Perennials For Every Purpose: Choose the Plants You Need for Your Conditions, Your Garden, and Your Taste

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Summary: Perennials For Every Purpose by Larry Hodgson
Review: Although I have many books on gardening and perennials, this one is my absolute favorite. It's a wonderful resource for selecting, planting, and propagating hundreds of different perennials. Each plant is fully described on two pages with gorgeous photography. I especially like the "Plant Profile" section which offers a thumbnail description of color, size, hardiness, and several other factors. This enables the reader to instantly determine whether a particular plant will work in a given space. I also like the author's notes on "Problems and Solutions" for each plant. His blunt, honest, and humorous comments have saved me from planting beautiful, but migraine-inducing, flowers. A great reference and fun to read.

Rating:
Summary: Best Perennial Book
Review: Although I have many books on gardening and perennials, this one is my absolute favorite. It's a wonderful resource for selecting, planting, and propagating hundreds of different perennials. Each plant is fully described on two pages with gorgeous photography. I especially like the "Plant Profile" section which offers a thumbnail description of color, size, hardiness, and several other factors. This enables the reader to instantly determine whether a particular plant will work in a given space. I also like the author's notes on "Problems and Solutions" for each plant. His blunt, honest, and humorous comments have saved me from planting beautiful, but migraine-inducing, flowers. A great reference and fun to read.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book on perennial gardening
Review: Canadian garden writer and lecturer Hodgson is true to his book's title, covering quite a lot of ground in a straightforward, no-nonsense manner. Preliminary chapters cover the basics such as getting started, creating a design, and keeping plants healthy. The highlight, however, is the 14 chapters that profile perennials that can be used in unique situations (e.g., dry, wet, sunny, shade, easy-care). Each plant profile includes a photograph, a sidebar listing plant characteristics, and informative paragraphs detailing good companion plants, problems and solutions, and the top performers and recommended varieties for each plant. Other "extras" include a beautiful section of seven garden designs, a glossary of the meanings of botanical names, plant sources, and the American Horticultural Society Heat Zone Map.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book on perennial gardening
Review: Canadian garden writer and lecturer Hodgson is true to his book's title, covering quite a lot of ground in a straightforward, no-nonsense manner. Preliminary chapters cover the basics such as getting started, creating a design, and keeping plants healthy. The highlight, however, is the 14 chapters that profile perennials that can be used in unique situations (e.g., dry, wet, sunny, shade, easy-care). Each plant profile includes a photograph, a sidebar listing plant characteristics, and informative paragraphs detailing good companion plants, problems and solutions, and the top performers and recommended varieties for each plant. Other "extras" include a beautiful section of seven garden designs, a glossary of the meanings of botanical names, plant sources, and the American Horticultural Society Heat Zone Map.

Rating:
Summary: Perennials For Every Purpose by Larry Hodgson
Review: For anyone living in the Northern part of the US or Canada, this book is a must. I especially appreciated the honest if opiniated descriptions of the strenghts and weaknesses of each plants. Care and propagation is also sensibly put forth, all the emphasis given to the concerns of the gardeners in zone 5, 4 and even 3.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books on perennials
Review: This book is well organized, has very helpful tips, and an interesting selection of plants, not just the old stand-bys. A worthwhile buy, even if you already have many other books on the subject.