May 15, 2026

Happy news! The American Horticultural Society announced its 2026 Book Award winners, and Gardens of Texas received an honorable mention.

The AHS awards are among the highest honors for garden books in North America. Of the 40-plus nominated books for this year’s awards, only 2 winners were selected, plus 2 honorable mentions. So I’m truly delighted to see Gardens of Texas get a nod among the deserving winners. Thank you to the AHS Book Awards Committee!

I wrote this book to shine a spotlight on Texas gardeners and all the creative, gorgeous, resilient gardening they’re doing in a challenging, changing climate. I wanted to tell their stories, inspire my fellow Texans, and show how we can all learn from their designs, plant choices, and practical approaches. It’s gratifying to see those efforts recognized at a national level.

Kenny and me at a reception hosted by Dixie Friend Gay

A huge thank you to photographer Kenny Braun for capturing the gardens so beautifully for the book. A sampling of his stunning work is featured below.

Photo by Kenny Braun. Taken from Gardens of Texas © Copyright 2025 by Pam Penick, photographs by Kenny Braun. Published by Timber Press, Portland, OR. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.

Photo by Kenny Braun. Taken from Gardens of Texas © Copyright 2025 by Pam Penick, photographs by Kenny Braun. Published by Timber Press, Portland, OR. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.

Photo by Kenny Braun. Taken from Gardens of Texas © Copyright 2025 by Pam Penick, photographs by Kenny Braun. Published by Timber Press, Portland, OR. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.

Photo by Kenny Braun. Taken from Gardens of Texas © Copyright 2025 by Pam Penick, photographs by Kenny Braun. Published by Timber Press, Portland, OR. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.

Photo by Kenny Braun. Taken from Gardens of Texas © Copyright 2025 by Pam Penick, photographs by Kenny Braun. Published by Timber Press, Portland, OR. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.

Photo by Kenny Braun. Taken from Gardens of Texas © Copyright 2025 by Pam Penick, photographs by Kenny Braun. Published by Timber Press, Portland, OR. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.

Thanks also to my editors and the whole team at Timber Press for their support in bringing my book idea to life so beautifully.

Gardens of Texas wouldn’t exist without the gardeners and designers who so generously shared their gardens and stories with me, so thank you to each one of them. And finally, a giant thank you to the book’s readers, cheerleaders, booksellers, and event organizers. Your support of the book has meant the world to me.

I welcome your comments. Please scroll to the end of this post to leave one. If you’re reading in an email, click here to visit Digging and find the comment box at the end of each post. And hey, did someone forward this email to you, and you want to subscribe? Click here to get Digging delivered directly to your inbox!

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Digging Deeper

My new book, Gardens of Texas: Visions of Resilience from the Lone Star State, is here! Find it on Amazon, other online book sellers, and in stores everywhere. It’s for anyone who loves gardens or the natural beauty of Texas. More info here.

All material © 2026 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.