Gardens of the Sun

What plants can tolerate three or more months of summer drought and extremes of winter rains? Nottle, who gardens in Australia, satisfactorily addresses this quandary familiar to Southern Californians and other gardeners in Mediterranean climates. He chides California gardeners who try to re-create thirsty English-style cottage gardens in their water-scarce state and then offers examples of gardening in such similar climates as South Africa, Australia and Spain to broaden American gardening philosophies and possibilities. Nottle emphasizes working with the climate and a terrain that may be a steep, rocky slope or sandy soil, described as ""`hungry' and `lean,' which are positive-sounding terms for miserable and mean."" Practical, inexpensive ideas for mulching and for maximizing meager soil deposits in rocky crevices abound, as do recommendations for creating garden interest with various plant textures and contrasts of light and shade. Individual plant recommendations, and 100 color photos, are laced throughout the text. Along with popular aloes, yuccas, agaves and euphorbias, Nottle expands plant suggestions into flowering perennials, vines, shrubs and even trees. Spritely prose, lively anecdotes and colorful bits of history add to the armchair pleasures of this valuable approach. Bibliography, lists of international plant societies and seed sources are included. (Oct.)