The Gardener's Essential Plant Guide: Over 4,000 Varieties of Garden Plants Including Trees, Shrubs and Vines

Rating:
Summary: Avid Gardner / Avid Reader
Review: I bought this book several years ago and placed it on a shelf. What a mistake! Out of all my garden reference books, this is the one I now go to first. It is laid out very well. Each plant has a description of foliage, stem, flowers, fruit. Then hardiness, soil req., pruning, sun/shade, Problems, propagation. There are varities of interest and "stick drawings" of the eventual shape along with sizing at 5, 10 & 20 years. There are LOTS of great photos. There is even a great reference section in the back on selecting plants. The only negative is the book doesn't have conifers. I hope the author writes more books!