Arts

Book Feature: The Magical World of Moss Gardening

The Magical World of Moss Gardening by Annie Martin

The Magical World of Moss Gardening by Annie Martin

In her introduction of The Magical World of Moss Gardening, Annie Martin—known as Mossin’ Annie—writes, “Every time I walk out my front door, my mosses greet me, triggering a smile in my heart…Throughout all seasons, my mosses have a magnetic quality that engulfs me.” Waterfalls, forests, and even urban environments are natural habitats for mosses. While garden flowers are dormant or dead in the winter, moss landscapes provide year-round color.

This book bridges the gap between bryologists and the general public. Book reviewer for the Library Journal, Bonnie Pogquette, comments, “The author flawlessly blends botanical descriptions and artistic sensibilities, so that evocative summaries, accompanied by vivid photos, help readers understand the tactile and visual delights of moss, as well as its environmental benefits.” Sections cover all the basics: identifying dozens of species, propagating moss, and designing and installing your own moss garden.

Born and raised in Asheville, Annie now lives in Pisgah Forest in Transylvania County. She is a licensed landscape contractor and owns Mountain Moss Enterprises, offering on-site consultations and turn-key installations. Her mossery in Brevard is open to the public on Monday afternoons in the summer. To learn more, visit mountainmoss.com or email mossinannie@gmail.com.

The Magical World of Moss Gardening, nonfiction, 2015, softcover; $24.95, by Annie Martin, and published by Timber Press, Portland, Oregon.

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