Northeast (SmartGarden Regional Guides)

My title bout sums it up. This is a great book, in that it is an encyclopedia of plants, with good photos and descriptions for a specific region (finding regional plan books is difficult). I found it very useful as a landscape design student, and have found nothing else like it. Most of the books in this series are also very useful. Do not buy this if your seeking design ideas, or a beautiful photo book of landscape designs, this is for reference, and is the best I found.

SmartGarden's Northeast guide is a beautifully presented book with large photos of plants and brief write-ups on characteristics, as well as an easy-to-follow guide to sunlight needs, drought resistance, temperature, and height. The two main sections are divided into Woody Plants and Herbaceous Plants, with each of those subdivided into various helpful planting categories like: Trees with purple foliage; perennials for dry, sunny sites; genuses; aquatic perennials for floral interest. I like the planting categories and have found them helpful, but I wish the write-ups were longer with more information about that plant. Sometimes the categories are frustrating, as you might wish to look up a plant by family, but you can always cross-reference in the back. One of my favorite plant books is Pojar and Mackinnon's Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast and it contains incredible information on all the plants, as well as an excellent navigation guide. However, SmartGarden's Northeast is geared towards gardeners vs. botanists and is full of practical hands-on information. The beginning and end of the book contain general notes on planting, soil testing, and wildlife encouragement or discouragement. In terms of northeast plant guides, I would say this has been one of the best that I've found. I love the full color photo spreads and the size of the book. It's great to find something that makes gardening in certain growing conditions easier. A good addition to the gardening library.