The Nature-Friendly Garden: Creating a Backyard Haven for Animals, Plants, and People - Softcover

Marlene A. Condon is a writer and photographer whose work has appeared in numerous publications. She is a field editor for Birds and Blooms magazine and gives regular presentations at Shenandoah National Park. She lives in Crozet, Virginia, where her yard has been showcased on Virginia public television. She can be reached at MARLENECONDON@aol.com.

Condon's gardening philosophy respects the needs of all natural participants in the life of the garden: plants, pests, predators, wildlife—and the gardener. She rebels against the beauty of "those ideal gardens depicted in magazines and books," pointing out that "a completely pristine appearance is impossible to maintain." Her refreshing approach focuses on the virtues of many necessities. For example, that unsightly brush pile that is simply too much work to clear right now can be a haven for numerous species. Similarly, unraked leaves shelter tree frogs, butterfly caterpillars and small animals, and lawns, which involve excessive demands on labor and resources, "have a hugely detrimental impact on your life, other people's lives, and wildlife." Condon is instructive, sometimes didactic and tends to assert opinions, such as her views on mulch (somewhat denigrated) and invasive species (disconcertingly welcomed) as facts. While beginners may benefit from her exhortations, experienced gardeners might find much to disagree with and little that is new or revealing. Regardless of their expertise, most readers will benefit from Condon's realistic acceptance of every gardener's limitations and the joys of engaging with nature on its own terms. Color photos. (Mar.)
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