It’s time to start planning your 2025 garden! As you prepare, be sure to explore our fantastic collection of gardening resources– and don’t forget to check out the Queen City Seed Library for seeds to get your garden growing. Here are some new books to get you ready for Spring’s arrival.

Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan (598.0723 TA).

Amy Tan’s fascination with birds takes center stage in this delightful book, featuring her personal musings and sketches of the birds in her backyard. Spanning from September 2017 to December 2022, this collection of journal entries and drawings offers a thoughtful and often humorous glimpse into the avian world through the eyes of the esteemed author. Exercise your ‘intentional curiosity’ and dig into this fun book.

Dragonfly-Friendly Gardening by Ruary Mackenzie Dodds (635 MA).

This charming book provides practical guidance on creating a garden that attracts dragonflies. The author shares expert tips on designing dragonfly-friendly spaces, from planting the right greenery to building a pond suited to their needs. Complete with illustrations of the dragonfly life cycle and recommendations on the best places to spot them in both the UK and the USA.

Smithsonian Plants & Fungi: the Definitive Visual Guide (580 PL).

This stunning book celebrates the world’s most fascinating plants and fungi, from the familiar hyacinth to the exotic octopus tree of Madagascar. With breathtaking photography, it offers a vibrant glimpse into the diverse greenery that shapes our planet. If winter has you craving the sight of lush landscapes, this book is the perfect escape–bringing the beauty of nature right into your home.

Survival Gardening: Grow Your Own Emergency Food Supply From Seed to Root Cellar by Sam Coffman (635.0484 CO).

Author Sam Coffman, a survival-skill educator and expert gardener, noticed that while many of his students excelled at stockpiling resources, they lacked the knowledge and experience to sustain food production during a food shortage or long-term emergency. Covering everything from growing food in under a week to long-term harvesting and storage, it offers practical guidance for every stage of a crisis. Not into survivalism? Don’t let that deter you, this book is packed with practical tips for hobby gardeners looking to maximize their harvest with limited space and time.

By Andrea Ingmire

Library Director