Book Review by Josephine Norton – “A Northern Gardeners Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators” by Lorraine Johnson and Sheila Colla. Illustrated by Ann Sanderson. Island Press 2023.
At first glance I thought this book would include the Canadian zone 5 but it is an American published book so deals only with the native plants from the northeastern states. However, all the information is applicable to areas further north of the border. The work’s highlight is its listing of plant profiles, including perennials grasses, sedges, trees, shrubs and vines. The perennials section is arranged by bloom time.
The opening chapters introduce the typical pollinators that we can attract with appropriate plants…..insects, hummingbirds, bats and others. Although plants other than native plants can provide pollen, native plants are much more important as plants and pollinators have evolved together over thousands of years. This book is nicely illustrated with lovely drawings and photographs.
Order online at biblioottawalibrary.ca or by calling your local library.
