With the official start of spring just one week away, I wanted to continue sharing helpful gardening resources with you so you can be armed with lots of information and tips to start the gardening season off strong. Today, I’m reviewing and hosting a giveaway for a fantastic resource on shrubs and hedges. This is a newly published book written by Eva Monheim. It’s a practical, ordinary person’s guide to choosing, planting, and caring for the world’s most popular plants, shrubs and hedges. Personally, I love having them in my yard and garden. They add so much beauty and color and are a bee’s paradise. Read on to learn about my favorites and how you to can add shrubs & hedges to your garden plan this year and enter the giveaway!
My All Time Favorite Shrub- Lilac!
This is a sponsored post on behalf Quarto Knows Publishing. I received information to facilitate today’s post as well as a promotional copy of Shrubs & Hedges book to thank me for my participation. All opinions and love of gardening are my own.
One of my fondest early childhood memories was playing among the line of large Lilacs on the side of my Grandparents house. It was my sanctuary and anytime I couldn’t be found, adults and kids alike new to check the Lilacs for me. Blooming or not, this line of shrubs was my absolute favorite place to play and hide away and pretend. This must have been when my love of shrubs, hedges and fence-line blooms began and that makes me so happy to think about.
My New Favorite Shrub- Rose of Sharon!
Until we bought our current home with land, I didn’t know about the Rose of Sharon Shrub. I’d admired the pretty blooms I saw in yards on our country roads drives, but that was the extent of my knowledge. I Fast forward a decade plus, and I’ve been the happy owner of two huge Rose of Sharon shrubs. I researched how to care for them and found these gorgeous shrubs aren’t roses at all. They’re part of the Hibiscus family and are native to Asia and India. When in bloom, they are a haven for hummingbirds, all sorts of bee’s, butterflies, moths and more.
Another shrub I have growing in profusion in my southern flowerbeds are from Asia as well. They beloved Azalea.
Last but not least Favorite Shrub- Azalea’s!
Another shrub I have growing in profusion in my southern flowerbeds are from Asia as well. They beloved Azalea. I think every southern gardener and yard has at least one of these shrubs. Azalea’s are part of the Rhododendron family and love warm weather climates.
Monheim.
This book is for homeowners, landscapers, and everyone in between. If you need an easy to read and understand guide to choosing, planting and caring for these versatile plants, this book is for you!
Shrubs & Hedges eliminates the ambiguities of shrub selection and care by offering:
- Advice on how to pick the best shrubs for your growing conditions.
- Plant profiles of both dependable classic shrubs and new rising stars.
- Step by step propagation instructions for making more shrubs- for free!
- Shrub identification tips.
- A lesson on the value of hedges and hedgerows.
- The best shrubs for pollinators and other wildlife.
- Pruning illustrations and tips to maximize shrub performance and health.
- Tips for designing shrubs.
My Thoughts:
I smiled as I read the authors introduction to this book, because it brought back such fond memories of playing at my Grandparents home. Not just in my beloved Lilacs either. I recall slow walks up the street holding the hand of my walking partner and fully enjoying the sights, scents and sounds of that time. Long hedgerows of roses and laurels abound, and I can still call them to mind, much like Eva does.
The photos in the book are beautiful! Some are of public gardens, many that I haven’t visited, so I started dreaming of being able to take garden destination vacations! Some dream of beaches, I dream of gardens.
I’m reading about propagation of shrubs. I’m hoping to get good starter shrubs to plant along the pond area to help abate erosion and give wildlife and birds more places to live.
Bring on the Pollenators!
I’m paying close attention to this section of the book because I’ve heard local bee keepers say their honey bee populations are on the decline. I have the space to make pollinator havens above and beyond my flowering shrubs near the house, and hope to see my rough draft design ideas become a reality this growing season.
The Take-Away:
Overall, I find this book to be easy to read and understand. Granted, there is always a learning curve with new concepts, but I do agree that Shrubs & Hedges would help a person just starting out, while also holding the attention of an avid gardener. It’s a fantastic gardening and landscaping resource I’m happy to own. You can own it too by visiting Quarto.com, where you can learn more about the author Eva Monheim and purchase a copy. I’m sure your local bookstore has it in stock as well.
Win It:
Thanks to today’s sponsor, Quarto Knows, one lucky reader will receive a paperback copy of Shrubs & Hedges by Eva Monheim. Please read the terms below and the enter to win. Please feel free to share this giveaway with all your friends and family. Thank you!
Terms:
No purchase is necessary to enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to United States residents. My WAHM Plan is not responsible for prize fulfillment, sponsor is. Winners will be notified by email used on entry form and have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. This giveaway is not associated with nor endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, or any other social channel.
Good luck!
Please share in comments: How many shrubs do you have in your yard right now? Do you know what kind they are?
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