By Michael Bennett
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Ridgetown Independent
Rick Gray’s green thumb in the garden is about to turn into some green in his wallet.
The Ridgetown resident’s book, “The Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes,” reached No. 4 on the Globe & Mail’s best sellers list for Canadian non-fiction.
“I’m totally blown away by it; I’m still pinching myself,” Gray said about the book’s instant success.
Gray, a.k.a. the Native Plant Gardener, launched his introductory to writing at Turns & Tales Cafe in Chatham in March.
Copies of the book were sold out just 45 minutes into his two-hour appearance.
“The response has been overwhelming,” said Gray, as his book has received nothing but five-star reviews on both Amazon and Good Reads, along with its lofty place on the Globe & Mail best sellers list.
The 352-page book features 150 different native plants, each with a two-page spread.
Gray offers a detailed description of each plant – its sunlight and moisture requirements, a range map showing where it’s native, how big it grows, whether it’s a species at risk, and more.
Gray had assistance from Shaun Booth, a former natural nursery and landscape business owner in Orangeville, who provided some of the descriptive information on plants.
“On average, there are at least four photos for every one of the 150 plants with a description of what the plant looks like as a whole, what its flower looks like up close, the leaves, and the seed head to help recognize the plant when you see it and get an idea of what it’s going to look like in your garden,” Gray said.
Gray said he took about 95 per cent of the pictures in his expansive native garden at his Lisgar Street home.
A retired professor, Gray purchased his home in 2004 when he was hired as a GIS tech instructor for the Ridgetown Campus’ new environmental program.
He rented the house out for four years while he held Academic Chair positions at colleges in Brandon, Man. and Peterborough before retiring and moving back to Ridgetown in 2018.
Gray transformed the backyard into a number of gardens with all-native and near-native plants, which attracted attention not only locally but also across Canada and North America.
“Native plant gardening is the fastest growing sector in horticulture; it’s really taking off,” Gray said. “People are looking for local, native plants to feed butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.”
The book is available locally at Turns & Tales, located in the Scotiabank building on King St. W. in Chatham, as well as at Chapters and Indigo bookstores and online from Amazon.
Gray said he will be averaging three appearances a week until mid-June across Ontario and into Michigan.
He is also taking bookings for garden tours at his Lisgar Street home by email at ridgetownrick@gmail.com.
