a wonderful book for those who love a lush look without the extravagant care. You don't need to be aiming for a woodsy look, as many of the choices presented by the Wasowskis look beautiful in formal or semi-formal settings. Our plantings are now in and we are very pleased by the array of fragrance and texture, and look forward to the spring blooming azaleas and rhododendrons.

I am trying to establish a native plant and wildlife habitat on my quarter acre. This book not only gives me the plant data I need, it also describes plant uses by native wildlife from toads to birds to insects, including those used as larval food for butterflies. I no longer have to cross reference from bird book or butterfly book to plant book, etc. The basics are all in one place!

Useful information, written for the specific species, with personal anecdotes (as opposed to the generic info so often found). Intelligently categorized. Well written and photographed. I've found info on native species not covered in other books of mine.