"The Wildflower Garden Planter" | Reviewed by Bill Schwab

Master Naturalist, Besa Schweitzer, has written an interactive guidebook to native landscaping in Missouri. Her easy-to-follow planner lists garden tasks for each month of the year. The talented gardener challenges readers to help save nature by acting locally—in their own yards—by removing invasive plants and introducing native species.

Besa notes that planting one tree can become a habitat for a variety of birds. An oak tree, in particular, can provide habitat for more than 400 insect species, some of which are endangered. The availability of milkweed is crucial for the survival and reproduction of endangered monarch butterflies. A gardener’s simple act of planting milkweed in the backyard can slow the decline of these critical pollinators.

  Her step-by-step garden calendar suggests starting a native plant garden with “tried and true” native flowers such as wild columbine, lanceleaf coreopsis, and purple coneflowers. A wide variety of native plant species is suggested to provide a colorful garden throughout the growing season and a habitat for insects and larger animals during the winter. She includes tips on watering, mulching, and pruning, along with other related gardening subjects.

Ideal for beginning and intermediate gardeners, the planner provides a thorough introduction to native gardening based on Besa’s years of personal experience. Her book serves as a “coach,” giving novice native plant gardeners the confidence to do their part in saving nature.

The tablet-like format, with 194 pages, includes an index and several illustrations of garden designs and plants. Rather than wrestling with a folder of loose how-to garden papers, the planner provides, in one easy-to-read volume, everything a Missourian needs to begin a native plant garden. Ideal for the gardener’s personal use, it would also make a great gift for a gardening friend.

Buy the book

Master Naturalist, Besa Schweitzer, has written an interactive guidebook to native landscaping in Missouri. Her easy-to-follow planner lists garden tasks for each month of the year. The talented gardener challenges readers to help save nature by acting locally—in their own yards—by removing invasive plants and introducing native species.

Besa notes that planting one tree can become a habitat for a variety of birds. An oak tree, in particular, can provide habitat for more than 400 insect species, some of which are endangered. The availability of milkweed is crucial for the survival and reproduction of endangered monarch butterflies. A gardener’s simple act of planting milkweed in the backyard can slow the decline of these critical pollinators.

  Her step-by-step garden calendar suggests starting a native plant garden with “tried and true” native flowers such as wild columbine, lanceleaf coreopsis, and purple coneflowers. A wide variety of native plant species is suggested to provide a colorful garden throughout the growing season and a habitat for insects and larger animals during the winter. She includes tips on watering, mulching, and pruning, along with other related gardening subjects.

Ideal for beginning and intermediate gardeners, the planner provides a thorough introduction to native gardening based on Besa’s years of personal experience. Her book serves as a “coach,” giving novice native plant gardeners the confidence to do their part in saving nature.

The tablet-like format, with 194 pages, includes an index and several illustrations of garden designs and plants. Rather than wrestling with a folder of loose how-to garden papers, the planner provides, in one easy-to-read volume, everything a Missourian needs to begin a native plant garden. Ideal for the gardener’s personal use, it would also make a great gift for a gardening friend.

Buy the book