Reaping the Advice of West Coast Authors

New York publishers often don’t get that California and Connecticut--or anyplace else east of the Rockies--might as well be in different dimensions, as far as gardening is concerned.

Case in point: “Paradise Found” by Rebecca Cole, handsomely photographed by Helen Norman (Clarkson Potter; $35). The subtitle “Gardening in Unlikely Spaces” is truer than the publishers probably intended, since just about all the spaces shown are highly unlikely in Los Angeles, even for those living in downtown lofts. The book’s wonderful little urban scenes of old brick, peeling paint and weathered stone simply don’t exist in L.A., and there are often better choices than the plants pictured.

“Forcing, Etc.” by Katherine Whiteside (Workman; $24.95), the latest Smith & Hawken book, has a similar problem. In this case, it’s not so much the East Coast slant that’s bothersome but the subject matter. Could it be that publishers are running out of ideas? Forcing bulbs and flowers is not a very big subject--it can be covered in one short chapter--so devoting a whole book to it might be, well, forcing the matter. Although this is another handsome book, with stunning photos by Richard Felber, like so many new garden books, it’s of little practical value in L.A.

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Here, to save the day, are several books by California authors that are fun to look at and useful.

Of all the new books, “Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots” by Sharon Lovejoy (Workman; $13.95) is my personal favorite--for the name alone. Delightfully illustrated by the author, the book is about gardening together with children. Lovejoy has years of experience. Heart’s Ease, her plant-related store in Cambria, even has a garden just for teaching. If you have children, get this book; if your kids are in college, get it anyway and save it for the grandchildren. If you haven’t any kids, borrow some--the dozen theme gardens at the heart of this book beg to be tried.

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Gardener and good cook Rosalind Creasy continues her series of Edible Garden books, all of which are interesting and useful, a satisfying blend of recipes and growing advice. “The Edible Pepper Garden” and “The Edible Asian Garden” (Periplus; $14.95) are two that my wife walked off with after spotting them in the review pile. Take her word for it on the recipes; I can barely boil water. Subjects of Creasy’s other books include the herb garden, the salad garden, the French garden, the Italian garden, the heirloom garden, the edible flower garden, the rainbow garden and the Mexican garden. Each is available as a separate book. Though these are written for a national audience, they have good regional advice, and Creasy lives and gardens in California.

“Small-Tree Gardens” by Hazel White (Chronicle Books; $18.95) is the latest in the publisher’s design series and includes many California gardens. It has a curious theme but includes some snappy contemporary designs for small gardens based around small trees. Hence the name.

The small-garden designs in “Pocket Gardens, Big Ideas for Small Spaces” by James Grayson Trulove (William Morrow; $30) are equally daring and--though from all over the country--include some really nice local designs for private gardens, such as Pamela Burton’s Orchard Garden near Ojai, Mia Lehrer’s Borrowed View and Andrew Cao’s Glass Garden, both in Los Angeles.

When it comes to books on plants, one can hardly keep up with Timber Press, a small Portland, Ore., publisher of horticultural books that are seldom found at bookstores (call [800] 327-5680 for a catalog or ordering information). They publish a steady stream of interesting books--many first published in another country--with a few being of particular interest in the Southland:

“Succulents II” by Maurizio Sajeva and Mariangela Costanzo (Timber Press; $49.95), adds another 900 species to the already encyclopedic “Succulents, the Illustrated Dictionary” (Timber Press; 1997). This is a book for serious collectors.

“The Gardener’s Guide to Growing Temperate Bamboos” by Michael Bell (Timber Press; $29.95) has got the dope on a lot of the bamboos we grow.

“Rock Garden Plants: A Color Encyclopedia” by Baldassare Mineo (Timber Press; $59.95) has got to be the definitive work for the West Coast on this arcane topic. Mineo is the proprietor of the famed Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery in Medford, Ore.

While few Californians share the Englishman’s passion for rock gardening, many embrace perennial plants and seem to delight in growing those that aren’t a good choice here.

They may enjoy several books on perennials just published, including “Perennials” (DK Publishing; $29.95), “Perennials for Every Purpose” by Larry Hodgson (Rodale; $29.95) and “Armitage’s Garden Perennials” by Allan M. Armitage (Timber Press; $49.95). None of these is written with California in mind, but then people who love growing the unlikely probably won’t care.

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Who can resist looking at other people’s gardens? “The Garden Tourist 2000” by Lois G. Rosenfeld (Garden Tourist Press; $21.95) lists gardens, shows, tours and special events. Most are in the U.S., but a few are in faraway places. This paperback is only available from the publisher at 330 W. 72nd St., Suite 12B, New York, NY 10023, (212) 874-6211; http.//www.gardentourist.com.

“West Coast Garden Walks” by Alice Joyce (Michael Kesend Publishing; $18.95) includes public gardens, winery gardens, extraordinary nurseries, bed-and-breakfasts and other destinations from Vancouver to San Diego.

If you would rather just read about gardening in the comfort of your armchair, “The Once and Future Gardener” edited by Virginia Tuttle Clayton (David R. Godine; $40) is an extraordinary collection of articles on gardening from the golden age of magazines, 1900-1940. In this elegant, understated book, there are articles by noted garden writers from such magazines as House & Garden and Country Life.

If a good mystery is more your cup of tea, there is a new one called “Death of an Orchid Lover” by Nathan Walpow (Dell; $5.99). It follows the adventures of succulent collector and fanatic Joe Portugal. Not surprisingly, the author also happens to be an enthusiastic Los Angeles succulent gardener.

Sharon Lovejoy will speak at the Spring Garden Show at 3 p.m. April 15 and 1 p.m. April 16; Pat Welsh will speak there at noon April 16. The show is held inside South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, (714) 435-2160.