Re: New to LA (good books & resources)

At 01:36 PM 10/9/2002, Joanne wrote:

Hi I moved here from the mid west and have no clue as to the
planting season out here.  The web site looks like it will be
helpful.  My first question is can anyone recommend a good book on
California gardening.  I am from OH and in the past have had success
with roses.  I would love to start another rose garden here. Thanks
Welcome Joanne -

Someone mentioned the Western Garden Book - indeed this tome goes without saying.

Another book you might check out is Selected Plants for Southern California Gardens, published by the Southern California Horticultural Society. You can find out more about this good reference at: http://www.socahort.org/pages/publications.htm.

Most people in California are still not aware that ours is a mediterranean climate, and understanding this rare (a mere 2% of the earth's landmass) and desirable (home of many popular resort destinations) climate is key to a really successful garden.

A good, basic book on this topic is Hugo Latymer's The Mediterranean Gardener, still available used (I see many copies at www.powells.com - a major source of good quality used books for Amazon and Barnes&Noble) but also recently republished in paperback (not sure where).

Another good book on this topic is Heidi Gildemeister's Mediterranean Gardening, about to republished by the University of California's UC Press (due out in November). Information about this book can be found at: http://www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/9905.html.

Jan Smithen, a writer and educator in Southern California, also recently published Sun-Drenched Gardens: The Mediterranean Style, Lucinda Lewis, a local photographer. This book will be available in the upcoming weeks.

Those of us attending the Annual General Meeting of the Mediterranean Garden Society (MGS) and the Gardening Under Mediterranean Skies Symposium were able to obtain the very first copies of Jan's book that were available (and had the chance for Jan to sign them!). This important meeting of this international group was hosted by the Southern California Branch of the MGS, the first time it has ever been held outside of the Mediterranean Basin! (last year's AGM was held in Athens, Greece; next year's will be held in Siena, Italy) It was quite an honor for MGS members here in California to host the almost 20 international members who were able to fly so far from home to attend (usually the numbers are the other way 'round!).

To find out more about the Southern California Branch of the Mediterranean Garden Society, go to: www.MediterraneanGardenSociety.org/branches_CASo.html.

I hope this helps you get established here in the 'sunshine state'. Let me know if you have questions about any of the above.
Regards,
Seán O.

h o r t u l u s a p t u s - 'a garden suited to its purpose'
Seán A. O'Hara fax (707) 667-1173 sean@support.net
710 Jean Street, Oakland, CA 94610-1459, U.S.A.
(ask me about the worldwide Mediterranean gardening discussion group)

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