The Prairie Water Garden

Sandy Campbell is a reference librarian in the Science and Technology Library at the University of Alberta.

Rose gardens and water gardens present special challenges in the harsh
prairie climate. These two books specifically address Prairie
conditions. Although authored by different people, they are very similar
in layout and appearance. Both are heavily illustrated with photographs
and drawings, and both include a plant chart (varieties in the case of
roses) that details growing characteristics.

The plant and subject indexes are not particularly expansive in either
book. The plant index in The Prairie Water Garden lists only scientific
names, in spite of the fact that most readers are more likely to know
the common name. In The Prairie Rose Garden, specific rose names are
listed under the series name; if you are looking for “Cuthbert
Grant,” for example, you have to know that it is one of the
“Parkland series.”

Both books offer practical advice and easy-to-follow instructions.
Recommended for public libraries that serve those living in a prairie
environment.