Synopses & Reviews
The secret is out: cooler-zone gardeners are discovering that with a little wintertime TLC, plants that have long been considered "annuals" can thrive for many years. These plants -- including geraniums, gladioli, dahlias, begonias, rosemary, lavender, and even impatiens -- aren't annuals at all. Rather, they are tender perennials. Not hardy enough to survive winter on their own, they can be moved indoors during the cold months, and then returned to the garden in spring. Many are even more beautiful in their second and third years!
Bulbs in the Basement, Geraniums on the Windowsill by Alice McGowan and Brian McGowan, is the first comprehensive resource on the care and maintenance of tender plants. In this zone-defying guide, readers will find simple techniques for overwintering, followed by 160 detailed plant profiles. Profiles include individualized advice for overwintering and indoor care. The growing advice is clear and time tested; the authors themselves spent decades introducing and nurturing tender plants at the renowned Blue Meadow Farm Nursery in Montague, Massachusetts.
From familiar snapdragons to the more exotic bush morning glory (a woody vine whose fragrant white blooms will cheer any indoor setting in late winter), tender perennials are appealing to a wide and diverse audience -- perennial pros looking to expand their plant palettes, container gardeners hoping to create a more colorful indoor landscape during the cold months, and thrifty gardeners of all skill levels. Both inspirational and practical, Bulbs in the Basement, Geraniums on the Windowsill will revolutionize perennial gardening, allowing enthusiastic growers in any location to enjoy their favorite plants year after year.
Review
"This is a neat, easy-to-read manual, with full-color pictures of some of the most popular tender perennials" - The Sunday Journal Sentinel
Synopsis
Cooler-zone gardeners are discovering that with a little wintertime care, plants that have long been considered "annuals" can thrive for years. These plants -- including geraniums, gladioli, dahlias, begonias, rosemary, lavender, snapdragons, and even impatiens -- aren't annuals at all. Rather, they are tender perennials. They aren't hardy enough to survive winter on their own, but they can be moved indoors during the cold months and then returned to the garden in spring. Many are even more beautiful in their second and third years!
Synopsis
Tender Plants for Hardy Perennial Gardens
Enjoy many of your favorite plants season after season by bringing them indoors for the winter. Plant by plant and step by step, the McGowans show you how to rescue more than 160 tender perennials from the killing cold. With a little indoor care, your plants will be healthy and ready for repeat appearances in the garden come spring.
About the Author
For 18 years, Alice and Brian McGowan owned and operated Blue Meadow Farm, a specialty nursery that was well known for its selection of unusual tender plants. Brian is now the assistant director of horticulture at Wave Hill and Alice is a freelance garden writer. The couple lives in Hyde Park, New York.
For 18 years, Alice and Brian McGowan owned and operated Blue Meadow Farm, a specialty nursery that was well known for its selection of unusual tender plants. Brian is now the assistant director of horticulture at Wave Hill and Alice is a freelance garden writer. The couple lives in Hyde Park, New York.
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