Guest Author - Connie Krochmal
Some books are devoted entirely to cacti and/or succulents. In addition to such titles, there is any number of others that offer valuable information on these plants, their habitats, and how we can use them in the landscape. Here are some outstanding titles that are well worthwhile.
“Dryland Gardening-Plants That Survive and Thrive in Tough Conditions” is by Jennifer Bennett. Published by Firefly Books, this is one of the best books around on how to design and garden with drought tolerant species, including cacti and succulents. She devotes an entire chapter for each plant group. For example, there are ones for ground covers, perennials, and for herbs. In the introduction she explains the various water-saving techniques we can use in our gardens, such as the use of mulches and how to select and install a watering system.
The plant directory is chock full of plants that are resistant to drought. All of the major kinds of cacti and succulents are found here. Among these are the Sedums, hen and chicks, euphorbias, echeverias, yuccas, agaves, and others. For each one, she provides a description with cultural details and hardiness zone. She tells how to select the best plants for your area, how to grow them, and help them deal with stress. The author is an expert on dry gardens for she lives in an area where drought, wind, and extreme temperatures place stress on her garden.
“Cacti of the Trans-Pecos & Adjacent Areas” by A. Michael Powell and James F. Weedin was published by Texas Tech University Press. Anyone interested in learning more about native cacti species of the Chihuahuan Desert Region will find this reference is invaluable. This title is destined to be a classic. It is suitable for serious hobbyists as well as scientists in various fields, including ecology, conservation, and land management. It features over a hundred native species.
For the major genera, such as Opuntia and Echinocereus, there are keys that can be used for identifying the different species within that group. There are also 64 distribution maps showing where the plants occur in Texas. For each one, there is a thorough discussion for each plant with in-depth descriptions that provide details on the flowers, fruit, and growth habit. The appendix contains a bibliography and a helpful glossary. In addition, there are over 300 full-color photos. Cactus lovers will find the introduction is a treasure trove of information. It covers a disparate group of topics related to all aspects of cactus biology, including pollination, evolution, and cactus history. The authors provide the up-to-date scientific name, thus eliminating much of the confusion that arose when different authorities used different ones.
“Desert Sanctuaries-the Chinatis of the Big Bend” is by Wyman Meinzer, an award winning photographer, with an introduction by David Alloway. This was also published by Texas Tech University Press. The author is the official photographer for the state of Texas. He has published over a dozen books. His nature photos have appeared in most every major magazine, including Audubon and Smithsonian.
In this title, he delves into the unique beauty of the Big Bend Ranch State Park and Chinati Mountains State Natural Area. The exquisite photos encompass the natural beauty of the area’s breathtaking scenery as well as its flora and fauna. Among the plants beautifully depicted in this volume are rare scenes of native cacti and succulents in their native habitats. The species include the claret cup cactus, agaves, cholla, strawberry cactus, prickly pear, and the hedgehog cactus.
