Whether you’re inclined to experiment and try something new with your garden this year or you simply don’t know where to begin, inspiration is available at the Lititz Public Library for gardeners of all levels.
For Kids
“My First Gardening Book: 35 Easy and Fun Projects for Budding Gardeners” by CICO Kidz
Make decorations for your garden, get a firm foundation in learning garden preparation, and create unique container gardens. Grow small plants in eggshells or teacups, make a terrarium, start a tyrannosaurus garden, grow pumpkins, and much more.
“How Does Your Garden Grow? Great Gardening for Green-Fingered Kids” by Clare Matthews
This diverse collection of garden activities goes beyond the basics by providing several STEM and animal-conscious projects, including how to make a simple weather monitoring station and a worm observatory.
“Ready Set Grow! Quick and Easy Gardening Projects” by DK Publishing
This is an excellent pictorial how-to guide for kids. Fill your garden with smiley-faced sunflowers, grow a variety of culinary gardens, and create a floral tepee. For helpful planning, it clearly states how long each project takes until completion.
For Adults
“Island Gardens: Havens of Beauty Around the British Isles” by Jackie Bennett
Bask in some peaceful views of gardens with a smattering of lighthouses and castles.
“A Way to Garden: A Hands-On Primer for Every Season” by Margaret Roach
Explore a New York State garden from January to December, or from birth to death and the afterlife, as this award-winning garden writer views the gardening year.
“Gardens of Awe and Folly: A Traveler’s Journal on the Meaning of Life and Gardening” by Vivian Swift
Watercolor paintings from a travel journal cover nine gardens from Paris to Rio de Janeiro and beyond, juxtaposed with interesting notes on gardening in different regions that are sure to intrigue gardeners, artists, and travelers.
“Heritage Gardens, Heirloom Seeds: Melded Cultures with a Pennsylvania German Accent” by Michael B. Emery and Irwin Richman
Find some local inspiration, explore history, and enjoy vintage pictures. This book even includes sections about Lititz and other nearby places.
“Gardenlust: A Botanical Tour of the World’s Best New Gardens” by Christopher Woods
Unique and modern, this book explores gardens from continent to continent, focusing on everything from wild-looking fields to plants climbing the sides of city buildings.
“Quiet Beauty: The Japanese Gardens of North America” by Kendall H. Brown
One need not travel far to enjoy Japanese gardens—gardeners all over America have been inspired by Japan when creating tranquil botanical hideaways.
“Plant-Driven Design: Creating Gardens That Honor Plants, Place, and Spirit” by Scott Ogden & Lauren Springer Ogden
Searching for the perfect plant for the perfect effect? Copious pictures and lists of plants make this an ideal reference for gardeners who have an idea of what look they want to achieve but are unsure of what plants to use.
“Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life: The Plants and Places that Inspired the Classic Children’s Tales” by Marta McDowell
Animals tend to get all the attention in Potter’s stories, but they are filled with flora as much as they are with fauna. Packed with breathtaking photographs and illustrations, here’s an opportunity to learn about the celebrated artist and author as gardener throughout the seasons.
“The Gardener of Versailles: My Life in the World’s Grandest Garden” by Alain Baraton
Take a rare glimpse of life at the massive garden of Versailles from gardener-in-chief’s perspective: dig into its rich history contrasted with how it is today, and find out about some of the visitors’ quirky habits.
“The Writer’s Garden: How Gardens Inspired Our Best-Loved Authors” by Jackie Bennett
Take a picturesque stroll through gardens, both elegant and rugged, of 19 different authors, including Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, Rudyard Kipling, and Roald Dahl.
“The Problem with My Garden: Simple Solutions for Outdoor Spaces” by Kendra Wilson
There are many possibly dilemmas a gardener can be up against—costs, cramped space, battles against pests, and steep terrain, to name a few. This book is meant to solve these issues and many more for those baffled by certain gardening stumbling blocks.
“Gardenista: The Definitive Guide to Stylish Outdoor Spaces” by Michelle Slatalla
Home is far more than the inside of your house. In this collection of ideas from the makers of Gardenista.com, take tours of thirteen yards of vastly different styles for inspiration to remodel your outdoor domain.
Kathryn Raynor
June 12, 2019