Flowers are blooming, the grass is growing, the weeds are prolific and seeds are sprouting! If you’re looking for garden inspiration, want to grow your knowledge about plants, or simply enjoy looking at beautiful pictures and illustrations, the library offers plenty of selections for all ages.
Floret Farm, a family-run flower farm and seed company in the Skagit Valley, just released a beautiful new book, “Discovering Dahlias: A Guide to Growing and Arranging Magnificent Blooms,” by Erin Benzakein. Place a hold in the NOLS catalog to be one of the first to read this new book (currently on order).
Or, start with Benzakein’s “Cut Flower Garden: Grow, Harvest and Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms,” which is filled with beautiful photos and how-to basics on growing flowers. You’ll be inspired to start growing!
Here are other good reads to cultivate those gardening ideas:
“What’s Inside a Flower? And Other Questions about Science & Nature” by Rachel Ignotofsky
Budding backyard scientists can start exploring their world with this stunning introduction to these flowery show-stoppers — from seeds to roots to blooms. Learning how flowers grow gives kids beautiful building blocks of science and inquiry. (from the publisher)
“Dandelion & Quince: Exploring the Wide World of Unusual Vegetables, Fruits and Herbs” by Michelle McKenzie
From mustard and kumquats, to nettles, fava leaves, sunchokes and more, the blossoms, berries, leaves, and roots featured in this illustrated cookbook are simple foods that satisfy our need for a diversity of plant life in our diets, grown with care and prepared by our own hands for our families and communities. (from the publisher)
“Trees, Leaves, Flowers & Seeds: A Visual Encyclopedia of the Plant Kingdom” by DK and Smithsonian Institution
Explore the incredible world of plants, from the smallest seeds to the tallest trees. Find out about the weirdest, smelliest, and deadliest flowers. Which plants eat insects? How do cacti store water? What flower looks like a bee? Where is the tallest tree in the world? This book explores the mysterious world of plants to find the answers to these and many more questions. (from the publisher)
“Fearless Gardening: Be Bold, Break the Rules and Grow What You Love” by Loree Bohl
Embrace your inner rebel and create the garden you want — even if it breaks the rules. Bohl, the voice behind the popular blog The Danger Garden, shows how it’s done with zone-busting ideas and success stories in this book. (from the publisher)
The library also offers many magazines for the home gardener: Horticulture, Backwoods Home, Fine Gardening, Mother Earth News and Permaculture Design.
Library staff look forward to seeing you soon! The Sequim Library is located at 630 N. Sequim Ave. Visit nols.org, email to sequim@nols.org or call 360-683-1161.
Emily Sly is the Sequim Library manager.
