Product Description

Gardeners in the Interior West and Great Plains face a daunting challenge: a harsh, semi-arid climate of scorching summers and brutally cold winters. These climatic extremes rule out many standard garden plants that thrive in areas with greater rainfall and more moderate temperatures. Yet there is a wide variety of native plants that are not only beautiful but provide highly satisfactory choices for the western garden. In this comprehensive volume, Robert Nold describes the best picks among perennials and annuals; grasses; bulbs; rock garden plants; cacti; yuccas and other similar plants; shrubs; and trees-more than a thousand plants in all. Leavened with humor and rueful wisdom, Nold's pithy descriptions zero in on each plant's outstanding ornamental characteristics while giving the reader an accurate idea of what to expect from the plant's performance in the garden. With very few exceptions, the recommended plants can be expected to thrive without supplemental irrigation once established, and tolerate winter temperatures as low as -10F (-23C). Throughout, the book is illustrated with vivid color photographs and a selection of exquisite botanical watercolors by artist Cindy Nelson-Nold. Anyone with an interest in hardy, drought-tolerant plants will find in these pages an abundance of tempting possibilities with which to experiment. Indeed, High and Dry can serve as a highly useful tool for resource-conscious gardeners everywhere.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #184004 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 420 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780881928723
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

From Booklist
Nold aims his expert eye on America’s “Big Sky” high country, providing all who garden in the cold, dry landscape of Rocky Mountain regions with a truly incisive resource for selecting ornamental plants. Summer’s extreme heat is considered, along with frigid winters and semiarid conditions, as Nold recommends a wondrous selection of appropriate bulbs and perennials, annuals and grasses, shrubs and cacti. A plant-lover’s zeal defines the chapter devoted to species for rock gardens, where Nold puts forward plants that promise to be easily grown, although mostly from seed. The book’s trove of plants is brought to life through detailed advice based upon Nold’s hard-won understanding of gardening in Denver’s unique climatic conditions. Extensive plant profiles offer descriptions of plants, their habits, and cultural requirements. Moreover, entries are filled with Nold’s personal experience, helping to govern readers’ choices as they look to create their own beautiful gardens. --Alice Joyce

Review
"A must-have primer for the water-conscious gardener.”
(Denver Post )

"To the rescue is Robert Nold, whose experience in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with dryland gardening offers a host of plant selections that will not only survive under these temperature extremes, but thrive."

(The East Oregonian )

“With tips on breeds of plants that can thrive in the climate and survive both extremes of temperature, “High and Dry” is a scholarly and well researched book on gardening in inhospitable climates. Highly recommended. . . .” (Midwest Book Review )

“. . . a humorous, practical book for any Western gardener looking for drought-friendly gardening advice..” (Denver Post )

“Nold, an adept and often funny writer, has written a plant book that will be invaluable to gardeners and plant specialists for its presentation of his extensive knowledge of these native plants and his experience growing them, without any irrigation.”

(SciTech Book News )

About the Author
Robert Nold is a regular writer for the rocky Mountain Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society and the Colorado Gardener. His articles have appeared in The American Gardener and Horticulture, and he was a contributor to the 2004 revision of The American Horticultural Society's A–Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. He is the author of two award-winning Timber Press books: Penstemons and Columbines.

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Customer Reviews

Valuable resource and fun read
I've been gardening in different parts of the West for over ten years (my profile says Tucson, but am currently in Utah), and I still actively seek out every new resource I can find. In this case the author's objective (to create a garden with little or no supplemental irrigation) is a bit extreme for my goals. But I'm very glad that someone is willing experiment with this so I don't have to!! I do have goals to create a garden which uses significantly less water than my neighbors', and I will definitely be seeking out many plants recommended in this book.

I would say that this is mostly a plant-based guide. The bulk of the book is profiles of individual plants, many of which are not easily available. But that's ok; that's how new plants get introduced to the gardening public and the market. He does spend some time (and space) describing his gardening methods and "philosophy" (let's plant things that like our local conditions).

Best thing I liked about this book (besides the wealth of experience and knowledge) is the author's sense of humor. Most of us garden for fun; it doesn't have to be so serious. I love it when he admits freely that he killed this plant, or hated that one. His descriptions of the foliage smell of certain plants had me laughing out loud.

The single criticism I have of the book is that, while there are many pictures of individual plants, there are not many pictures of the garden. I always find it instructive to study how other gardeners place and use plants in relationship to one another and the landscape.

That said, I know that I will refer to this book over and over when seeking out new plants for the drier parts of my garden.

A "must" for gardeners in the interior West
Robert Nold's "High and Dry" has become my favorite gardening book. It's worth the price just to experience the author's wry sense of humor and his wife's illustrations. What I really loved is how he skewers some of horticulture's most sacred commandments, especially the need for "well-drained soil," which is so meaningless out here. The author freely admits to being design-challenged, so the majority of the book describes his experience growing hundreds of native western plants. Probably at least half of these can only be purchased as seed from on-line sources, but, for those insane gardeners like me who are patient enough to raise perennials and shrubs from seed, this book will provide the inspiration for years of enjoyment.

Highly recommended for any dedicated gardener in the Rockies
The harsh region of the Rocky Mountains - a place where gardening seems like an impossibility -- can nonetheless be successfully gardened by anyone who knows what the demands of the climate are upon the vegetation. "High and Dry: Gardening with Cold-Hardy Dryland" is a guide for gardeners in this region who want to start or keep up their hobby in spite of mother nature's harshness. With tips on breeds of plants that can thrive in the climate and survive both extremes of temperature, "High and Dry" is a scholarly and well researched book on gardening in inhospitable climates. Highly recommended for any dedicated gardener in the Rockies.