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Plants with Style: A Plantsman's Choices for a Vibrant, 21st-Century Garden
“A love letter to plants…that oozes enthusiasm.”� The English Garden
Why settle for lackluster gardens filled with dull, ho-hum plants? In this spirited, provocative book, plant guru Kelly Norris calls for a garden out with the boring plants and in with the exciting newcomers that will make your jaw drop and your pulse quicken! A passionate horticulturist and lifelong gardener, Kelly is the ideal guide to the botanical riches available to today’s gardeners. In chapters on environment, structure, seasonal standouts, and plant combinations he shines a spotlight on the A-list plants in every category—plants that will thrive, not merely survive. Along the way, he shows you how to forge a personal style in harmony with your garden’s setting and local environment. As Kelly puts it, “A garden is the best way to savor life on earth.� Let Plants with Style guide you to the plants that will provide a richer, more fulfilling connection between you and your own patch of soil.
Why settle for lackluster gardens filled with dull, ho-hum plants? In this spirited, provocative book, plant guru Kelly Norris calls for a garden out with the boring plants and in with the exciting newcomers that will make your jaw drop and your pulse quicken! A passionate horticulturist and lifelong gardener, Kelly is the ideal guide to the botanical riches available to today’s gardeners. In chapters on environment, structure, seasonal standouts, and plant combinations he shines a spotlight on the A-list plants in every category—plants that will thrive, not merely survive. Along the way, he shows you how to forge a personal style in harmony with your garden’s setting and local environment. As Kelly puts it, “A garden is the best way to savor life on earth.� Let Plants with Style guide you to the plants that will provide a richer, more fulfilling connection between you and your own patch of soil.
- GenresGardening
268 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2015
5 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Kelly D. Norris
7books32followersKelly D. Norris is one of the leading horticulturists of his generation. In his interdisciplinary studio, he explores the intersections of people, plants, and place through ecological, site-specific design and art.
An award-winning author and plantsman, Kelly’s work in gardens has been featured in The New York Times, Better Homes and Gardens, Martha Stewart Living, Fine Gardening, Garden Design, and numerous television, radio, and digital media appearances. His latest book Your Natural Garden from Cool Springs Press launches in late 2024.
He’s also the founder and curator of The Public Horticulture Company, an emerging ecological landscape startup based in Des Moines, Iowa. The studio also produces the New Naturalism Academy, a virtual school for enthusiastic designers, as a commitment to continuing education and lifelong learning.
He is the former director of horticulture and education at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, where for eight years, he directed efforts in design, curation, programming, garden, and facility management after serving as the owner’s representative to nearly $20 million in capital projects.
Kelly travels widely to explore and study plants in nature. He lives and works at Three Oaks Garden (Des Moines, Iowa), a creative refuge and planting field on a hill above the Des Moines River.
An award-winning author and plantsman, Kelly’s work in gardens has been featured in The New York Times, Better Homes and Gardens, Martha Stewart Living, Fine Gardening, Garden Design, and numerous television, radio, and digital media appearances. His latest book Your Natural Garden from Cool Springs Press launches in late 2024.
He’s also the founder and curator of The Public Horticulture Company, an emerging ecological landscape startup based in Des Moines, Iowa. The studio also produces the New Naturalism Academy, a virtual school for enthusiastic designers, as a commitment to continuing education and lifelong learning.
He is the former director of horticulture and education at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, where for eight years, he directed efforts in design, curation, programming, garden, and facility management after serving as the owner’s representative to nearly $20 million in capital projects.
Kelly travels widely to explore and study plants in nature. He lives and works at Three Oaks Garden (Des Moines, Iowa), a creative refuge and planting field on a hill above the Des Moines River.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 14, 2018
The cost of the book is worth it alone for the list of Asclepias I've made from Kelly's suggestions. Who knew that there were climbing milkweeds!! Who knows how much my newfound knowledge is going to cost me.
The writing is very accessible and fun. The photographs on matte paper are perfect, just wish there were more. I learned of a few new plant which I hope to get for my garden including the aforementioned Asclepias, some interesting clematis, pelargonium sidoides and I'm sure there will be plenty more once I finish reading the whole book. I'm on page 80 although I've skipped ahead just to ogle the photos. :)
Happy to see that the author is promoting the planting of Fringe trees. Our local garden had a bunch of donated potted plants that they were offering to volunteers and I was excited to find a fringe tree! I can attest to the fact that they tolerate drought and alkaline soil although they do get all of our coffee grounds and the rinse water from our dishes when it's really dry.
Headed out into the garden now to pick currents in the shade.
The writing is very accessible and fun. The photographs on matte paper are perfect, just wish there were more. I learned of a few new plant which I hope to get for my garden including the aforementioned Asclepias, some interesting clematis, pelargonium sidoides and I'm sure there will be plenty more once I finish reading the whole book. I'm on page 80 although I've skipped ahead just to ogle the photos. :)
Happy to see that the author is promoting the planting of Fringe trees. Our local garden had a bunch of donated potted plants that they were offering to volunteers and I was excited to find a fringe tree! I can attest to the fact that they tolerate drought and alkaline soil although they do get all of our coffee grounds and the rinse water from our dishes when it's really dry.
Headed out into the garden now to pick currents in the shade.
February 11, 2019
I always enjoy reading a well researched and thus, informative book by a fellow plantsman. Kelly Norris is clearly a talented writer and horticulturist who know what he is writing about. This is one of those books which causes me to either keep a notebook nearby, or to keep Google open on my screen so that I can look-up each variety and try to source it - and this is how one should use this book. Mr. Norris is of a new generation of gardeners who is able to see things through his Gen Y eyes and through a filter of someone much older. Knowledgable and well connected in the plant world, Mr. Norris has become the plantsman-voice of his generation, as well as a voice who helps others try to understand 'what do those millennials really want?'. Norris holds nothing back in sharing his opinions and vision for the future in this fresh book. Lovely photos (all by Norris) and tastefully designed as well (BTW folks - uncoated paper does not mean cheap or 'of poor quality'! I happen to appreciate it (then again, I was a graphic designer for 28 years!). A worthy book to add to one's library, and even more so, one to reference often. I agree with a few who may have felt that his writing style may be too periphrastic( if not loquacious) for the intended target audience, (it's a bit 'Hinkelyesque') aside from myself having to look up a few words, I actually learned something. A worthy purchase.
June 29, 2024
5 stars
I loved this book.
100% the funniest gardening book I've ever read. The author is sassy, irreverent, and ridiculous. Putting together sentences with words that have no right being in the same sentence together.
The author didn't get hung up on on telling a story, or repeating information I've read in a hundred other places. This book is chalk full of information from a perspective I haven't seen before. Focusing on tough garden plants. There was lots of talk about the stalwart native plants that are being overlooked, as well as tried and true plants from around the world.
Definitely a book I'd like to add to my collection.
I loved this book.
100% the funniest gardening book I've ever read. The author is sassy, irreverent, and ridiculous. Putting together sentences with words that have no right being in the same sentence together.
The author didn't get hung up on on telling a story, or repeating information I've read in a hundred other places. This book is chalk full of information from a perspective I haven't seen before. Focusing on tough garden plants. There was lots of talk about the stalwart native plants that are being overlooked, as well as tried and true plants from around the world.
Definitely a book I'd like to add to my collection.
January 8, 2022
I decided to red this book just to be more aware when I travel or just to get ideas for my garden. This book is beautiful and wonderfully written. I felt like I was in a botanical garden while reading it. If you love plants/flowers then this is the perfect read for you! This book was painted with beautiful words!
April 10, 2021
Many great ideas on how to make a garden fantastic.
April 2, 2024
A fun romp through multiple genera by way of a plantsman’s mind!
April 12, 2016
I will admit, I didn't know much about plants before I read this book. After reading this book I feel like an expert. Kelly really knows his stuff. Most gardening books tend to look boring & monotonous. Not this one! Kelly has a way with words & it's very informative but easy to read. You feel like you are sitting there talking to him about all these beautiful plants. It will inspire anybody to want to start their own garden. I now have a major respect for the work people put in their yards. The pictures in this book are downright gorgeous. If you're interested in an amazing book about plants & gardening, then this book is for you! You will not be disappointed at all. Kelly is a master at his craft & I'm thankful he is sharing his knowledge in such a great book.
March 1, 2016
I didn't think this book was very helpful or useful for garden design and care.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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