The Random House Book of Plants for Shade

I came across this little gem at a recent Master Gardener symposium and immediately grabbed several copies to share with others. It is wonderfully laid out by season of bloom, includes cultural information and stunning photographs of each plant in enough detail that you get an instant sense of the leaf texture and mature form of each plant. It's like a trip to your favorite garden center at the peak of each season. For those who are new to gardening it offers some excellent choices appropriate to site and for those designing it gives you that "ah ha" of finding exactly what you've been looking for in that troublesome spot! There are a lot of choices on the subject of shade gardening but I would certainly recommend you start with this comprehensive little book. It is a great value for the price. Ken Druse has a similar small book but it lacks the seasonal element of this one and repeats much of the information and photographs from his WONDERFUL larger volume, The Natural Shade Garden.