The Woodchuck S Guide To Gardening

RRon Krupp is a master of gardening and storytelling. "The Woodchuck's Guide to Gardening" is a critical resource for beginning and experienced gardners who need seasoned, practical ideas. Ron has a deep respect for the power of the seed, and the importance of healthy soil. He shares his lessons through poetry, wit, and prose.S--Enid Wonnacott, executive director of the Northeast Farming Association of Vermont.

"This seasoned Vermont gardener delivers all manner of subjects related to, and details on, gardening in a book unlike most any other you've probably read. In a style similar to the other two prior books of his "Woodchuck Gardener's Trilogy", he groups topics and plants through the seasons, interspersed with his brand of humor and art and quotes he has found relevant and inspiring. If you're a gardener in the Green Mountain State, or similar climate, you're bound to pick up some tips or different views on diverse topics from composting to climate change, from pesticides to poetry to publications to pollinators." Dr. Leonard Payne Perry - Horticulture Professor Emeritus, University of Vermont "This insightful and inspiring book materializes just as people are re-awakening to the need for community-based food solutions and the healing power of gardening. Interweaving wit, poetry and good old natural observation, Ron provides us with a much needed tonic for times of great change." Libby Weiland - Statewide Network Coordinator, Vermont Community Garden Network "Ron Krupp has been part of the garden fabric of Vermont for decades and his new book illustrates the depth and breadth of his gardening knowledge. But Ron is more than a gardening expert. He weaves in poetry, stories, and profiles of gardening friends to create a rich tapestry of people and plants. His seasonal gardening notes over the years highlight his observations of the changing world we live in and the native plants and animals he's grown to love. His passion for environmentally friendly gardening practices and concerns about global warming shine through, always with an underlying love and wonder about the Natural world." Charlie Nardozzi - Host of The Vermont Garden Journal and Author

Whether seeking a secluded jog or an adventurous outing, residents and tourists alike will find this handsome guide indispensable for finding oases away from the noise of the city.

The glaciers that advanced and then receded through the Great Lakes region shaped Michigan's terrain and soil in ways that challenge and sometimes confound modern-day gardeners. Michigan today has 450 varieties of soil! Before they can garden successfully, Michigan gardeners need to know what soil they have and how to address its shortcomings—and do that within the limitations of the state's climate and northern growing season. This book explains how Michigan gardeners can lengthen their growing seasons through careful plant selection, exploiting microclimates, and using season-extending products. Chapters focus on lawns, vegetables, flowers, and trees, plant diseases, and invasive plants. Author Rita C. Henehan lives in White Pigeon, Michigan. She is a Master Gardener and frequent contributor to garden publications coast to coast, and often appears on the radio program “Green Thumbs Up.”

Here is a book to enhance our appreciation of the small citizens of the world and to introduce us to the neighbors we never knew we had, from spotted salamanders to meadow voles, from snowy tree crickets to ambrosia beetles, all living within steps of your door. “If there is grass and a few scraggling trees, there will be wildlife,” suggests John Hanson Mitchell, an internationally recognized naturalist and advocate for tuning your senses to the wonders of your environment. Whether your yard consists of a small stretch of grass or a rambling mix of forest and field, Mitchell will introduce you to the wealth of plants, insects, and animals that share your corner of the world. Learn how the behavior at the birdfeeder mirrors that of the wild woods; get an inside view of the rich ecology of the woodpile; learn why you might want to welcome a skunk into your garden. In short, you’ll get to know the neighbors you never knew you had who make their homes all around yours. With wisdom and humor, this book reacquaints you with the denizens of your own local habitat.

The book is organized according to the various mammalian orders (insectivores, bats, pouched mammals, rabbits and hares, whales, and so on) under which the species accounts are given. Each species account contains concise information about identifying characteristics, geographical range, habitat, natural history, and additional factors such as longevity and economic significance. Complementing this text are more than two hundred illustrations, which include photographs, drawings, and range maps. An eight-page selection of color plates is an especially attractive feature of the book. In addition to the species accounts, the book's introductory sections are filled with fascinating general information on southeastern mammalogy: the study of mammals, mammal conservation, the southeastern region and mammal affinities, and the preservation of mammal specimens. A checklist of southeastern mammals, a key to the terrestrial orders, and a bibliography of selected references further enhance the usefulness of this guide.