The Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife (How to Create a Sustainable and Ethical Garden that Promotes Native Wildlife, Plants, and Biodiversity)

So far I find this book quite informative and inspirational. My greatest guidance and inspiration for taking care of the Earth and all Creation, which includes the plants and animals, comes from God’s Word the Bible.I appreciate the pictures and the many references. I just today looked up the books from Mary Leister, “Wildlings” and the other book she published back in the 80s on Amazon.I hope one day soon to have the type of garden and employ gardening practices that Lawson is proposing. Either my own space, or preferably working with someone that is a “Humane Gardener” as my secondary work.

I loved this book from the first letter. The author is real. Genuine. Nothing etherial going on here. She's one of us and shows us the way to unleash our enthusiasm wisely. Calmly. While inviting others into the fold without ever having to preach. She gives wonderful resources and opportunities for us to grow at our own speed. Nonjudgemental and encouraging. Her steps work for gardens and gardeners of all sizes and ages. I seriously found it difficult to put the book down. Ah...I'd love to meet her!

Great learning experience by reading this book, every creature is important.

I've bought this book at least a dozen times for gifts, after I bought it at a local author talk for myself :)Gives a great balance of stories, science and advice without ever being preachy, so I've given it to people who never thought about native plants to those who are total native plant devotees. It's been a hit 100% of the time and gives examples from across the US. I use it for guidance and inspiration for my own plant work.

I was already into wildlife and native plants, I've been focusing on that more in my own "Garden." This book really drives it home though, puts it in simple easy to understand words why we should do what we should do. If you call yourself a gardener, give it a read, it won't take long and your garden and the wildlife around you will thank you for it.

This book is life changing. Beautifully written. Well examined thoughts, science-based facts, just plain light on this era of natural destruction for the sake of lawns and mega homes/buildings. But, with me, they are preaching to the choir :) however, it has given me new fuel to proceed with my quest for a kinder use of the land (any land)...and, of course, I learned a ton of new stuff along the way. My only beef with the book is that the quality of the photos is less than good...they look like the kind one would find in a book printed in the 70s with very little definition and lack of true colors...but, to me, that is such a small thing in the large scheme! The message is the priceless part!

Now I feel like a bug activist and am enthused to fill more of my yard with native plants. Crepe Myrtles in my area have a new very catchy disease and I already intended to remove all of them in my yard, but now I am going to replace them with a Fringe Tree, a taller variety Serviceberry tree and a Chokecherry tree. I did not want to treat the disease because it would require chemicals that would go on to harm pollinators. I feel compelled to help my community plant more natives and use less chemicals.

If you care that species are disappearing through the invasive nature of human activity, then do something about. Start at home with your sterile lawn and transform it into a beautiful diverse landscape of nourishing native plants. Help small creature live their life, eat, and raise their young. After all, they just want those simple things just like us. This book opened my eyes to stewardship through gardening.

An incredible book, so helpful and humane. I'm using it now to make my allotment a place for wildlife.

This books transformed the way I garden. I have always had a love for and appreciation of wildlife but had no idea how I could take my current already abundant garden to new levels. Not only by incorporating more native species but those species that truly feed nature. Have also added an insect motel and other means of attracting even more of the essentials of nature. Thank you for this amazing book. Have shared it widely with others and it will be my #1 go-to. What I have found amazing is that many other gardening books (especially perennial books) talk nothing about how each species attract and feed the environment. They only reference the 'pests'. We've come a long way and I hope that this also transforms the gardening resource books.