What could be more satisfying than creating a meal with home-grown edible flowers? Author Cathy Wilkinson Barash, in her book Edible Flowers: From Garden to Palate (Fulcrum, 1995) tempts the reader with sweet and savory recipes that feature fresh flowers. Barash goes far beyond a mere sprinkling of nasturtiums in a summer salad to include recipes for lilac chicken, bee balm ice cream and dandelion eggs. For each flower featured the descriptions include botanical, historical and growing information plus color photos of the plant and many of the recipes. The last chapter is perhaps most important because it gives the “ten rules of edible flowers,” explaining precautions that must be taken before a person starts eating flowers.
Archives: Book Reviews
Reviews of recommended books by Miller Library staff and volunteers.
Garden Design Illustrated
John A. and Carol L. Grant’s “Garden Design Illustrated” is a historical gem. This husband and wife team is better known for “Trees and Shrubs for Pacific Northwest Gardens”, first published in 1948 with help from the Arboretum Foundation. But their 1954 design book is perhaps more relevant today, teaching time-honored basics that haven’t become outdated.
Excerpted from the Spring 2007 Arboretum Bulletin.
The Garden Art of China
For an immersion course in Chinese gardens, look to native landscape architect and historian Chen Lifang and “The Garden Art of China.” Expertly translated by botanist Yu Sianglin, this is one of the richest introductions — filled with plans, sketches, design principles, and many, many examples — to any art form imaginable.
Excerpted from the Spring 2007 Arboretum Bulletin.
Japanese-Style Gardens of the Pacific West Coast
“From the first the Japanese garden — whether in Kyoto or Kansas City — has stood as a tangible antithesis to Western values.” Working from that premise, Kendall H. Brown profiles “Japanese-Style Gardens of the Pacific West Coast” , including our own. The 20 gardens — all open to the public — are enticingly presented by Melba Levick’s photographs.
Excerpted from the Spring 2007 Arboretum Bulletin.
Going Native: Making Use of New Zealand Plants
“Going Native: Making Use of New Zealand Plants” combines the expertise of several kiwi botanists, ecologists and horticulturists. Aimed at a New Zealand audience, it is still well worth a read by Cascadia gardeners, especially the more daring.
Excerpted from the Spring 2007 Arboretum Bulletin.
This Rambling Affair: A Year in a Country Garden
Des Kennedy shares from the heart in “This Rambling Affair: A Year in a Country Garden,” set on Denman Island in British Columbia. He knows his audience. “Gardeners are like people who endlessly take self-help courses and seminars to try make things better. We are chronic improvers, not necessarily of ourselves, but certainly of our landscapes…”
Excerpted from the Spring 2007 Arboretum Bulletin.
Wild Lilies, Irises, and Grasses: Gardening with California Monocots
A who’s who of experts collaborated on “Wild Lilies, Irises, and Grasses: Gardening with California Monocots.” You ask, is nothing safe from invading Californians? Perhaps not, but many of these showy plants already have Pacific Northwest residency. Our collection includes this title and others from the Golden State with relevancy for our part of the coast.
Excerpted from the Spring 2007 Arboretum Bulletin.
Wetland Plants of Oregon & Washington
“Wetland Plants of Oregon & Washington” is a smart little guide perfect for taking into the field with its water resistant cover and handy size. Author B. Jennifer Guard’s use of photographs, line drawings, plant and habitat descriptions, keys, and notes makes this a most effective book for plant identification.
Excerpted from the Spring 2007 Arboretum Bulletin.
Plant This!
“Fall is tough on the vocabulary of a garden writer. I don’t think I have another riotous, spectacular, or gorgeous left…” But Ketzel Levine does find her unique voice in “Plant This!,” an often wacky but insightful review of favorites from her Portland garden.
Excerpted from the Spring 2007 Arboretum Bulletin.
The Neighborhood Forager
Robert Henderson dedicates “Neighborhood Forager” to Euell Gibbons, “…who invented the genre that sustains me, literally and figuratively.” This handbook for living from nature is based on the author’s considerable experience harvesting and using the native and naturalized plants near his home in Rosedale, British Columbia.
Excerpted from the Sprng 2007 Arboretum Bulletin.