FLOWERS IN THE WINTER GARDEN

The value of this excellent book goes far beyond the winter garden of the title, although the focus is on bulbs and shrubs and plants which lend color to the garden between November and April. It is a ""must"" acquisition for the rock garden addict, for the owner of a difficult terrain, even for the woodland garden fan. Introductory chapters deal with basic knowledge, with site, preparation of a rock garden, soil and its adjustment to needs of chosen plants, crevice building and planting, paths, the ordering and placing of bulbs, the making of charts and keeping of records, items of maintenance, treatment of disease, war on pests--all applicable to many types of gardens, not solely the winter garden under discussion...The balance of the text deals with selection of material designed to give bloom from late fall to early spring: croci and bulbs to plant in contrast, narcissi, tulips, challenging plants and carpeting plants to conceal the aftermath of bulb growth and decline. But possibly the most valuable of all is the constant note of warning on growth habits, uncertainties about temperature extremes, doubtful varieties. This is definitely a book for home ownership and reference.