Bringing Home the Wild : A Riparian Garden in a Southwest City

"This book follows a two-decade journey in urban conservation gardening on a four-acre irrigated parcel in Phoenix, Arizona, from the perspective of a retired botanist and her partner. Through a playful use of language and humor, the book not only introduces the plants who are feeding them, buffering the climate, and elevating their moods but also presents the animals and fungi who are pollinating the plants and recycling the waste. This work shows all of us the importance of observing, appreciating, and learning from one's surrounding ecosystem"-- Provided by publisher When living in a large sprawling city, one may feel disconnected and adrift. Finding ways to belong and have positive effects is challenging. In Bringing Home the Wild , botanist Juliet C. Stromberg demonstrates how ecologically guided gardening develops a sense of place, restores connections to nature, and brings joy and meaning to our lives. This book follows a two-decade journey in ecologically guided gardening on a four-acre irrigated parcel in Phoenix, Arizona, from the perspective of a retired botanist and her science historian partner. Through humor and playful use of language, Bringing Home the Wild not only introduces the plants who are feeding them, buffering the climate, and elevating their moods but also acknowledges the animals and fungi who are pollinating the plants and recycling the waste. Some of the plants featured are indigenous to the American Southwest, while others are part of the biocultural heritage of the cityscape. This book makes the case for valuing inclusive biodiversity and for respectful interactions with all wild creatures, regardless of their historical origin. As author and partner learn to cohabit with the plants who feed them, calm them, entertain them, and protect them from the increasing heat, their desire to live sustainably, ethically, and close to the land becomes even stronger, revealing the importance of observing, appreciating, and learning from the ecosystems of which we are a part. When living in a large sprawling city, one may feel disconnectedand adrift. Finding ways to belong and have positive effects ischallenging. In Bringing Home the Wild, botanist Juliet C.Stromberg demonstrates how ecologically guided gardening develops asense of place, restores connections to nature, and brings joy andmeaning to our lives. This book follows a two-decade journey inecologically guided gardening on a four-acre irrigated parcel inPhoenix, Arizona, from the perspective of a retired botanist andher science historian partner. Through humor and playful use oflanguage, Bringing Home the Wild not only introduces the plants whoare feeding them, buffering the climate, and elevating their moodsbut also acknowledges the animals and fungi who are pollinating theplants and recycling the waste. Some of the plants featured areindigenous to the American Southwest, while others are part of thebiocultural heritage of the cityscape. This book makes the case forvaluing inclusive biodiversity and for respectful interactions withall wild creatures, regardless of their historical origin. Asauthor and partner learn to cohabit with the plants who feed them,calm them, entertain them, and protect them from the increasingheat, their desire to live sustainably, ethically, and close to theland becomes even stronger, revealing the importance of observing,appreciating, and learning from the ecosystems of which we are apart Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Introduction 12 1. Ecohydrology 18 2. The Producers 29 3. The Pollinators 40 4. Tending the Garden 49 5. The Consumers 58 6. Being Ethnobotanical 70 7. The Recyclers 78 8. The Ecotherapists 92 9. Getting Physical 106 10. Trophic Dynamics: What’s Eating You? 118 11. Changing Times 133 Conclusion 149 Notes 154 Index 170 About the Author 177