This month’s book, The Lifelong Gardener: Garden with Ease & Joy at Any Age by Toni Gattone hit home for me. Gardeners want to continue to work in their gardens as their life circumstances change. Several gardeners have reached out to me for answers to their questions on how to manage their gardens. With this book, I feel I am better prepared to offer solutions.

The year the author became a master gardener she injured her back. While recovering she realized she would need to adapt so she could garden again. She explored the area of adaptive gardening. “Never give up” became her motto.

The book describes techniques that enable gardeners to re-think how and when they garden. It describes ways we can modify our gardens to ensure our safety and comfort. Creative ways to modify tools increases their effectiveness and ease of use.

The tips, tools and techniques Gattone suggests offer solutions to nearly every situation of poor access, overuse and overreach. The process of reassessing our gardens and our choices of plants and materials becomes a creative process rather than a depressing one. She suggests ways to reinvent our gardening lives on every page with lists, tips, stories, resources and photographs.

I found most helpful the ideas for modifying designs, plant lists and maintenance chores. She included suggestions for finding help in the garden and for taking advantage of the gardening community for support.

This book would be a great gift for a gardener friend or relative, or for yourself.