Growing Bulbs in the Natural Garden

Holland-based garden designer van der Kloet (A Year in My Garden) focuses on bulbs in this outstanding book, her first for an English-speaking audience. It opens with a brief history of bulbs, which many gardeners, she notes, view as a one-season option. The gist of this book, however, is that bulbs can be used throughout the year and incorporated with perennial plants. In an engaging writing style, van der Kloet describes her approach (some aspects basic, others complex) to garden design and color. She reveals to readers that one of her favorite bulbs is the Dutch crocus because it blooms in two colors; the outer petals are a pale lilac with a silver sheen, while the inner petals are a darker shade of purple. She’s transparent about the doubts and challenges she faced successfully completing projects around the world, but her discussion about that helps gardeners better understand what to take into consideration for best results. Her designs are captured in stunning color photographs—more than 200 of them—that are sure to motivate readers to design their own gardens.