The Wildflower Meadow Book: A Gardener's Guide

Once established, a garden of wildflowers requires little time and effort to maintain if native plants are used properly. But which flowers are best for a particular plot? Martin (Wildflower Folklore has collected a wealth of specific geographic and taxonomic wildflower information from across the country. Problems, sources of help and results of case studies are included in this scholarly, but not dry, work. The first section, a discussion of preparation and planting techniques, might have benefited from more enthusiasm, but Martin's intention is to provide a comprehensive, practical treatment on meadow gardening and she does that in spades. She also encourages wildflower buffs to experiment and share results because the cultivation of meadows is a new art. One wishes for more color photos but there are numerous lovely black-and-white illustrations of individual plants. Those who want to try this most natural of all gardening techniques will find Martin's handbook an invaluable source. Garden Book Club and Organic Gardening Book Club selections. (May)