Easy Care Shade Flowers

Although the bulk of Taylor's ( Easy Care Perennials ) book is a typical survey of plant types, she also carries this compendium a step further. She not only includes basic care in her book but also recommendations from experts on plants for various climates--from California to North Carolina, and Michigan to Ohio. Her expertise and research come clear in such tidbits as Taylor's ``hosta heresy'': ``If your plants are devoured by pests, dig out the hostas and try different plants in their place.'' And, for voyeurs of other people's gardens, she includes pages on public and private gardens where shade is assumed and shade-loving plants are cosseted. Taylor's informative, well-written descriptions of these gardens and interviews with enthusiastic caretakers will give heart to the ordinary homeowner faced with giant trees or urban buildings and miniscule sunlight. Readers will also trust Taylor's plant recommendations all the more because she uses her own gardens--and errors--as examples. She also adamantalso adamantly refuses to resort to chemical warfare on pests. Moreover, her book is one of the most reasonably priced to come along. (Feb.)