Missouri Gardener's Guide: Revised Edition

by Mike Miller

Gardening is now the favorite leisure pastime in America. Homeowners are realizing the health benefits derived from gardening and the increase in their home's property value. This book contains easy-to-use advice on the top landscape plant choices.It also recommends specific varieties, and provides advice on how to plant, how to grow and how to care for the best plants.

Genres: Gardening, Reference, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published July 3, 2001

About the author

Since 1977 I've been professionally working in numerous aspects of the outdoors including; staff horticulturalist at MO. Botanical Garden, landscape consultant / designer, author, radio show host, co-founding predatory insect store.

My garden pathway has included many things: 1969 joined Air Force and served 4 years with Strategic Air Command, discharged from March AFB Riverside Calif. 1973-San Diego State University, then onto UCSanta Barbara botany, horticulture, landscape design returned to St. Louis in 1977-joined MO. Botanical Garden with 4 years English Woodland Garden and 1 year tropicals and exotics in Climatron, Desert, and Mediterranean House complex at which time I obtained and still maintain Missouri State Pesticide Applicators license-Ornamental / Turf & Aquatic Environments, began teaching and continue to do so at MBG. 1982 moved onto retail garden center general manager (became MO. state certified nurseryman), I hired / trained staff, plant research / selection and promoted user friendly pest management. In 1986 became working partner in residential landscape consulting, planning and design, doing local and national seminars, co-founded predatory insect store, 1990's spent 8 years as a faculty member of Horticultural Department at St. Louis Community College at Meramec, participated in programs sponsored by Powell Gardens of Kansas City, MO. Dept. of Natural Resources, Landscape / Nurseryman’s Assoc. of Greater St. Louis, U. of IL. Extension.

I've authored garden / design related articles for regional newspapers, Fine Gardening magazine and my designs have been featured in various publications. In 1994 KMOX radio asked me to host a new show 'Garden Hotline' and I continure to share thoughts with listeners from across the region. 1998-grand mal epileptic seizure was starting point for Mike Miller Designs landscape consulting / planning and publication of my first book Missouri Gardeners Guide. In 2000 wrote Missouri Gardener's Journal, 2005 revised Missouri Gardener’s Guide, and wrote Month by Month Gardening in Missouri. 2007, I provided gardeners in Kansas with a customized Month by Month Gardening in Kansas. I've participated on several advisory board panel including-Brightside St. Louis and Epilepsy Foundation of Greater St. Louis--Life is Great--As always -Enjoy

Reviews

[Matal “The Mischling Princess” Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usually when I pick up a gardener’s guide for a particular state, I expect a guide on the native plants and trees in the region. But with the revised edition of “Missouri Gardener’s Guide,” I could tell right away that this was not the case, given the photograph of the dahlia on the cover.

Written by Mike Miller, this book is not a definitive guide by any means. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of native plants and trees in Missouri. Besides this, there are untold numbers of non-natives in the state. This book attempts to give readers a good selection of both. For example, on page 192, the author includes the native Redbud tree, while on the facing page, the Red Leaf Japanese Maple is featured.

What I do love about this book is the fact that the author included a color photograph of each species.
The downside is that most of the photos show the plant/tree in bloom. I definitely would not use this book if you were interested in learning how to identify the various plants and trees.

With each species, the author includes” a short paragraph on the plant/tree, along with a list of other common names, the bloom period and the colors, mature height and spread of plant/tree; when, where, and how to plant it; growing tips; how to care for the plant/tree; companion planting; and a special “Did You Know?” section that provides tidbits of interesting data.

The book also includes a second on botanical gardens, gardening terms, an index, and several pages for notes. I do appreciate that the author included a map of the USDA Cold Hardiness Zones and separated the book into sections on annuals, bulbs, ground covers and vines, lawns, ornamental grasses, roses, shrubs, trees, and wildflowers.

One thing to keep in mind is that this book is not representative of all species, either native or foreign. This is a pretty, colorful, glossy book that is better suited to a coffee table. People who are serious gardeners, and especially those who are interested in native plants, would be better suited to the National Audubon books on native species.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book and recently shared it with my sister because she wants to plant a tree this fall. I like the way it is organized, and the recommendations for each item identified. The book covers garden flowers, shrubs, roses, grass, wildflowers, and trees. The only flaw that I can see is that there is not a single fruit tree identified in the book. Overall, I find this to be a very helpful resource.

[Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great gardener's guide for Missouri...and the color photographs make it easy to read and understand. I'm a newbie gardener, and I found the book immensely helpful in identifying great garden plants for Missouri. I also like the advice on lawns as well as the section on appropriate groundcovers. A great book of plants for part-time hobby gardeners.