Ahh, it’s that time of year when things start sprouting, popping and blooming in the Pacific Northwest. It was a long, long winter, but we’re finally experiencing spring — as well as a blast of early summer — and these warm days are one of the reasons I enjoy the region so much. Talking to friends who plant vegetable gardens every year, I can tell that “normal” times for planting things like peas and tomatoes were affected by our longer than usual chilly weather. But I think we’ve turned the corner weather-wise, so let me celebrate the glory of flowers and vegetables by offering a selection of new gardening titles available at the library. I love seeing these books arrive in our cataloging department not only because they’re so lovely to look at, but reading about the promise of a bountiful garden just makes the world feel right.
So, enjoy the return to spring and summer! Whether you like to dig in the dirt or just read about digging in the dirt, spend an afternoon or two perusing some of these recently published gardening titles. It does a body — and a garden — good.
• “101 Organic Gardening Hacks: Eco-Friendly Solutions to Improve Any Garden,” by Shawna Coronado.
• “The Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Garden: 326 Fast, Easy, Affordable Ways to Transform Your Yard One Project at a Time,” by Sally Roth.
• “The Chinese Kitchen Garden: Growing Techniques and Family Recipes from a Classic Cuisine,” by Wendy Kiang-Spray.
