Prairie Up: An Introduction to Natural Garden Design

Connecting to nature with native plants

Landscaping with native plants has encouraged gardeners from the Midwest and beyond to embark on a profound scientific, ecological, and emotional partnership with nature. Benjamin Vogt shares his expertise with prairie plants in a richly photographed guide aimed at gardeners and homeowners, making big ideas about design approachable and actionable. Step-by-step blueprints point readers to plant communities that not only support wildlife and please the eye but that rethink traditional planting and maintenance. Additionally, Vogt provides insider information on plant sourcing, garden tools, and working with city ordinances. This book will be an invaluable reference in sustainable garden design for those wanting both beautiful and functional landscapes.

Easy to use and illustrated with over 150 color photos, Prairie Up is a practical guide to artfully reviving diversity and wildness in our communities.

Received Honorable Mention from the AHS Book Awards (American Horticultural Society)

"Gardeners serious about ditching tidy landscaping have a great starting point here." -- Publishers Weekly

"Gives gardeners the tools they need to confidently 'prairie up' their landscape, whether its a garden bed or an entire yard. " -- My Northern Garden

"Beautiful photographs show a variety of climates and regions. . . . Vogt gives gardeners a thorough look into what it takes to create a prairie landscape and revive natural diversity. . . . An essential resource." -- Library Journal

"A wonderful book for the gardener interested in natural garden design, native plants, plant communities, ecoregions, plant sociability, and more." -- The Real Dirt, Garden Club of America

"This book provides even the most novice native plant gardener with an invaluable reference tool in sustainable garden design. . . . Consider Prairie Up, your trail guide for navigating the change we need." -- Outdoor New

"A complete toolkit for the gardener looking to create a prairie-inspired home landscape." -- Horticulture
"The emphasis on insights gained through in-the-garden experience makes Prairie Up an unusually useful guide for any gardener seeking to repopulate their yard with the local natives." --Berkshire Eagle

"As an excellent concise resource for prairie gardeners, this volume rates 5 stars." --Wild Ones

Benjamin Vogt is the owner of Monarch Gardens LLC, a prairie-inspired design firm that creates natural landscapes for homeowners, businesses, and schools. He is the author of A New Garden Ethic: Cultivating Defiant Compassion for an Uncertain Future.

3 Fields Books

Pub Date: January 24, 2023

0.5" H x 9.9" L x 7.9" W 

208 pages

Paperback