Rating: 
Summary: Not gathering dust on my shelf
Review: This book has been a great help to me. It is so easy to read and use , I don't know how I got along without it before.
The book gives you 150 of the authors favorite perrenials. They are chosen for, among other things, ease of growing, length of bloom, persistence in not so great soils, beautiful color...etc.
Each flower gets an entire two page spread devoted to it. The author describes how to grow it, where to grow it, how to make the most of it, special tips, and what other flowers will look great with it. There are tons of photos and line drawings as well. There is also an index at the front of the book, breaking down the flowers into specific groups. Say you're looking for a short Spring bloomer for the front of the border, or you are interested in plants that attract butterflies. He has list after list which make it easy to find what you're looking for.
I have spent many an evening just leafing through this book, familiarizing myself with the varieties. Now when I go to the nursery, I know just what to look for.
Rating:
Summary: Keep this book on your coffee table!
Review: This book is a must-have for the novice as well as experienced gardeners. Jeff Cox has such a folksie way of writing, telling us just what we want to know - why you will love a particular plant even though it's a "little" invasive, etc.Jeff gives all of the important information you'll need to know to successfully grow your perennials, yet it's not so scientific as to be boring. I keep it handy all summer because it's a wonderful reference. It tells when I should divide, when I should cut back, what I should feed it and where it should be planted for best results. I read it like a novel more than a reference book. You will learn a lot.
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