Gardener's Home Companion/How to Raise and Propagate More Than 350 Flowers, Herbs, Vegetables, Berries, Shrubs, Vines, and Lawn and Ornamental Grasse

A roster of noted horticulturalists and garden writers here assemble one of the most comprehensive gardening encyclopedias to address the hobbyist. The book provides solid information on garden design, planting, maintenance and tools, but is more valuable for its straightforward, detailed entries on hundreds of popular plants, including herbs, flowers, fruits and vegetables. Each entry offers a biography of the plant, from height, color and form to soil, light, and pH requirements, then carefully outlines means of propagation, followed by a short but descriptive list of the selected species. Additional chapters discuss in general terms roses, shrubs, vines, ground covers, ornamental grasses and more. A particularly useful chapter explores the gardening year month by month for four different geographic zones. Remarkably rich yet concise, the volume will become a friend to nearly anyone planting, growing, harvesting or enjoying the fruits of their labors. Photos not seen by PW. (Apr.)