Customer Reviews

Florida Gardens Gone Wild

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4 star:		(1)
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When it comes to plants and gardening I had always ascribed to the theory of "benign neglect" - but in experiencing Lucy Beebe Tobias' "FL Gardening Gone Wild" first hand, I discovered that it is so much more than just digging in the dirt...it is about connecting...with yourself, with the earth, with the environment, with each other's passions and talents - to learn, to escape, to grow (literally and figuratively) - to be a part of something greater than oneself. For in the end it is far more than just discovering the richness and abundance of the Florida garden - it's about discovering and embracing the essence of community, cultivating the reality that we are all truly better together. Lucy takes her personal journey of discovery and in her generous sharing, she makes it ours.

Florida Gardens Gone Wild combines delightful storytelling with history, practical application and travel suggestions - all woven together for the reader to enjoy. Whether you're an avid gardener, a beginning gardener or one who enjoys visiting beautiful places and enjoying nature, Lucy's book will appeal to you. Lucy takes you on a journey across the state of Florida, introducing you to some of its fascinating people, places and natural beauty. All that, and you get great ideas and tips on how you can surround yourself with natural beauty in your very own garden!

Whether you are a working gardener or a garden admirer, you will enjoy--and benefit from--Lucy Tobia's book. It's an easy read with plenty of references for the more technical reading. There's also lots of suggestions for gardens to visit (the I-can-hardly-wait kind). A favorite section, for me, is Part 2, Section 7. Enjoy.

Everyone who's about to start gardening in Florida should read Lucy Tobias's book. It's lively, encouraging, well-researched and practical. And, it's fun to read--I read it all in one sitting. The best part is--she tells you how to start a native garden, which is exactly what Florida desperately needs to counteract the unrestrained developmnet that has polluted its groundwater, driven away wildlife, and drained the already overtaxed water supply. Following her lead, you can create a beautiful garden that provides a safe place for wildlife, uses water sparingly, and doesn't pollute the environment. Lucy is good company as she introduces you to a wonderful array of resources for finding native plants, herbs, mulch, birdfeeders, water features, and much more. She shows you how to start a butterfly garden, suggests places to visit that will inspire you and give you ideas, and clues you in on the inexpensive way to do it all. Her book is both a handy reference tool and an inspirational guide, excellent as a gift and as an addition to your own library. With Florida Gardens Gone Wild you can make the world both better and more beautiful.

"I have already read the book cover to cover, begged God to forgive all my gardening transgressions and plan to make a rain barrel soon."

Susan Smiley-Height

Lucy Tobias' Florida Gardens Gone Wild is so wonderful and so chocked full of information it makes gardening in Florida a very doable thing. And Florida Gardening with native plants becomes an absolute must. This is a "get it you'll never regret it eBook."

FLORIDA GARDENS GONE WILD is a wonderful read---and I can hardly wait to visit some of the Florida gardens Lucy Beebe Tobias mentions. Her prose is delightful and her practical tips and suggestions sound very "do-able." This is a book I now want to give to all my gardening friends!

Lucy Tobias has written a book with lots of practical advice. The e-book for only $4.99 contains a load of links to each subject she talks about. But my favorite part was the advice on how to ENJOY your garden. Sure, there are always weeds to pull somewhere, but now and then you have to stand back and look at the good points -- today's flowers, butterflies flitting, that plant being eaten by caterpillars really means future butterflies, and how to connect with your neighbors and friends. I like her book.

This book is both practical and fun. MS Tobias gives Florida gardeners suggestions and sources, and writes in such a way that the reader visualizes what COULD be. This book reads like poetry. As a Florida gardener who has replaced grass three times, I can't wait to put these ideas in action.

Gardening in Florida is very different than gardening "up north," i.e., planting tomatoes in the fall? This book is a must-read for anyone new to Florida. For those of us who have been here a while, it's full of tips that we can use, too. All that, plus it's injected with Lucy's "laugh-out-loud observations of her everyday life with cats and dogs and geckos and gardens. Savor this book the first time you read it, then save it for reference sources in the "digging it" section at the end of each chapter. A great bargain - buy two!