The Lifelong Gardener: Garden with Ease and Joy at Any Age

In this cheery guide, Gattone, a University of California –certified Master Gardener, addresses the needs of fellow boomer horticulturalists. Gattone’s suggestions focus first on the needs of a gardener’s body (such as balance, mobility, reaction time, and knee pain); secondly, on the garden itself (essentials for a “garden of ease” include being “fully accessible” and saving time, money, energy, and space); and thirdly, on which tools to purchase, including an expandable rake and a lightweight battery–powered leaf blower. She combines simple tips with a humorous take on aging (griping about her own bad back and recounting how, after eye surgery, she nearly clipped off her finger while pruning roses). Sidebars entitled “Toni’s Tips” cheer from the sidelines (“Remember that sometimes the only thing you have control over is your attitude!”), while “Gardener Profiles” feature representative senior gardeners from Gattone’s local Master Gardener chapter in Marin County (which has, she notes, “one of the oldest populations in California”). Gattone doesn’t delve deeply into gardening lore, but her chatty voice is engaging, unself-conscious, and above all else, encouraging. Practical and sweet, Gattone’s pep talk is perfect for any aging gardener thinking of throwing in the trowel. (Aug.)