| I recently received an email from my in-laws about some garden books my father-in-law was finally ready to part with. He is retired and was a master gardener at the Brandywine Conservancy in Pennsylvania until a intense susceptibility to poison ivy chased him out of the garden. Then they moved into a condo six years ago. One of my sisters-in-law took two of the books and I also got two. This is what the M-I-L said about the two I got:
'Ortho Books' How to Select & Care for Shrubs & Hedges Not quite a book. Copyright 1980.
and
The American Garden Guides: Rose Gardening It’s not quite a book but more than a paperback book. “Everything you need to know to plant, cultivate, and hybridize roses anywhere in North America"compiled by Boerner botanical Gardens, Memphis Botanic Garden, and Old Westbury Gardens in consultation with five other gardens: Copyright 1995”
The reason I am telling you all about this is because I did wonder if they were applicable to Florida gardening and as I read them, I am sure I will find out. So far I have only looked at the pictures and read the forward of the rose guide, which brings me to the second thing. It says in the forward:
"Gardening is an inexact science, learned by observation and by doing. Even the most experienced gardeners often develop markedly dissimilar ways of doing the same thing, or have completely divergent views of what any plant requires in order to thrive. Gardeners are an opinionated lot, and we have encouraged all participants to air and share their differences - and so, to make it clear that everyone who gardens will find his or her own way of dealing with plants. Although it is important to know the rules and the most accepted practices, it is also important to recognize that whatever works in the long run for you is the right way."
This made me think of all of my Gardenweb buddies. I think it describes us pretty well.
Melissa | 
