Horticulture experts Reeser Manley and Marjorie Peronto share their own experiences in gardening for biodiversity, placing a strong emphasis on insect diversity as a bellwether of success. Insects comprise 60 percent of Earth's biodiversity, and they deserve to be recognized as the creatures that run our gardens. It is not the gardener's job to eliminate insects that munch on leaves, suck the sap from stems, bore holes in fruits, or graze on roots. This is the work of predatory insects and arachnids such as ladybug beetles, hoverfly larvae, praying mantises, certain wasps, and spiders. It is the gardener's task to cultivate populations of these predators. The Li ..

Gardeners will find advice and photos for adapting to any microclimate or situation including shade; wet soil; coastal landscapes; container, raised-bed, and extended-season gardening; and much more. Gardeners and landscapers will treasure this book for its elegant writing and full-color photography, its photo-essay tours of outstanding owner-maintained gardens throughout New England, its focus on organic methods and native plants, and its guidance on integrating gardens of every variety into their surrounding landscapes. Photo sequences of key techniques enhance the book, which is designed and indexed to provide instant access to the information a gardener need ..