Water Gardens CL

Water gardens are a hot topic these days, and this may be just the book for gardeners seeking a soup-to-nuts guide to creating ones of their own. A collaborative effort by Heriteau (Feast of Flowers) and Thomas, a noted horticulturalist who owns a large commercial supplier of water garden material, the attractively designed volume is packed with 100 full-color photographs and expert information. The sole drawback, a somewhat stodgy prose style, is offset by the clarity and thoroughness of the instructions, which lead readers step-by-step through the entire process, from siting and installation of a man-made pond to such finer points as how to camouflage the water pump. In the second half of the book, the authors offer an exceptionally complete lineup of planting suggestions (water lilies, iris, wild grasses and so on) and tips on how to stock water garden fauna as well. (Mar.)