Books: Waterwise Australian Native Garden, Definitive Bucket List, Green
There is plenty of advice for green thumbs in this week’s collection of books.
THERE is plenty of advice for green thumbs in this week’s collection of books, plus some fantastic holiday inspiration for those wanting to travel Australia and New Zealand.
THE WATERWISE AUSTRALIAN NATIVE GARDEN
Angus Stewart & AB Bishop
Murdoch Books
RRP $39.99
AUSTRALIA’S native plants and flowers are incredibly diverse. And as many have evolved to be drought-resistant, as this drought really starts to hit hard in parts of our country it makes sense for them to be seriously considered for inclusion in any Aussie backyard garden.
This book won the Horticultural Media Association Australia’s best book award at the 2018 Laurel Awards (under its former title The Australian Native Garden, first published in 2015) and it is not hard to see why.
MORE: Q&A WITH ANGUS STEWART AND AB BISHOP
It is dense with information, covering everything from garden layout and design, tips on how to attract native animals, and what to consider if you live in a bushfire-prone area. There are plenty of examples of native gardens with text and photographs.
The final section details almost 160 cultivars of native plants, complete with photographs and information such as their preferred climate and soil type, and where they might be suited for planting.
A thoroughly handy book for any gardener.
THE DEFINITIVE BUCKET LIST
Lee Atkinson
Hardie Grant Travel
RRP $45
THE best travel experiences Australia and New Zealand have to offer have been compiled into one volume by travel writing veteran Lee Atkinson.
Any which way you dreamed of seeing the best these two countries have to offer — by foot, cycling, train, 4WD — is covered.
After a golfing getaway? A foodie escape? A garden oasis retreat? Yep, that’s covered too.
And if you wanted any more inspiration for your own bucket list, find out where and how you can dig up a dinosaur, sing on the Sydney Opera House stage, see the Southern Lights or sleep in a haunted house.
One of the taglines for his book is “for the best years of your life”, and the introduction spruiks the benefits of travel for the body and the mind as we age.
Yet it seems a mistake to market this as one for retirees and baby boomers. Yes, some of the longer drives might be out of the question for those restricted by an annual leave quota, but there are plenty of shorter drives and trips, as well as destination holidays, to consider.
This is a collection any Australian could peruse to find their next adventure. There are so many destinations and holiday ideas it is hard to think that anyone, whether they were 18 or 99 years of age, would be unable to find something to pique their interest.
GREEN
Jason Chongue
Hardie Grant Books
RRP $32.99
NOT all of us have huge backyards that we can plant out. But for those with a green thumb who live in smaller spaces, or who have tricky outdoor spaces to work with, all is not lost.
Jason Chongue, from the Plant Society, has plenty of advice for gardeners in Green: Plants for small spaces, indoors and out.
While this book would primarily be targeting those in urban areas, with very limited access to large outdoor spaces to call their own, there is also planting and styling advice that could be applied to all gardeners, no matter where they live.
There are plenty of photographs throughout to draw inspiration from (complete with captions about what plants are being featured). The book also includes some basic gardening care and maintenance tips.
Do you have an office space you want to green up? A bedroom you want to decorate with a few pot plants? Some shadier spots around your house that you want to fill, but need some guidance? This is worth a look.
Stories too good to be lost
A fascinating collection of life stories from the Mallee captures a past that otherwise would vanish without trace.
Season for bookworms
Summer is the best time to dive into a page-turner, so here’s your chance to sample some new releases from Australian authors.