Introduction The purpose of this book is to show you how to build an integrated garden (including trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs, annuals, tropicals, edibles, and vines) with year-round interest--what we call a "nonstop garden." Nonstop gardens are better gardens because they require less maintenance, provide continual beauty, allow more creativity, and encourage diversity. We begin with the nuts and bolts, including easy design strategies, but quickly move on to plants, which when it comes down to it are what ultimately make or break the nonstop garden. After all, although elements such as ornaments, paths, and arbors play a big role, these little slices of heaven are mostly made up of plants. The great thing about plants being key players is that they can easily be changed. If a plant is not working, get rid of it. If a plant dies, no big deal--get a new one. If a plant flourishes, get another one. Part of the garden journey is trial and error. Of course, it always feels better if you win more than you lose. With that in mind, we offer chapters filled with plant recommendations based on our forty years of collective gardening experience. The plants we recommend are those we consider top-notch; all offer stunning beauty and require minimal maintenance. The plant entries provided throughout the book are headed by the plant's common name followed by the scientific name, starting with maple ( Acer species and cultivars) in chapter 3, "Trees and Shrubs." Each plant entry begins with information about hardiness zones, peak seasons, and the conditions required for the plant to grow well. The zones indicate the range in which you can expect plants in that particular genus or species to be cold hardy. For more information, see "Hardiness Zones" at the end of the book. The peak seasons refer to the timing of the plant's star performance. In the case of maples, these are listed as "Fall (foliage), winter (bark, stems)." This information is essential when choosing plants that you want to provide year-round interest. For your convenience we have also included lists of seasonal peak plant performance at the end of the book. Finally, in addition to describing recommended species and cultivars, each plant entry gives you a heads-up on any particulars you may want to know about cultivation as well as pests, diseases, or other problems the plant is likely (or unlikely) to face. When choosing plants, we highly recommend exploring native options--after all, these plants have been happily growing in our environment for thousands of years without any help from humans. As plantaholic gardeners, we also enjoy exotic plants, but only if they behave themselves. Always be mindful of invasive species, and know that not all plants play nicely in all parts of the world. Check your state listings before introducing a new plant to your garden. See "Invasive Plants" at the end of the book for a list of species to keep on your radar. To show you some choice plants in action, we have also included ten easy-to-follow garden designs: a winter garden, a wildlife garden, a native garden, a woodland garden, a cool-colored garden, a garden for wet sites, a gold-colored garden, a vibrant-colored garden, a scented garden, and a parking strip (or "inferno strip") garden. And we discuss the finishing touches, from ornamentation and containers to structures such as walkways, fences, trellises, and furniture, all of which create additional interest in the nonstop garden. Nonstop gardening is an approach that can be enjoyed by everyone. Whether you are new to gardening or have a seasoned green thumb, these practical pointers and plants will help heighten interest in any outdoor surrounding, big or small. Excerpted from The Nonstop Garden: A Step-by-Step Guide to Smart Plant Choices and Four-Season Designs by Stephanie Cohen, Jennifer Benner All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
