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Books, Magazines & Publications
“Biological diversity is the key to the maintenance of the world as we know it.”
~ E.O. Wilson, Biodiversity
Looking for a great public garden that uses native plants, an inspirational walk in a woodland filled with spring blooming wildflowers or a vista of an untouched prairie? Use this area of our site as your roadmap!
Books, magazines and other printed publications such as newsletters and booklets on plants, landscaping, and wildlife.
by C. Colston Burrell. Readers will find this book’s highly practical and visual guide a great asset in choosing wildflowers that will thrive in their own gardens. The book focuses on the three main types of wildflower gardens–woodland meadow and prairie. Species included are not limited to Missouri natives.
by Andy Wasowski. Wasowski argues that the unnatural landscape so common in America litterally exist on artificial life support. A natural landscape on the other hand is filled with life and can exist with nominal maintenance. Read this book to find out how new construction and land and habitat preservation can work together.
By James van Sweden and Wolfgang Oehme. Although not all species or garden examples are Midwestern, the design concept of planting colorful drifts of wildflowers or grasses is well illustrated and sure to inspire.
by Carolyn Harstad. This book offers a broad spectrum of knowledge on gardening with native plants including planning, site and soil preparation, garden design, plant selection and propagation. It also covers how to create native plant environments such as prairies, meadows, wetlands and woodlands and includes information on native trees, shrubs, vines and ground covers.
by Lorraine Johnson. This book takes you on a native gardening journey across the United States. The photographs and author’s style engage the reader in learning about indigenous landscaping.
by Harry Phillips. A useful book with easy-to-follow instructions for raising native plants from seeds, cuttings and divisions. Specific instructions for nearly 100 different species.
Richly illustrated with photographs and helpful illustrations, veteran wildlife landscaper Dave Tylka’s book will show you how to use native Midwestern plants to beautify your property and benefit wildlife.
by Sara Stein. A former conventional suburban gardener, Stein writes convincingly of the ecological history of suburbia and the necessity of good stewardship. Stein conducted research that lead to a radical change in the way she gardened after noticing the absence of many creatures she remembered seeing as a child. Stein shares her research findings and describes the many ways she put this information to use on her own six acres to restore the land and its plants and animals.
by Don Kurz. This full-color guide contains beautiful photos and interesting facts on 355 wildflowers frequently encountered in the Ozarks. The wildflowers are arranged by color and season of bloom to aid in quick identification.
by Shirley Shirley. An ideal book for anyone thinking about developing a prairie parcel. Includes practical management tips and illustrations of over a hundred prairie species of the upper Midwest along with thorough descriptions and illustrations.
A huge book from the Federal Highway Administration that will help state Departments of Transportation comply with Executive Order 13112, which ended federal funding of highway landscaping that utilizes invasive plants. This book contains practical advice on planting and maintaining non-invasive native species.
For more information on this book (FWHA-EP-99-014), write to: Fred Bank, HEPN-30, Room 3240, 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington, CD 20590.
Text by Doug Ladd, Photos by Frank Oberle. A valuable field guide to wildflowers of the midwestern tallgrass prairie packed with information and photographs. Comprehensive and scientifically accurate, the guide is useful for the beginner or professional.
by Andy Wasowski. Weekend warriors unite! Join the revolution and learn to garden with Mother Nature not against her. If you’re tired of mowing and concerned about the environmental impact of chemicals, excess watering and using exotic plants in your landscape this book is for you.
by Ken Druse. In this revolutionary book, award-winning author Ken Druse shows American gardenrs how to create beautiful native plant gardens that can actually improve the health of the planet. The selected gardens illustrate how to establish ecosystem in miniature in your own backyard by landscaping with native plants.
by J. Robert and Beatrice Smith. This book is a great aid to beginners interested in using prairie plants for landscaping small areas as well as more advanced native landscapers wanting to increase or improve larger prairie areas. It includes specific information on 70 species that can be used in town or country.
Text by Don Kurz, Illustrations by Paul Nelson. At long last, Missourians have a tree book to call their very own. This comprehensive tree publication includes detailed information on 204 species and is a companion book to Shrubs and Woody Vines of Missouri, published in 1997.
The author has included descriptions of each tree’s habitat and range, in addition to its physical characteristics. Many entries include information about trees’ historical medicinal uses, their benefits to wildlife and the origins of their scientific names.
