Category Archives: Book Reviews

The Soul Garden–The Perennial Bookworm

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Colleen Miko

The Soul Garden:. Creating Green Spaces for Inner Growth & Spiritual Renewal. Donald Norfolk, 2002. The Overlook Press, 288 pages, 8.3 x 5.7″, $27.95 (hardcover). Most gardeners and professional horticulturists believe that the act of creating, tending and sitting in … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews | Tagged Gardening for spiritiality, The art of enjoying the garden, The Soul Garden book review, Why garden? | Leave a comment

Why Every Man Needs A Tractor–Perennial Bookworm

Posted on January 20, 2013 by Colleen Miko

Why Every Man Needs A Tractor: and Other Revelations in the Garden. Charles Elliot, 2011. Frances-Lincoln,192 pages, 8 x 5.25″, $19.95 (hardcover). This book is a collection of short pieces on the forgotten and sometimes amusing history of horticultural science … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews | Tagged Book Review, Charles Elliot, non fiction gardening books, Perennial Bookworm, short stories on gardening topics, Why Every Man Needs a Tractor | Leave a comment

Managing Manure to Save Mankind–Perennial Bookworm

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Colleen Miko

Holy Shit: Managing Manure to Save Mankind. Gene Logsdon, 2010. Chelsea Green Publishing Company, 272 pages, 7.5 x 5.5″, $17.50 (paper). I found this book to be extremely well written and quite humorous in addition to covering everything you’d want … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews | Tagged Book review of "Holy Shit: Managing Manure to Save Mankind" | 2 Comments

Attracting Native Pollinators–PERENNIAL BOOKWORM

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Colleen Miko

Attracting Native Pollinators: The Xerces Society Guide to Protecting North America’s Bees and Butterflies. The Xerces Society, 2011. Storey Publishing, 384 pages, 10 x 7″, $29.95 (paper). This is a wonderful guide that I’d recommend to anyone. It’s comprehensive and … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Call me Segmented: Arthropoda & Insecta | Tagged attracting pollinators, Books on Bees, Books on Pollinators, Guide to attracting beneficial insects, Landscaping for bees; Beneficial Insects | Leave a comment

A Sustainable Gardening Book without the “Green Wash”–Perennial Bookworm

Posted on June 2, 2012 by Colleen Miko

The Conscientious Gardener: Cultivating a Garden Ethic. Sarah Hayden Reichard, 2011. University of California Press, 264 pages, 9.25” x 9.65”, $27.50 (hardcover). “Green washing” is a term that describes how media and marketers have taken the terms that used to describe … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews | Tagged Environmentally friendly gardening, Garden ethics, Gardening with fewer resources, Natural gardning practices, Sarah Reichard, Sustainable gardening, The Conscientious Gardener | Leave a comment

Gardener’s Yoga–Perennial Bookworm

Posted on April 14, 2012 by Colleen Miko

Gardener’s Yoga: Bend & Stretch, Dig & Grow. Veronica D’Orazio, 2006. Sasquatch Books, 63 pages, 6.4” x 6.8”, $12.95 (paper). Phew! I’ve been away from garden chores too long. Jumping into spring clean up after huddling inside through the worst of … Continue reading →

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Garden Show Inspiration from Chelsea–Perennial Bookworm

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Colleen Miko

Best Garden Design: Practical Inspiration from the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show. Chris Young, 2010. Firefly Books, 224 pages, 9.5 x 7.8”, $35.00 (hardcover). Has the Northwest Flower & Garden Show fired you up to start working on your … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Design Inspiration | Tagged Chelsea Flower Show, Design Inspiration, Display Gardens, Garden Show book, Garden Vignettes, NW Flower & Garden Show, San Francisco Flower & Garden Show | Leave a comment

The Collector—Explore the life of David Douglas—Perennial Bookworm

Posted on November 19, 2011 by Colleen Miko

The Collector: David Douglas and the Natural History of the Northwest, Jack Nisbet, 2010. Sasquatch Books, 288 pages, 8.5” x 5.5”, $23.95 (hardcover). The Collector is the tale of Scottish naturalist David Douglas as he traversed our region between 1823 … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews | Tagged Botanical Explorer, David Douglas, NW Plant Explorer, Sasquatch Books | Leave a comment

Northwest Bonsai Style–Perennial Bookworm

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Colleen Miko

Gnarly Branches, Ancient Trees: The Life and Works of Dan Robinson—Bonsai Pioneer. Will Hiltz, 2010. Nara Press, 292 pages, 10.5” x 9.5”, $49.95 (hardcover). This is the story of local bonsai expert and landscaper, Dan Robinson. Dan has an unorthodox … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews | Tagged Bonsai books, Bonsai in Bremerton, Elandan Gardens, Northwest Bonsai style, the art of bonsai, The life of Dan Robinson | Leave a comment

Great Book on Bees, Wasps and Ants–Perennial Bookworm

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Colleen Miko

Bees, Wasps and Ants: The Indispensable Role of Hymenoptera in Gardens, Eric Grissell, 2010. Timber Press, Inc., 335 pages, 9” x 6”, $27.95 (hardcover). Most books about bees just drone on, losing me in the second chapter when they start … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Call me Segmented: Arthropoda & Insecta | Tagged ants, Book on bees, Book Review, Eric Grissell, wasps | Leave a comment