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Stately Trio: Books on California Plants: "Tough Plants for California Gardens"

Posted on: Saturday, 25 March 2006, 15:00 CST

By Dan Vierria, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.

Mar. 25--By Felder Rushing (Cool Springs Press, $24.99 softcover, 240 pages) Felder Rushing trims the fat and delivers the goods in a lean, concise manner. And, with a sense of humor. The title isn't misleading, for here are plants that require bare-bones care in California gardens. He purposely ignores advice on care because, he says, minimal care is required.

Chapters are grouped by plant types, annuals, perennials, shrubs, etc., and a box in each chapter divides plants between "best for beginners" and "kind of tricky." At the end of the tree chapter, he features the "California Urban State Tree," cell-tower trees in all their artificial splendor. All color photos are sized so you can see the plants without a magnifying glass. "California's Wild Gardens" Edited by Phyllis M. Faber University of California Press, $34.95 softcover, 236 pages) An extraordinarily beautiful book stuffed with photographs to make us appreciate what remains of California's natural habitat after decades of farming, logging and development. The book focuses on vernal pools, verdant valleys, lakes, alpine meadows, deserts, rain forests and grasslands. Several sites near Sacramento are mentioned, including The Nature Conservancy's Cosumnes River Preserve, Brushy Lake behind Cal Expo and areas of the Delta. Endangered native species are addressed as are introduced invasive plants. Those concerned about preserving California's natural settings and native plants will find this book irresistible. "California Native Plants for the Garden" By Carol Bornstein, David Fross and Bart O'Brien (Cachuma Press, $27.95 softcover, 271 pages) A serious reference book for those serious about native plants in their home landscapes. If you're up for learning, the information is here with plant profiles from abutilon to zauschneria. The majority of plants are accompanied by color photographs. Listing each plant's natural habitat and range is a valuable addition. So are the lists at the back of the book for specific plants for specific uses and features. For instance, those with aromatic foliage, those that grow well under oak trees, those with spectacular fall color, etc. An appendix listing of sources for California native plants includes Cornflower Farms in Elk Grove.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.

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Source: The Sacramento Bee

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