Gardening in harmony with a Mediterranean climate
means taking advantage of winter rain and allowing the
garden to rest over hot summers. In this beautifully
illustrated, practical handbook, Heidi Gildemeister
provides both novice and experienced gardeners with a
comprehensive guide for waterwise gardening, with over
one thousand drought-tolerant Mediterranean plants
chosen both for their beauty and for their easygoing
ways. Well indexed with common and botanical names,
"Mediterranean Gardening" will be indispensable not only
for gardeners in California, the Mediterranean basin,
and Mediterranean climate areas in South America,
Australia, and Africa, but for anyone living in a region
that experiences drought. Gildemeister explains how
drought-tolerant plants that are suitably matched with a
site and carefully planted and mulched can live on
winter rain and, once established, do not need
additional summer water - as in nature. The Plant
Selection lists over one thousand plants from nearly
five hundred genera, including their preferred growing
conditions, propagation, best use, and maintenance.
Guidelines in eight steps describe the planning of
waterwise gardens, such as for the establishment of
dappled shade to conserve precious soil moisture.
Successful alternatives to the water-intensive lawn
offer attractive design ideas. "Mediterranean Gardening"
offers a wealth of information: 'easy' plants for the
beginner, new choices for the garden architect, and for
botanists the latest findings on minimum temperatures
plants can endure. An extensive bibliography covering
drought tolerance and a list of useful addresses make
this book as helpful to people converting to water-,
labor-, and ecology-conscious gardening as to those
starting from scratch. |
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