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Rob Sproule’s second book is vibrating with enthusiasm about taking container gardening ‘to the next level’. Plant combinations, called recipes, promote the elements and principles of design to make successful planting easy. This guide includes basic container recipes along with variations on the specific themes. Plant substitutions are encouraged so that gardeners increase their artistic confidence when creating ‘living works of art’.
Mr. Sproule’s writing is easy to read, understand, and shows how to garden with a new eye to design. Information comes alive through fun word imagery and Rob’s careful choice of accessible and affordable plants makes this book a favourite across Canada. Plant photos, descriptions, requirements, and placement diagrams for the 60 container recipes are well laid out and easy to follow. New icons that describe the intensity of sunlight, moisture and fertilizer requirements, and plant compatibility assist any level of gardener with quick answers to plant care questions.
Gardening with Colour gives the opportunity to create imaginatively designed containers under the mentorship of a true green thumb. A wonderful reference choice for anyone new or old to the art of container gardening.
Dianne McNair
Master Gardener in Training, Vancouver Chapter
Read the following personal interview I had with the author for further interest:
DM Congratulations on the publication of your second book- ‘Gardening with Colour’.
RS Thank you. My first one, ‘New Annuals for Canada’, is a reference plant guide and my new book is a continuation of that but from a design perspective. ‘Gardening with Colour’ gives gardeners the simple tools to develop their own creative container designs. My book has ‘recipes’ for plant combinations that illustrate the principles and elements of garden design such as colour, texture, form, and shape. The requirements for the basic care of plants are included so that anyone can easily use the variations of the basic recipes and substitute similar plants. My suggested choices of plants are just guidelines – my goal is to inspire gardeners to try their own recipes that reflect their personal taste - containers that are living works of art.
DM What is your favourite container design ‘recipe’ from your book?
RS ‘The Crooked Grin’ (p.186) which is a container with a fun ‘bad guy’ personality. I also really like ‘Night at the Opera’ (p. 246) which is bold and dramatic like the poems of Blake and Goethe.
DM How did you come up with the idea for this book?
RS I really wanted to take container gardening to the next level.
DM Your enthusiasm for gardening certainly shows through in this book but I understand that gardening is just one aspect of your busy life. You are the co-owner of a very successful commercial greenhouse and gardening centre, you are married, and you are currently writing your Master’s Thesis in Literature at the University of Alberta. How do have any spare time to write gardening books?
RS Well, I have a very patient Thesis supervisor, Bert Almon, and a very patient wife, Meg. Meg has her Master of Fine Arts and is the brains behind the design aspect of the book. The great thing has been to collaborate with her on the project, travelling together to gardens around Canada, and Meg has taken many of the photos of the containers. Both Bert and Meg have been inspirational in my life.
DM In regards to your Master’s Thesis, have you chosen a topic yet?
RS Yes, it’s a collection of original poetry and autobiographical material about my mountaineering experiences from climbing in the Rockies.
DM You have also described ‘poetry and the written word’ as one of your personal passions. When not writing about your outdoor activities, have you discovered a favourite poet?
RS I have done a lot of work on the English Romantic poets and I am very fond of Keats, as well as the Beat Poets, and D. H. Lawrence’s poetry.
DM Are there any gardening related poems that you consider favourites?
RS I guess I’d have to say Keats’ poem – ‘Endymion’ for its pastoral images.
DM Beyond poetry, have you had any time to read a book for pleasure right now?
RS Yes – the British Museum director Neil MacGregor has chosen 100 artifacts from the Museum’s collections to illustrate how mankind has changed over time. The book is called ‘A History of the World in 100 Objects’ and it is fascinating.
DM Now Rob, tell me about the part of your life that involves you being a co-owner of ‘Salisbury Greenhouse’ in Sherwood Park, Alberta. The growers in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia have really had a difficult time this year. It has been so rainy and cold that few customers have been out to buy annuals from the nurseries. The soil is still too cold and waterlogged to plant yet. Has the weather also affected your greenhouse business in Edmonton?
RS Absolutely. As growers, my father, three brothers, and I have five acres of covered greenhouses and the weather has been bad here as well. Last year was also bad as we had snow till May.
DM I’ve heard that mosquitos are a major pest right now in your area due to the wet weather. A friend of mine has avoided gardening due to the swarms of mosquitos that gather whenever one is outside.
RS For the last few years, the Prairies had droughts which brought out masses of ants and aphids. Now that that drought has been truly broken, we’re on to a new set of pests. Mosquitos, slugs, mice, and fungi have become this year’s problems.
DM Looking around the nurseries in the Lower Mainland, I have noticed a trend towards the dark purples and black coloured plants and foliage. What’s hot this year in your greenhouse?
RS Black petunias – the air is dry in Alberta and they grow in masses without any mildew issues here. Also ‘Superbells Punch Series’ (Calibrachoa) with the bicolour of purple and deep pink. Albertans also love bright coloured flowers – yellows, oranges, reds etc. and the traditional big colour annuals and perennials such as rudbeckias and black-eyed susans.
DM Who has inspired you to become so passionate about plants?
RS Certainly, my Dad. I grew up in the greenhouse business. He taught me about plants and how to grow them. But as plants were such an everyday part of my life, I really looked at them from solely a business perspective. My wife, Meg, however, has got me gardening for pleasure in our home garden. We have a large lot and so when I am not working with plants at the nursery, I come home inspired to work with Meg in our garden. I am more excited about plants than ever. I am experimenting with herbs in containers –parsley, sage etc. – all edibles of muted greens and blues with varied shapes and textures.
DM Owning a greenhouse, how has that occupation made you a better person?
RS The ups and downs of living as a grower have taught me a lot of life lessons. Owning a greenhouse has also taught me a lot about working with people and how to properly manage staff. I’ve learned a lot about the HR aspect of running a business from an owner’s perspective. I’ve also had the privilege to grow so many different kinds of plants and had access to the latest plant trends.
DM What types of gardeners are in your nursery these days?
RS Well – there’s the regular clientele of experienced gardeners, and in Spring, there are usually a lot of first time gardeners. Now, also a lot of young families and kids are getting into gardening. It is great to see how many are starting to grow their own vegetables and are playing with colours and foliage textures when planting their annual containers.
DM It seems like your latest book Gardening with Colour has come out at the right time. Congratulations again.
