Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Native plant specialist Steiner (the Landscaping with Native Plants of series) explains how to capture the essence of the prairie in any landscape in this accessible, attractive, and comprehensive guide. The American prairie is unique to North America and integral to the balance of an ecosystem that includes plants, bees, butterflies, and essential microscopic organisms, and Steiner defines the differences in prairie ecosystems and offers in-depth descriptions of their plant populations. She guides readers through creating both large-scale prairies ecosystems and prairie plants on small urban lots that adhere to zoning codes. The book is lavishly illustrated, containing a treasure of prairie flowers and grasses, common and scientific names, growth habits, silting needs, maintenance, companion uses, and other helpful information. The usual climate zone map and sourcing aids complete a valuable book certain to attract eco-minded gardeners. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by Library Journal Review
Gardeners will find this well-illustrated book a manageable introduction to incorporating native plants and prairie-style features into their gardens. Steiner (contributor, Northern Gardener; Landscaping with Native Plants of Wisconsin) encourages all gardeners to incorporate as many native plants as possible into their gardening, but he is realistic about the amount of work required for a large-scale restoration. This book is aimed at anyone creating less than a quarter-acre of prairie-style garden, but it offers suggestions for additional reading and lists online databases for further research. The book begins with an introduction to all types of prairies, though the focus is generally on tall-grass prairies. Practical information includes the steps required to create a prairie-style garden and how to incorporate prairie plants into other types of garden landscapes. Particularly helpful is a section on how to introduce prairie-style gardens to wary neighbors. VERDICT A friendly and accessible guide to creating a natural prairie-style garden that will be most useful to city or suburban gardeners in the American Midwest.-Margaret Heller, Chicago (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
