Perennials (Eyewitness Garden Handbooks)
These two volumes pack a great deal of information into a small space, with the distinctive design and high-quality illustrations that are DK's hallmark. Perennials is a small, attractive reference guide "to selecting and identifying perennials." The plants are grouped first by size, then by season of interest, and then by color. Major garden plants like peonies and chrysanthemums are grouped together in boxed spreads. There are brief descriptions of the plants, their preferred habitat, and their cultivation, with U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zone information. Despite this effort to accommodate American gardeners, many of the named varieties listed seem to be of British origin and are not common in the American trade. However, this book would make a nice supplement to a more authoritative work like Ellen Phillips and C. Colston Burrell's Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Perennials (LJ 12/95). Roses describes over 300 varieties, arranged by type (Modern Bush, Old Garden and Species, Miniature, etc.) and then color. Following is a brief guide to rose care. Although it describes more varieties than Judith McKeon's Encyclopedia of Roses (LJ 9/1/95), the latter provides more information on each variety and is far stronger on rose garden design, care, and disease control. Recommended as a supplement to more comprehensive works.?Molly Newling, Piscataway P.L., N.J.Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.