THE COMMON SENSE GUIDE TO FLOWER GARDENING

Mr. Browne (Women's Day columnist, author of For Better Gardens) proceeds with the basics soil, the general needs of flowers, planning a bed (start from the front, move to the middle), growing from seeds (the basement is an almost ideal place), maintenance (""less a matter of having a green thumb than dirty knees""). Midway his book blossoms with a listing of annuals, biennials, perennials, their characteristics and preferences. It's an easy entree with no feature (unless it is a graceful style) to distinguish it from others of the species.