Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region

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Summary: The best darn native plant landscaping book for the SW
Review: I just got an old edition of this book. And, after looking at it and comparing it to the new edition, I would suggest buying an old edition--if you can find one. Why? Well, basically the new edition is a re-hash of the old with the same layout plans, photos and text. There are few changes--enough to merit it the "new edition" title--but I was disappointed with the new version since there was so much hype around this book and it did not deliver. Next time they update, they should include more plans, more examples/pictures of gardens, and more valuable info.

Rating:
Summary: Same old book--new cover
Review: I just got an old edition of this book. And, after looking at it and comparing it to the new edition, I would suggest buying an old edition--if you can find one. Why? Well, basically the new edition is a re-hash of the old with the same layout plans, photos and text. There are few changes--enough to merit it the "new edition" title--but I was disappointed with the new version since there was so much hype around this book and it did not deliver. Next time they update, they should include more plans, more examples/pictures of gardens, and more valuable info.

Rating:
Summary: I depend on this book for my backyard garden in Texas
Review: I love this book - it's priceless. Texas can be a tough place to grow plants. This book concisely helps the reader to find plants that will not only survive but thrive through extremes of drought and flood, heat and cold. It is SO necessary, especially since most nurseries seem to sell non-native plants which are unsuited to live here for more than one year without lots of pampering, chemicals, and TONS of water. This book would make a great house-warming present for new homeowners in Texas. This book contains: beautiful color closeups of the plants described, their latin and common names (critical when trying to make a purchase), and growing conditions and range within the state. It also has example garden layouts for each major growing region within the state. I used these heavily when designing my own backyard garden. The only thing I worry about is that the publishing company went out of business and this book is soon to be completely out of print! Get copies while you still can.

Rating:
Summary: This is the Bible
Review: I used this book for my backyard project in Houston. My overwhelming impression was - hey, this is written to help me do what I'm doing right now! The content is aimed directly at making good plant selections. Each plant is well and usefully illustrated in color on the same page as the description - a simple point so often missed in other books. Every plant is rated in the decisive essentials - size, sun/shade, wet/dry, clay/sand etc., again a simple point so often absent. The descriptions are fun to read but content is always relevant to a decision with no nonsense. I wore out my copy and passed it on when I moved from Texas.

Rating:
Summary: The best darn native plant landscaping book for the SW
Review: If you want info about native species of plants to use in Texas (or the SW U.S.), this is the book. And if you want landscaping plans for landscaping your Texas property with great species of native plants, this is the book. Sally Wasowski is the best! I'm so happy it's available again! It's been a while.

Rating:
Summary: A must have for Texas gardeners
Review: Native Texas Plants breaks Texas into different regions based upon their soil type and lists a wide variety of plants for every part of the state. Each plant is listed with complete information about the soil types in which it grows, light requirements, when it blooms, how winter hardy it is, etc. The Wasowskis give great descriptions about how and where a plant grows (e.g. one plant may do well in the sandy soils of west Texas but be tall and leggy in moist east Texas gardens). The book features plants that aren't mentioned in any other garden book I've seen (even other Texas gardening books). It also contains sample garden plans for each of the different regions of Texas. I couldn't imagine gardening without it.

Rating:
Summary: Region-by-region organization is great
Review: Providing both a catalogue of native plants and a sample landscape for each region of Texas made this book invaluable to me as a beginning gardener.

Rating:
Summary: Ecellent reference for Texas gardeners
Review: This book is a groundbreaking gardening book in that it not only identifies hundreds of native plants, but shows how to landscape with them effectively. Colorful photography, theme garden desigfns, regional descriptions. Texas readers call it their "gardening bible.&quo

Rating:
Summary: If you landscape in Texas, please buy this book!
Review: With all the environmental degredation that we have caused, it is heartening to know that we can do something in our own way. Landscape with native plants! This book is the bible on how to do so in Texas. It is conveniently organized by categories (example: groundcovers, trees, shrubs, etc.) and provides specific garden plans for every region in Texas so that the novice gardener can get some great ideas. What's more, the book is fun to read.