CHATHAM, Mass., Nov. 1, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- For all those who long to have a beautiful, lush garden to spruce up their homes and lives, John W. Mastalerz offers his expertise and knowledge in his new book, Notes from John's Garden: A Collection of Essays About the Hows and Whys of Gardening (now available through AuthorHouse).
Mastalerz's book is designed to aid readers in their botanical endeavors. It includes short essays that can be read leisurely or for quick reference on numerous topics. Combining horticultural science and personal experience, he covers a variety of plants, practices and procedures needed to cultivate and maintain a garden.
Notes from John's Garden begins with a section on propagation, which details a number of techniques to start multiplying garden plants as well as tools and equipment readers can use make this happen. Mastalerz follows this with several sections on major groups of garden plants, from flowers and bulbs to vegetables and small fruits. He breaks down the tools, conditions and care necessary to make these plants a successful addition to personal gardens.
The next few sections help readers dig in and get their hands dirty with a number of in depth essays on gardening practices. From keeping plants warm and protecting them from frost to the use of different mulches, Mastalerz addresses a variety of topics. This information is designed to help readers understand how plants grow and respond to such environmental factors as soil, temperature and light. Another important section details plant nutrition, which examines the role of various essential elements in growth and how they can be supplied by both organic and inorganic fertilizers. He closes the book with a series of notes about things that can be done in the garden at various times in the year.
A lush life filled with foliage is only a short read away. Notes From John's Garden gives the right mixture of information and entertainment to make any reader's thumb a nice bright green.
Mastalerz retired from Penn State University as a professor in horticulture. For 30 years, he taught the beginning course in horticulture for majors in addition to extensively researching the growth and flowering of greenhouse crops. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a bachelor's degree in floriculture before earning a master's in horticulture from Purdue University and a doctorate from Cornell University. He is the author of a textbook, The Greenhouse Environment, and also edited and contributed to three editions of Geraniums and Bedding Plants and one edition of Roses. For more information, visit his Web site at www.gardeningwithdrjohn.com.
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