Becky Homan MLNA member and Green Leader reaches out to publicl

The Missouri Gardener’s Companion: An Insider’s Guide to Gardening in
the Show-Me State
Author: Becky Homan
Pages: 198
Publisher: Globe Pequot Press
Price: $14.95
Reviewer: MaryAnn Fink

While some gardeners checked their yards for the birth of new plants
and other’s browsed the quickly filling tables at retail garden centers
for nursery news and spring surprises, I have been expecting the
arrival of my friend’s first book, sure to be a horticulture treasure.
When the moment finally arrived, I felt like a family relative,
welcoming this slightly overdue but finished project with a happy
heart. And the book didn't let me down.
Becky Homan’s gift with words shines through in her new, "The Missouri
Gardener’s Companion," as she proceeds with a check list of gardening
challenges in the state. Her honest assessment of this transitional
area would be daunting if not followed by an almost simple-sounding
collection of good advice, useful strategies and cultural instructions
for successful lawns and gardens.
With GPS accuracy she guides the reader through challenging topics such
as Missouri’s many soil types, with easy-to-grasp scientific sources
for help. Midwest climate and water issues get addressed, too, with
information on how some areas have managed their water
priorities. Statistics showing that rain gardens absorb as much as 30%
more water than comparable parcels of flat turf are followed with the
story of Kansas City’s 10,000 Rain Gardens initiative.
Nuggets of other shared wisdom such as St. Louis master gardener Alma
Reitz’s advice on how to "be ruthless" when managing an overgrown or
faltering garden are tucked generously among twelve, easy to read
chapters, filled with specific plant selection information, cultural
details, a basic glossary of terms, an assortment of resource lists and
a useful index.
This is a great plant-specific primer -- larger than pocket size but
not overwhelming -- for the newbie gardener as well as for those who
want to compare notes with garden gurus across the state. Reading this
book is the best of all worlds because it's like catching up with all
my favorite gardening experts while also getting tips from them and, in
the bargain, taking an inspiring trip across Missouri.

Becky Homan will sign her book, "The Missouri Gardener’s Companion," at
various events across the state. In St. Louis, there's a signing
on Saturday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Missouri
Botanical Garden's Garden Gate Shop, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, during the
St. Louis Herb Society's popular, annual herb sale. And on Saturday,
May 10, from 2 to 4 p.m., just before Mother's Day, at Bowood Farms,
4605 Olive Street (between Euclid and Taylor avenues) in the Central
West End. For more information, go to http://www.beckyhoman.com.

[MaryAnn Fink is a garden writer, conservation specialist,
environmental horticulture consultant and ambassador for the National
Wildlife Federation. A St Louis native, she speaks on a variety of
subjects including butterfly gardening, natural gardening and
horticulture plant research. Her own Web site is http://www.maryannfink.com.