William C. Welch is professor and AgriLife Extension landscape horticulturist in the Texas A&M System. He has many years of experience with garden clubs and nursery organizations and is a regular contributor to Southern Living Magazine. On the board of directors of the Southern Garden History Society, he is also an honorary member of the Garden Club of America, which awarded him its distinguished service medal in 2008.
Greg Grant is the Stephen F. Austin Gardens outreach research associate at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. A former AgriLife Extension agent and lecturer in horticulture at SFA, Grant has traveled extensively to gardens in the U. S. and Europe and is a popular speaker on garden topics throughout the South. He is a regular contributor to Neil Sperry’s Gardens and writes the column, “In Greg’s Garden,” for Texas Gardener.
What Readers Are Saying:
"Combining world history, abundant horticultural wisdom and two lifetimes of experience, Bill and Greg bring tribute, reverance, and authentic meaning to the term 'heirloom'. When I read the section on German influences I couldn't help but think of my own grandfather of German heritage, a farmer who loved coaxing beauty and bounty from his land in Alamance County, North Carolina. In today's hyper-paced world, we need such gentle reminders of the customs, cultures, and plants that have shaped and contributed to our rich Southern heritage. Thank heaven for Bill Welch and Greg Grant, and for their dedication to Texas and the South."--Patty Leander, contributing writer, Texas Gardener
"Bill Welch and Greg Grant are the premier 'Masters of Horticulture' in the country. . . what really sets them apart is their deep knowledge and sincere love of the plants and gardening traditions of the South. . . Their latest book is. . . is a masterful compilation of their many years of saving, growing and educating others on the value of heirloom plants. . . the perfect resource for all of us that garden in the South. . . As an avid reader of gardening books, I have come to realize that most of them fall into two distinct categories: picture books and books that tell you how to grow things. Rare is this book that combines these two elements. 'Heirloom Gardening in the South' is just such a book. If you are serious about growing heirlooms in the south, then this book has to find its way to your bookshelf!" - wordpress.com
"The co-author of Heirloom Gardening in the South, published in April, Welch suggests a tour of historic neighborhoods to check out old reliables like antique roses, altheas, crape myrtles, and winter honeysuckle that have withstood the test of time."
"Bill Welch and Greg Grant have a new book out in 2011. It is titled "Heirloom Gardening in the South: Yesterday's Plants for Today's Gardens" and sells for $29.95. It has excellent photos, is well written and the information is top notch."
"Both Welch and Grant are accomplished authors and horticulturists."
"This is a large and attractive book by Bill Welch and his former student Greg Grant and is a captivating personal account by tow dedicated and passionate gardeners, including a treasure-trove of plant images. Anyone who wants to know how to find and grow time honored, environmentally sustainable and pass along plants and wants to create and nurture a traditional garden is sure to want this book. Included are sections on garden heritage, propagation, naturalizing daffodils and other bulbs, garden design, growing fruit and other topics, and includes a completely updated and expanded heirloom plant encyclopedia with lists of bulbs, cemetery plants, etc., as well as descriptions of two of the authors' personal gardens. The book has 537 pages and 500 color images of plants and landscapes that you will want to have for yourself."
"And let me tell you that I wish that I'd had this book years ago, in its current form. It would have saved a lot of trial and error...this revision couldn't have come along at a better time. If you're seeking to create an environmentally conscious garden filled with plants evoking Southern homes of old, this is really the book for you."
"...a resource for creating his own heirloom garden...Heirloom Gardening in the South will also provide a good read for folks who enjoy traveling through the South. It provides excellent horticultural information, good writing and affection for every part of the gardening spectrum."--Calvin Finch, horticulturalist and director of special projects with San Antonio Water Systems
"The practical gardening information found in this book is valuable for any southern gardener. The insights on how to appreciate the history and meaning of gardens is a special gift to the reader."--Evelyn Montgomery, Legacies