“An invaluable resource for the home or commercial gardener who wishes to plant native species.”—Edward W. Chester, Austin Peay State University
The natural landscape of Tennessee represents a unique treasure for gardeners and nature lovers. Encompassing several geographically distinctive regions, from the 6,000-foot peaks of the Unaka Mountains to the swampy floodplain of the Mississippi River, the state boasts nearly 3,000 native plant species. This stunning diversity of life owes much to Tennessee’s prime location at the crossroads of mountain and prairie ecosystems and in the transition area between northern and southern climate patterns.
In Gardening with the Native Plants of Tennessee, Margie Hunter gives gardeners the knowledge they need in order to nurture this natural heritage in their own gardens. Beginning with a survey of the state’s ecology—including geology, geography, plant life and animal species—Hunter takes a holistic approach to the process of gardening with native plants. The book’s main section provides detailed accounts of 450 species of wildflowers, ferns, grasses, vines, shrubs, and trees native to Tennessee and adjacent states. These descriptions, arranged according to plant type, include both scientific and common name, flowering and fruiting times, propagation methods, soil and light requirements, and distribution patterns within the state. Nearly 400 color photographs illustrate the species discussions.
No other book designed for the home gardener includes such area-specific information on native species or such a comprehensive listing of plants. Appendixes refer readers to other sources of information and seeds, including mail-order nurseries, botanical gardens, state agencies, native plant organizations, and subject-specific conferences. A detailed bibliography also contributes to the reference value of this book for gardeners, landscapers, and nature lovers throughout Tennessee and in neighboring states.
The Author: Margie Hunter, a long-time volunteer at Cheekwood Botanical Garden, lives in Nashville.
ISBN-13: 9781572331556
Media Type: Paperback
Publisher: University of Tennessee Press
Publication Date: 10-31-2002
Pages: 416
Product Dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.70(d)
Margie Hunter, a long-time volunteer at Cheekwood Botanical Garden, lives in Nashville.
Table of Contents
|
Acknowledgments |
vii |
|
Introduction |
ix |
| Part I |
The Spirit of Place |
|
| 1 |
The Geography, Geology, and Sail of Tennessee |
2 |
|
Geography: The Lay of the Land |
3 |
|
Geology: The Genesis of Our Backyards |
8 |
|
The Soil and Climate of Tennessee |
11 |
|
Sources for Further Reading |
15 |
| 2 |
Plant Communities in Tennessee |
16 |
|
Communities in Nature |
18 |
|
Tennessee Plant Communities |
22 |
|
Sources for Further Reading |
36 |
| 3 |
Tennessee Wildlife |
38 |
|
Attracting Wildlife: What to Do, What Not to Do |
41 |
|
Tennessee Wildlife |
43 |
|
Sources for Further Reading |
48 |
| 4 |
Endangered Native Plants and Exotic Pest Plants in Tennessee |
50 |
|
The Rare |
51 |
|
The Rowdy |
56 |
|
What Gardeners Can Do |
61 |
|
Sources for Further Reading |
63 |
| Part II |
Gardening with the Native Plants of Tennessee |
|
| 5 |
Native Plant Gardening |
66 |
|
The Basics of Native Plant Gardening |
67 |
|
Definitions |
74 |
|
Nomenclature and Plant Distribution |
80 |
|
Sources for Further Reading |
82 |
| 6 |
The Native Plants of Tennessee: Summary, Description, Culture, and Distribution |
84 |
|
Wildflowers |
85 |
|
Description, Culture, and Distribution |
99 |
|
Ferns |
192 |
|
Description, Culture, and Distribution |
194 |
|
Grasses, Sedges, and Rushes |
204 |
|
Description, Culture, and Distribution |
206 |
|
Vines |
217 |
|
Description, Culture, and Distribution |
219 |
|
Shrubs |
231 |
|
Description, Culture, and Distribution |
236 |
|
Trees |
267 |
|
Description, Culture, and Distribution |
272 |
|
Sources for Further Reading |
320 |
| Appendix A. |
Mail-Order Nurseries |
323 |
| Appendix B. |
Agencies and Organizations |
326 |
| Appendix C. |
Botanical Gardens |
329 |
| Appendix D. |
Native Plant Conferences |
332 |
|
Bibliography |
335 |
|
Index |
341 |
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