Garden Whimsy

Martin and Brown (Tasha Tudor's Garden) take a walk on the lighter side of horticulture. Postulating that ""gardeners suffer from a tendency to take themselves too seriously,"" the pair drop in on 10 practitioners of the craft who have learned to cut loose a little. Clearly inspired by their subjects (quirky green thumbs who leaven their compost with irreverent wit and creative flair), the authors chronicle found art and impertinent plant pairings. Whether visiting a plot presided over by a prom queen scarecrow (a classic Grecian nude attired in a flaming pink strapless evening gown), debating the exact hue of a 1955 Chevy pickup that has inadvertently become a garden feature (Martin describes it as ""cantaloupe,"" the owner counters with ""Velveeta"") or coaxing confessions from wags such as the one whose yard sports a short-necked topiary giraffe (""I got tired halfway up""), Martin's text is hilarious and filled with lively anecdotes. Brown's lush photographs, meanwhile, capture the outdoor audacity in all its glory. They will have even the most staid gardeners looking for ways to spice up the landscape. (Nov.)