Amazon.com Review
Gardening is best when it doesn't seem like work. This fun mix-and-match book is an inspiring way for green thumbs to keep playing and planning through an entire year of rewarding effort. The book's format is both practical and entertaining--there's a sturdy cover that stands up to being taken right outside, while the interior spiral binding allows for quick flips and guarantees a long life. Each page is divided into four panels--trees are at the top of the page, while tiny groundcovers are featured at the bottom. A lovely full-color picture is shown on the right, and all the facts you'll need are on the left--blooming season, size, required sun and water, and a quick list of helpful planting details. Plants for all gardening styles are shown, from old-fashioned phlox to striking silver pear trees, and there are plenty of options ranging from high-maintenance antique blossoms to easy-care grasses. Armed with a million total combinations, you'll have hours of fun plotting a new shade garden or striking yearlong foliage display. The introduction is especially helpful for gardeners still learning the basics of design, like how colors work together to create specific effects and how to extend the growing season to the absolute maximum for your climate, but the experienced gardener will find tips as well. Shorthand codes for growing conditions are simple to decipher and large enough to be easily legible. When you're ready for a break from mulching, pruning, or weeding, this is the perfect book to remind you why you got started with your garden in the first place. --Jill Lightner
