This is a collection of quirky essays. Some of her observations and advice might be dated or off the mark but the book is so beautifuly written I reread it at least once a year.

I would also recommend We Made a Garden by Margery Fish. This is a great personal garden story

I'll have to cheat and also bring Ken Druse's The Collector's Garden, because it's so well written and so much fun.

Through Mrs. White I've discovered Elizabeth Lawrence and am now thoroughly enjoying *Two Gardeners: A Friendship in Letters* between Mrs. White and Miss Lawrence.

I ordered some other books on Mrs. White's bibliography and Lawrence's *Love for Gardening: The Market Bulletins* is also charming and nostalgic. Although many books on the bibliography are shown as out of print, most are available at one of the on-line sources of used books. Don't know if they are blessings or curses since I have to dip into each new one upon arrival, but I'm gradually finishing them.

Ann

The first because he's so positive and enthusiastic, and he has so many simple solutions to garden problems; the second because it provides specific answers to specific problems with almost every type of Canadian soil, plant and climate issue.

Both are very comprehensive and cover almost everything I've needed to know. What they don't answer, I've found a quick search on the Internet will usually solve.

Both also have lots of pretty photos, and the Harrowsmith book has good line drawings too.

All the best,
-Patrick

"Dry Land Gardening: A Xeriscaping Guide for Dry-Summer, Cold-Winter Climates" by Jennifer Bennett is an excellent book for harsh climates and for those who want to have a great garden but conserve water.

I am just now reading "A Garden for Life: A Natural Approach to Designing, Planting, and Maintaining a North Temperate Garden" by Diana Beresfor-Kroeger. Excellent so far, and altho it has how-to stuff, it also just has a great philosophy towards gardening and the planet.

I want to read "Lilies" by Michael Jefferson-Brown. I understand a new edition will be released soon.

So many books, so little time.

cnid

What flower is that? forget the author Macaboy maybe? Also has several other titles like that, great reference books.

A-Z of garden plants, the American Horticultural society

Tropical Flowring plants, a guide to id and cultivation. Kirsten Llamas

Now if I can find a decent bromeliad id book I'll be happy!

Tally HO!

A Woman's Hardy Garden by Helena Rutherfurd Ely
This was published in 1920. It concentrates on mixed, informal plantings which was not the rage at that time.

The Border in Bloom by Ann Lovejoy
Great reading. Not a listing of plants but descriptions and items about each season in bloom for the border, both the triumphs and the challanges

The Well Tended Perennial Garden by Tracy DiSabato-Aust
Pictures, planting and caring instructions for a lot of different plants.

These books are just fun to pick up and read. I have all kinds of books that are about specific plants, names, picutres, etc. So favorites change as I go along. I love my books by Graham Stuart Thomas and Ruth Stout also.

Ann in Montana

Also --Graham Rice, Discovering Annuals. Not huge amounts of advice on how to start plants, but delicious photos, excellent writing and wonderfully opinionated! Started me growing all kinds of unusual things from seed.

For pure charm and joy-- Beverly Nichols, Down the Garden Path. One of those "I bought a house and knew nothing about gardening..." Along the lines of 'A Year in Provence' but about the garden, and much better! The copyright is 1932 but it's been reissued in the US by Timber Press (ISBN 0881927104)

I'm also a big fan of Henry Mitchell and Allan Lacy.
But what about Mrs. Greenthumbs? Her first one is so very funny. and inspiring. How often do you laugh out loud at a gardening book. (Mitchell when he's in one of his grumps does elicit chuckles but who can forget Mrs. Greenthumbs mixing Mai tais, entertaining relatives, cursing magenta?)

I give her book to new gardeners and tell them, read it and adopt this attitude and your garden will be a thing of beauty and a joy forever.

I also give a copy of Jeff Cox's 100 Perennial All Stars. Terrific.

Also loved, loved the Larkwhistle book. Patrick Lima and John Scanlan.
One garden through the year with terrific insights and tips. Beautiful.
This one truly inspires. Maybe the favorite.

and Christopher Lloyd's GARDEN FLOWERS
both books great reads.
Cheers R in New Zealand.

Really valuable if you want to grow veggies/fruits/herbs in containers

Perennials: The Gardener's Reference
CArter, Becker and Lilly

A hefty tome but filled with great information including colour photographs to help identify the less commonly requested perennials, and good information for care throughout the season. I especially enjoy the *problems* section so that I can indentify issues early and not risk the remainder of my garden.

For inspiration (growing and making things), of all the books on my shelf of herb books, the one I most often use is Lesley Bremness, The complete book of herbs, because of the great format and photos -- info is easy to find, concise, but includes extra tidbits that other pretty books don't.