Storytime Sunday - Tough Plants in a Fragile Land

"Tough Plants in a Fragile Land"

Saving Our Planet, One Garden at a Time

By:  Fritzie Von Jessen

  

"Tough Plants in a Fragile Land" is the story of how Fritzie Von Jessen is doing her part to help out our fragile planet.  Fritzie, who is originally from Denmark, had moved to New York City as a young girl, then to Long Island with her husband (this is where she really began her gardening skills), and finally to California's Colorado Desert after her kids were grown and her and her husband had separated. 

Fritzie does a great job explaining how using native plants not only gives you a unique look compared to your neighbors lawns but also is beneficial to the environment.  She also explains how using native vegetation is easier to care for than trying to grow things that are not used to the environment.  You also don't have to use all those chemicals when you are growing native plants so that is good for the environment and yourself. 

"Tough Plants in a Fragile Land" is full of gorgeous photos that really draw you into what it is like to live in the desert.  Let me tell you, it is so much prettier than I ever realized.  The vast amount of plants and animals that live there was amazing. 

This book is a great combination of the author's life, history of the Colorado Desert, beautiful pictures, and a great reference section about desert plants.  Even though I don't live in a desert (haven't even visited one) this book still gave me a lot of great ideas on how to incorporate native plants into my own yard.  I will just have to get past the fact that everyone else will probably still just call them weeds.  This is one of those books that you don't just read and move on, I will be coming back to this again and again. 

This book would make a great gift for the gardener in your life.

To purchase your own copy of "Tough Plants in a Fragile Land: Saving our Planet, One Garden at a Time" you can go here. 

Disclaimer:  I received the above book for free from Dorrance Publishing Co, Inc. in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions remain my own.