The Gardeners' Guide to the Lowcountry

The Gardeners’ Guide is a treasure trove, sharing localized advice on everything from garden preparation to window boxes to vegetable gardening. The “Plant Selections” chapter delves into annuals and perennials, covering azaleas, camellias, palms, citrus, vegetables, and more, with charts that detail the varieties best suited to the Lowcountry. Green thumbs will keep returning to the month-by-month charts suggesting tasks to stay on top of throughout the year (don’t forget to dig and store caladium bulbs in October!).

Over the decades, generations of Charleston gardeners have layered in their knowledge, and their voices shine through the writing’s reassuring, conversational style. “The book has character and patina and soul,” says McDonald. She convened a supergroup of Garden Clubbers who made changes to the USDA zone information, composed guidance on sustainable garden practices, and enhanced the reference section with helpful terminology.