They are definitely an heirloom plant. The first third of the book is a how-to, covering garden planning, designing with and caring for perennials and the propagation of perennials. Occasionally, illustrations are used to demonstrate techniques for planning, plant-ing and propagating. In the book, Hamill also discusses ways to keep commonly grown perennials, like shasta daisies, healthy. While these popular perennials are not fussy, they tend to bloom vigorously the first year, then become weak or die out the next year.
Many gardeners mistakenly believe they have killed off the perennial.
To renew the plant, dig up the entire plant and replant the healthy new growth. Insets detail perennials for specialty gardens, such as cut-flower gardens, shade gardens or those with sunny spots. Hamill includes suggestions of perennials that can be grown for fragrance, flower or foliage. In addition to a plant hardiness zone map, she includes a heat zone map in her book. This relatively new zone map helps gardeners determine how well certain perennials can handle the summer heat.