“Black Girls Gardening: Empowering Stories and Garden Wisdom for Healing and Flourishing in Nature” by Amber Grossman

c.2025,

Chronicle Books                                  

$26.95                                     

240 pages

“Mythic Plants: Potions and Poisons from the Gardens of the Gods” by Ellen Zachos

c.2025,

Workman                                               

$22.00                                    

176 pages

In a way, it’s a little miracle.

You place tiny little seeds in the dirt – DIRT! – and you keep it damp. Wait a week or so, and something grows. Wait a bit longer, and something becomes food or flowers to make you smile. When you think about it, it’s pretty miraculous, so think about reading these books about gardening and plants…

Nobody ever said you had to have serious acreage to garden; you can grow your food on a balcony or in a basic backyard. You’ll want to know how to do it right, though, and in “Black Girls Gardening: Empowering Stories and Garden Wisdom for Healing and Flourishing in Nature” by Amber Grossman (Chronicle Books, $26.95), you’ll get a good overview of what starts underground.

Want inspiration? That’s here, in personal essays about gardening and growing food to nourish oneself, the family, and your community, written by women who have learned and are willing to share their expertise. You’ll also find chapters on keeping your plants happy and flourishing, how to compost, what tools you’ll want for your garden, how to map out what you’ll grow, and how to take advantage of “companion planting.” Once you’ve got the hang of things, there are chapters on teaching your kids to grow their food and how to spread the love in a community or neighborhood garden.

Full of photos that make you hungry and want to get outside now and put your hands in the dirt, “Black Girls Gardening” is the perfect springtime read. You’ll dream – and you’ll love how those dreams will taste next fall.

Okay, let’s say it’s very tempting, and you can’t wait, but it’s a little too early to think about gardening. Good news: it’s never too late to think about plants. In “Mythic Plants: Potions and Poisons from the Gardens of the Gods” by Ellen Zachos (Workman, $22), you can mix your love of mythology with your love of all things green.

This book is a delight for the gardener who loves to read about ancient Greek history, beliefs, and practices. It’s full of quick-to-read, browse-able chapters that explain the origins and cultures associated with various plants and how ancient folks used everyday plants and weeds in their lives. Zachos tells readers how modern science, laws, and knowledge compare to what the Greeks knew and thought and how it’s relevant to your garden today.

Best of all, this book presents tales of plants that aren’t just food — and plants that aren’t safe to have around, either…

These two books aren’t exactly what you want. You’re in luck: your favorite librarian or bookseller can steer you toward rows and mounds of books on gardening that will fit your unique space and match your geographical area for the best results. Grab these two books or any good gardening book, find a comfortable chair, plant yourself in it, and read.