American roots Lessons from the designers reimagining our home gardens

Nick and Allison McCullough, owners of a landscaping firm, and journalist Woodard offer a stunning tour of standout American gardens. Gardens in the U.S. can be more than the average "cookie-cutter suburban landscapes, perfectly mown lawns, annual-lined walkways, and white picket fences," Nick McCullough writes; at their best, they're full of "new plant trials, experimental techniques, and fresh design concepts." A section on the Midwest spotlights a Nebraska prairie garden with goldenrod and native grasses, and an Indianapolis oasis hosting container plants and nostalgic flowers. The East Coast venues visited include an upstate New York garden with paw paw, persimmon, serviceberry, and mulberry, while a garden in Delaware touts a mix of needle and sago palms. In the South, a stunning Georgia garden features magnolias, hydrangeas, and boxwoods, and in the West there's a Big Sur haven with a gravel garden, flagstone path, and tough perennials such as catmint, lavender, lamb's ear, yarrow, and other natives. The glorious full-page color photos bring the gardens to life, and a robust directory of plant shops, garden events, and gardening organizations will help readers who are ready to get in the dirt. The result is an inspiring outing for experienced and armchair gardeners alike. (Oct.)

Is there such a thing as an "American" garden? This is the question landscape designer Nick McCullough, nursery marketer Allison McCullough, and gardening writer and editor Teresa Woodard set out to answer. After exploring the home gardens of 20 different horticultural experts around the country, the authors discover that each of these American gardens is a reflection of the individual botanical philosophy of its designer. Each of the profiled gardeners not only relay the origins of their domestic Edens, but then they also treat readers to a visual tour via a number of gorgeous photographs and gift them with pithy tips on a number of pertinent topics such as designing with annuals and crafting small spaces with a big impact in a section called "Learn From." A select list of favorite plants from each gardener is also included. VERDICT Both newbie gardeners and those with years of experience digging in the dirt will find plenty of inspiration in this smartly crafted book that delivers both gardening style and substance.--John Charles