I CONSIDER myself a professional reader. Most days you’ll find me surrounded by books, magazines, catalogs and all manner of print material exploring the ceaselessly intriguing topic of gardening. Of course, practical and informed how-to gardening guides are indispensable, but books that reveal the quirks, thoughts and passions of gardeners are my favorite and make for inspirational reading during the cozy part of the year.
Here are a few picks to inspire you or the gardeners in your life.
“Life with Flowers: Inspiration and Lessons From the Garden,” by Frances Palmer (Artisan Press, 2025). For renowned ceramist Frances Palmer, growing flowers and creating exquisite vases are entwined. Palmer’s latest title is a beautiful companion to her previous work, “Life in the Studio.” Both books explore a year in the life of a gardener/artist/cook and how Palmer’s relationship with plants influences her days.
“The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession,” by Amy Stewart (Random House, 2024). New York Times bestselling author Amy Stewart interviews 50 tree-obsessed gardeners who approach “collecting” in zealous and sometimes surprising ways. Through their stories, Stewart shares how trees, the lungs of our planet, can bring history to life, heal a damaged ecosystem, express generational connection and serve as an artful medium for creating. Stewart’s lively watercolor illustrations accompany each profile, communicating the joy and devotion each tree lover brings to their passion.
“Love Letter to a Garden,” by Debbie Millman with recipes by Roxane Gay (Timber Press, 2025). Debbie Millman is an acclaimed designer and host of the award-winning podcast, Design Matters. In this affectionate ode to growing, Millman opens her heart to a new garden, the wonder of lettuces, cucumbers and tomatoes, as well as failure and the forgiveness of each new growing season. A lifelong New Yorker, Millman moved to California to ride out the pandemic with her fiancée, now wife, Roxanne Gay. The author’s colorful illustrations, hand lettering and keen design sense, together with Gay’s garden-based recipes for “beautiful food” tell an intimate story of hope and resilience.
“The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World,” by Robin Wall Kimmerer (Scribner, 2024). Bestselling author, scientist, mother and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Robin Wall Kimmerer brings head and heart to the notion that “all flourishing is mutual.” In stark contrast to an extraction economy rooted in competition and scarcity, Kimmerer offers examples from the natural world that illustrate how respect and reciprocity are the foundation of a balanced life that benefits all.
“The Generosity of Plants: Shared Wisdom from the Community of Herb Lovers,” gathered by Rosemary Gladstar (Storey Publishing, 2025). Rosemary Gladstone, a leader in modern American herbalism and author of 12 books on the subject, has curated a collection of voices in an illustrated book filled with plant lore, environmental preservation and restoration, and the creative rewards of garden making. The result is a colorful gift book that’s sure to appeal to gardeners and anyone who values caring for the natural world. Full disclosure: I’m honored to have contributed several color-study illustrations to the project.
“Lavender for all Seasons: A Gardener’s Guide to Growing and Creating with Lavender Year-Round,” by Paola Legarre (Timber Press, 2025). Paola Legarre owns Sage Creations, a family farm in the high desert of Colorado where she tends 65 cultivars of lavender and more than 1,900 plants. In this comprehensive resource, the author shares everything she’s learned in her “School of Farmer’s Hard Knocks” about the history and utility of the popular herb. You’ll find advice on selecting the best lavender for your growing region, propagation techniques and harvesting tips, as well as recipes and craft projects that can be enjoyed throughout the year. Lavender is known for promoting relaxation and calm, which should make this beautiful new book required reading for modern times.
“Green Thoughts: A Writer in the Garden,” by Eleanor Perenyi (Random House, 1983, reissued in 2002 as a part of The Modern Library Gardening series). Longer ago than I care to recall, I found this book on the shelves of my local bookstore. An alphabetical compendium of 72 short essays, observations and notes, the book is a sentimental favorite as it was on Perenyi’s strong opinions, erudite language and blunt admonishments that I first honed my horticultural reading chops.
Lorene Edwards Forkner: is the author of “Color In and Out of the Garden.” Find her at ahandmadegarden.com and at Cultivating Color on Substack.
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