from Yard Art
by Virginia Clifford Anders
May 2007

Every April, on the grounds of the Carnegie Library in downtown Phoenix, my sister Linda and I go to the AZ Book Festival.  The gathering includes published authors, publishing companies, writers’ groups, and organizations such as the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues, Discovery Toys, and various bookstores. We love meeting authors and buying their books from them directly.

This year I bought Cheap and Easy Gardening by Bernice Boughner and Mary Young. Mary, who lives in Prescott, signed my copy and talked with us for awhile. Bernice lives in Michigan, helps people plan their gardens, and landscapes homes for Habitat for Humanity.  They wrote their book for people who don’t spend most of their free time digging in the dirt, but still want a nice-looking yard.

The chapter titles show their straight-forward style: So what do you want from me?; Is it dirt or is it soil?; Two things every garden must have; yard chemicals 101; Free plants are our favorite; The birds and bees and other critters’; Toolin’ around…
           
About compost, for instance: any salad greens work well; tomato seeds won’t sprout in compost but cantaloupe will. The authors tell a complete story of composting, from the complex to the simple approach. For that matter, compost ties in to their instructions about the microclimate of your own yard. Paying attention to the condition of your soil (or dirt) becomes a key to the success of your gardening projects. Either work with the plants your soil likes, or change the composition of it to prepare for something non-native.   
           
How much sun does your planting area get? I learned from the book that six or more hours of direct sun is considered full sun. About four hours a day describes part sun, and two or fewer hours of direct sun a day defines shade.
           
Do you know whether or not your lot contains any slope to it? If it does, make use of it by choosing plants accordingly – those that take more water need to live at the lowest part of the slope.
           
Chapters on perennials, annuals, and bulbs each include a detailed chart of where best to plant them, how much sun and water each needs, the common and Latin names for each plant, how deep the planting hole needs to be, and the colors of their flowers.
           
I’ve always avoided planting roses. I’ve heard the stories of how much work they take. The authors quote the well-known horticulturist, Felder Rushing about roses: “Roses grow and thrive in graveyards. If the dead can do it, so can you.” I don’t know about you, but I felt much more confidence in experimenting with growing roses after reading that. Of course, they follow that opening with a wealth of practical guidance on adding that most iconic flower to the plan.
           
Just this much information gives any gardener a better start than simply planting begonias in the corner of the lot because you want them there. In other words, reading a book such as this one can make the difference between investing time, money, and energy successfully, and simply digging in the dirt.
           
I have happily added “Cheap and Easy” to my growing list (no pun intended) of gardening books, websites, and other resources at home. Any books or sources you want to share with your neighbors, let me know!