The Book of Garden Design

A new book by British landscape designer Brookes ( The Indoor Garden ) is always welcome, and this one is no exception. Based on his firsthand experience and on his teaching, the volume moves logically--and leisurely--from a brief history of gardens and a detailed lesson on design principles to site assessment and the varieties of landscape possibilities (country, desert, modern, classical) and plant combinations. For almost every toothsome full-color photo, an accompanying schematic gives readers exact information on plantings and placement. Particularly appealing are Brookes's personal nomenclature for horticultural ingredients: herbaceous perennials he calls ``pretties''; his garden's focal points are ``specials''; structural plants are ``skeletons.'' Also interesting is the chapter on styling--each type of style is treated, helpfully, to a still life by way of illustration. Well worth noting is another fact: The Book of Garden Design was written with American readers in mind. It includes some American landscapes and recommended hardiness zones for plants. Garden Book Club alternate; author tour. (Nov.)