A child's garden of books

This lovely image is from "Alpenblumenmärche" ("Alpine Flower Fairy Tales"). It is a German book of poems written and illustrated by Ernst Kreidolf in 1922 that highlights specific Alpine flowers and seasons.

If you wander into the Lenhardt Library at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe between Friday and Feb. 2, you may come across it as part of an exhibit of 11 rare 19th- and 20th-Century children's books about nature and plants from Germany, Italy, Sweden, Czech Republic, Argentina, Australia and France. There will be a free talk on the subject December 13 at 2 p.m.

In the summertime, there's too much to see outdoors at the garden for many of us to spend time indoors. But winter is a perfect time to check out indoor exhibits and talks.

Which is all just an excuse to reproduce a pretty picture.

Got a garden question? I recommend you call or e-mail the Plant Clinic of The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, the Master Gardeners of the University of Illinois Extension or the Plant Information Service of the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe .

All contents of this post are copyright Beth Botts. Feel free to link or share a brief excerpt with a link, but please do not reproduce photos or any other part of this blog without my express permission.

Good book on garden how-to

Got a new book I really like: "The American Horticultural Society New Encyclopedia of Gardening Techniques" (published by Mitchell Beazley, 480 pages, $45).

One of its best features is the many detailed, step-by-step line drawings showing exactly how to do things from nicking the coat of a seed before planting to digging a new bed, planting a moss-lined basket or espaliering a cherry tree. The projects range from brand-new beginner (planting a pot) to pretty far gone (building a greenhouse).

This is not entirely organic gardening. There are some recommendations for judicious and limited use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. But the emphasis is where it should be: On nourishing soil and keeping plants healthy to prevent pest problems rather than reflexively reaching for poison sprays. There's good advice for reducing the area of lawns and individual advice for the major vegetables.

Despite the name, this is an adaptation of a British book. With many books that's a danger sign; English authors have no clue what "winter" means in Chicago, for example, and can lead an American gardener dangerously astray. But this book has been thoroughly adapted to American conditions and it seems trustworthy to me.

Got a garden question? I recommend you call or e-mail the Plant Clinic of The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, the Master Gardeners of the University of Illinois Extension or the Plant Information Service of the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe .

All contents of this post are copyright Beth Botts. Feel free to link or share a brief excerpt with a link, but please do not reproduce photos or any other part of this blog without my express permission.