Collection Development "Gardening": Planting the Pacific Northwest

Gardening requirements vary greatly from region to region, and even an experienced gardener must relearn many of the basics when relocating. Until recently, most general North American gardening guides tried to address the needs of the entire United States and much of Canada, leaving the reader to make adjustments for local climate, soils, suitable plants, hardiness zones, and other horticultural factors.

Fortunately, location-specific gardening is catching on, as Laura Lipton's “Regional Gardening Books and How They Grow” (LJ 12/93, p. 82–85) noted. The following article is the first of a series to review recommended gardening titles that focus on a particular region, in this case the Pacific Northwest (PNW)—defined here as Idaho, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, California (north of the Bay Area), and the southeast panhandle of Alaska. Any further east or south and the climate, soils, native flora, and other growing conditions differ enough to constitute separate regions. (Which is why I'm particularly appalled by the inclusion of Kansas in DK/American Horticultural Society's Northwest SmartGarden Regional Guide.)

Unfortunately, even within a region there are differences, and the PNW has a very effective dividing line in the Cascade mountain range that runs from British Columbia down to Northern California. Many PNW horticultural guides are in fact biased toward the western side where a milder, wetter climate allows for a greater selection of plants and a larger population supplies a bigger reader base. Wily gardeners in Boise, Spokane, or Kelowna may be quite amused, while the less expert will despair trying to grow many of the recommended plants in “their” area. So librarians on the eastern side of the Cascades must be sure to include resources that address their region's particular horticultural requirements, like Arthur Kruckeberg's Gardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest.

Despite a rainy reputation, both sides of the Cascades are on average drier than almost anywhere east of the Rockies during the summer. Any responsible PNW guide should address short water supplies by recommending drought-resistant plants and techniques for minimizing water usage.

Today the garden is viewed as part of a greater ecological system, and many of the titles listed below reflect this trend, recommending the incorporation of organic cultural practices and emphasizing the use of native plants and wildlife-friendly garden design. An excellent adjunct is a selection of field guides and wildflower books that describe the rich flora of the region. [For a good overview of natural gardening, see Jennifer Burek Pierce's “Natural Gardening by Design,” LJ 12/02, p. 77–80.]

Insects, diseases, and weeds are the bane of gardeners anywhere. While most of the following titles address the major issues, how do you help the library patron who has a specific but unidentified disease or pest? Without training, this can be tricky, especially given the abundance of misinformation on cures and treatments. Equally difficult are questions about planting and maintaining a lawn, which organic practices or restricted watering make even trickier.

Perhaps the best approach is to refer patrons to the cooperative extensions (web sites listed below), which offer free and helpful advice from trained, local gardeners. Many municipal and other local governments also publish helpful booklets or provide homeowner-oriented web resources. For a complete list see Chapter 1, “Organizations That Help Gardeners,” in The Northwest Gardeners' Resource Directory, cited below.

Discard old pest problem-solving titles that advocate the use of chemical pesticides. Consider replacing worn-out and out-of-region culture books with titles from the following list, although this is by no means comprehensive. Many of the recommended authors have other good titles worth considering, while other excellent writers have been excluded only because their scope is too narrow for a general list. Anything by Ann Lovejoy, Mary Robson, Debra Prinzing, Val Easton, Marty Wingate, Cass Turnbull, and Carl Elliott, who all write for their local papers, are good bets.

For new books, some of the excellent regional publishers are Timber Press in Portland, Sasquatch Books in Seattle, or Whitecap Books in North Vancouver, BC. Publishing more formulaic but still useful regional guides are Thomas Nelson's Cool Springs imprint, based in Tennessee, and Lone Pine Publishing, of Edmonton, Alta. While the choices are fewer for east side gardeners, there are several excellent booklets available through the Master Gardeners for Spokane County at www.spokane-county.wsu.edu/spokane/eastside/. Newsletters and booklets published by local garden clubs and plant societies will also enhance collections.

For additional recommendations visit the Elisabeth C. Miller Library web site (www.millerlibrary.org) for a list of subject bibliographies, a directory of recommended web sites, and other pathfinders to resources, including a comprehensive bibliography of Pacific Northwest botany and horticulture authors.

Starred [] items are recommended as core purchases for most public libraries.

Feeney, Stephanie. The Northwest Gardeners' Resource Directory. 9th ed. Sasquatch. 2002. 340p. ed. by Debra Prinzing. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-57061-303-6. pap. $24.95. This library unto itself features not only books, periodicals, and web sites but also extensive annotated lists of nurseries, clubs and societies, and public gardens, plus much more.

The Plant Locator®: Western Region. Timber. 2004. 745p. ed. by Susan Hill & Susan Narizny. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-88192-633-7. pap. $19.95. This considerable work not only locates nurseries throughout the West for more than 50,000 plants, it provides an excellent index of common names linked to botanical ones. Great for untangling the often confusing world of plant nomenclature.

Sunset Western Garden Book. 7th ed. Sunset. 2001. 768p. ed. by Kathleen Norris Brenzel. illus. index. ISBN 0-376-03874-8. $36.95; pap. ISBN 0-376-03875-6. $32.95. The definitive reference for the Western home gardener identifies recommended garden plants and is replete with descriptions, basic culture needs, and potential problems. Its best feature is climate zone maps that make sense of the different growing seasons throughout the region.

Grant, John A. & Carol L. Grant. Trees & Shrubs for Pacific Northwest Gardens. 2d ed. Timber. 1994. 456p. rev. by Marvin E. Black & others. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-88192-303-6. pap. $19.95. A classic known for its detailed advice on selecting and growing trees and shrubs west of the Cascades. The dense writing and few photographs might discourage some, but it is still worth mining for the quality of its information.

McNeilan, Jan & Ray McNeilan. The Pacific Northwest Gardener's Book of Lists. Taylor. 1997. 200p. illus. index. ISBN 0-87833-956-6. pap. $18.95. Over 200 lists not only recommend plants for shade or sun, wet or dry, but for other specialties like easy to grow from seed or attractive to hummingbirds.

Prinzing, Debra & Mary Robson. Washington & Oregon Gardener's Guide: Proven Plants for Inspired Gardens. Cool Springs: Thomas Nelson. 2005. 272p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-59186-112-8. pap. $24.99. The heart of this book is an encyclopedia of recommended plants—from annuals to trees—vetted for good PNW citizenship.

Easton, Valerie (text) & Richard Hartlage (photogs.). Plant Life: Growing a Garden in the Pacific Northwest. Sasquatch. 2002. 224p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-57061-305-2. pap. $19.95. This series of essays linked to the calendar year by a popular Seattle columnist and former librarian will inspire both horticultural novices and pros. Photos of the author's garden enhance the pleasurable reading.

Hume, Ed (text) & James Hume (photogs.). Gardening with Ed Hume: Northwest Gardening Made Easy. Sasquatch. 2003. 403p. illus. index. ISBN 1-57061-328-1. pap. $24.95. Particularly good for the beginner, this wide-ranging handbook includes longtime newspaper, radio, and television personality Ed Hume's personal garden favorites and tips for approaching common garden chores.

Lovejoy, Ann. The Ann Lovejoy Handbook of Northwest Gardening: Natural: Sustainable: Organic. Sasquatch. 2003. 402p. illus. index. ISBN 1-57061-198-X. pap. $27.95. Prolific garden writer Lovejoy emphasizes organic, responsible gardening, with lots of basic advice, home remedies, and practical solutions.

Rubin, Carole. How To Get Your Lawn & Garden Off Drugs: A Basic Guide to Pesticide-Free Gardening in North America. 2d ed. Harbour. 2003. 128p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-55017-320-0. pap. $12.95. This British Columbia author writes for all regions of North America but provides a good basic primer on lawns and organic gardening.

Turnbull, Cass. Cass Turnbull's Guide to Pruning: What, When & Where To Prune for a More Beautiful Garden. Sasquatch. 2004. 226p. illus. index. ISBN 1-57061-316-8. pap. $17.95. Precious few good books on pruning and little else for this region make this one essential. Clear descriptions, helpful diagrams, and just enough humor keep the reader smiling. [A 2d ed. is coming Feb. 2006.—Ed.]

Holmes, Roger & Don Marshall. Home Landscaping Northwest Region, Including Western British Columbia. Creative Homeowner. (Home Landscaping). 2002. 191p. illus. index. ISBN 1-58011-088-6. pap. $19.95. The text tackles typical landscape challenges with precise plans and clear instructions for both planting layouts and hardscaping.

A Place in the Rain: Designing the West Coast Garden. Whitecap Bks. 2004. 222p. ed by Michael Lascelle. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-55285-519-8. pap. $29.95. Editor Lascelle neatly combines the advice of landscape designers and architects, contractors, and horticulturists in planning the layout, plant selection, and special features of a PNW garden.

Wingate, Marty (text) & Jacqueline Koch (photogs.). Big Ideas for Northwest Small Gardens. Sasquatch. 2003. 211p. photogs. index. ISBN 1-57061-275-7. pap. $21.95. Wingate is particularly good at suggesting practical designs, plant selections, and other tricks for getting the most out of a small space.

Kruckeberg, Arthur R. Gardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest. 2d ed. Greystone Bks: Univ. of Washington. 2003. 282p. permanent paper. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-295-97476-1. $35. No other book gives such a thorough review of the flora on both sides of the Cascades. Particularly recommended for east side libraries, as many of our favorite natives grow well only in the more arid climate found there.

Link, Russell. Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest. Univ. of Washington in assoc. with Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife. 1999. 320p. permanent paper. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-295-97820-1. $29.95.

Weston, Shann. Naturescaping: A Landscaping Partnership with Nature. 3d rev. ed. Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife. 2001. 204p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 0-9635088-5-7. $19.50. These excellent state-funded publications offer techniques for attracting wildlife, including birds, butterflies, and bats. Equal treatment is given to both sides of the Cascades.

Pettinger, April with Brenda Costanzo. Native Plants in the Coastal Garden: A Guide for Gardeners in the Pacific Northwest. rev. ed. Timber. 2002. 232p. illus. index. ISBN 0-88192-582-9. pap. $19.95. The focus is on using natives in garden design to re-create specific habitats. Good information on propagation and the ethical collection of wild plants is a plus.

Carlson, Moira. Herbs for the Pacific Northwest. Steller. 2000. 224p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-894143-05-1. $24.95. British Columbia writer Carlson details what works and what doesn't in the maritime part of the PNW. Her observations on the use of native plants as herbs are particularly interesting and original.

Jalbert, Brad & Laura Peters. Roses for Washington and Oregon. Lone Pine. 2003. 272p. photogs. index. ISBN 1-55105-265-2. $18.95. Rose books are always in demand, and Vancouver-area rosarian Jalbert provides a regional perspective. (See also his almost identical Roses for British Vancouver.)

Solomon, Steve. Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades: The Complete Guide to Natural Gardening. 5th ed. Sasquatch. 2000. 356p. permanent paper. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-57061-240-4. pap. $18.95. The founder of the Territorial Seed Company offers the kind of detail that will address almost any avid veggie grower's need.

Great Plant Picks
www.greatplantpicks.org
This young but already vital web site relies on horticultural professionals to create a list of recommended plants for the maritime Pacific Northwest. Criteria for inclusion include ease of growth, multiple elements of interest, drought tolerance, and noninvasive qualities.

OSU Extension Gardening
extension.oregonstate.edu/ gardening

Gardening in Western Washington
gardening.wsu.edu

Master Gardener/ Horticulture for Spokane County
www.spokane-county.wsu.edu/spokane/eastside

UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research
www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org
For help with backyard berry and tree fruit growing, lawns, and many other general horticultural questions, the most up-to-date sources are found on these cooperative extension sites.