Like many gardeners, my awareness and appreciation for native plants has greatly increased in recent years. I love discovering native plants that are well-adapted to my garden’s soil conditions and climate, and have made it my goal to add as many as possible to my garden beds.

So I was excited to hear that Mark Richardson and Dan Jaffe have written a new book specifically for gardeners in our region: Native Plants for New England Gardens (© 2018, Rowman & Littlefield)

Mark and Dan both have extensive hands-on experience working with native plants at the New England Wild Flower Society’s Garden in the Woods in Framingham, Massachusetts. I first got to know them through their contributions to Fine Gardening‘s Northeast regional pages, and found their passion for native plants to be contagious. So I can’t wait to learn which garden-worthy native plants they have chosen to highlight in their new book, now available from Amazon

Native Plant Resources for Outside New England

Another excellent resource for native plant enthusiasts throughout the U.S. is the  Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center’s Native Plants Database.

Use the site’s “Combination Search” function to sift through 9,135 native plants using parameters like geographical location, sun exposure, soil moisture, and plant characteristics such as height and bloom time. It’s a fun way to explore the incredible diversity of our North American native species and find just the right ones for your garden. Check it out–your local pollinators and songbirds will be glad that you did!

This Week’s Spring Picks:

Days to Spring: 13 – This Garden Tool is a Must-Have

There isn’t much that Eliot Coleman doesn’t do well. He’s a farmer, author, lecturer, and arguably the father of the modern organic movement. Now add to that list inventor and garden tool innovator… Read more.

Days to Spring: 14 – Pelletized Seeds Mean Easier Sowing – and Designing

I have always admired gardeners who put in the effort to arrange their vegetable plots in an attractive manner. The artful arrangement of lettuce plants always gets me, but try as I might… Read more.

See the whole list.

Countdown to Spring:

Check back tomorrow for Fine Gardening’s Countdown to Spring to find out what tools, plants, books – and more! – we are excited about this season. And join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest – tell us what you are excited about this spring, too!

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Buffalo-Style Gardens: Create a Quirky, One-of-a-Kind Private Garden with Eye-Catching Designs

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Buffalo-Style Gardens is a one-of-a-kind, offbeat garden design book that showcases the wildly inventive gardens and gardeners of Buffalo – and offers readers "the best of the best” ideas to use in their own small-space gardens.

Buy at Amazon

Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Featuring gorgeous photography and advice for landscapers, Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West is dedicated to the idea of a new nature—a hybrid of both the wild and the cultivated—that can nourish in our cities and suburbs.

Buy at Amazon

Ho-Mi Digger - Korean Triangle Blade

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Versatile Tool: The Easy Digger Korean Triangle Blade Ho Mi Ho-mi is a versatile gardening tool designed for leveling and digging in home and garden settings. Efficient Design: Its unique triangular blade shape allows for easy soil penetration and efficient leveling of garden beds or landscaping areas. Durable Construction: Crafted with sturdy materials, this tool ensures long-lasting performance and reliability. Ergonomic Handle: The comfortable handle provides a secure grip, reducing hand fatigue during extended use. Compact Size: Its compact design makes it easy to maneuver in tight spaces and store when not in use.

Buy at Amazon