Paul Casson
An introduction into the gardening world of the northeastern part of the United States. The intent throughout is to reduce the work and increase the pleasures of gardening with sound, proven, and short instructions and observations.
These instructions are intentionally brief, no-nonsense narrative form responses to the many questions most often presented to professional horticulturists.
Part 1 deals with the basic fundamentals of gardening.
Part 2 is a woody plant list of more dependable plants.
Part 3 contains gardening reminders, month by month.
Part 4 describes woody plant placement by color, form, texture, and tolerances.
137 pages of pen and ink illustrations accompany the text.
Nurseryman-Forester. Started his horticultural career working as an Arborist through high school. After 2 years in the Pacific during WW II and an honorable discharge from the Navy CB's, he resumed working as a professional Arborist for 2 years before going on to SUNY's School of Horticulture at Farmingdale, NY. Graduated Cum Laude with 2 majors, Nursery Management and landscape Design. Founder-owner-operator of a 9 acre Landscape-Nursery in Northern Westchester County, NY, for 25 years. Served as Secretary-Treasurer through President and Director of Eastern NY Nurserymen's Association. Taught a few horticulture classesat what is now Burlington College, Burlington, VT, for 2 years. Then on to Cape Cod, MA, for 12 1/2 years as Supervisor of Structures and Grounds for the seven-village Town of Barnstable to maintain 100 acres of cemeteries, 30 acres of parks, 120 traffic islands and rotaries with 54 flower beds, all town-owned property and wood lands (as well as beaches, marinas and buildings). Among other things, was gardening editor-columnist for Mt. Kisco, NY's Patent trader newspaper for 6 1/2 years and Nature columnist for Middlebury, VT's Valley Voice newspaper for two years.
Essentials, I hope that I can reduce some of the work for you and help you increase your gardening pleasures.
Although I did start working in the field of Ornamental Horticulture with those first boyhood jobs, and have been learning ever since, I was very fortunate to have had a great staff of dedicated instructors for the formal stages of my horticultural background. The 'Hort-School' of the 'New York Aggies', now known as SUNY at Farmingdale, N.Y.. They set the stage for the good years that followed.
It is true that I am northeast-oriented in my horticultural experiences, however, the basic gardening practices covered here will hold true anywhere on our continent. What will correct an acid soil in Maine, for example, will still correct an acid soil in southern California. Trees and shrubs that are said to be tolerant of salt spray will obviously be tolerant of Atlantic or Pacific salt spray. When references are made to the severity of winter on certain plants or the timing of the seasons, I will be speaking from my own experiences in the northeastern part of our country. Folks in the south can just ignore all of the cold winter and snow discussions and the hardy and not hardy references.
