Designing Gardens with Flora of the American East, Revised and Expanded

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Pub Date Feb 16 2024 | Archive Date Mar 07 2024

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Description

As recent years have seen alarming declines of insect and bird populations in many states, more gardeners have discovered the importance of including native plants in order to nurture these pollinators and sustain local ecosystems. But when so many popular landscaping designs involve exotic cultivars and invasive plant species, how can you create a garden that is both aesthetically pleasing and ecologically responsible? 
 
In this fully revised second edition of the classic guide Designing Gardens with Flora of the American East, gardening expert Carolyn Summers draws on the most recent research on sustainable landscaping. She is joined in this edition by her daughter, landscape designer Kate Brittenham, offering an intergenerational dialogue about the importance of using indigenous plants that preserve insect and bird habitats. The practical information they provide is equally useful for home gardeners and professionals, including detailed descriptions of keystone trees, shrubs, perennials, vines, and grasses that are native to the eastern United States. Accompanied by entirely new illustrations and updated plant lists, they offer chic yet eco-friendly landscape designs fully customized for different settings, from suburban yards to corporate office parks.

The states covered in this book are CT, DE, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, VA, VT, WI, and WV, as well as southern Quebec and Ontario. 

As recent years have seen alarming declines of insect and bird populations in many states, more gardeners have discovered the importance of including native plants in order to nurture these...


Advance Praise

"Designing Gardens with Flora of the American East is the most complete publication on the practical challenges associated with native plant gardening and fills this need very well for eastern gardeners. What Carolyn Summers tells us about indigenous plants and wildlife is critical to our sustainable future."

~Douglas Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants

"This book is a must-have for anyone interested in the natural history of eastern native plants and their use in gardens. The author combines thorough research with a clear, thoughtful viewpoint gleaned from her own personal experience. Very well written, it is an enjoyable read as well as a valuable tool for garden designers."

  ~Darrin Duling, Former Director, The Native Plant Center

"Beautifully illustrated, Designing Gardens with Flora of the American East approaches landscape design from an ecological perspective, encouraging professional designers and backyard enthusiasts alike to intensify their use of indigenous or native plants. Emphasizing the importance of indigenous plant gardening and landscape design, Summers provides guidelines for beginning gardeners as well as experienced designers."

~New York Flora Association Newsletter

"Chock full of interesting facts and figures, Summers approaches design through the lens of ecology making the book unique in its approach and very relevant to anyone creating native gardens for a living."

~Ecological Landscaping Association Newsletter

“This has been among my go-to books since its first publication for its trustworthy information. Carolyn Summers is an authority on native plants of the east and shares her extensive knowledge to enlighten us about the benefits of these critical species. Now she is joined by her daughter, Kate Brittenham, reaching a new generation with exciting graphics that bring fresh insight into sustainable gardening.”

~Carol Capobianco, Director, The Native Plant Center

"Designing Gardens with Flora of the American East is the most complete publication on the practical challenges associated with native plant gardening and fills this need very well for eastern...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781978833630
PRICE $27.95 (USD)
PAGES 318

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Featured Reviews

This is an incredibly comprehensive book on why to use native plants in your garden and on your property, along with copious amounts of information on how to do it and what plants to use for what purposes. I loved all the photos of examples and appreciated that she also had information for commercial properties, fields, swamps, ponds, shaded areas, condos and much more. Very well done.

I read a temporary digital copy of this book for review.

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