Nature Garden (Collins Gardening)

by Joe Swift

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Create Your Own Nature Garden is one of a set of accessible gardening guides by Joe Swift covering a range of gardening topics. Due out 3rd March 2022 from Collins Reference, it's 224 pages and will be available in ebook format.

This is a well written garden tutorial and inspiration book for gardeners who are looking at supporting indigenous flora and fauna and incorporating more naturalistic garden design as inspiration. The author does a really good job of highlighting specific potential problems and providing creative solutions. The information is written in clear and concise blocks with special tips written directly on the photo illustrations. The photography is clear, well done, plentiful, and rendered in colour throughout the book.

The chapters are arranged thematically around specific elements: layouts, wildlife needs, wildlife corridors, ponds, birds, insects, amphibians, mammals, and a lot more. The second part of the book contains a good listing of plants, shrubs, trees, bulbs, and perennials for every purpose. Many of them are chosen for their size or suitability/toughness, as well as their contributions/attractiveness to wildlife. Plant listings contain the botanical (Latin) nomenclature as well as common name, a description, and colour photos showing foliage and flowers (if applicable).

The book's terminology and climate information are based on UK English, although most of the information is certainly applicable to gardeners outside the British Islands.

Five stars. This would be a good choice for public and school libraries, gardening groups, community/allotment gardens, suburban gardeners, homeowners, etc. As a set, the books collectively cover most every subject the home gardener would ever need.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.