Local nurseryman, Paul Dowlearn, of Wichita Valley Landscape and Nursery, has published his book, The Lazy Man's Garden: Maximum return; Minimum input. The book focuses, as the title suggests, on minimal effort in gardening and yard care with a quality output. Dowlearn writes, "Americans are intensively growing millions of acres of lawn grasses. We are also attempting to grow mostly non-native exotic hybrids for ornamentals. Much of this traditional culture is not sustainable. Vegetable gardening is one of the few things that survived our landscaping ethic to give the homeowner benefits that...

TOUCH THE EARTH: 21ST CENTURY LANDSCAPING is the latest offering from cutting-edge landscaping entrepreneur Paul Dowlearn. This second book covers the basic steps of landscaping from the planning and design stage to long term care and maintenance. Along the way, Paul shares his vision for the 21st Century and what we must consider as we begin the journey toward a sustainable future. The most critical issue facing homeowners today is the availability of fresh water. Water collection, irrigation techniques, soil improvement, plant selection, and every other facet of the industry have been...