KNOW YOUR LIBRARY!

A Service of the Taos Public Library…April 2015……written by Joanne Forman…….

   GARDENERS, GET YOUR TROWELS!!!!

 

      It’s finally Spring, and as well as the voice ot the turtle dove, the voices of gardeners are heard in the land. Trowels, seed catalogs in hand, and that fanatical gleam in their eyes, hundreds and hundreds of Taosenos are descending upon their yards, determined that THIS YEAR, everything they plant will grow, everything will be bounteous and beautiful and satisfying.

Bless you all!

And, of course, your Taos Public Library is ready to offer all the hope, help, advice you could possibly need, with over 250 books on all aspects of gardening. Go to! You DO have a library card, don’t you? If not, get one instantly!

  Most of the books on gardening in our library are in the 631-638 area, according to our Dewey Decimal System, so we won’t give all the exact numbers—except for the exceptions.

   The primary thing to read up on is particulars of gardening for our arid climate. (You CAN grow things like roses, but it isn’t easy!) To name just a few on this vital topic:

 THE DRY GARDEN: a practical guide to planning and planting. Mark Rumary

 WATERWISE PLANTS FOR SUSTAINABLE GARDENS. Laura Springer Ogden.

 GARDENING THE ARID LAND.  Robert Gerard.

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      Very many gardeners are doing organic gardening, and here too you’ll find all the help you need. Just a sampling:

 THE ORGANIC GARDENER’S HANDBOOK. Fern Marshall Bradley et al

 THE BEST OF ORGANIC GARDENING. Mike McGrath et al

 THE TRUTH ABOUT ORGANIC GARDENING. Jeff Gillman

ORGANIC VEGETABLE GARDENS. George F. Van Patten
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      Some don’t want to grow anything, but set up something attractive once and for all:

 GARDEN STONE: decorative uses. Barbara Pleasant. (In the Fine Arts Room, 717. P724g

 Also in the Fine Arts Room is STONESCAPING IDEA BOOK. Andrew Wormer,

717.Wor,

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      For those especially interested in attracting birds and butterflies:

 BUTTERFLY LANDSCAPES OF NEW MEXICO. Steven J. Cary. In the Southwest Room, sw595.789

 For absolute beginners:

THE COMPLETE IDIOT’S GUIDE TO GARDENING. Jane O’connor et al.

 Special topics:

 HOW TO BUILD AND USE GREENHOUSES. T. Jeff Williams

 ROCKY MOUNTAIN BERRY BOOK.    Bob Krumm.

 GROWING AND USING HERBS &SPICES. Milo Miloradovich.

 GARDENING IN CONTAINERS. Ortho Books.

 And if you’re an armchair gardener:

AMERICAN GROWN: The story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America. Michelle Obama.