Hot Pots: Container Gardening in the Arid Southwest

by Scott Calhoun, Lynn Hassler

Award-winning author, Scott Calhoun, and local nature expert, Lynn Hassler, provide a unique approach to container gardening by creating a title that is specific to the Southwest region. This publication provides detailed information about creating a decorative yard, patio, or balcony in arid climates and discusses the variety of plant options available from vegetables and fragrant flowers to colorful containers that create an atmosphere of tranquility and attract nature.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Scott Calhoun explores backroads and backcountry in search of plants, gardens, architecture and food. Scott has writen five critically aclaimed gardening books. His first book, Yard Full of Sun, received the 2006 American Horticultural Society Book Award; his second title, Chasing Wildflowers, was awarded the Garden Writers Association 2008 Silver Book Award. Scott’s most recent titles include: Designer Plant Combinations; The Hot Garden; and Hot Pots. Scott is a Contributing Editor to Horticulture magazine, writes a monthly garden column for Sunset magazine and freelances for numerous print publications including, American Gardener, Fine Gardening, and Wildflower. Formerly the General Manager of Civano Nusery, Scott is now the principal of Zona Gardens, LLC. Based in Tucson, Arizona, Scott designs gardens, writes, and lectures across the United States. Catch up with Scott at www.zonagardens.com.

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there is a better landscape garden book for the southwest, I haven't seen it. Scott Calhoun is a master at weaving nature into this landscape design books. That quality shines through here.

Calhoun provides design advice and plant lists, all illustrated by beautiful pictures. What you might not expect, are the touches of humor that along with clear prose and well-chosen sidebars, make this a book to read - and read again as the lessons are absorbed like a winter rain in a desert landscape.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice pictures but didn't take away a lot of landscaping design. Two very interesting facts in the book...The O'odham people count the saguaros as people, which I thought was super interesting and surprisingly the Arizona Diamondback downtown Phoenix stadium (at 1117 feet above sea level) is the 2nd highest stadium in the country with the 1st belonging to the Colorado Rockies.

[Elizabeth Simons · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new favorite garden writer. Makes me want to use more desert plants and go see gardens in Phoenix and other desert settings. The only complaint I have is that many plants and gardens were described but not shown. There were many photos, and they were quite good, but I wanted more.

[Jan Deelstra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book which delivers much more than I ever would have anticipated.

[Joan Yost · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is wonderful for both the pictures and ideas.

[Nancy Mumpton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great tips and ideas with colorful photos for the challenge of gardening in pots in the desert and other very warm areas. Excellent as all Scott's books are.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must have for desert gardening! They even included local pottery artists...how cool.

[Nancy Mumpton · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Scott Calhoun's written an information packed and beautifully illustrated book for gardeners in the desert Southwest, a place that is totally different than the entire rest of the country when trying understand and grow plants here.