WHAT GROWS HERE is a basic "how
to" gardening book, and yet has all the analysis and research typical of a PhD thesis. This book focuses on Northern California "mountain gardening" between 2-7,000 feet elevation, where growing seasons are short and winters are cold. This area includes Mixed Conifer and Ponderosa Pine zones up to the Red Fir zone, but may also be helpful
for people in borderline areas such as the Foothill Digger Pine type. It
could also be used in similar areas that have snow. There are many illustrations
of pen and ink drawings, charts, diagrams, maps, and poems. This book should
be especially informative and fun for newcomers to the area, either green
or brown thumb, professional or layman.
When I first moved to Lake Almanor, California in 1972 with my husband, Tom, and our four-week-old baby girl, --- our first priority was to plant a vegetable garden. I was on a quest to find out "what grows here?". How can any plant survive through the winter with cold temperatures and snow? I had a Master's Degree in Botany (Plant Ecology), but needed to learn more about what grows in this new area. Books, people, college classes, nurseries, the Chester Garden Club, and my garden, taught me what I needed to know.
In 1984 I started the book by making plant lists and writing introductory chapters. Then I collected all the appropriate information for the "how-to" chapters. I finished by drawing illustrations to demonstrate the "how-to" procedures, and to enhance the book.
How did I find out what plants grow here? I studied the plants listed in the resource books. I noticed that most plants growing in Northern California between 2-7,000 feet elevation were categorized as being in USDA Zones 4, 5, 6, 7 (see USDA Climate Zones map). I limited the study to the 13 California counties where this applied (see Climate chapter).
I gathered published climate data for Northern California weather stations to see which environmental factors were influencing the plants. I used this data to make comparison charters for the Climate chapter.
Some pest problems affecting mountain gardens are deer, caterpillars, gophers, and aphids. I discussed what creative solutions I tried, and what worked.
Concerned with gas prices going up? Do you want to stay home more? Maybe you are considering growing your own vegetable garden, but don't know how. Why not try this book. To order the book online, click here.