Summer is always a good time to crack open a book on the patio or lawn chair. If you are looking for some good reads this summer, here’s a list of some books I have enjoyed and learned more about plants and the planet.
- Michael Pollan’s “Botany of Desire.” In it, Pollan discusses four plants integral to our human history: the apple tree, the tulip, cannabis, and the potato. He explores how humans have affected the evolution of plants and, in turn, how plants have affected our evolution as well. He argues that domestication is not a one-way process where humans simply control plants. It’s worth the read, and it might just change how you think about the relationship between humans and nature.
- “Braiding Sweetgrass” by botanist and citizen of the Potawatomi Nation, Suzanne Kimmerer. In it, Kimmerer challenges the use of Earth’s natural resources and how we view them as mere commodities. She encourages the reader to become a naturalized steward of their homeland by caring for it. She asserts that restoring our land also requires repairing our relationship with it.
- “A Botanist Vocabulary” by Susan K. Pell and Bobbi Angell. This book is one of my favorites for its organized, technical definitions complemented by beautiful illustrations. It covers plant structures, morphology, taxonomic terminology, environmental and developmental terms, and more. It’s a wonderful resource for any gardener or green industry professional.
- “Finding the Mother Tree” by forest ecologist Suzanne Simard. In this book, Simard examines how trees communicate and cooperate through a vast underground fungal network, challenging the view of forests as a collection of individual trees. She discusses her research, which shows trees share resources, recognize kin, and are connected by “Mother Trees.”
- “The Holistic Orchard” by Michael Phillips. It’s a comprehensive guide to organic fruit production that emphasizes working with nature by focusing on soil health, biodiversity, and creating a balanced ecosystem rather than just fighting pests and disease. It covers orchard design, planting, pruning, and pest management for a wide variety of fruits. Especially useful are the five holistic spray ingredients and five essential spray times. This book is for you whether you are a budding orchardist, planning an edible landscape, or just have a couple of fruit trees.
Nebraska Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture. Nebraska Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.
By Kirstee Schutte, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener Volunteer
