Journey through the redwoods, grasslands, mountains and deserts of California, and learn how to recreate these spectacular scenes with the revolutionary new gardening book, "Designing California Native Gardens; The Plant Community Approach to Artful, Ecological Gardens."

 Written by Alrie Middlebrook, native garden designer, artist and sustainable landscaper, and renowned field botanist Dr. Glenn Keator, the book represents a revolutionary way of looking at landscaping. Beautiful art, informative text and stunning photography combined with the experience and knowledge of these two extraordinary people are the hallmarks of this unique and wonderful resource. The goal is nothing less than to change the way Californians garden!

 Celebrating the diversity and beauty of California's native plants, the book demonstrates how they can be brought into ecologically sound, attractive, workable, and artful gardens. It features sample plans for native garden designs accompanied by original drawings, color photographs, plant lists, tips on successful gardening with individual species, and more.

 “Designing California Native Gardens; The Plant Community Approach to Artful, Ecological Gardens" is available now for pre-order purchase online at www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/9478.html, and will be on bookstore shelves June 1, 2007.

 "This book connects people to nature by helping them understand their local plant community and explains how to design and install beautiful and sustainable California native gardens," said Alrie Middlebrook. "40 percent of all power consumed in California is used to pump water.  Planting a native garden reduces water usage by up to 75 percent, substantially curbing power usage and harmful green house gas emissions."

The book release marks the beginning of Middlebrook's yearlong tour of California, in which she'll be promoting the beauty, horticultural complexity and economy of native gardens.  Log onto www.middlebrook-gardens.com for more information on Alrie Middlebrook's appearances, workshops and classes.

 Alrie Middlebrook is recognized as a leader in California native gardening, and is a committed advocate and practitioner of ecology-based landscaping.  She has designed and built over 150 California native gardens.  She published "Eating California," a California native plant cookbook, and co-authored the groundbreaking book "Designing California Native Gardens; The Plant Community Approach to Artful, Ecological Gardens."  Her award-winning firm, Middlebrook Gardens, specializes in natives and sustainable landscaping. For more information please visit www.middlebrook-gardens.com, contact info@middlebrook-gardens.com, (408) 292-9993.

 Glenn Keator is a free-lance botanist, teacher, and writer in the Bay Area. His specialty is California native plants and he leads field trips throughout the state and beyond.  He is author of; Introduction to Trees of the San Francisco Bay Area (UC Press); The Life of an Oak, Plants of the East Bay Parks; Complete Garden Guide to the Native Perennials of California.