Gardening in the Heartland

Aspiring gardeners in the heartland--here understood to lie in and around the landlocked region of Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas--might well be daunted by rigorous climatic conditions: erratic and untempered extremes. In this manual, Flower & Garden Magazine editor Snyder reveals ``possibilities for great Heartland gardens'' and gives advice ``to prevent the early mistakes that often discourage gardeners in our region.'' Her sensible gardening philosophy is to accommodate climatic limitations by choosing plant varieties, especially native ones, that thrive under these conditions, and to practice techniques vital to the area, like amending the typically alkaline soil, trenching rose bushes for the winter and screening flowering plants against bud blast. The author also explores both xeriscaping (dry-gardening) and wildflower gardening as sound concepts. Her lucidly written book features ``backbone'' lists of recommended species for vegetables, annuals, perennials, roses, fruits, trees and shrubs, as well as delightful asides. Photos. (Jan.)