Bulletproof Flowers for the South

"Bulletproof Flowers for the South" --now there's a title! My first thought was this ridiculous image of Hatfields and McCoys with a bunch of flowers strapping on Kevlar between them, but the title is actually remarkably apt. This is a book of *survivors*, flowers that can stand up to the brutal temperatures and humidity of the Sweltering South."Bulletproof Flowers" is a dictionary-style reference on heat/humidity tolerant garden plants for gardeners living from Virginia on south, and west to Eastern Texas. Most entries include common name, scientific name, cultivar where particular varieties are prefferable, height-width specs, and a picture of the plant, along with basics of sun tolerance and miscellaneous tips on habit and cultivation. It rates plants on a relatively new "heat hardiness" scale, as well as listing the more traditional cold "hardiness zones," and includes a great deal of information based on the author's personal experiences working with the various species and cultivars. The author is clearly an experienced gardener, and in many ways this book reads like a close friend's cherished recipe box, passed along in a moment of rare generosity.As the title suggests, the author has an easy-going sense of humor that shines thoughout the book, making it very accessible reading. It doesn't get deeply technical about cultivation of individual species, but it does contain a great deal of useful information at the front about preparing your soil with an eye to the unique challenges found in our region and climate. Probably my biggest gripe about the book is its heavy reliance on common names --which many people will consider a plus-- and the quality of the pictures. Based on the quality, I can't help wondering if this is home photography. They generally give a decent sense of the flower, but are often fuzzy, and sometimes so busy that you are not actually sure which flower is being featured. There are some useful lists in the back for various geographic areas, and the author is not shy about mentioning his favorite distributors.Overall, I found this to be an excellent resource: I live in southeastern Virginia (northern region of Zone 8), and have had the opportunity to grow a great many of the plants he discusses and found myself basically in agreement on all points. For the ones I have not tried, I will definitely keep his opinions in mind. I think this book is well worth the price and is an excellent purchase for anyone trying to get a handle on low-maintenance, high impact southern gardening (remember, we're talking any hot & humid state, so that includes places like the lowlands of Kentucky and some of Oklahoma as well). Bear in mind however that this is targeted information focusing on climate considerations. If you are looking for a general plant cultivation reference, you may want to consider something else.