The Hillier Gardener's Guide to Trees and Shrubs

""If you want to create a garden for a year, then fill the borders with flowers. If you want to create a garden for a lifetime, then plant it with trees and shrubs."" Thus begins this revised version of the comprehensive 1991 edition, which provides numerous charts detailing USDA hardiness zones, diseases and pests, specific plant characteristics and even plant nomenclature. Discussed are the biology of trees, principles of design (a mature garden has three layers: tree canopy; a middle layer of shrubs and small trees; and a ground level of flowers and herbacious perennials). A guide for pruning and propogating complements the alphabetical directory of 4000 high-performance trees and shrubs, with 13 pages devoted to maple tree variations alone. Other sections examine foliage, coastal trees and soil variation. Although pricey, this volume, illustrated with over 3000 color photos can serve as sole reference on trees and shrubs for all but the warmest regions of the U.S. (Dec.)