Encyclopedia of Northwest Native Plants for Gardens and Landscapes »

Kathleen A. Robson, a botanist, operates Nothing But Northwest NativesNursery in Woodland, Washington, and has taught taxonomy, field ecology, and conservation.

Alice Richter is a photographer whose Northwest wildflower portraits have appeared in calendars, cards, and several magazines.

Marianne Filbert is an artist who has produced beautiful, technically detailed illustrations for scientific and garden publications.

This comprehensive reference describes plants native to the Pacific Northwest—the ferns and conifers; annuals, perennials, and grasses; and flowering trees and shrubs that populate and define this distinctive region. Featured are some 530 subject species that occur naturally from southwestern Alaska to Oregon's border with California, and from the coast east to Idaho, plants that are not only beautiful ornamentals but important components of habitat diversity.

Illustrated throughout with nearly 600 eye-popping color photographs and original pen-and-ink drawings, the book is smartly separated by plant type into five encyclopedic sections. Detailed descriptions include reommendations for cultivation and siting, from streambanks to parking strips, and lists suggesting natives for particular garden situations or themes—arid or sodden; hedgerows and meadows; hummingbird and rock gardens—concludes the book.

Gardeners and conservationists alike will find much of value and interest in this impeccably presented and illustrated regional resource, which is sure to become a classic on the subject.

Kathleen A. Welton - Library Journal

In this comprehensive regional reference, Robson, who has written extensively on gardening and studied rare plants, describes plants native to the Pacific Northwest-ferns, conifers, annuals, perennials, and grasses, as well as flowering trees and shrubs that populate this region. Beautifully illustrated throughout, the book covers 530 diverse subject species that occur naturally from southwestern Alaska to Oregon's border with California, and from the California coast east to Idaho. Subject species entries include descriptions, cultivation tips, native habitat and ranges, and helpful notes. Included are nearly 600 four-color photographs and pen-and-ink drawings. In addition to the comprehensive information about plant types, the book includes excellent suggestions for species for particular garden situations-from draught-tolerant plants to plants for bogs, wetlands, and streams; from plants for shade to plants for wildflower meadows, groundcovers, and rock gardens; and from plants for butterflies, hummingbirds, and birds to plants for sandy beaches, dunes, and erosion control. Robson-together with Alice Richter (who specializes in photographing native plants) and Marianne Filbert (an illustrator whose work has appeared in a variety of scientific publications)-has assembled a gardening book that will appeal to people with many different reasons for gardening. Whether looking to create a low-maintenance garden that requires little water in summer or to create a haven to attract birds, butterflies, and other native animals, gardeners and conservationists will find much value and interest in this impeccably presented publication.