The Prairie Short Season Yard: Quick and Beautiful on the Canadian Prairies Paperback – April 8, 2014

Lyndon Penner is one of the most interesting gardening speakers I have heard so when his book for the prairies came out I couldn't wait to to read it! It is even better than I had expected. For example, do you sometimes wonder why a plant is labelled for zone 5 or up but you know that it grows perfectly well in zone 3? Lyndon Penner's sense of humor comes out loud and clear too so I hope it may be turned into an audio book in the future. The information is practical and wide-ranging and the style is so interesting that it may attract readers from outside the target audience too.There are two books. One is for the prairies and the second, I gather, is for areas where there are chinook winds. (Strong winds on the east side of the Rockies that can raise winter temperatures by 30 or 40 degrees in a matter of hours. The strongest recorded chinook winds were in Loma, MT where the temperature rose from -54 to +58 in 1972. ) The books have a Canadian focus but will be popular in the northern American midwest as well.I'll be sending this book to many of my gardening friends.

So much information packed into this book that is relevant and specific , which I have had a hard time finding. Being from BC, I have been somewhat daunted by the idea of trying to grow a great garden in Alberta, and disheartened about all the things I've been told I can no longer grow since moving. I have received an education after reading this book and I think I will find the lists an invaluable tool. Lyndon Penner's honest approach and quick wit was not lost on me. Thank you, Lyndon for giving this Vancouver Island transplant hope for her Edmonton garden. I feel forearmed and forewarned, but by far I am INSPIRED and looking forward to reading your design book next. And by next, I mean tonight!

Great book, finally something that’s specific to the harshness of the Canadian Prairie’s. I only knock of a star because in the shipping with Lyndon section I was hoping that there would have been an intro to each perennial or Tree that covered size and amount of sun needed instead it was just a short description about the pros and cons of the plant.

Well written and so well introduced. Each chapter feels like it's a perfect prelude to the next. If you reside in the beautiful Canadian Prairies and have a deep love and fascination for gardening of all types, this book is for you. I'm always so proud of our Canadian authors who take a huge risk and put themselves out there, and Lyndon Penner does a wonderful job of it!

Lyndon Penner has an incredible gift for making gardening fun! This is full of practical information such as how to understand gardening zones. I've been a prairie gardener for most of my life but had no idea that zone ratings just indicate the conditions under which plants have been tested at official sites. I knew we could grow many plants recommended for climates warmer than ours but didn't understand the discrepency.I love this book and look forward to giving copies to a number of friends.

Lyndon Penner's book on the short season yard is the only gardening book I've ever read word for word from cover to cover. He writes the way he speaks. It's entertaining as well as very informative - a must read for all Saskatchewan gardeners, novice and experienced. I loved this book and am now reading his next one, Garden Design for the Short Season Gardener.