Does it become apparent that many of these small charmers are not especially easy to grow, and many are difficult to obtain. For the experienced aficionado this will be an attractive book, with illustrations of plants seen only in mountain dreams. There's discussion of options and possibilities using species and cultivars of rhododendrons and those called azaleas in common parlance. North American native trees, shrubs, and perennials that would happily, and aesthetically, blend with the rhododendrons. Each chapter ends with a brief suggested reading list, much more sensible and useful than lumping them all together in an appendix.
Some line drawing and a section of color photographs round out a well written, useful book.
It is a chilly, dreary March day as I write these reviews. Schrader, one of the partners in Landcraft, a wholesale nursery on Long Island that specializes in tender, temporary perennials for the summer garden, really knows his plants and how to utilize them. Susan Roth is an award-winning writer. They've created a great book with invaluable information on growing, using, and the winter storage of plants from bananas to cannas, palms to passiflora, and more. Hardy plants with a tropical look, container combinations, using familiar plants with flair provide ideas for any garden.