It's nearly spring and if you're a gardener that means time for spring planting. Although we haven't had much rain this year, that doesn't mean you have to forgo your garden.  Oakland Public Library has many books featuring drought tolerant plants as well as books written specifically for Bay Area gardening by local gardeners and urban homesteaders. 

If you're new to gardening or have questions about planting, The Alameda County Master Gardener's website is a great place to find information, including a monthly planting guide.  The USDA PLANTS Database is also a useful resource and includes information about plant classification, as well as plant sheets and fact guides.

And don't forget that the Chavez and Dimond branches both have seed libraries where you can check out seeds for free.  Just check out the seeds you need, plant them, and return some from your fall garden.  Happy planting!

What plant where / by Roy Lancaster

The new sunset western garden book: the ultimate gardening guide/edited by Kathleen Norris Brenzel                       

Golden Gate gardening : the complete guide to year-round food gardening in the San Francisco Bay area and coastal California / Pam Peirce         

Plants and landscapes for summer-dry climates of the San Francisco Bay region / principal author and editor, Nora Harlow           

Waterwise plants for sustainable gardens : 200 drought-tolerant choices for all climates / Lauren Springer Ogden and Scott Ogden            

Dryland gardening : plants that survive and thrive in tough conditions / Jennifer Bennett       

Starting seeds : how to grow healthy, productive vegetables, herbs, and flowers from seed/Barbara W. Ellis          

The complete guide to saving seeds : 322 vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruits, trees, and shrubs/Robert Gough and Cheryl Moore Gough                                                                 

The essential urban farmer / Novella Carpenter and Willow Rosenthal                                                                         

Urban homesteading : heirloom skills for sustainable living / Rachel Kaplan with K. Ruby Blume      

The vegetable gardener's guide to permaculture : creating an edible ecosystem / Christopher Shein with Julie Thompson                                      

Gaia's garden : a guide to home-scale permaculture / Toby Hemenway

Posted by Rebekah Eppley on 2/28/14, Dimond Branch