Wild Suburbia: Learning to Garden with Native Plants

by Barbara Eisenstein

Wild Suburbia guides us through the process of transforming a traditional, high water-use yard into a peaceful habitat garden abounding with native plants. Author Barbara Eisenstein emphasizes that gardening is a rewarding activity rather than a finished product, from removing lawns and getting in touch with a yard's climate to choosing plants and helping them thrive. Supplementing her advice with personal stories from her decades of experience working with native plants, Eisenstein illuminates the joys of tending a native garden-and assures us that any challenges, from managing pests to disapproving neighbors, should never sap the enjoyment out of a pleasurable and fulfilling hobby. For plant lovers curious about their own ecosystems, Wild Suburbia offers a style of gardening that nurtures biodiversity, deepens connection to place, and encourages new and seasoned gardeners alike to experiment and have fun.

Genres: Gardening, Landscaping

224 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2016

Reviews

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sensible, kind, realistic advice for the non expert. Especial love for the "I'm not from California how will I ever learn to like it here?" approach.

My favorite of the half-dozen or so plant & gardening books we own.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for beginners interested in landscaping with California natives

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A practical guide to landscaping with native plants. I think I wanted more information on WHY to transition to natives, but the author refers us to Douglas Tallamy's persuasive "Bringing Nature Home" for science-y information on why to garden with natives. I liked the author's interludes describing her personal experience, including transitioning her parkway from sterile lawn to wildflower and native filled mini oasis. I laughed when she mentioned "retreating lawn syndrome," mentioning that whenever her husband is out of town for a few days, the lawn retreats a little bit, because I do the exact same thing!

[Michael Dodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple clear straightforward perspective on how to convert Southern California lawn into a native garden. Really solid advice regarding planning and planting native plants. Good resource material for gardeners.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love. Such useful tips for creating and maintaining a native garden with great breakdowns of plant needs and best practices and a wonderful appendix. Will be picking this up again and again.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much actionable here. Also too beauty oriented (at the expense of food oriented) for my tastes.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish this had been the first book I read on native gardening in California. The first person narrative really helps you see how everything works (or doesn't) without overcomplicating things.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on native plant use in suburban/urban areas.