Gardeners may be familiar with the terms naturescaping, xerioscaping, invasive species, and native plant landscaping but what do they really mean? And where can you find out more information about them? MHL and the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium have robust gardening collections and events that can help to educate and guide you. Check out a selection of our books about native plants, invasive species, and naturescaping for New England.
For more help finding gardening books or resources on other topics, please contact the Reference Desk at 978-623-8430 or rdesk@mhl.org.
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Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants
by C. Colston Burrell 635.951 BUR - Ground Floor The biggest enemy of any garden is not a pest, disease, or poison—it’s any plant with tougher survival skills than the plants it competes with. The best way to weed out the invaders is with this fiendishly clever guide to native plants that can seek and destroy the top 100 most unwelcome perennials, grasses, vines, shrubs, and trees. While replacing the invaders, the beautiful, hardy native plants described here also attract native birds and butterflies, while turning away their own enemy invaders. Word-and-picture guides provide tips on care and maintenance, while helpful “at a glance” boxes depict shapes, sizes, best locations, and most attractive features of each native alternative. |
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Designing gardens with flora of the American East
by Carolyn Summers Owned in MVLC From Maine to Kentucky and up and down the East Coast, Designing Gardens with Flora of the American East lays the "gardenwork" for protecting natural areas through the thoughtful planting of indigenous plants. Finally we can bask in the knowledge that it is possible to have loads of fun at the same time we are growing a better world. |
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Easy care native plants : a guide to selecting and using beautiful American flowers, shrubs, and trees in gardens and landscapes
by Patricia A. Taylor Owned in MVLC A gardening book profiling eleven gardens across the United States features detailed descriptions of more than five hundred different plants, along with individual sections on trees, shrubs, ground covers, wall climbers, bulbs, annuals, grasses, and perennials. 10,000 first printing. |
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Beyond the war on invasive species : a permaculture approach to ecosystem restoration
by Tao Orion 631.58 ORI - Ground Floor Beyond the War on Invasive Species offers a much-needed alternative perspective on invasive species and the best practices for their management based on a holistic, permaculture-inspired framework. Utilizing the latest research and thinking on the changing nature of ecological systems, Beyond the War on Invasive Species closely examines the factors that are largely missing from the common conceptions of invasive species, including how the colliding effects of climate change, habitat destruction, and changes in land use and management contribute to their proliferation. Beyond the War on Invasive Species demonstrates that there is more to the story of invasive species than is commonly conceived, and offers ways of understanding their presence and ecosystem effects in order to make more ecologically responsible choices in land restoration and biodiversity conservation that address the root of the invasion phenomenon. The choices we make on a daily basis―the ways we procure food, shelter, water, medicine, and transportation―are the major drivers of contemporary changes in ecosystem structure and function; therefore, deep and long-lasting ecological restoration outcomes will come not just from eliminating invasive species, but through conscientious redesign of these production systems. |
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Grow native : bringing natural beauty to your garden
by Lynn M. Steiner Owned in MVLC You don't have to compromise beauty for natural landscapes with ecological responsibility and sustainability. In master gardener Lynn Steiner's book Grow Native, you'll find guidance for planting stunning gardens using native species that support your local ecosystem. Organized in an easily accessible way, the book offers instructions for planting, maintenance instructions, helpful tips about soil, watering and fertilizing as well as gorgeous photography. With guidance about how to weave native plants into your landscape and replacing common ornamentals with natural plants, this book should have a place on every gardener's bookshelf. |
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Armitage's native plants for North American gardens
by A. M. Armitage 635.9 ARM - Ground Floor A leading horticulturalist touts the benefits of using native North American plants in one's home garden, describing more than 630 species and cultivars of perennials, biennials, and annuals native to the United States and furnishing essential data on habitat, hardiness, correct garden sites, cultivation, maintenance, and propagation. |
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Native trees, shrubs, & vines : a guide to using, growing, and propagating North American woody plants
by William Cullina 635.977 CUL - Ground Floor A comprehensive, illustrated reference covering nearly one thousand native woody plants discusses the benefits of using such trees, shrubs, and vines in ecological gardening to provide food and shelter to attract birds and butterflies and offers helpful instructions on how to select, cultivate, and propagate a variety of native species. |
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Two percent solutions for the planet : 50 low-cost, low-tech, nature-based practices for combatting hunger, drought, and climate change
by Courtney White 363.7 WHI - Ground Floor Presents techniques designed to soak up carbon dioxide in soils, lower energy use, sustainably intensify food production, and increase water quality, outlining true stories that describe the success of these methods |
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How to eradicate invasive plants
by Teri Dunn Chace 635.9 DUN - Ground Floor Identifies two hundred of the most common invasive plants, including bog plants, herbaceous perennials, and shrubs, and offers guidance on selecting the safest and most responsible eradication options |
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Planting in a post-wild world : designing plant communities for resilient landscapes
by Thomas Rainer 635.9 RAI - Ground Floor Two leaders in ecological-landscape design offer tips, instructions and practical advice for creating beautiful and diverse gardens and landscapes that function in the same way as naturally occurring plant communities. Illustrations. |
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Where do camels belong? : the story and science of invasive species
by Ken Thompson 578.62 THO - Ground Floor Argues for a shift in the way invasive species are viewed and managed, looks at why so few introduced species succeed, and considers whether the ungrounded fear of alien species could be hindering biodiversity conservation efforts. |