DEMYSTIFYING NATIVE COASTAL PLANTS

"Any obscurity attached to this gardening concept is unnecessary; native flora are those very plants we grew up with: the wildflowers we found in woods and fields, the catkins we collected, the wild berries we enjoyed." Thus begins the demystification of native plant gardening in the first chapter of April Pettinger's Native Plants in the Coastal Garden.

Why incorporate native plants in the garden? The author explores esthetic, ecological, historical, and pragmatic reasons. A charming sketch of a person relaxing in a deep chair facing a patch of wildflowers reflects a text describing the low maintenance nature of native plants.

The chapter Understanding the Basics presents guidelines for acquiring and propagating native plants, caring for the soil, and planning a native plant garden. Several sample plans illustrate general approaches to including native plants in the landscape. Among the plant lists are ground covers suitable as possible alternatives to a water-guzzling lawn.

For those who would like to begin introducing native species into an existing garden, ideas abound. Add a hedgerow of native shrubs as a wildlife shelter and attractive backdrop to the garden; mix indigenous ferns with hostas. And for people who are entranced with the idea of a wildflower meadow, the author delivers a well-researched dose of reality in some wise advice: Go slowly, start small, monitor results before expanding.

Identifying Plant Habitats describes the Pacific coastal region's wetland, edgeland, forest, grassland and mountain areas and the prominent species associated with each. Lists of more trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants under their preferred habitats follow the full descriptions of selected important species.

A wildlife chapter surveys the seasonal activities of birds, insects and wild animals that become part of a garden offering congenial habitat and suggests ways to attract this wildlife.

The Human Connection reminds us of our region's original stewards, the aboriginal peoples, whose relationship to the land was intimate, their system of land management respectfully in tune with the forces of nature.