California Native Gardening - by Helen Popper (Paperback)

About the Book

"For anyone interested in gardening, this book is a delightful read. For anyone interested in gardening with California native plants, this book is a must-read. Helen Popper clearly lays out the tasks required to ensure maximum success with growing, propagating, and maintaining a garden in rhythm with the seasons. This book will definitely be included in my reference library." --Scott Soden, Artscapes Landscape Design
"Helen Popper has created a lovely resource for both experienced and novice native plant gardeners. The gorgeous photographs will inspire readers to see the natural beauty of natives and challenge us to use them in many garden traditions, from a cottage garden to a Japanese garden." --Leslie Gray, Executive Director, Environmental Studies Institute, Santa Clara University

Book Synopsis

This is the first month-by-month guide to gardening with native plants in a state that follows a unique, nontraditional seasonal rhythm. Beginning in October, when much of California leaves the dry season behind and prepares for its own green "spring," Helen Popper provides detailed, calendar-based information for both beginning and experienced native gardeners. Each month's chapter lists gardening tasks, including repeated tasks and those specific to each season. Popper offers planting and design ideas, and explains core gardening techniques such as pruning, mulching, and propagating. She tells how to use native plants in traditional garden styles, including Japanese, herb, and formal gardens, and recommends places for viewing natives. An essential year-round companion, this beautifully written and illustrated book nurtures the twin delights of seeing wild plants in the garden and garden plants in the wild.

From the Back Cover

"For anyone interested in gardening, this book is a delightful read. For anyone interested in gardening with California native plants, this book is a must-read. Helen Popper clearly lays out the tasks required to ensure maximum success with growing, propagating, and maintaining a garden in rhythm with the seasons. This book will definitely be included in my reference library." --Scott Soden, Artscapes Landscape Design

"Helen Popper has created a lovely resource for both experienced and novice native plant gardeners. The gorgeous photographs will inspire readers to see the natural beauty of natives and challenge us to use them in many garden traditions, from a cottage garden to a Japanese garden." --Leslie Gray, Executive Director, Environmental Studies Institute, Santa Clara University

Review Quotes

"Eminently readable. . . . The native gardener in California should not be without it."-- "Pacific Horticulture" (4/1/2012 12:00:00 AM)

"With this book Popper has filled a hole in the native plant canon, helpful in a number of ways. For beginners, its month-by-month advice on gardening activities in the native plant garden should greatly reduce the intimidation factor. For the more experienced, it's a delightful way to keep organized, planning your gardening time in advance, making sure you haven't forgotten anything, and not least, taking pleasure in the shared experiences of a long-time native plant gardener. And then, there are the photographs, which are nothing short of spectacular, among the best I've seen. They identify, clarify, and instruct."-- "Larner Seeds Newsletter" (4/2/2012 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

Helen Popper is Professor of Economics at Santa Clara University.