Plants for Atlantic Gardens: Handsome and Hard-working Shrubs, Trees and Perennials

All azaleas are rhododendrons, but not all rhododendrons are azaleas. Who knew? I had no idea my azalea was related to the two rhododendrons flourishing nearby. Plants for Atlantic Gardens is bursting with information that is entertaining, interesting and helpful to new and experienced gardeners.

 

Author Jodi DeLong, a prolific and knowledgeable gardening writer, provides answers to the many challenges of gardening in the Atlantic region. Despite soil issues, late springs, an overabundance of deer and slugs, she says there are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of plants that grow well here. For this book she has selected a variety of trees, shrubs and perennials—some native to the region, some introduced, some old and some new.

 

The first section features about forty shrubs and trees, and begins with planting instructions. Arranged alphabetically from Acers to Weigela, DeLong tells us what works best where, what will turn off deer and what will attract birds. Everything you need to know is here—bloom period, growing requirements, zone, size, propagation, how best used and potential problems. For every species is a list of recommended cultivars. The photos are an added bonus.

 

The perennial section is equally impressive, from Achillia to Veronica, encouraging us to open our hearts to plants that might not thrill us—such as Hosta—by discovering different varieties. She even includes a list of plants to approach with caution but reminds readers that “one gardener’s pest can be another gardener’s pleasure.” DeLong alerts us to always learn the size of our plants at maturity.

 

There’s a book list for further reading as well as lists (without page numbers for quick reference) of deer-resistant plants, pollinators, salt-and-drought-resistant plants and plants for moist or wet soil. She admits her list of nurseries is not exhaustive and two of the best known are missing— Bayport in Nova Scotia and Corn Hill in New Brunswick.

 

The author shares her personal moments throughout—memories of her fondness for lupins as a child, a wooded hillside that was her backyard in St. John’s where she learned to identify so many plants and the excitement of buying a property in the Annapolis Valley with her “long-suffering” spouse with room for her dream gardens. DeLong has extensive personal knowledge that she happily shares with her readers, while respecting what she has learned from gardeners and horticulturalists throughout the region.

 

Plants for Atlantic Gardens will inspire gardeners to a whole new world of possibilities. —Valerie Mansour