The Know Maintenance Perennial Garden
“Diblik explains the concepts behind self-sustaining plant communities -- plants that naturally grow well in harmony and require little maintenance, once established. With Diblik's method, you can throw out the mulch, abandon staking, deadheading, the fertilizers and herbicides, the end-of-the-season cleanups. Instead, you'll learn to understand how plants grow -- their soil, water, and light requirements -- and the easy ways to get what you want.... A wonderful book for homeowners and designers alike -- it definitely belongs on your bookshelf.”(Nara SchoenbergThe Chicago Tribune)“A stunning guide to creating nature inspired gardens… Diblik, who supplied many of the plants for the award-winning Lurie Garden at Millennium Park in Chicago, offers up detailed information about 74 sturdy and appealing perennials in a photo-rich reference.”(Landscape Architecture)If you're considering a perennial garden for a project, the plantsman behind the Lurie Garden in Chicago's Millennium Park has some ideas to share. Roy Diblik owns Northwind Perennial Farm, a nursery in Burlington, Wisconsin, and he appropriately starts the book off with chapters on understanding your garden (soil, light, shade), understanding plants (growth habits, flowers, foliage, stems, crowns), preparing and maintaining the site, and some likely plants to consider. Then comes the true treasure—chapter 6 has 62 planting plans, broken down into sun and shade, and then further into themes inspired by successful public plantings (the High Line, “Essence of Piet Oudolf") or even paintings (van Gogh's Poet's Garden).(Garden Variety News)“If you’re dreaming of a low-maintenance, lush, perennial garden this spring, then Roy Diblik’s new book should be your planting bible. It provides dozens of fresh, detailed plans and gorgeous color photographs of easy-care yet stunningly artistic gardens.”(A Garden of Possibilities)“A book for thinking gardeners who really want to take the time to know their plants and understand how their plants live and work together as a sustainable community. Armed with this knowledge, gardeners will be free to actually spend time enjoying their gardens.”(East Oregonian)"Roy Diblik to the rescue! His latest book debunks the traditional landscaping advice in favor of a more natural approach that takes advantage of site, soil, light and just the right selection of plants to bring year-round beauty and interest to your home or business.”(Akron Beacon Journal)“Perennial gardeners will appreciateThe Know Maintenance Perennial Garden, a book based on the premise that knowing your plants helps you care for them more effectively, with less work.”