A Full Life in a Small Space

While on vacation, I read the book A Full Life in a Small Space: and Other Essays from a Desert Gardener by Janice Emily Bowers. Through a series of 16 well-written essays, the book gives a glimpse of her path from an "I'm not that kind of botanist" to an avid desert gardener of a small suburban plot.

Like most desert gardens (including my own), Bowers's small plot is a contrived arrangement of plants that would not grow in the harsh desert environment without the frequent shade of a busy gardener's shadow. Bowers's realization that these gardens are nevertheless intricately woven into the natural world from which they were claimed makes for some fascinating reading.

My copy of this book was purchased used from an Amazon reseller and is now available at PaperBackSwap. Both sites are a good place to find low cost books and to pass along books that you have read.