As winter settles in outside, settle in inside with these books
Homesteaders, crafters and all kinds of gardeners will find inspiration aplenty in a sampling of new books meant to delight and educate.
Curling up with one of these on a cold, dark night almost guarantees that you’ll find an idea (or a dozen) to try.
"The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner: What To Do and When To Do It" by Amy Larken Hansen (Storey, 202 pages, $18.95)
Whether you’re ready to try growing some backyard veggies or you want to learn about running a small, diversified farm, the author — a small-scale organic farmer herself — offers tips and how-to’s organized by season for all levels of experience.
She covers orchards, livestock, gardens, honeybees, wildlife habitat and much more. Specifics range from using cover crops to butchering chickens.
Checklists and pages for record keeping will help you stay organized throughout the year.
"The Fine Art of Paper Flowers: A Guide to Making Beautiful and Lifelike Botanicals" by Tiffanie Turner (Watson-Guptill, 254 pages, $25)
At first glance, the leaves and flowers in this book look as if they were just picked from a garden.
But they are created from mere crepe paper, glue and wire, and the author demonstrates how you can make them, too.
After the basic raw materials, patience, a steady hand and, of course, a love of flowers are the main requirements.
Tutorials — complete with templates — range from roses to peonies and even dandelions.
"The Grumpy Gardener: An
A to Z Guide From the Galaxy’s Most Irritable Green Thumb" by Steve Bender (Oxmoor, 225 pages, $25.99)
Irreverent, opinionated and so much fun to read, Bender — the garden editor at Southern Living magazine — offers loads of helpful advice in his trademark down- to- earth style.
Among his tips on mulch, shrubs and other typical topics, he manages to mention J. Edgar Hoover and plastic flowers; offer a recipe for “Squirrel Creole”; and share comments from readers (“Nobody really gives a rat’s patootie what you think!”).
A downside for Ohio readers: Some of the information applies only to Southern gardens.
"Native Plants of the Midwest: A Comprehensive Guide to the Best 500 Species for the Garden" by Alan Branhagen (Timber, 440 pages, $39.95)
If you’re not already a convert, this photo-packed volume will make you a fan of native plants.
As the author explains, they’re uniquely suited to our conditions, they support wildlife and they’re beautiful.
From delicate woodland wildflowers to mighty trees such as oaks, there’s a native plant suited to almost every Midwestern garden or landscape.
Don’t be misled by the racy title; this selection is actually useful, inspiring and well-illustrated.
Ever bought a cute little cactus at the grocery store — but it lacked an identifying label and left you wondering what to do with it?
To the rescue: detailed photos with both common and botanical names, along with growing tips.
And a section called “Styling” shows how to decorate your home with these sculptural, low-maintenance beauties and curiosities.