September Book of the Month

     So apparently I haven’t done a book of the month since JUNE! Shame on me for not keeping up with the blog like I should’ve been! I promise that once everything goes dormant I’ll have new posts on a regular basis- and I’ll do better to have new posts during future growing seasons. Cross my heart.
     Alrighty, so this month’s book is probably a choice that y’all were not expecting. I am an uber irrigation nerd and am inviting everyone to join me in nerddom! This book isn’t a book you’ll likely pick up for pleasure reading but it can come in incredibly handy if you ever need to troubleshoot your irrigation system. It’s fittingly called Trouble Shooting Irrigation Control Systems  by Bill Derryberry. This book lists and explains every electrical problem that can go wrong with your controller and valves. It also has good diagrams about the basics of how the valves work other than the electric aspect.
     It’s actually readable too, Derryberry has a sense of humor and he doesn’t write like an engineer. It’s surprisingly easy to follow.  The Irrigation Association endorses this book and sells it in their bookstore at trade shows and online at: http://www.irrigation.org/IAWEB/Core/Orders/product.aspx?catid=6&prodid=309
     If you have troubleshooting questions that aren’t answered in this book (or that you’re still confused about) you can always email me at JWatters@ChattahoocheeTech.edu and I’ll be happy to help you out!


Jessica Watters, GCLP               Horticulture Technician                   Chattahoochee Technical College

June Horticulture Book of the Month

Apparently I missed May... Sorry y'all.

This book comes recommended from Bill Gruenewald:

" 'The Encyclopedia of Country Living' is a great book for any one to have. It's got a lot more than just Horticulture, but it has awesome "How to's" for grafting, Bee keeping (very detailed) Cultivating mushrooms and literaly anything you want to know about growing vegetables, shrubs and trees. It's also got a good list of medicinal herbs and ... See more plants that were commonly used "back in the days"(100 years ago) It's a great book! Every one in America should own a copy. Good for beginners and experts alike."


Sounds handy!  Thanks, Bill!

April Book of the Month

Insects that feed on Trees and Shrubs- Warren T. Johnson and Howard H Lyon.  This month's book comes recommended by CTC instructor John Hatfield.  It contains clear color photos of the insect, including adult and larval forms, and the damage they inflicts on plants.  It is an excellent resource for diagnosing pest problems in your landscape.

Horticulture Book of the Month

Dr. Michael Dirr's Manual of Woody Landscape Plants

This fantastic book is often refered to as the woody plant 'bible'.  It's a great resource for identifying plants and their cultivars.  Though it features only line drawings instead of photos the information in the book is extremely detailed.  This book is more helpful for learning about the plants when you already know what they are than identifying something without any guess as to what it is.

February Book of the Month

     February's book of the month is Ortho's All About Gardening series.  Technically not a single book, this series has books titled Ortho's All About: Roses; Orchids; Lawns; Trees; Perennials; Annuals; Pruning, and on and on!  I personally own Ortho's All About Roses and Ortho's All About Pruning.  These books are easy to read even if you have no technical knowledge of the subject and they have great photos. 

Book of the Month

"Gardening With Native Plants of the South"
by Sally Wasowski with Andy Wasowski

This is a fantastic book of plants native to the US southeast.  Broken into sections by plant type such as "spring blooming woodland flowers", each plant gets a color photograph, a detailed description and a paragraph with more information.  It also contains design ideas for different situations.

Book of the Month

December's book of the month is our own Rex Bishop's "A Field Guide to Woody Landscape Plants of the South, Second Edition."  This book is a fantastic reference and quick ID guide complete with full-page color photos and a full page of information for each plant.  Excellent for homeowner and landscaper alike, this book is available in our bookstore and library.