Timber Press Pocket Gd Ground Covers

Description

Weary of plain green turf grasses, boring brown wood chips, and high-maintenance yards, creative gardeners and homeowners are turning to colorful, reliable ground covers. Through their versatility and ease of maintenance, these plants substantially increase our enjoyment of the landscape while simultaneously smothering weeds. Ground covers unify unrelated elements, soften sharp angles, create mood, alter our perceptions of space, control erosion, reduce glare, and attract wildlife. Used in public and private spaces, they also function as foundation facers, hedges, accents, or filler between patio stones. More than 1000 readily available ground covers are profiled in this guide, accompanied by 320 photos. This authoritative yet reader-friendly account of gardenworthy ground covers for temperate climates is a valuable complement to MacKenzie's encyclopedic "Perennial Ground Covers" and a handy reference to take to the nursery or garden center.

David MacKenzie owns and operates Hortech in Spring Lake, Michigan - one of the country's largest and most progressive wholesale ground cover nurseries. By 1993, the business had 34 greenhouses on 15 acres. Hortech specializes in perennial ground covers, grasses, and vines, distributing them throughout Michigan and other states. When he was just out of college, David discovered and registered the new Ottawa weeping white pine in a homeowner's backlot. He has since reproduced the tree using the grafting method. He has been hybridizing, photographing, researching, lecturing on ground covers, and generally creating plant magic since 1983. David has written several articles for American Nurseryman. He also speaks about landscape photography, native plants, and plant research and ecology, as well as his love of ground covers and gardening in Michigan (zone 5). His audiences includes master gardeners, serious amateur gardeners, landscape contractors, designers, architects, and horticulture educators. He also has many athletic hobbies including fishing, hunting, tennis, volleyball, water-skiing, skiing, and basketball.

David MacKenzie's top-notch expertise on groundcovers is now readily available to everyone in this handy, pocket-sized book. -- Jane Berger Garden Design Online 20060717 This pocket guide is small enough to tote to the nursery, and with photos on every page, even beginning gardeners will find it useful. -- Marianne Binetti Seattle Post-Intelligencer 20061127 Mackenzie, a Michigan author and nurseryman, has put together this fantastic easy to use reference that describes more than a 1,000 perennials for those who want to create an easy-care masterpiece. Accompanied by 320 photographs, the reader-friendly text includes extensive cultivation notes along with design suggestions. -- Nancy Szerlag Detroit News 20061209 This is a concise, informative publication recommended for both the novice and the more experienced amateur gardener. -- Rachael Green American Reference Books Annual 20070101 David MacKenzie's pocket guide ... is an authoritative yet reader-friendly account of gardenworthy plants. Michigan Gardener 20070401 A handy, current reference for ground covers. ... I recommend it. -- Valerie Easton Seattle Times 20070808