Gattone, Toni. The Lifelong Gardener: Garden with Ease and Joy at Any Age. Timber. Aug. 2019. 216p. photos. index. ISBN 9781604698534. $19.95; ebk. ISBN 9781604699241. GARDENING
Following a debilitating back injury, master gardener Gattone developed new strategies for gardening. In this adaptive gardening title, she demonstrates how to work through physical challenges that come with aging. Modified practices should keep older gardeners active and injury-free. Section one describes how to accommodate for decreased stamina and strength as we age. Practical tips address preventing injuries and understanding the body’s limitations. Key rules are staying off ladders, pacing oneself to avoid overexertion, and delegating help as needed. Section two reenvisions the garden for comfort and safety. A "garden of ease" is kinder to the body, accessible, simplified, and often downsized. Smart gardens have raised beds, negotiable pathways, self-sustaining plantings, and accessibility to all work areas and storage. Part three describes useful, dependable, and body-friendly implements to aid with chores. Many tools can be easily modified to prevent stress on joints. Lots of photos accompany clearly presented advice.
VERDICT Gattone achieves her goal of offering practical adaptations to keep aging gardeners productive and safe. A wide range of gardeners with all levels of experience and abilities will benefit from this sensible book.—Deborah A. Broocker, Georgia Perimeter Coll. Lib., Dunwoody

Oakes, Summer Rayne. How To Make a Plant Love You: Cultivate Green Space in Your Home and Heart. Optimism. Jul. 2019. 208p. notes. index. ISBN 9780525540281. $25; ebk. ISBN 9780525540298. GARDENING
Environmental scientist and entrepreneur Oakes ( SugarDetoxMe; Style, Naturally) founded Homestead Brooklyn and created a weekly YouTube series, a houseplant masterclass, and a website to share her knowledge and enthusiasm about plants. Enthralled by the natural world since childhood, Oakes now currently cares for more than 750 plants in her small Brooklyn apartment. Here Oakes shares the benefits of caring for plants, including cleaner air, lower stress levels, and the pleasure of being surrounded by living things to nurture. She encourages readers to explore the history and needs of the plants they keep and to really look at plants wherever they go, whether it be in a nature area or growing in a crack in a city sidewalk. Chapters contain personal stories of people and their plants and end with exercises to complete to enhance one’s relationship with plants. While not a book on the specifics of growing houseplants, the title briefly covers their light, soil, and water needs and suggests plants for different locations. ­
VERDICT Readers interested in exploring botany, the history, importance, and uses of plants, and ways to engage with the natural world wherever they may live will enjoy this intriguing book.—Sue O’Brien, Downers Grove, IL