Peter Ladner writes The Urban Food Revolution from the perspective of a policy maker–he was a two-term City Councillor in Vancouver, B.C.–and a journalist. This is not a gardening book or even an urban farming book, but it does examine issues that impact food production and distribution in an urban setting with the goal of telling policymakers “…what they can do to improve access to healthy food for all the people they represent.” Subjects addressed include food deserts, childhood obesity, designing new developments with urban farming options, and the safety of locally raised food.
Excerpted from the Winter 2013 Arboretum Bulletin.
Robert and Hannah Litt own the Urban Farm Store in Portland and wrote 
Hulda Klager (1863-1960) was a Pacific Northwest pioneer. This Woodland, Washington farm wife survived numerous hardships, but is best remembered for the wonderful collection of lilacs she hybridized and introduced in the first half of the 20th century, and the garden now open to the public that displays those lilacs. The historical novel “Where Lilacs Still Bloom” by Jane Kirkpatrick is largely an accurate biography, with only minor liberties taken to amalgamate some of the real life personalities in Klager’s life.
George Bingham is based in Olympia and had been engaged in bonsai for about nine years when “What I’ve Learned from Bonsai” was published in 2008. This very personal book shares his observation about both the art of bonsai and the life lessons he has gained while working with his plants and living with multiple sclerosis.
The grandparent of all gardening books for the Pacific Northwest and rest of the west remains the “Sunset Western Garden Book.” Now in its new, ninth edition, the proven encyclopedic formula, along with essays, extensive plant selection lists for specific needs, and the much valued Sunset climate zones (all updated) continue to make this a must on any western gardener’s shelf. The main addition since the last edition of 2007 is photographs in the encyclopedia–a nice update!
Consider “The Intimate Garden” for very detailed examples of highly individualized garden spaces, with an emphasis on hardscape and ornaments. While both author Brian Coleman and photographer William Wright are from Seattle and the gardens are mostly on the west coast, examples from the east coast and even England are included, making this a very diverse selection of design styles and plant material.
Valerie Easton’s “Petal & Twig”, tells how to find a source of material for flower arranging in your own garden. If–like me–you’ve ever struggled with getting your home arrangements just right, Easton will loosen you up and give you permission to just go for it, and open your eyes to more possibilities than you ever imagined a few feet from your back door. “After all, you’re crafting performance art that changes hour by hour, day by day, as buds open, petals drop, and flowers droop. Imperfection engages us in the creative process.”
“When Debra and David began interviewing and photographing people who grow and arrange fresh, seasonal flowers for local markets, I knew they were documenting a new movement…you could call it the slow flower movement.” This quote, by Amy Stewart from the Foreword of “The 50 Mile Bouquet,” well summarizes this forward-looking book by Debra Prinzing and David Perry, which leaves you with a wider perspective and appreciation of fresh cut flowers and other greenery. This is in sharp contrast to the international florist industry, making Stewart’s 2007 book about that industry, “Flower Confidential,” a good companion reading (Stewart–who lives in Eureka, California–almost qualifies as a local author).