I have recently become acquainted with tree books that I would ike to share with you. These books will provide hours of entertainment and inspiration.

The first is "Time Tested Plants: Thirty Years in a Four Season Garden" by Pamela harper.

In this remarkable book, Pamela Harper takes us on a walk through 30 years of gardening revealing both the good and the bad. Season by season, she describes the plants that did not live up to expectations, as well as those that exceeded all hopes. Each season reveals a different feture of a plant, whether it be spring's blooms, summer's lush foliage or the fruits and bark of autumn. All the trees, shrubs and perennials included have earned the author's trust and affection for a decade or more - plants that have stood the test of time.

This is a sumptuously photographed book. The photos document the charms of its time-tested platns. All but 2 of the 250 photographs are taken directly from the author's garden. This book is a refreshing, istructive account of those plants that have brought a lifetime of joy and have amply repaid a loving investment of care and patience.

Pamela's previous books: "Designing with Perennials" and "Color Echoes" are among my favorites and I am delighted that she has created this brand new text (copyright 2000) published by Timber Press.

The second book is "Continuous Bloom - A Month by Month Guide to Nonstop Color in the Perennial Garden" by Pam Duthie.

In this book, Pam Duthie has arranged 272 perennials according to bloom time so you can mix and match them to suit your garden. Using this book, you can have wonderful color and texture from March through November, and even winter interest throughout the coldest months of the year.

Not only has Pam simplified bloom times, but her excellent plant descriptions also help to understand how the plans will perform. The no-nonsense approach Continuous Bloom takes allow youto find the information you need without wading through paragraphs of unrelated material: simply find the perennial you're interested in, scan down the page for what you want to know, and move on to what you need next. Keeping a colorful perennial garden all year long has never been easier! With this book, you'll design gardens that you, your family and your neighbors can enjoy all year long! (Copyright 2000, Ball Publishing). 

The third book tha I highly recommend is "Earth on Her Hands - The American Woman in Her Garden" by Starr Ockenga. 

In this book, Starr Ockenga showcases 18 outstanding gardens created by 18 exceptional women gardeners. Often working the same plot of land over the course of several decades, these women developed their gardens largely without professional assistance - resulting in distinctive gardens that are truly personal expressions.

Starr has documented each garden in stunning color and her text explores the role that working with the soil ahs played in these dedicated gardeners' lives over the course of many years. Each profile is accompanied by a complete garden plan, and comprehensive plant lists, tips on plant culture and design ideas.

Earh on Her Hands is educational for both the beginning and established gardeners alike. It is a true testament to the lifelong satisfaction of hands-on gardening. A treasure you will want to include in your gardening library, this book is published by Clarkson Potter Publishers (copyright 1998).

I encourage you to stop by your local library or book store and pick up a copy of one or more of these outstanding books.