Heirloom Gardening in the South

"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

"I may be the first to have read your new book from cover to cover.  It reads like a novel that one cannot put down. After all the other books you guys have written, I wondered what else is there left to say. Well, I found out. This book is a masterpiece. I really enjoyed reading a book written in the first person as if it was a personal letter from a close friend not unlike Thomas Jefferson's many letters to those who shared his joy in gardening and farming. The in-depth history of many plants makes us appreciate the horticultural heritage we enjoy.  

My only disappointment was that it came to an end after only 500 pages.  I could have read much more.  The book has special appeal to me, being born on a Texas panhandle farm [Hereford area], raised in Oklahoma, educated in Louisiana and living in Georgia for 40 years. My son-in-law from Michigan, now living in Savannah, has cocktail napkins that say, "I wasn't born in the South but I got here as fast as I could".  We are blessed to live in a section of America that has such a strong heritage and that includes our gardening. 

Thanks again for making the effort to produce such an in-depth publication that gardeners will read and enjoy for many years, and for only $30, that is incredible."  -- Jerry Spencer

"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