Gardening in Summer-Dry Climates: Plants for a Lush, Water-Conscious Landscape

Landscape architect Harlow and photographer Holt, coauthors of Plants and Landscapes for Summer-Dry Climates of the San Francisco Bay Region, team up again for a comprehensive guide to gardening on the west coast of North America. They address the unique gardening calendar set by the region’s dry summers (“plant mostly in fall, less often in spring as most of the world does”), as well as the challenges of weather (primarily the “seasonality of precipitation”), climate, and topography in gardening zones “from British Columbia to Baja.” Design suggestions address problems of drainage and runoff, outline ways to harvest rainwater, advocate for “firewise” landscaping, and promote soil health. The bulk of the book is a catalogue of plant recommendations, including perennials such as yarrow, annuals such as clarkia, trees such as California buckeye, succulents such as aloe, shrubs such as manzanita, and vines such as bougainvillea, with notes on origins, descriptions, watering, drainage, and light exposure. For green thumbs living along the Pacific Coast, this specialized and thorough manual will educate, enlighten, and inspire. (June)