And now it's spring!
My gardening skills are pretty limited–I can barely keep a cactus alive, let alone anything that needs actual care. But I do like visiting (and sampling from) friends’ gardens. Today being the kind of perfect spring day where everyone’s outside doing garden-y stuff, here’s a list of picture books to help set the mood:
And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano, illus. by Erin Stead: is every bit as charming as A Sick Day for Amos McGee.
The Ugly Vegetables by Grace Lin: anyone who likes their gardens to be edible, rather than simply ornamental, should read this book.
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown: there’s something WALL-E-esque about the discovery of this tiny garden in the middle of a bleak, brown city.
Grandpa Green by Lane Smith: okay, this one isn’t really about gardening, but it made me temporarily inspired to create my own topiary zoo.
Plant a Little Seed by Bonnie Christensen: will inspire kids to join or start a community garden.
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney: a classic–one that treats the world like one gigantic garden.
My Garden by Kevin Henkes: another classic, and possibly my favorite, no doubt due to the chocolate rabbits strewn over the lawn.
Other suggestions? Chime in in the comments below.
That second image reminds me a lot of this video:
http://www.firstshowing.net/2012/watch-post-apocalyptic-animated-short-ruin-created-by-wes-ball/
Thanks for sharing!
That’s a great video–and it does look a lot like the book illustration. Only much more depressing…
Gardening is definitely my hobby due to the fact it actually assists myself to enjoy and loosen up. I like to grow flowers both in the house and also outside. My own favorite plants are generally tropical ornamental plants as well as fresh fruit bearing plants.