Roxann Ward’s book, Color Rich Gardening for the South, is now available on the University of North Carolina Press website. Follow the link below to order: https://www.uncpress.org/book/9781469661766/color-rich-gardening-for-the-south/
In her book, Roxann shares her ideas for combining our beloved Southern plants with annuals, perennials, and bulbs to create charming displays that change through the seasons. This book is the perfect companion for any Southern gardener who wants to learn how to design garden spaces filled with color.
From Publishers Weekly:
In this encouraging if slight debut, garden designer Ward shares “shortcuts and strategies” for creating a garden “that will draw you in, and welcome you home.” Ward advises that “every garden area…should have a purpose”, warns against buying plants without planning where they’ll go, and encouages readers to consider whether plants will have root competition. She touches on basics applicable to all gardeners (such as the amounts of light and water different plants need), gives guidance for how to improve soil drainage (using organic matter helps), and offers tips on pest control (“Be proactive and don’t kill the good bugs”). Ward’s passion for color, evidenced in her up-close photographs and in the watercolor illustrations for 10 customizable gardens that feature traditional Southern plants: a “Sunny Summer Border” uses abelias and daylilies, for instance, while a spring “Kitchen Garden” highlights fragrant herbs. Ward’s recommendations stick mostly to the tried and true, and she rarely digs in on any individual topic, instead referring readers to other sources (on compost, for example: “a web search provides many resources for the home gardener”). Still, this accessible guide is worth a look for new gardeners with a penchant for color.