Mrs. Greenthumbs: How I Turned a Boring Yard Into a Glorious Garden and How You Can, Too

If you want good looking gardens/landscapes but don't want to spend all your time tending, digging and chasing deer, this book is for you. Written in a month by month format, Danz writes about the typical tasks for each month and offers tips on how to make them easier. There are lists of fool-proof plants, how and when to plant and prune, plus lots of hints on setting up a garden (there is more about garden design in her other book). You won't find garden lay-outs or landscaping plans which I admit I was looking for when I bought this book. But I've ended up using just about every tip in this book - my favorite being the "Old Newspaper Trick" - and though I'll never be a die-hard gardener, they've helped make the whole process almost fun.

I bought this book as a last minute gift for my best friend, a nursery owner, fully expecting her to send it back to me after she finished reading it, as she usually does ( as thrifty as Mrs. Greenthumbs!). It is now circulating around the garden club members in Prince George, British Columbia. Her rave reviews prompted me to buy my own copy. I can see why it never got back to Vancouver. This book has made me less anxious about my gardens and more at peace about my failures. Gardening has become sexy!

As a rule people don't usually laugh a lot about gardening. However I would defy anyone to get the end of the the first page of this book without giggling if not guffawing. Cassandra is a talented and engaging writer who manages to impart excellent advice without pomposity or pretense. I would recommend this book to anyone, even if like me, you haven't made it to owning a garden. It certainly makes you want to - if only for the Mai Tais and machetes! (You have to read it....)

I bought this book in 1984 and refer to it all the time! When things fail in my garden or if I have a question about some new addition, she helps me through. I found it particularly reassuring that she was also disappointed with the results of her perennials the first year, because I was ready to give up. And her humor is great!!!

For anyone who is thinking about putting in a garden, yet intimidated everytime they walk into a nursery, this is the book for you. Not really a how-to book, but more of a witty, down to earth overview of gardening as a whole with plenty of help hints and advice. I've read this book over and over and I still find it both funny and inspiring. Should be required reading for everyone new to gardening.