February 16, 2006


The only thing better than gardening or visiting gardens is reading about gardening! I review many books here at Digging, favoring those about garden design (which is universal) and gardening in Texas or the Southwest (where regional info is essential). But I also branch out into general gardening books, memoirs, garden-project books, and even a little fiction and poetry. Here you’ll find an alphabetized list of all the books I’ve reviewed, with links to my posts about them. Click through to read my reviews.

If you click on my Books category, you can browse all my blog posts that mention gardening books, including those without reviews.

Happy reading!

Read This: Gardens of the High Line and The High Line, two books about NYC's most influential public park

Read This: Gardens of the High Line and The High Line, two books about NYC’s most influential public park

January 23, 2018 Exploring the High Line in October 2014 remains a highlight of my garden travels, and I’d love to go see it again. Until then, reading about it keeps the fire burning, gives insight into the origins and design of this unique public garden/nature walk/civic space, and offers ...
Review of The Monarch: Saving Our Most-Loved Butterfly, and how we can help in Texas

Review of The Monarch: Saving Our Most-Loved Butterfly, and how we can help in Texas

October 04, 2017 The first wave of migrating monarch butterflies has reached North Texas and will be fluttering through Austin and other parts of Central Texas by next week. Despite their seeming fragility, these tenacious creatures migrate each fall as far as 2,800 miles from the northern U.S. and southern ...
Two must-read books for succulent lovers: Succulents and Designing with Succulents

Two must-read books for succulent lovers: Succulents and Designing with Succulents

September 20, 2017 All you succulent junkies, listen up. If you love succulents or want to learn how to grow them, two newly released books by succulent-gardening trailblazers Debra Lee Baldwin and Robin Stockwell need to be at the top of your must-read list. Let’s start with Designing with Succulents ...
Read This: Potted: Make Your Own Stylish Garden Containers & BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Read This: Potted: Make Your Own Stylish Garden Containers & BOOK GIVEAWAY!

July 10, 2017 I’m crazy for Los Angeles garden shop Potted and its colorful, modern accessories for patio and porch living and gardening. I’ve made two pilgrimages to the store (here and here) when passing through L.A., and I’ve ordered from and received gifts from their online store (yes, you ...
Read This: Gardening with Foliage First

Read This: Gardening with Foliage First

June 16, 2017 Today is Foliage Follow-Up, my monthly meme that encourages us to focus on often-underappreciated foliage plants, rather than spotlight-hogging flowers. That means it’s the perfect day to review a new book by two foliage-loving design experts, Karen Chapman and Christina Salwitz. Gardening with Foliage First: 127 Dazzling ...
Read This: 101 Organic Gardening Hacks, The Spirit of Stone, and The Cocktail Hour Garden

Read This: 101 Organic Gardening Hacks, The Spirit of Stone, and The Cocktail Hour Garden

May 15, 2017 A raft of gardening books has piled up on my desk this spring. I’m tempted to lash the whole stack into a raft and paddle to a deserted island, where I’ll have time to read them all (if only that wouldn’t make them soggily unreadable). If you’re ...
Read This: Hummingbird Plants of the Southwest

Read This: Hummingbird Plants of the Southwest

February 13, 2017 After screech owls, hummingbirds are my favorite garden visitors. Zipping around in jewel-toned splendor, these tiny birds with pugnacious personalities are a joy to watch. One of my favorite gardening moments occurred when I was watering some new salvias I’d planted, and suddenly heard a deep thrumming ...
Read This: Gardenista

Read This: Gardenista

January 30, 2017 I got behind with my self-declared Book Review Week last week, but I’m back on track today with my review of Gardenista: The Definitive Guide to Stylish Outdoor Spaces (2016, Artisan) by Michelle Slatalla. Since it was a fall release, I’d hoped I might find it under ...
Book Review Week: Texas gardening and Hill Country photography books

Book Review Week: Texas gardening and Hill Country photography books

January 24, 2017 Texas gardeners and shutterbugs who enjoy photographing the beautiful Texas Hill Country will appreciate today’s book picks: Texas Month-by-Month Gardening by Robert “Skip” Richter and Photographing Austin, San Antonio & the Texas Hill Country by Laurence Parent. Let’s start with Texas gardening. Author Skip Richter is a ...
Book Review Week: The Garden Bible

Book Review Week: The Garden Bible

January 23, 2017 I’m kicking off Book Review Week here at Digging (yes, I had time to read a few gardening books over the holidays and want to share my faves) with The Garden Bible: Designing Your Perfect Outdoor Space (2016, Images Publishing) by Barbara Ballinger and Michael Glassman. While ...
Read This: The Bold Dry Garden

Read This: The Bold Dry Garden

October 10, 2016 Our gardens tell our stories. The plants we choose, the features we create, the very layout is an autobiography of our passions, fancies, and personality. That’s why the most inspiring gardens spring from impassioned and artistic minds. The Ruth Bancroft Garden near San Francisco is a perfect ...
Read This: Hand-Built Outdoor Furniture

Read This: Hand-Built Outdoor Furniture

June 29, 2016 When the Death Star really starts blazing during the summer, we gardeners in the South and Southwest put down our shovels and trowels, do a little weeding or watering in the early morning hours, and mainly try to stay in the shade or a swimming hole until ...
Read This: Gardens of Awe and Folly

Read This: Gardens of Awe and Folly

May 12, 2016 Have you ever dawdled over the pages of a book because you didn’t want it to end? Vivian Swift’s Gardens of Awe and Folly: A Traveler’s Journal on the Meaning of Life and Gardening (Bloomsbury, 2016) is one of those books. I find that I’m poring over ...
Read This: The Cancer Survivor's Garden Companion

Read This: The Cancer Survivor’s Garden Companion

February 17, 2016 I am not a cancer survivor, nor do I (as far as I know, and with a superstitious knock on wood) have cancer. Therefore, I’m not the target audience for my friend and fellow Austinite Jenny Peterson’s latest book, The Cancer Survivor’s Garden Companion: Cultivating Hope, Healing ...
Read This: Outstanding American Gardens

Read This: Outstanding American Gardens

February 01, 2016Nothing teaches you more about good garden design than visiting as many gardens as you can. The Garden Conservancy helps by coordinating public tours, called Open Days, of hundreds of private gardens across the U.S. each year. If you’re lucky enough to live in a region with a ...
Read This: The Cultivated Wild: Gardens and Landscapes by Raymond Jungles

Read This: The Cultivated Wild: Gardens and Landscapes by Raymond Jungles

January 03, 2016 Were a name and profession ever more perfectly matched than those of Raymond Jungles? Like San Francisco nursery owner Flora Grubb and — I kid you not — Austin urologist and vasectomy practitioner Dr. Richard (Dick) Chopp, Miami-based landscape architect Jungles was surely destined to do what ...
Native and Adapted Landscape Plants: An Austin gardening resource
Native and Adapted Landscape Plants: An Earthwise Guide for Central Texas, by the City of Austin’s Grow Green Program (booklet updated regularly)
February 20, 2009 For everyone who has moved to central Texas from more-hospitable gardening climates, who has tried (as I did) to plant azaleas, hostas, or dogwoods because that’s what reminds them of home, and who thinks, “Hey, look! This Austin nursery sells this plant, so it must grow well ... Keep Reading
Summer reading for gardeners
Outside the Not So Big House: Creating the Landscape of Home, by Julie Moir Messervy and Sarah Susanka (2006, Taunton Press)
June 22, 2008With Austin on track for our hottest summer on record, I’ve sworn off any real gardening for the pleasures of garden book reading—inside, preferably under a ceiling fan with a cold Diet Dr. Pepper in my hand. Recent trips to Barnes & Noble and Half Price Books have ... Keep Reading
Read This: Outstanding American Gardens
Outstanding American Gardens: A Celebration: 25 Years of the Garden Conservancy, by Page Dickey (2015, Stewart, Tabori and Chang)
February 01, 2016Nothing teaches you more about good garden design than visiting as many gardens as you can. The Garden Conservancy helps by coordinating public tours, called Open Days, of hundreds of private gardens across the U.S. each year. If you’re lucky enough to live in a region with a ... Keep Reading
Dirty hands & a passion for gardening
People with Dirty Hands: The Passion for Gardening, by Robin Chotzinoff (1996, Wiley)
July 28, 2008 My hands (and feet) are often dirty, and I definitely have a “passion for gardening,” the subtitle of this month’s Garden Bloggers Book Club selection. So I got my grubby mitts on a copy of fellow Austinite Robin Chotzinoff‘s 1996 book People with Dirty Hands and read ... Keep Reading
Book Review Week: Texas gardening and Hill Country photography books
Photographing Austin, San Antonio & the Texas Hill Country: Where to Find Perfect Shots and How to Take Them, by Laurence Parent (2012, The Countryman Press)
January 24, 2017 Texas gardeners and shutterbugs who enjoy photographing the beautiful Texas Hill Country will appreciate today’s book picks: Texas Month-by-Month Gardening by Robert “Skip” Richter and Photographing Austin, San Antonio & the Texas Hill Country by Laurence Parent. Let’s start with Texas gardening. Author Skip Richter is a ... Keep Reading
Book review: Plant-Driven Design
Plant-Driven Design: Creating Gardens that Honor Plants, Place, and Spirit, by Scott Ogden and Lauren Springer Ogden (2008, Timber Press)
November 29, 2008 In a garden-design class I attended not long after moving to Austin, the speaker showed slide after slide of lush English gardens to illustrate design principles. I understood the value of studying these magnificent gardens, but I questioned whether the style could be truly reinterpreted here in ... Keep Reading
Read This: A summer round-up of gardening books
Plants with Benefits: An Uninhibited Guide to the Aphrodisiac Herbs, Fruits, Flowers & Veggies in Your Garden, by Helen Yoest (2014, St. Lynn’s Press)
July 03, 2014Now that the early summer frenzy of planting, weeding, and watering new plants is behind us and sultry midsummer is here, it’s the perfect time to kick back with a glass of iced tea and a stack of gardening books. I recently read three books authored by friends ... Keep Reading
Read This: Potted: Make Your Own Stylish Garden Containers & BOOK GIVEAWAY!
Potted: Make Your Own Stylish Garden Containers, by Annette Goliti Gutierrez and Mary Gray (2017, Timber Press)
July 10, 2017 I’m crazy for Los Angeles garden shop Potted and its colorful, modern accessories for patio and porch living and gardening. I’ve made two pilgrimages to the store (here and here) when passing through L.A., and I’ve ordered from and received gifts from their online store (yes, you ... Keep Reading
Read This: Private Gardens of Santa Barbara: The Art of Outdoor Living
Private Gardens of Santa Barbara: The Art of Outdoor Living, by Margie Grace (2020, Gibbs Smith)
March 09, 2020 Stuck at home fretting about coronavirus? Luckily we gardeners have our gardens to occupy us, soothe our minds, and even feed us during times like these. But reading about beautiful gardens and learning design from a master is also a great way to while away the hours, ... Keep Reading
Read This: Private Gardens of the Pacific Northwest
Private Gardens of the Pacific Northwest by Brian D. Coleman, photographs by William Wright (2021, Gibbs Smith)
October 12, 2021 We hot-climate gardeners are finally feeling a breath of fall, as it shoos away the summer doldrums. The eagerly anticipated fall gardening season is at hand. Is it emotionally safe, therefore, to crack open a new book about Pacific Northwest gardens? Let’s live dangerously! Photo courtesy of ... Keep Reading
Refresh Your Garden Design book release party and giveaway!
Refresh Your Garden Design with Color, Texture & Form, by Rebecca Sweet (2013, Horticulture Books)
November 03, 2013 I’m delighted to be part of my friend Rebecca Sweet’s virtual book-release party for her new baby, Refresh Your Garden Design with Color, Texture & Form. Six other garden bloggers and I are hosting 7 great giveaways this week, all related to Rebecca’s theme of refreshing your ... Keep Reading
Read This: Secret Gardens of the Cotswolds
Secret Gardens of the Cotswolds: A Personal Tour of 20 Private Gardens, by Victoria Summerley (2015, Quarto Publishing USA).
April 20, 2015 Secret Gardens of the CotswoldsFor an area so small, at least by Texas standards — only 790 square miles — the Cotswolds region of southern England is home to an astonishing number of enormous manors and elaborate gardens, each worthy of an episode of Downton Abbey. In ... Keep Reading
Read This: So You Want to Be a Garden Designer
So You Want to Be a Garden Designer: How to Get Started, Grow, and Thrive in the Landscape Design Business, by Love Albrecht Howard (2010, Timber Press)
June 29, 2010 Garden design is often a mid-life-change, follow-your-heart career choice. At least it was for me and for a number of accomplished designers I’ve come to know. I graduated from college with a degree in English and landed my first job in publishing, as an assistant editor at ... Keep Reading
Read This: Spirit of Place
Spirit of Place: The Making of a New England Garden by Bill Noble (2020, Timber Press)
July 30, 2020 The Garden Conservancy preserves significant American gardens and shares all manner of interesting gardens with the public via its beloved Open Days program, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year despite the Covid-cancellation of all tours. I’m a big fan of their work, particularly because their outreach ... Keep Reading
Read This: Striking Succulent Gardens
Striking Succulent Gardens: Plants and Plans for Designing Your Low-Maintenance Landscape by Gabriel Frank (2021, Ten Speed Press)
March 09, 2021 After the prolonged deep freeze that Texas endured last month, which reduced our beloved agaves and other succulents to oozing mush and browned nearly everything else back to the roots, it may not seem…timely…for a Texan to review a book about succulent gardening. But it would be ... Keep Reading
Read This: Succulent Container Gardens
Succulent Container Gardens: Design Eye-Catching Displays with 350 Easy-Care Plants, by Debra Lee Baldwin (2010, Timber Press)
April 13, 2010 It’s the perfect time of year to refresh your container plantings or create new ones. Here in Austin, where long, sweltering summers are the norm, I’ve learned to plant only succulents or cacti in my containers in order to avoid being a slave to the hose all ... Keep Reading
Read This: Succulents Simplified
Succulents Simplified: Growing, Designing, and Crafting with 100 Easy-Care Varieties, by Debra Lee Baldwin (2013, Timber Press)
July 02, 2013 Succulents are a garden trend that shows no sign of slowing down. Easy to pot up for summer and tolerant of watering forgetfulness, they make the perfect seasonal accent even in freeze-prone climates. For those in mild-winter climates, a variety of succulents can be grown outside all ... Keep Reading
Book Review & Giveaway: Sugar Snaps and Strawberries
Sugar Snaps and Strawberries: Simple Solutions for Creating Your Own Small-Space Edible Garden, by Andrea Bellamy (2011, Timber Press)
January 24, 2011 Like a rebel without a cause, I continue to resist growing edibles despite the current fad and inspiring examples of fellow gardeners and bloggers who savor their homegrown fruits and vegetables. Sure, I stick a basil plant in the ground each spring and harvest the leaves all ... Keep Reading
Read This: Sunset's Outdoor Living Series
Sunset Sheds & Garages: Building Ideas and Plans for Every Shape of Storage Structure, by the editors of Sunset Books (2008, Oxmoor House)
January 31, 2008 My garden bookshelf suffers from a high-school clique problem. It’s the teenage cold war: cheerleaders and jocks versus honor students and geeks. In this case, inspirational eye-candy books with no practical smarts grudgingly share space with intelligent how-to guides dressed down with useful but non-glamorous illustrations. Although ... Keep Reading
Read This: Sunset Western Landscaping Book
Sunset Western Garden Book of Easy-Care Plantings: The Ultimate Guide to Low-Water Beds, Borders, and Containers, by the editors of Sunset Books (2015, Oxmoor House)
January 01, 2015 Sunset Western Landscaping BookIf you live in the western U.S. and your New Year’s resolution is to beautify your landscaping or create a sustainable, water-smart garden, I have the book for you: Sunset Western Landscaping Book, 2006 edition. It’s not a new release, but it’s worth seeking ... Keep Reading

The 20-30 Something Garden Guide: A No Fuss, Down and Dirty Gardening 101 for Anyone Who Wants to Grow Stuff by Dee Nash (2014, St. Lynn’s Press)

101 Organic Gardening Hacks: Eco-friendly Solutions to Improve Any Garden by Shawna Coronado (2017, Cool Springs Press)

Adventures in Eden: An Intimate Tour of the Private Gardens of Europe by Carolyn Mullet (2020, Timber Press)

Agaves: Living Sculptures for Landscapes and Containers by Greg Starr (2012, Timber Press)

The American Meadow Garden: Creating a Natural Alternative to the Traditional Lawn by John Greenlee (2009, Timber Press)

American Roots: Lessons and Inspiration from the Designers Reimagining Our Home Gardens by Nick McCullough, Allison McCullough, and Teresa Woodard (2022, Timber Press)

Ann Lovejoy’s Organic Garden Design School by Ann Lovejoy (2004, Rodale Books)

Armitage’s Vines and Climbers: A Gardener’s Guide to the Best Vertical Plants by Allan M. Armitage (2010, Timber Press)

The Art of Gardening: Design Inspiration and Innovative Planting Techniques from Chanticleer by R. William Thomas (2015, Timber Press)

The Art of Outdoor Living: Gardens for Entertaining Family and Friends by Scott Shrader (2019, Rizzoli)

The Artful Garden: Creative Inspiration for Landscape Design by James van Sweden, with Tom Christopher (2011, Random House)

Backyards: A Sunset Design Guide by the editors of Sunset Books (2009, Sunset Books)

The Beast in the Garden: The True Story of a Predator’s Deadly Return to Suburban America by David Baron (2005, W. W. Norton & Company)

Black Flora: Profiles of Inspiring Black Flower Farmers + Florists by Teresa J. Speight (2022, BLOOM Imprint)

Bloom’s Best Perennials and Grasses: Expert Plant Choices and Dramatic Combinations for Year-Round Gardens by Adrian Bloom (2010, Timber Press)

The Bold Dry Garden: Lessons from The Ruth Bancroft Garden by Johanna Silver (2016, Timber Press)

The Bulb Hunter by Chris Wiesinger and William C. Welch (2013, Texas A&M University Press)

The Cancer Survivor’s Garden Companion: Cultivating Hope, Healing and Joy in the Ground Beneath Your Feet by Jenny Peterson (2016, St. Lynn’s Press)

Chanticleer, A Pleasure Garden by Adrian Higgins, photographs by Rob Cardillo (2011, University of Pennsylvania Press)

Chasing Wildflowers: A Mad Search for Wild Gardens by Scott Calhoun (2007, Rio Nuevo)

A Child’s Calendar: Poems by John Updike, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman (2002, Holiday House)

A Child’s Garden: Enchanting Outdoor Spaces for Children and Parents by Molly Dannenmaier (1998, Simon & Schuster)

The Cocktail Hour Garden: Creating Evening Landscapes for Relaxation and Entertaining by C.L. Fornari (2016, St. Lynn’s Press)

The Complete Kitchen Garden: An Inspired Collection of Garden Designs & 100 Seasonal Recipes by Ellen Ecker Ogden (2011, Stewart, Tabori and Chang)

Concrete Garden Projects: Easy & Inexpensive Containers, Furniture, Water Features & More by Camilla Arvidsson and Malin Nilsson (2011, Timber Press)

The Cultivated Wild: Gardens and Landscapes by Raymond Jungles (2015, The Monacelli Press)

Cultivating Garden Style: Inspired Ideas and Practical Advice to Unleash Your Garden Personality by Rochelle Greayer (2014, Timber Press)

Deer-Resistant Design: Fence-Free Gardens that Thrive Despite the Deer by Karen Chapman (2019, Timber Press)

Desert Gardens of Steve Martino by Caren Yglesias, photographs by Steve Gunther (2018, The Monacelli Press)

Designer Plant Combinations: 105 Stunning Gardens Using Six Plants or Fewer by Scott Calhoun (2008, Storey Publishing)

Designing with Succulents, revised 2nd edition, by Debra Lee Baldwin (2017, Timber Press)

Designing with Succulents by Debra Lee Baldwin (2007, Timber Press)

Dreamscapes: Inspiration and Beauty in Gardens Near and Far by Claire Takacs (2018, Hardie Grant Books)

The Drunken Botanist: The Plants That Create the World’s Great Drinks by Amy Stewart (2013, Algonquin Books)

Dry Climate Gardening: Growing Beautiful, Sustainable Gardens in Low-Water Conditions by Noelle Johnson (2023, Cool Springs Press)

Dry Gardens: High Style for Low Water Gardens by Daniel Nolan (2018, Rizzoli)

Du Pont Gardens of the Brandywine Valley by photographer Larry Lederman and writer Marta McDowell (2023, Monacelli)

The Earth in Her Hands: 75 Extraordinary Women Working in the World of Plants by Jennifer Jewell (2020, Timber Press)

The Edible Front Yard: The Mow-Less, Grow-More Plan for a Beautiful, Bountiful Garden by Ivette Soler (2011, Timber Press)

Elements of Garden Design by Joe Eck (2005, North Point Press)

The Essential Garden Book: Getting Back to Basics by Terence Conran and Dan Pearson (1998, Clarkson Potter)

Fearless Color Gardens: The Creative Gardener’s Guide to Jumping Off the Color Wheel by Keeyla Meadows (2009, Timber Press)

Fearless Gardening: Be Bold, Break the Rules, Grow What You Love by Loree Bohl (2021, Timber Press)

Fine Foliage: Elegant Plant Combinations for Garden and Container by Karen Chapman and Christina Salwitz (2013, St. Lynn’s Press)

From the Ground Up: The Story of a First Garden by Amy Stewart (2000, Algonquin Books)

Front Yard Gardens: Growing More Than Grass, 2nd edition, by Liz Primeau (2010, Firefly Books)

The Garden Bible: Designing Your Perfect Outdoor Space by Barbara Ballinger and Michael Glassman (2016, Images Publishing)

The Garden Refresh: How to Give Your Yard Big Impact on a Small Budget by Kier Holmes (2022, Timber Press)

Garden Up! Smart Vertical Gardening for Small and Large Spaces by Susan Morrison and Rebecca Sweet (2011, Cool Springs Press)

Garden Wonderland: Create Life-Changing Outdoor Spaces for Beauty, Harvest, Meaning, and Joy by Leslie Bennett and Julie Chai (2024, Ten Speed Press)

The Gardener’s Guide to Cactus: The 100 Best Paddles, Barrels, Columns, and Globes by Scott Calhoun (2012, Timber Press)

Gardening with Foliage First: 127 Dazzling Combinations that Pair the Beauty of Leaves with Flowers, Bark, Berries, and More by Karen Chapman and Christina Salwitz (2017, Timber Press)

Gardenista: The Definitive Guide to Stylish Outdoor Spaces by Michelle Slatalla (2016, Artisan)

Gardens Are for Living: Design Inspiration for Outdoor Spaces by Judy Kameon (2014, Rizzoli)

Gardens of Awe and Folly: A Traveler’s Journal on the Meaning of Life and Gardening by Vivian Swift (2016, Bloomsbury)

Gardens of the High Line: Elevating the Nature of Modern Landscapes by Piet Oudolf and Rick Darke (2017, Timber Press)

The Gardens of Japan by Helena Attlee, photographs by Alex Ramsay (2017, Frances Lincoln)

Gardens in Detail: 100 Contemporary Designs by Emma Reuss (2014, The Monacelli Press)

Gardentopia: Design Basics for Creating Beautiful Outdoor Spaces by Jan Johnsen (2019, The Countryman Press)

The Grumpy Gardener: An A to Z Guide from the Galaxy’s Most Irritable Green Thumb by Steve Bender (2017, Oxmoor House)

Hand-Built Outdoor Furniture: 20 Step-by-Step Projects Anyone Can Build by Katie Jackson (2016, Timber Press)

Handmade Garden Projects: Step-by-Step Instructions for Creative Garden Features, Containers, Lighting & More by Lorene Edwards Forkner (2011, Timber Press)

Hellstrip Gardening: Create a Paradise Between the Sidewalk and the Curb by Evelyn Hadden (2014, Timber Press)

The High Line: Foreseen/Unforeseen by James Corner Field Operations and Diller Scofidio + Renfro (2015, Phaidon Press)

Home Outside: Creating the Landscape You Love by Julie Moir Messervy (2009, Taunton Press)

Hot Color, Dry Garden: Inspiring Designs and Vibrant Plants for the Waterwise Gardener by Nan Sterman (2018, Timber Press)

The Hot Garden: Landscape Design for the Desert Southwest by Scott Calhoun (2009, Rio Nuevo)

How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest, revised edition, by Jill Nokes (2001, University of Texas Press)

Hummelo: A Journey Through a Plantsman’s Life by Piet Oudolf and Noel Kingsbury (2015, The Monacelli Press)

Hummingbird Plants of the Southwest by Marcy Scott (2015, Rio Nuevo Publishers)

Indoor Plant Decor: The Design Stylebook for Houseplants by Kylee Baumle and Jenny Peterson (2013, St. Lynn’s Press)

Japanese Zen Gardens by Yoko Kawaguchi (2014, Aurum Publishing Group)

Landprints: The Landscape Designs of Bernard Trainor by Susan Heeger (2013, Princeton Architectural Press)

The Landscaping Revolution: Garden With Mother Nature, Not Against Her by Andy Wasowski and Sally Wasowski (2002, McGraw-Hill/Contemporary)

The Less Is More Garden: Big Ideas for Designing Your Small Yard by Susan Morrison (2018, Timber Press)

Let’s Care for Texas Plants by Colleen Dieter (2021, Colleen Dieter)

The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane, illustrated by Jackie Morris (2017, Anansi International)

The Monarch: Saving Our Most-Loved Butterfly by Kylee Baumle (2017, St. Lynn’s Press)

Mrs. Whaley and Her Charleston Garden by Emily Whaley in conversation with William Baldwin (1997, Algonquin Books)

Native and Adapted Landscape Plants: An Earthwise Guide for Central Texas by the City of Austin’s Grow Green Program (booklet updated regularly)

Native Texas Gardens: Maximum Beauty Minimum Upkeep by Sally Wasowski and Andy Wasowski (2003, Taylor Trade Publishing)

Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region, 2nd edition, by Sally Wasowski and Andy Wasowski (1997, Lone Star Books)

Natural Gardening in Small Spaces by Noel Kingsbury (2006, Timber Press)

New Garden Design: Inspiring Private Paradises by Zahid Sardar, photographs by Marion Brenner (2008, Gibbs Smith)

The New Low-Maintenance Garden: How to Have a Beautiful, Productive Garden and the Time to Enjoy It by Valerie Easton (2009, Timber Press)

The New Southern Living Garden Book: The Ultimate Guide to Gardening, edited by Steve Bender (2015, Oxmoor House)

The Nonstop Garden: A Step-by-Step Guide to Smart Plant Choices and Four-Season Designs by Stephanie Cohen & Jennifer Benner (2010, Timber Press)

Outside the Not So Big House: Creating the Landscape of Home by Julie Moir Messervy and Sarah Susanka (2006, Taunton Press)

Outstanding American Gardens: A Celebration: 25 Years of the Garden Conservancy by Page Dickey (2015, Stewart, Tabori and Chang)

Patio & Stone: A Sunset Design Guide by the editors of Sunset Books (2009, Sunset Books)

People with Dirty Hands: The Passion for Gardening by Robin Chotzinoff (1996, Wiley)

The Perennial Care Manual: A Plant-by-Plant Guide: What to Do & When to Do It by Nancy Ondra (2009, Storey Publishing)

Photographing Austin, San Antonio & the Texas Hill Country: Where to Find Perfect Shots and How to Take Them by Laurence Parent (2012, The Countryman Press)

Plant-Driven Design: Creating Gardens that Honor Plants, Place, and Spirit by Scott Ogden and Lauren Springer Ogden (2008, Timber Press)

Plants with Benefits: An Uninhibited Guide to the Aphrodisiac Herbs, Fruits, Flowers & Veggies in Your Garden by Helen Yoest (2014, St. Lynn’s Press)

Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West (2015, Timber Press)

The Pollinator Victory Garden: Win the War on Pollinator Decline with Ecological Gardening by Kim Eierman (2020, Quarry Books)

Potted: Make Your Own Stylish Garden Containers by Annette Goliti Gutierrez and Mary Gray (2017, Timber Press)

Private Gardens of the Pacific Northwest by Brian D. Coleman, with photographs by William Wright (2021, Gibbs Smith)

Private Gardens of Santa Barbara: The Art of Outdoor Living by Margie Grace (2020, Gibbs Smith)

Refresh Your Garden Design with Color, Texture & Form by Rebecca Sweet (2013, Horticulture Books)

The Roses at the End of the Road by Pat Leuchtman (2011, Fiftyshift.com)

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1911)

Secret Gardens of the Cotswolds: A Personal Tour of 20 Private Gardens by Victoria Summerley (2015, Quarto Publishing USA).

So You Want to Be a Garden Designer: How to Get Started, Grow, and Thrive in the Landscape Design Business by Love Albrecht Howard (2010, Timber Press)

Spirit of Place: The Making of a New England Garden by Bill Noble (2020, Timber Press)

The Spirit of Stone: 101 Practical & Creative Stonescaping Ideas for Your Garden by Jan Johnson (2017, St. Lynn’s Press)

Striking Succulent Gardens: Plants and Plans for Designing Your Low-Maintenance Landscape by Gabriel Frank (2021, Ten Speed Press)

Succulent Container Gardens: Design Eye-Catching Displays with 350 Easy-Care Plants by Debra Lee Baldwin (2010, Timber Press)

Succulents: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Designing, and Growing 200 Easy-Care Plants by Robin Stockwell (2017, Oxmoor House)

Succulents Simplified: Growing, Designing, and Crafting with 100 Easy-Care Varieties by Debra Lee Baldwin (2013, Timber Press)

Sugar Snaps and Strawberries: Simple Solutions for Creating Your Own Small-Space Edible Garden by Andrea Bellamy (2011, Timber Press)

Sunset Backyards for Kids: Playhouses, Sandboxes, Tree Forts, Swing Sets, Sports Areas, and More by the editors of Sunset Books (2008, Oxmoor House)

Sunset Big Ideas for Small Gardens: Featuring Dave Egbert’s Garden Notebook by the editors of Sunset Books (2007, Oxmoor House)

Sunset Hillside Landscaping: A Complete Guide to Successful Gardens on Sloping Ground by the editors of Sunset Books (2007, Oxmoor House)

Sunset Sheds & Garages: Building Ideas and Plans for Every Shape of Storage Structure by the editors of Sunset Books (2008, Oxmoor House)

Sunset Trellises & Arbors: Over 35 Step-by-step Projects You Can Build by the editors of Sunset Books (2008, Oxmoor House)

Sunset Walks, Walls & Patio Floors: Build with Brick, Stone, Pavers, Concrete, Tile and More by the editors of Sunset Books (2008, Oxmoor House)

Sunset Western Garden Book of Easy-Care Plantings: The Ultimate Guide to Low-Water Beds, Borders, and Containers by the editors of Sunset Books (2015, Oxmoor House)

Sunset Western Landscaping Book, 2006 edition, edited by Kathleen Norris Brenzel (2006, Oxmoor House)

Taming Wildflowers: Bringing the Beauty and Splendor of Nature’s Blooms into Your Own Backyard by Miriam Goldberger (2014, St. Lynn’s Press)

Texas Getting Started Garden Guide: Grow the Best Flowers, Shrubs, Trees, Vines & Groundcovers by Mary Irish (2013, Cool Springs Press)

Texas Month-by-Month Gardening: What to Do Each Month to Have a Beautiful Garden All Year by Robert “Skip” Richter (2014, Cool Springs Press)

Tomorrow’s Garden: Design and Inspiration for a New Age of Sustainable Gardening by Stephen Orr (2011, Rodale Books)

The Undaunted Garden: Planting for Weather-Resilient Beauty, 2nd edition, by Lauren Springer Ogden (2010, Fulcrum Publishing)

Under Western Skies: Visionary Gardens from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast by photographer Caitlin Atkinson and writer Jennifer Jewell (2021, Timber Press)

Uprooted: A Gardener Reflects on Beginning Again by Page Dickey (2020, Timber Press)

The View From Federal Twist: A New Way of Thinking About Gardens, Nature and Ourselves by James Golden (2021, Filbert Press)

Water Features for Small Gardens by Ethne Clarke (1998, Ward Lock Ltd)

Waterwise Plants for Sustainable Gardens: 200 Drought-Tolerant Choices for All Climates by Lauren Springer Ogden and Scott Ogden (2011, Timber Press)

Why Grow That When You Can Grow This? 255 Extraordinary Alternatives to Everyday Problem Plants by Andrew Keys (2012, Timber Press)

Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason (2018, Timber Press)

Windcliff: A Story of People, Plants, and Gardens by Daniel J. Hinkley, photographs by Claire Takacs (2020, Timber Press)

The World of Garden Design: Inspiring Ideas from Around the Globe to Your Backyard by Susan Dooley and the editors of Garden Design magazine (2000, Chronicle Books)

Yard Full of Sun: The Story of a Gardener’s Obsession that Got a Little Out of Hand by Scott Calhoun (2005, Rio Nuevo)

Yards: Turn Any Outdoor Space Into the Garden of Your Dreams by Billy Goodnick (2013, St. Lynn’s Press)