2009 Garden Books I Can’t Wait To Buy!

As our gardening year ends, publishers are busy getting the next round of gardening books ready for market. Here is a sneak peek at some of the exciting new gardening books we can expect to see in just a few months.

The Family Kitchen Garden: How to Plant, Grow and Cook Together
By Karen Liebreich, Jutta Wagner and Annette Wendland
(April 2009, Timberpress)

The Timberpress website says:

"Everyone wants healthy children who choose potatoes over chips and oranges over Oreos, but it isn't always easy to convince a picky child to try something new. The Family Kitchen Garden integrates the garden and kitchen in a simple, fun way that parents and children can enjoy together. By teaching kids how to garden, they will be more likely to eat what they grow. What a rewarding way to encourage healthy foods! Unlike other guides to gardening with children, these are not simple projects just for kids. Rather, the authors believe that kids can and will enjoy the same type of gardening that adults do."

A Short History of the Honey Bee
By E. Readicker-Henderson, Photography by Ilona
(May 2009, Timberpress)

The Timberpess website says:

"There are around 16,000 species of bee. Only seven of these are responsible for creating the world's sweetest treat — honey. Combining Ilona's gorgeous photography and E. Readicker-Henderson's engaging text, A Short History of the Honey Bee follows the journey from flower to hive to honey throughout history. A Short History of the Honey Bee starts with the story of the honey bee — why it is named Apis mellifera, how it has evolved from a solitary creature to one that travels in groups, why it stings, and how pollination really works. Readicker-Henderson then moves on to the honey, detailing its history from a wild food foraged for on cliffs to the many varieties available for purchase today.

"But it is the everyday importance of the bee that remains the central message. Forty percent of the world's food supply (including apples, tomatoes, and strawberries) is dependent on pollination by honeybees. Colony collapse, when the worker bees suddenly disappear and leave behind the queen and the hive, is an ecological and agricultural crisis. For this reason alone we need to be more aware of the significance of bees."

Landscaping with Fruit
By Lee Reich
(February 2009, Storey Books)

Promotional material says:

"Fruit trees, shrubs, and vines are true two-for-one plants. Many varieties provide striking beauty as well as delicious sources of sweet, organic fruit. Backyard fruit plants also tie in perfectly with the growing locavore (eating locally) movement. It's difficult to find food that's more local than one's own backyard!

'Luscious landscaping,' as author Lee Reich calls it, takes fruit-bearing plants off the commercial farm and replants the prettiest and tastiest specimens in suburban and rural yards. Homegrown, organic varieties bear almost no resemblance to commercially produced fruit, which are bred and selected to withstand shipping and refrigerated storage conditions. Plus, spring blossoms, summer and fall fruit, and the year-round presence of the plants themselves bring a special magic to the home landscape. Fluffy pink blossoms on peach branches or the bright orange fruit of persimmon trees perk up their surroundings with color and drama."

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THESE BOOKS! Watch for them over the next few months…