Plant Marriages: What Plants Look Good Together: How to Choose the Perfect Plant Combinations for Your Garden

Is the sequel likely to be Plant Divorces , and if so, then what will follow it? Actually, this book, despite its catchy title, is fairly standard and, unlike some marriages, dependable: Cox ( Flowers for All Seasons ) mostly tells us what plants go well together, which is ground trod by many previous books and garden writers. He recommends, for example, lining up lambs' ears beside Colorado blue spruce--which do look good, in the photo provided--for the harmony the match implies of ``subtle and soothing'' shades of gray-green with tones of green-blue. On the other hand, opposition in form, color, height, and shape can serve a purpose, too. ``The more contrasts there are in a plant marriage . . . the livelier and more interesting the combination is apt to be.'' So, poppies and Solomon's seal, though perhaps not a natural pair, can conspire in a suggestive and engaging way, decorum with dishabille. After presenting introductory material, Cox gives us 30 concrete examples, arranged by the four seasons, of proper and promising nuptials--between shrubs, bulbs, perennials, grasses, vines and other hopefuls. Garden Book Club alternate. (Mar.)