I started a push to convert the non gardening folk over to our side with an article here.
Who knows if it will go anywhere or do anything but I had to let it out. Feel free to comment on the article to aid in the fight.
The family is heading to Port St Lucie, FL in a few days for our annual trip to Spring Training for the New York Mets. I’ll be writing a daily post that sums up that day’s action so be on the look out for that baseball fans.
I made a left turn with my book writing. I have been busting my hump on a “Perennials” book that I’ll be publishing myself. It will only include perennials I currently have in my garden today along with my personal experiences.
With that in mind, I have a few questions for you all if you would be so kind to provide feedback. While I have a lot of it done, I want to make sure it brings the most value to potential readers.
Would you pay for this in the form of an e-book? How much feels right to you?
The main differentiator is that I cover each perennial from their first appearance in early spring up until they die in winter. Does that pique your interest at all?
Should I stick to natives only?
It is heavy with photos but I think that is a strong draw. Do you concur?
The full list of perennials is at 35. Too much and should I break it up into separate e-books?
A sincere thank you in advance for your consideration and have a great weekend.
I would not pay for an e-book. I would prefer a regular book. However, I’m probably the only person left on earth who still feels that way.
Covering all stages of the plant definitely is your strong point. I’m not up on current books, but I don’t remember seeing much of that from other writers. I really enjoy your appreciation of the different
stages and your loving photos showing them. I hope that you’ll also include your distinctive plant combinations, another strong point.
No, I don’t think that you should stick to natives, although emphasizing them would be good. To me, native plant gardening is a separate category; but using natives could be encouraged.
Heavy with photos is good. Your photos are wonderful.
35 perennials is certainly not too many for a regular book. I don’t see why it would be too many for an e-book.
Good luck – and enjoy the baseball.
I also agree with AnnJ. I want a book to hold and reference when needed. Growing tips on each plant is helpful along with what you did when that worked. And yes, lots of pictures.
I tend to agree with AnnJ !
I also agree with AnnJ. I’m not a fan of e-books either. I like to hold a book in my hand and stare at the pages over my morning coffee hoping the information will somehow implant itself. No joke. The more pictures, the better. Best way to really see what new arrangement I can steal. I’d like seeing the different stages of the plant’s cycle as it would help me to site it best the first time. Yes, I’m skilled with a shovel, but one and done would be an improvement for me and my back, not to mention, more importantly, the plant.
I’m just starting to plant more natives, but again, I agree with AnnJ, emphasis on natives is great, but there are so many amazing plants that combine so well with natives, it’d be a shame to exclude them. Unless you wanted subject matter for another book, including natives and non-natives works for me.
I have books with extensive plant lists, and some that focus on one genus. My most used, however, focus on a those plants that work best in my zone. It’s all about me. 35 plants should be just about right.
Have fun.
I find an all natives gardens a bit too wild looking for my personal taste; so I say concentrate on natives, BUT I would also like to see some well-behaved (NON-INVASIVE!) introduced species. Another nice touch would be having pros and cons of each plant in your book. Pictures are always a must!
Here are my answers:
Would you pay for this in the form of an e-book? How much feels right to you? Yes. $25?
The main differentiator is that I cover each perennial from their first appearance in early spring up until they die in winter. Does that pique your interest at all? Yes!
Should I stick to natives only? No but making that a major feature would be a draw to me.
It is heavy with photos but I think that is a strong draw. Do you concur? Yes especially because you follow the plant through the seasons. I hope you include winter for those perennials that have winter interest potential.
The full list of perennials is at 35. Too much and should I break it up into separate e-books? 35 seems good for one book to me. However with your depth of knowledge of grasses you might consider a special edition I just grasses.
Good luck!
Michelle
New Brunswick, NJ
I also prefer a physical book, but I am 36 going on 80 (I don’t even have a smart phone). YES to garden photo porn, the more the better. YES to the full season of plant growth (great angle and so helpful). YES to 35 plants, good number. Selfishly, I would love for a natives focus because it’s what I personally enjoy. I realize though, that my neo-luddite ways and habitat gardening practice probably don’t represent the average gardener 🙂
Good luck and enjoy the sunshine and baseball!
Yes ~ lots of pictures with an accompanying code. Each plant in the picture would have a letter or number ( over printed) on the picture of each plant, and these numbers/letters would coincide with a side bar code. The plants in each picture would be identified by this code letter /number and both it’s Latin name, and it’s common name.