Tiny + Wild by Graham Laird Gardner

Tiny and Wild by Graham Laird Gardner

Graham has the perfect last name for a garden author - Gardner. I mean, how'd that happen?

In any case, this is a beautiful book. It's one of the prettiest books for gardeners this year. And the subtitle is Build a Small-Scale Meadow Anywhere.

Oh, my dear reader, have you ever dreamt of a tiny meadow where nature reigns supreme and tranquility abounds?

Well, fear not, for I have discovered a horticultural gem that will transport you to such a paradise. It's a tiny, wild world waiting to be explored, and you're invited to be its queen.

Graham Laird Gardner's Tiny & Wild is a botanical bible for the modern woman who desires a touch of the untamed in her life. Forget the manicured lawns and the endless hours of weeding. This book celebrates the wild, the free-spirited, and the utterly beautiful.

The cover of this book had to be appealing; there are a lot of attractive purple flowers in the meadows, of course.

The cover illustrates how you can integrate wildflowers - flowers you will find in Meadows that you can use in your outdoor living spaces and garden designs- and how those flowers play an essential role in our ecosystems.

Graham kicks things off in this book by asking, "Why a mini meadow?"

(After Graham's appeal, I will share my thoughts on why a mini meadow might be just the ticket for your garden.)

Graham writes,

You've heard the calling for a more resilient biodiverse garden, full of flowers and movement that's inspired by natural plant communities and the wild spaces around you.

Perhaps you feel a sense of nostalgia for the wilderness of your childhood or need to invite wild places home.

Do you have a balcony or an underperforming section of yard?

Maybe you have an area of lawn you'd like to convert or a section of your veggie plot you'd like to devote to attracting more pollinators and other beneficial insects; however, you're not quite sure where to begin.

And so, of course, many Meadows might be the solution that you've been looking for.

Now, when I think about answering the question, "Why mini-meadows?" I think the timing is correct in terms of design trends and acceptance.

We've all been exposed to Piet Oudolf's gardens, and he's been incorporating plants like grasses and wildflowers for so long. He's been painting our public spaces with his version of Meadows - beautiful, beautiful Meadows - that are handpicked and planted to maximize beauty.

So I think gardeners are ready for this book.

The other day, I talked to my neighbor across the street, and she shares a common pond area with other neighbors. And for most of the year, it can be rather unsightly, especially if we're going through a drought. And so she was wondering what they could do, what they should be planting, and I think the answer is found in this book with many of the plants that would go in a meadow.

Think of all kinds of grasses, wildflowers, and, of course, incorporating lots of native plants - embracing the wildness you find along so many of our waterways, whether it's a river, a brook, or a pond.

Imagine a miniature meadow bursting with vibrant colors and teeming with life. It's not just a pretty picture; it's a haven for pollinators, a carbon-sequestering powerhouse, and a source of immeasurable joy. With Tiny & Wild as your guide, you can create such a haven right in your own backyard.

Whether you have a sprawling estate or a city apartment, there's a perfect spot for your wildflower haven. From tiny containers to sprawling prairies, the possibilities are endless. And the best part? You don't have to be a gardening expert to make it happen. Graham provides clear, concise instructions and practical advice that even the greenest of thumbs can follow.

Now, the chapters in this book are as follows:

• First, find inspiration in your parks and the plant communities that are around you.
• The second chapter talks about the importance of site selection.
  Don't underestimate this because, as the saying goes for real estate and houses, when you're going to home your plants, you need to think about location, location, location.
• The third chapter discusses design tips for your mini meadow, which combines a field's beauty and function in your garden.
• The next couple of chapters get into the nitty-gritty of installing a meadow, which isn't as complicated as it sounds, but it's great to have a detailed guide like this to help you remember all the little details.
• Chapter Six discusses how to maintain your meadow, which is probably the most crucial chapter in the book. It's where the bulk of your annual laborers will come into play.
• Chapter seven is the fun chapter - What to Plant.
  Here, Graham shares many different plant lists and charts so you can pick the perfect plants for your tiny metal. I love that.

So, in the past couple of years, you've heard me talk about planting mini orchards and reforesting with mini forests—and now we are here, building tiny, wild meadows in our gardens.

So, my dear gardener, prepare to embark on this wild adventure and create a sanctuary where nature can flourish, and your soul can find peace. With Tiny & Wild as your compass, you'll discover the joy of a truly wild and wonderful world.

You can get a copy of Tiny and Wild by Graham Laird Gardner and support the show using the Amazon link in today's show notes for around $17.