Books & Music...

With spring lurking in the air, it's time to get outside and start those gardens for the eco-addicts and plant lovers. These days, planting something green in your yard is just a good idea—plus, you just might discover the joy of nurturing plants and vegetables to full maturity.

Douglas Tallamy has written an insightful book entitled Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens that presents some great ideas on how to create an eco-friendly garden, even in the middle of the city.

Here's a green nugget from the book:

"We can no longer hope to coexist with other animals if we continue to wage war on their homes and food supplies. This simple tenet provides an imperative, particularly for the bird and butterfly lovers among us, to fight invasive aliens as if it really matters and to reevaluate our centuries-old love affair with alien ornamentals. ... Gardening with natives is no longer just a peripheral option favored by vegetarians and erstwhile hippies. It is an important part of a paradigm shift in our shaky relationship with the planet that sustains us—one that mainstream gardeners can no longer afford to ignore."

Happy gardening!