Gift Books for Gardeners

(<a href="http://www.familyfeatures.com">Family Features</a>) The holidays are just around the corner, and there are plenty of terrific books for the gardeners on your gift list. Here are a few to help you get your holiday shopping started.

<h3>Hands-On:</h3><ul><li>"<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Gardening-Projects-Kids-attracting-photographs/dp/1..." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Gardening Projects for Kids: Fantastic ideas for making things, growing plants and flowers, and attracting wildlife to the garden, with 60 practical projects and 500 photographs</a>" by Jenny Hendy (Anness, 2011). Grow a hyacinth in a glass, spell your name in flowers, shape a den out of bamboo, make a mini-beast shelter - and more. Projects feature an at-a-glance 'you will need' list, growing times, simple step-by-step instructions and photographs showing what to do.<br /><br /></li><li style="list-style: none; display: inline"><ul><li>Jenny Hendy (Author)</li><li>Visit Amazon's Jenny Hendy Page</li><li>Find all the books, read about the author, and more.</li><li>See search results for this author</li><li>Are you an author? Learn about Author Central<br /><br /></li></ul></li><li><strong>"<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Handmade-Garden-Projects-Step---Step/dp/1604691859/...">Handmade Garden Projects:</a></strong> <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Handmade-Garden-Projects-Step---Step/dp/1604691859/..." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Step-by-Step Instructions for Creative Garden Features, Containers, Lighting & More</a>" by Lorene Edwards Forkner (Timber Press, 2011)Lorene Edwards Forkner (Author)<br /><br /></li><li style="list-style: none; display: inline"><ul><li>Visit Amazon's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lorene-Edwards-Forkner/e/B001JRYX8I/ref=sr_ntt_src..." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lorene Edwards Forkner</a> Page</li><li>Find all the books, read about the author, and more.</li><li>See search results for this author</li><li>Are you an author? Learn about Author Central.</li><li>Learn how to take found objects, DIY materials and other odd bits and turn them into unique garden furnishings. Turn fencing into a sculptural plant support, herb pots into a fanciful tower, or scrap metal into elegant edging.<br /> <br /></li></ul></li><li>"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Naturescaping-Workbook-Step---Step-Bringing/dp/160..." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Naturescaping Workbook: A Step-by-Step Guide for Bringing Nature to Your Backyard</a>," by Beth O'Donnell Young and Karen Bussolini  (Timber Press, 2011). Worksheets and clear guidance help gardeners design an inviting landscape that is low-maintenance, helps plants reach their full potential, and provides a haven for beneficial bees, birds and butterflies.</li></ul><h3>Inspiration and Ideas</h3><ul><li>"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Continuous-Container-Gardens-Designs-Year-Round/dp..." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Continuous Container Gardens</a>," by Sara Begg and Roanne Robbins (Storey, 2011). Beautifully photographed, it's full of suggestions for seasonal plantings, underplanting and combining colors and textures.<br /><br /></li><li>"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chanticleer-Pleasure-Garden-Adrian-Higgins/dp/0812..." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chanticleer: A Pleasure Garden</a>," by Adrian Higgins (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2011). Explore the 48-acre public Chanticleer garden in Philadelphia as it changes over the seasons.<br /><br /></li><li>"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Private-Paradise-Contemporary-American-Gardens/dp/..." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Private Paradise: Contemporary American Gardens</a>," by Charlotte M. Frieze (The Monacelli Press, 2011).  The author The author presents forty-one cutting-edge gardens, designed by some of the most talented landscape architects and garden designers working in the United States today. Rich photographs and illustrations emphasize design, climate and horticulture.</li></ul><h3>History and Information</h3><ul><li>"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Carrots-Won-Trojan-War/dp/1603429689/ref=sr_1_...(but+True)+Stories+of+Common+Vegetables" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">How Carrots Won the Trojan War: Curious (but True) Stories of Common Vegetables</a>," by Rebecca Rupp (Storey Publishing, 2011). Why were Roman gladiators massaged with onion juice before a battle? How did celery help Casanova become a romantic legend? This book is a<br />collection of little-known stories about the origins, legends, and historical  significance of 23 of the world's most popular vegetables.<br /><br /></li><li>"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Plants-Changed-Course-History-Things/dp/1554077982..." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fifty Plants That Changed the Course of History</a>," by Bill Laws (Firefly Books, 2011).  You may know of some of the plants that have had an impact on human civilization - rice, tea, cotton and tobacco, for example. But there are many more that might surprise you. Learn how agave was used to make poison arrows, bullets, tequila and surgical thread; sweet pea was used in genetic study; and white willow was used in both aspirin and coffins.</li></ul><h3>Fun</h3><ul><li>"The Gardening Crossword," by Douglas Woods (Hill Street Press, 2011). Plenty of puzzles for the word and garden lover.<br /><br /></li><li>2012 Japanese Gardens Wall Calendar (Brush Dance Publishing, 2011).<br /><br /></li><li>2012 Dream Gardens Wall Calendar (Zebra Publishing Corp, 2011).</li></ul>

Gift Books for Gardeners