Read by Michael Flamel

 

If you’ve ever caught yourself talking to your tomato plants or throwing a garden party in honor of your first bell pepper harvest, then Top Ten Plants We Love is your kind of story collection. These are not just tales of seeds and soil—they’re heartfelt, humorous, and wholly relatable tributes to the plants that have worked their way into our gardens and our lives.

Written by our very own executive publisher and intrepid gardening reporter, Don Nicholas, this charming countdown-style collection features ten personal essays that are equal parts garden wisdom and green-thumbed memoir. Don’s stories are tender, funny, and delightfully rooted in real gardening adventures—the kind where your cilantro bolts before you blink, your cucumbers take over the trellis like wild teenagers, and your rosemary quietly becomes the boss of the front porch.

Each plant in this list—from the humble garlic bulb to the headliner tomato—gets its moment in the sun. Don doesn’t just tell you why these plants made the cut; he shows you, through memories of backyard battles, harvest triumphs, and the joyful chaos of garden life. His voice is warm and conversational, like swapping stories over the garden fence with a neighbor who always has just the right tip (and maybe a fresh-picked pepper or two to share).

One of the things I love most about this collection is how personal it is. These aren’t just “top ten plants” from a textbook—these are Don’s top ten. Plants that made him laugh, made his meals better, and made his garden—and life—a little more magical. The stories celebrate not only the plants themselves, but the human moments that come with growing them: wonder, frustration, surprise, and delight.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just digging your first bed, this collection will remind you why we fall in love with gardening in the first place. It’s the smell of basil on your fingers. It’s watching sunflowers track the sun. It’s the quiet joy of planting a garlic clove in fall and remembering it in spring.

So pour yourself a glass of lemonade (or maybe a pepper-infused Bloody Mary), sit back, and enjoy Top Ten Plants We Love. It’s a garden party in print—and you’re on the guest list.

Let the growing—and the storytelling—continue!

Warmly,

Bill Dugan,
Executive Editor