Praise for
Jan Coppola Bills & Late Bloomer
“Reading this is like having Jan right by your side in the garden. Late Bloomer is packed with ideas for making gardening easier and truly more enjoyable – nurturing advice and tips for late bloomers of any age! I love how Jan puts it: “Gardening is the art of soul to soil.”
~ Sue Goetz, garden consultant, coach and designer, author of The Herb Lover’s Spa Book
“Late bloomer gardeners understand the natural pace of the garden and appreciate all of its elements, from sun to rain, insects to birds, successes and learning opportunities, sometimes called failures or mistakes. Jan provides timely suggestions to guide us, all with an eye to not overdo, to take our time and enjoy all the experiences gardening has to offer.”
~ Jo Ellen Myers Sharp, The Hoosier Gardener, editor at State-by-State Gardening magazines, author, speaker
“The best part of gardening at 60 is that I now know exactly what I want. I’m no longer lured by trends, especially high maintenance ones. Jan’s Late Bloomer is spot on, sharing her wisdom for gardening in the second half of our gardening lives. Youth, too, can learn from Jan’s wisdom. If I could travel back in time, I’d take this book with me. A must read for anyone wanting to simplify their lives.”
~ Helen Yoest, Director, Bee Better, author of Plants with Benefits and Good Berry, Bad Berry
“Straight forward, easy to follow advice from a professional gardener who walks the walk. Late Bloomer incorporates knowledgeable tips delivered with a very personal touch.”
~ Pat Seibel, Proven Winners® Display Garden Supervisor, Four Star Greenhouse, Inc.
“Sometimes, stepping back from years of gardening due to new physical limitations can be painful! But with the help of an experienced professional who listens to your needs and what you love most, you can STILL enjoy your gardens. Jan did just that for me. She designed and planted beds that can be managed and enjoyed for many years to come. The aging gardener will find many helpful tips in her new book.”
~ Anne Brant Hoyt, client homeowner, southeastern MI
“People who embrace gardening later in life are the most avid gardeners I know! Jan Coppola Bills matches their enthusiasm with super garden ideas and wonderful photos. Her lively and engaging book is a must for those who are ‘late bloomers’ – and a great book for any garden lover.”
~ Jan Johnsen, NY, Johnsen Landscape & Pools, author of Heaven is a Garden
“Aging gives us the opportunity to enjoy the simpler things in life. Gardens provide enjoyment and inner peace. Jan Bills’ book, Late Bloomer, is filled with knowledgeable garden tips to help mature gardeners create an eye-pleasing and environmentally-safe garden. Sit back and enjoy the view!”
~ Marie Churchill, client homeowner, southeastern MI
LATE BLOOMER
LATE BLOOMER
How to Garden with Comfort, Ease and Simplicity in the Second Half of Life
JAN COPPOLA BILLS
Late Bloomer
How to Garden with Comfort, Ease and Simplicity in the Second Half of Life
Copyright © 2016 by Jan Coppola Bills
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.
ISBN-13: 978-1-943366-05-7
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016938561
CIP information available upon request
First Edition, 2016
St. Lynn’s Press. POB 18680. Pittsburgh, PA 15236
412.381.9933. www.stlynnspress.com
Book design – Holly Rosborough
Editor – Catherine Dees
Editorial Interns – Christina Gregory and Morgan Stout
Photo credits:
All photos © Jan Coppola Bills with the exception of the following:
Pages 12, 13, 14, 15, and 94 © Carla Carr; page 16 © Kylee Baumle; page 92 © Jenny Peterson, pages 93 and 117 © Jill Plumb; pages 17, 39 (both), 59, 72, 97, 98, 118 (both), 119 (top), 120 (bottom), 121 (top), 122 (bottom three), 124 and 137 © Holly Rosborough Cover photo © Aly Darin Johnson-Hill
Printed in Canada
on certified FSC recycled paper using soy-based inks
This title and all of St. Lynn’s Press books may be purchased for educational, business or sales promotional use. For information please write: Special Markets Department. St. Lynn’s Press. POB 18680. Pittsburgh, PA 15236
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To my darling brotherMichaelwho lives foreverin my heart.
Table of Contents
Chapter One | Simplicity and Sustainability
Chapter Two | Gardening with Comfort and Ease
Chapter Three | Where Does Your Garden Grow?
Chapter Five | Small Garden Abundance
Chapter Seven | Ornamental Trees and Shrubs
Chapter Eight | The Flow of Water
Chapter Nine | Tend, Don’t Toil
Chapter Ten | Weed Out the Weeds
Chapter Eleven | Unwanted Lawn?