The Conservatory Month-By-Month

Readers fortunate enough to possess a conservatory (a ""living-room-with-plants,"" according to Abbs) rather than a more ""workmanlike"" greenhouse, will find this British import the most helpful. Introducing the concept of the conservatory as ""theatre,"" Abbs suggests owners act as directors and plan the set accordingly, ""with a cast of thousands or confined to one or two major players."" The book's month-by-month format highlights specific chores (which assume a homogenous climate--readers must adjust the information to their locale), offers information on spotlighted plants and outlines a ""practical project"" or two ranging from the simple (building a trellis) to the complex (installing a ventilation system). Black-and-white illustrations give adequate, if not in-depth, detail; recommended plants, accompanied by full-color drawings, are generally available in this country, albeit many from specialty or mail-order nurseries. Although a fair amount of the information translates to general greenhouse use, repeated references to British products and an appendix of addresses confined to suppliers in Great Britain will frustrate many North American readers. (Nov.)