Color-Rich Gardening for the South: A Guide for All Seasons

In this encouraging if slight debut, garden designer Ward shares “shortcuts and strategies” for creating a garden “that will draw you in, and welcome you home.” Ward advises that “every garden area... should have a purpose,” warns against buying plants without planning where they’ll go, and encourages readers to consider whether plants will have root competition. She touches on basics applicable to all gardeners (such as the amounts of light and water different plants need), gives guidance for how to improve soil drainage (using organic matter helps), and offers tips on pest control (“Be proactive and don’t kill the good bugs”). Ward’s passion is for color, evidenced in her up-close photographs and in the watercolor illustrations for 10 customizable gardens that feature traditional Southern plants: a “Sunny Summer Border” uses abelias and daylilies, for instance, while a spring “Kitchen Garden” highlights fragrant herbs. Ward’s recommendations stick mostly to the tried and true, and she rarely digs in on any invidicual topic, instead referring readers to other sources (on compost, for example: “a web search provides many resources for the home gardener”) . Still, this accessible guide is worth a look for new gardeners with a penchant for color. (Mar.)