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Getting Started Garden Guide
Illinois Getting Started Garden Guide: Grow the Best Flowers, Shrubs, Trees, Vines & Groundcovers
The ultimate, fully illustrated guide to plant selection and gardening in the Prairie State. With its northeastern edge seated on the shores of Lake Michigan, Illinois offers some of the United States' most fertile farmlands. But as any midwesterner knows, the entire region's weather can turn on a dime, and keeping plant life alive in such a widely varying climate can be difficult for gardeners of all skill levels. In Illinois Getting Started Garden Guide, born-and-bred midwestern gardener Shawna Coronado showcases more than 150 plant species destined for success throughout all of Illinois--from flowers and shrubs, such as the blazing star and the beautiful early-spring-flowering witchhazel, to trees and vines, such as the ginkgo and the exquisite clematis. Each entry features full-color photography, plant-name pronunciation, helpful icons denoting sun/shade requirements and plant qualities, instructions for how to bring the plant from transplant to maturity, and even recommendations for what you should plant nearby. If you're not sure where to start, official color-coded USDA maps let you know your plant hardiness zone. So whether you're planting in a windy Chicago suburb, prepping for a frigid winter in Galena, or anticipating a rainy spring in Mt. Vernon, Illinois Getting Started Garden Guide gives you all the information you need for a colorful, diverse home landscape.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
115 people want to read
About the author
Shawna Coronado
15 books178 followersLearn more about Shawna Coronado at http://www.shawnacoronado.com.
Shawna is an author, blogger, photographer, and spokesperson focused on wellness, organic-gardening, sustainability, and healthy eating who campaigns for social good. She has authored 9 books, 4 ebooks, and written thousands of blog posts.
Shawna's anti-inflammatory wellness initiatives and garden have been featured in many venues including PBS television, FOX News, NBC News, WGN TV, and a feature on WGN TV was been nominated for an Emmy award. Her organic living photographs and stories have been shown both online and off in many international home and garden magazines and multiple books. Shawna has been featured as a Chicago Tribune "Remarkable Woman" and has lectured at locations around the world including TEDx and Google discussing the benefits of wellness and organic living for community.
Shawna was diagnosed with severe Spinal Osteoarthritis in 2015, this diagnosis has led her to change her lifestyle and consume a mostly anti-inflammatory diet. She educates audiences about beneficial diet, food, and health practices through her organic living media. She dreams that this will enable more people to be active who suffer from similar conditions.
Her successful wellness living books, photographs, and stories have been shown both online and off in many international home and garden magazines and multiple books. You can learn more about Shawna Coronado at http://www.shawnacoronado.com.
Shawna is an author, blogger, photographer, and spokesperson focused on wellness, organic-gardening, sustainability, and healthy eating who campaigns for social good. She has authored 9 books, 4 ebooks, and written thousands of blog posts.
Shawna's anti-inflammatory wellness initiatives and garden have been featured in many venues including PBS television, FOX News, NBC News, WGN TV, and a feature on WGN TV was been nominated for an Emmy award. Her organic living photographs and stories have been shown both online and off in many international home and garden magazines and multiple books. Shawna has been featured as a Chicago Tribune "Remarkable Woman" and has lectured at locations around the world including TEDx and Google discussing the benefits of wellness and organic living for community.
Shawna was diagnosed with severe Spinal Osteoarthritis in 2015, this diagnosis has led her to change her lifestyle and consume a mostly anti-inflammatory diet. She educates audiences about beneficial diet, food, and health practices through her organic living media. She dreams that this will enable more people to be active who suffer from similar conditions.
Her successful wellness living books, photographs, and stories have been shown both online and off in many international home and garden magazines and multiple books. You can learn more about Shawna Coronado at http://www.shawnacoronado.com.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 19, 2020
This is a lovely book, very well organized with beautiful photos. The chapters cover:
Annuals;
Bulbs;
Groundcovers;
Lawns;
Native Plants & Wildflowers;
Ornamental Grasses;
Perennials;
Roses;
Shrubs;
Trees; &
Vines
Not only is the Latin name provided, but also the proper pronunciation. Ms. Coronado provides common names as well as bloom period, seasonal color, mature height & spread not to mention 'when, where & how to plant'. She includes growing tips, regional advice, care and companion planting as well.
I would recommend this book for recent transplants to Illinois and beginner gardeners & landscapers. It would be an excellent initiation to a new yard and how to consider getting started in a new home. That said, I think it is geared toward the casual landscaper as opposed to a long time resident or experienced gardener. For example, under the section on 'Beech', Ms. Coronado correctly describes the attractive smooth bark and shallow roots of the beeches. However, she does not mention the deep, dense shade they cast. It is impossible to grow almost anything under them. Further, their shallow roots mean trying to mow the scraggly grass under them is a bouncing obstacle course for the mower. Better to just mulch the entire area under a beech than bother trying to grow anything under them.
But the reason I could not give this book a full 5 star review is a simple, but frustrating omission. While she includes a chapter on native plants and wildflowers, it would have been a simple matter to include a 3 word addition: "Native to Illinois" or "Non native to Illinois" to every entry under each heading. Not everyone cares whether they are native or not, but to those of us who do, it is a glaring oversight. Not every native will thrive in every spot, but the odds will be better than an exotic. This is certainly not a deal breaker as she often mentions the plant is locally found, but not everyone is going to carefully read each description searching for that tidbit. I hope this might be addressed in future printings because otherwise this is a really good overview for new homeowners.
Annuals;
Bulbs;
Groundcovers;
Lawns;
Native Plants & Wildflowers;
Ornamental Grasses;
Perennials;
Roses;
Shrubs;
Trees; &
Vines
Not only is the Latin name provided, but also the proper pronunciation. Ms. Coronado provides common names as well as bloom period, seasonal color, mature height & spread not to mention 'when, where & how to plant'. She includes growing tips, regional advice, care and companion planting as well.
I would recommend this book for recent transplants to Illinois and beginner gardeners & landscapers. It would be an excellent initiation to a new yard and how to consider getting started in a new home. That said, I think it is geared toward the casual landscaper as opposed to a long time resident or experienced gardener. For example, under the section on 'Beech', Ms. Coronado correctly describes the attractive smooth bark and shallow roots of the beeches. However, she does not mention the deep, dense shade they cast. It is impossible to grow almost anything under them. Further, their shallow roots mean trying to mow the scraggly grass under them is a bouncing obstacle course for the mower. Better to just mulch the entire area under a beech than bother trying to grow anything under them.
But the reason I could not give this book a full 5 star review is a simple, but frustrating omission. While she includes a chapter on native plants and wildflowers, it would have been a simple matter to include a 3 word addition: "Native to Illinois" or "Non native to Illinois" to every entry under each heading. Not everyone cares whether they are native or not, but to those of us who do, it is a glaring oversight. Not every native will thrive in every spot, but the odds will be better than an exotic. This is certainly not a deal breaker as she often mentions the plant is locally found, but not everyone is going to carefully read each description searching for that tidbit. I hope this might be addressed in future printings because otherwise this is a really good overview for new homeowners.
November 2, 2017
Love this book ! Perfect intro for a beginning gardener in IL.
August 17, 2018
Lots of good plant choices for Illinois. Great resource.
November 4, 2015
Great book to add to my library, it already has dog eared pages with the plants I want to add to my garden.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews