It’s here! I’ve been experimenting with plant combinations, making notes, and gathering photographs for many years, and I wrote the first proposal for this book nearly a decade ago. I’m grateful to the folks at Rodale–where I started my career in publishing as a summer intern in Garden Books 26 years ago–for taking a chance on my idea and turning it into reality. I also owe thanks to excellent editor Karen Bolesta and the book’s talented designer, Joanna Williams, as well as frequent collaborator Rob Cardillo and the many talented blogger/photographers whose inspiring combinations are included in the text.
The book isn’t due out until next month, but the advance copies just arrived, and to celebrate the release, Rodale has arranged to give away 10 copies through Goodreads. It’s open to residents of the U.S and Canada from today to March 1, 2016. You can find details on how to enter here: Book Giveaway for The Perennial Matchmaker.
Congratulations Nan!!! How exciting to see a dream fulfilled. I’ve always been inspired by your plant combos and looking forward to picking up a copy of your book next month.
Thanks, Julie. It’s like planning a garden on paper for years and finally having a chance to see what it looks like in real life.
-Nan
Good luck on your book!
Mel
Thanks so much, Mel. I promise I won’t make a habit of posting every day now, but this was too good to miss.
-Nan
I love your posts and more often would be a ‘good’ thing.
Hah – thanks for that, Mel. I’d be happy to post more often if I didn’t have to bother with the pesky “making a living” issue. It’s so hard to find a wealthy patron these days….
-Nan
congratulations! I’m looking forward to reading it!
I hope you enjoy it, Susan!
-Nan
Excellent! Love the title and I’ll be sure to order one :)
Thanks for saying that. Apparently at least one of the marketing people thought it sounded like a book on dating, but I guess they’re not a gardener.
-Nan
Congratulations to you on your publication. Very excited for you! I entered the giveaway, and if I’m chosen, I will be informed on my birthday. What a lovely present that would make!
Wouldn’t that be wonderful? I wish you the best of luck, Elizabeth–and an early “Happy Birthday!” too.
-Nan
It looks great – can’t wait to read it!
Hi there, Phillip. I expect most people will look at the pictures first–I do every time I pick it up–but it would be nice to think of folks taking the time to read too. Thanks!
-Nan
Dear Nan, Congratulations!!! How wonderful!!! I will definitely read your book. All the best and wishing you brisk sales, Trish
Thanks, Trish! And again, best of luck on your hunt for Scilla bifolia ‘Praecox’. Maybe someone here will know of a source.
-Nan
Grande Nan!!! I am really happy for you and your new book. Looking forward to see it on my desk!! rox
Thank you, Rox. I’m not sure when it’ll be available in Italy, but probably not too long from now.
-Nan
Your books are works of art as well as knowledge. How exciting! Your post is always the first thing I open, sometimes the only thing I open. Thank you so much for sharing your newest. I am looking forward to reading it.
Aw, you’re very kind, Ellen. I promise I won’t be filing up your inbox every day, though; the next post will be on March 1, per my usual schedule.
-Nan
Congratulations! How wonderful for you. Thank you for thinking of us; we enjoy this opportunity to share your joy. And yes, the photos are always the best part!
Hi Mary! I couldn’t resist sharing the news, and it’ll probably be the last book–for a long while, anyway.
-Nan
Congratulations Nan! What a day when all the hard work finally pays off and things all come together. I wish you all the best :)
It was a long wait, but I think this was the fastest production time on any book I’ve ever worked on. And I’m so pleased to have two of your photos included!
-Nan
Congratulations, Nan! I am such an admirer of your talent and have followed you (silently) for years now. Looking forward to your book’s release. Thank you for your generosity and many inspirations.
There would be no point in writing if there were no readers, so I thank you in return, Dee!
-Nan
Congratulations Nan! I am honored that three of my plant combinations/pictures were included in this project. I received my complimentary copy of the Perennial Matchmaker from the editor and it is even more lovely that the electronic one that I previewed on Amazon! I can’t even imagined the discipline to take all the notes and pictures and energy to write and build this one of a kind gardening book. My Gardening Club is wondering if you would be willing to come over to Ohio and have a one hour presentation around this book. Will it interest you? Contact me if you could
-Daniela
I’m glad you like the book, Daniela, and I’m so pleased to have your pictures included. I can’t decide whether I like the print or electronic version better: I do like being able to flip through the actual book, but you can enlarge the photos in the e-version, which is helpful for seeing the details.
Thank you so much for the invitation, but I must confess to being absolutely terrified by the prospect of talking in front of groups. Writing is so much easier!
-Nan
Congratulations! Can’t wait to take a look…
Thanks, Alan! The official release date is March 8th, but I just saw February 18th elsewhere, so I guess it will be widely available within the next few weeks.
-Nan
Well YAY! What a great way to start the year – adding a book to your already fine list. It sounds like to great read. Congrats!
Thank you, Ginny. It certainly has been a bit of a whirlwind recently, having two books come out so close together, but it’s very exciting too.
-Nan
Congratulations! I’m so excited to pick up this book. You post so many killer combos on your blog, it will be wonderful to have so many in one place to really be able to study, and hopefully emulate some in the garden. Sounds like a book that will travel throughout my garden with me as I look at your pics and think, think, think and plan, plan, plan!! Can’t wait!
Hmmm…maybe we should have planned for larger margins for making notes! Joanna had a real challenge fitting in as many photos as possible: far more than I expected. You’ll probably recognize a few of the combos, since you’ve been reading here for a while, but I pulled many others from my archives, and there are lots of beauties from Rob and other bloggers too.
-Nan
Congratulations Nan! I’m so excited to hear of your new book. Your planting combinations are inspired! Alas, I will have to wait a little to get my hands on a copy. Living in Australia means I’m ineligible for the book giveaway. BooHoo!
Wishing you great success,
Jennifer
Aw, I’m sorry about the giveaway, Jennifer. I hope you’ll be able to find the book soo!
-Nan
Congrats, Nan, lots of work there! It will be great to have alot of your combos all in one place, can’t wait to get the book! I love to play with combos, so much fun and you can change it up every year with annuals and transplanting perennials for the next years view. Always planning! TTFN…Sue
I bet you’re just itching to get back into your garden, Sue. I wish you an early spring. Have fun matchmaking this year!
-Nan
Can’t wait to see it. I received four of your books for Christmas (at my request) and have read them each multiple times over. Embarking on a landscaping overhaul of our 2ish acre property and you are guiding my way!
Wow, Kate; I’m honored to hear that. Sounds like you have a lot of work–and fun–ahead of you. May your weather and your plants cooperate!
-Nan
Congratulations Nan. I am honored to be a tiny part of this publication. I like this book tremendously. It has so much inspiration for the garden. Here I was thinking about working more shrubs and trees into my garden yet after being able to peruse this book I have lists of perennials needed. Ha… I so much more like looking at the book in hand rather than on line. I am able to immerse into that book so easily. I can’t hardly put it down. Well done.
Thanks for the kind words, Lisa–and for agreeing to let us include one of your combination photos, too. I’m sorry it muddles your garden plans, but I have no doubt that you’ll be able to figure out a way to do both!
-Nan
Congratulations, Nan, on a fabulous book full of great ideas for pairing plants. I feel so honored that you included one of my photos. I can’t put the book down since I received my copy. Can’t wait for the gardening season to start so I can implement some of your suggestions. Thank you so much. P. x
I’m so pleased to have you included, Pam; you came up with an excellent partner for Chelone. It’s looking like we’ll be growing again soon here!
-Nan
I always look forward to your books. I am reading the other new one, ‘Container Theme Gardens’ and I just might put a few together just as outlined in your book.
I’m honored to think you’d like to try some of them. I’m very pleased with how most of them turned out, and I know they work because I lived with each of them through an entire growing season. May they do as well for you!
-Nan
[…] Garden; others: the Adventure Garden) and they are all featured in Nancy J Ondra’s new book: The Perennial Matchmaker!! My copy just came in the mail […]
Hey Nan – received my complimentary copy of the book in the mail today. I must confess the first thing I did was look at all the pictures; still looking at all the pictures – beautiful as always. And thanks again for including one of my photos, and one of my sister’s, in the book – we were both honoured. I have long contemplated writing a book of my own – if I ever do, I think I’d want it to look like one of yours!
Thanks again,
Sue
That’s the first thing I did, too. My thanks to you and Cathy. I think you *should* go for the book idea: You have so many beautiful pictures on your blog!
-Nan
I can’t wait to see it even though we are in a very different climate!
So happy for you!
I was going to ask you what plant labels you like for your seedlings, thank you!
Good to hear from you, Laura! I think you’ll find ideas for your area too. That’s one of the reasons I was so happy to include photos from bloggers’ gardens across the U.S. and Canada–not just from Pennsylvania.
For seed labels…well, I’ve tried many different materials, and I always come back to the ordinary white, plastic, 4- or 5-inch labels. I write on them in pencil so I can reuse them.
-Nan
Congratulations on the release of your beautiful book! I got an advance copy and have been drooling over the many excellent combinations. You’ve outdone yourself and I can’t wait to read more of the book. (I’ll admit to studying all of the pictures first!) I’m honored that you chose one of my pictures to include!
Photos first is definitely the way to go. I only wish we could have run that picture larger, because your combo deserved a full page; simply stunning. Enjoy the book, and the upcoming growing season, Peter!
-Nan