cover image Gardening with the New Small Plants: The Complete Guide to Growing Dwarf and Miniature Shrubs, Flowers, Trees, and Vegetables

Gardening with the New Small Plants: The Complete Guide to Growing Dwarf and Miniature Shrubs, Flowers, Trees, and Vegetables

Oliver E. Allen. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH), $19.95 (196pp) ISBN 978-0-395-39395-6

Would-be gardeners, frustrated by limited space, should be encouraged by Allen's ( The Vegetable Gardener's Journal, Decorating with Plants, etc.) practical, comprehensible and thorough recommendations of small plants. The section, for example, on dwarf conifers describes the appearance, growth habits and other details of this rich species. There is also ample information on dwarf fruit trees and flowering shrubs like the rhododendron, azalea, etc. The author additionally conveys his enthusiasm for the recently developed, beguiling miniature rose bush, as well as for such early spring brighteners as colorful groups of the chionodoxa, scilla, fritillaria et al. Instructions on the basicsselecting, planting, nurturingare accompanied by addresses of specialty nurseries and directions for building boxes and troughs to display the plants. Illustrations not seen by PW. Garden Book Club main selection. (March 18)