Tough Plants for Southern Gardens Paperback – June 1, 2003

I paid less than $3 for this book, plus $4 shipping, from Daily Deals, and the book looks brand new-- as if it has never been read.It's about the shape and size of a small phone book (I almost stuck it in the phone drawer yesterday).I have finished the introductory section and the section on easy annuals. So far, I really like this book. First of all, the tone is Southern (the author compares the shape of the South to a sweet potato, and he alludes to the Andy Griffith Show; he also talks about his grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-aunt Bernice--in connection to gardening, of course). The book was published in Tennessee.In addition to liking the tone, I also appreciate the content I have thus far read. I have found some easy plants I may try next year, such as celosia and ageratum. In addition, I really appreciate the selections cited for "hot and dry spots" because we've had a drought the last two years and about August I look over my garden and tell my plants to die if they need any further attention from me. Many do. I didn't know that periwinkle and salvia are the last two plants to die from drought (meaning they last the longest with a neglectful gardener like me), but I should have because I have both in my yard. Reading it here just cemented the fact.The book uses common names for plants when the plants have one. It tends more towards amateur gardeners than trained horticulturalists. The pictures of flowers are bright and clear.I am finding it more useful, so far, than many of the gardening books I own. But then, it should be--it is specifically directed towards gardeners in my region of the country.

Just as described, fast shipping too.

If you are gardening for ease and local vegetation. This is THE BOOK! My husband has taken up bee keeping. So local flora is a MUST for us. Plus we wanted TONS of flowering plants that we wouldn't have to spend hours of efforts to cultivate. This book has it in SPADES!!The writer has life times of experience and education on local southern flora. He has an easy, fun, wit. His sense of humor is awesome and had me chuckling many times.I would be buying any and all books by Mr. Rushing, but with this one book, he's given me all I need to have an amazing south-western Florida garden and flowers.Many thanks Mr. Rushing and his amazing collective family of southern gardeners.

It's a decent reference book but includes quite a number of plants thar I know are invasive in my area...without saying so. I therefore would not plant anything suggested in this book without first checking your state's invasive plants list.

Tough Plants for Southern Gardens Having this book around the Southern Home is kind of like having a neighbor that knows a lot about plants. A neighbor who has a beautiful yard with beautiful plants, but they don't seem to do a lot of yard work. When you ask them, they have lots of neat ideas and helpful little hints. They always know the common names for plants and when to plant them.The book, of course, covers the South. Those of us who live here know that there's a big difference between even northern Mississippi and Alabama and southern Mississippi and Alabama. Plants that are tough sometimes need to be tough against heat, humidity, and sand, or tough against cold, dry winds. This book will tell you which plant is which and it's a good field manual to take to the nursery with you.

Lots of useful information here on surefire plants for southern gardens. For each plant, he gives a description of requirements, varieties, etc. There are also lists of other plants worth checking out for southern gardens, but which are not fully covered in this book.As a plus, Felder Rushing is a scream! He has an old southern story-teller style that had me laughing out loud. Can't beat that - humor and information all in one!

I am a beginning gardener, and Felder Rushing's book is helping me figure out how to replant where too much wax myrtle, Virginia creeper and palmetto have taken over my five acres. I am already using (and quoting!) the advice. An experienced gardener might not get as much from the book, but it's a fun read for anyone.My only caveat is that some of the plants are not as suitable for Florida as for the upper south. For instance, Rushing mentions potato vine without warning deep south gardeners against air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) and winged yam. Pretty and containable in cooler climates, they are invasive in central and south Florida; after two years, my family is still digging up potatoes and cutting down vines that infest our property.

I'm buying my second copy of this book, after giving my first away to someone else. Even if I only had limited bookshelf space, I'd still want to keep a copy of this handy reference around. It is an excellent companion book to The Gestalt Gardener radio show, since it provides an opportunity to associate pictures with words on the radio. The format of color pictures and descriptions makes it easy to identify plants that I don't know by name. Best of all, the plants that are included in the book are great, no-maintenance, proven winners.