Rose

This pretty, appealing book, with 52 full color photographs by Harry Haralambou (who teamed with James on such books as Iris, Tulip and Seaside Gardening), provides a thorough discussion of the myriad varieties of roses. While this volume is rich in information, it is a far cry from text-dense gardening manuals; the photos are soothing and beautiful, with close-ups of roses and peeks inside rambling, intricate rose gardens of the English countryside and the North Fork of Long Island. Landscape designer Wachsberger (Of Leaf and Flower) imparts an understanding not just of the flower and how it should be grown and cared for, but also of how it lends itself to the creation of an impressive landscape or a charming garden.