Atlantic Coastal Gardening: Growing Inspired, Resilient Plants by the Sea by Denise Adams is a beautifully illustrated and deeply personal celebration of the art of seaside gardening. Drawing on her extensive experience along the rough and beautiful Atlantic coast—particularly Nova Scotia’s South Shore—Adams skillfully marries practical guidance with poetic appreciation of maritime environments.
This 240-page volume, bursts with over 300 photographs that capture rugged cliffside gardens, wind-sculpted plantings, and whimsical, nature-infused garden accessories made from storm-salvaged wood and sea-washed rope. The visual storytelling is both inspirational and instructional—each image reinforces the core message: coastal gardens must embrace the wild, not tame it.
Adams covers fundamental elements such as soil testing, seed saving, composting (especially using seaweed), and building garden micro-climates through sheltering boulders and hedges. Particularly engaging are her “surf-and-herb” recipes and seasonal planting charts, tailored to the region’s unique fog, salty winds, and evolving environmental stresses. Tips like choosing small-leafed shrubs, succulents, and native grasses help guide growers toward resilient plantings adapted to coastal rigors.
Scattered throughout the pages, Adams provides recipes utilizing the homegrown ingredients for health and nutrition. One such recipe is the Dulse Spice Blend in our Recipe section. This is a good start for developing different blends incorporating items from your own garden that will give it a unique spin to call your own.
One of the strengths of Atlantic Coastal Gardening is its balanced tone. Adams avoids horticultural dogma; she respects nature’s unpredictability while offering time-tested techniques. The result is both encouraging to novices and rewarding to seasoned gardeners. Purchase a copy of the book at https://nimbus.ca/store/atlantic-coastal-gardening-2.html or win it in our Giveaway section.
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his volume is as much a handbook as it is a love letter to coastal landscapes—a must-have reference for anyone looking to cultivate hardy, beautiful gardens in the face of salt-spray and Atlantic gusts. Denise Adams’s book masterfully combines aesthetic charm, ecological intelligence, and hands-on know-how, making it a uniquely valuable resource for coastal gardening enthusiasts.
Reprinted with permission from Nimbus Pubishing. Copyright © 2014, 2016, Denise Adams. Available through booksellers everywhere. https://nimbus.ca/store/atlantic-coastal-gardening-2.html
