ABOUT THIS BOOK

What do you do when a young moose calf wants to dine on your freshly planted Lady’s Mantle for lunch? What plants can handle a summer of nearly endless sun? How do you harness the wild beauty of the north for your own backyard? There’s a Moose in My Garden is the first book to tackle these questions and more with practical, user-friendly advice from an award-winning gardener.

Adams provides helpful tips for Far Northern gardeners on how to design and implement successful landscape environments. The book outlines the entire planning and planting process, covering such aspects as handling low-angled sun, soft light, expansive vistas, and a cool climate.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Brenda C. Adams teaches garden design and creation at the University of Alaska. She is also the designer for and founder of Gardens By Design. She lives in Homer, Alaska.

REVIEWS

“Experienced and novice residents alike will find There’s a Moose in My Garden a must-read, while visitors curious about the vagaries of northern gardening are sure to find the book irresistible as well.”

— C. Colston Burrell, author of Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants

“How can you not love this book? Brenda’s photos are fabulous, her knowledge of design is elegant, and her plant selection for the Alaska gardener is first-rate. It is destined to be the Bible of Alaska gardening. I am hooked!”

— Alan Armitage, author of Armitage's Garden Perennials

“Brenda’s extensive knowledge and her sense of humor add richness to this delightful book. A must have!"

— Erica Glasener, author and host of HGTV's A Gardener’s Diary

“In There’s a Moose in My Garden, Brenda Adams provides a clear, step-by-step guide to creating a garden in Alaska and the Far North. Readers who follow Brenda’s sage advice will be rewarded with an opportunity to create the garden of their dreams."

— Steven Still, executive director, Perennial Plant Association

"Whether you’re a wannabe gardener wondering where to start, a gardener with many years in the soil, a visitor wanting an informative, humorous, beautiful look at the northland from a gardener’s perspective or just someone in search of an entertaining read, There’s a Moose in My Garden will fit the bill."

— Homer News

"Even the experienced gardener will find plenty of useful tips in Adams’ book. They are the kind of details you only learn through decades of work in the soil; like how to introduce new plants without bringing in unwanted pests at the same time."

— Homer Tribune

"If you are into gardening in cool climates, or know someone who is, this is a fact-filled, and light-hearted read. The book is profusely edited with the author's colorful garden photographs."

— Seacoast Online

"There’s a Moose in My Garden guides the reader, gently and with humor, through the process of designing a spectacular garden in Alaska and the far north. Author Brenda C. Adams’s enthusiasm is infectious as she coaches readers through plant selection and site evaluation to ensure success in this challenging environment."

— American Gardener

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Designing a Northern Garden

1 There’s a Moose in My Garden

2 Getting Started

3 Your Master Plan

4 Designing Paths, Ponds, and Other Structures

5 To Fence or Not to Fence—That Is the Question

6 Selecting Successful Plants

7 Designing Beautiful Garden Beds

8 Color Considerations

9 Fabulous Foliage

10 Bark, Berries, and Fragrance

11 Incorporating Herbs and Veggies

12 Putting the Plants All Together

Building and Managing a Low-Maintenance Northern Garden

13 From Plan to Reality

14 Preparing Your Soil

15 Techniques to Lower Maintenance

16 Building Your Garden Beds

17 Buying Your Plants

18 Planting Techniques

19 Using Mulch

20 Weeds and Other Maintenance

21 Time to Enjoy

Some of My Favorite Hardy Plants and What Makes Them Special

22 Evaluating Plants from a Design Perspective

23 Herbaceous Perennials

24 Perennial Grasses

25 Shrubs

26 Perennial Vines

About the Author and Her Alaska Gardening Adventure

Works Consulted

Index

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