cover image TOUGH-AS-NAILS FLOWERS FOR THE SOUTH

TOUGH-AS-NAILS FLOWERS FOR THE SOUTH

Norman Winter, . . Univ. Press of Mississippi, $50 (234pp) ISBN 978-1-57806-544-8

Winter (Mississippi's Gardener's Guide), host of the TV show Southern Gardening, helps readers achieve a beautifully appointed garden, regardless of where they live and whether or not they have a "green thumb." This attractively illustrated book is a guide to all types of flowers, from perennials to bulbs, grasses and vines. For each type of plant, Winter offers a brief boxed description including color, how much sun and water is needed, size of plant, etc. The rest of the page includes details about toughness, planting, growing, varieties and landscape use. Winter's writing is straightforward, simple but still inviting. There is a brief section on basics that explains such concepts as color, composting and fertilization. There's also a color wheel designed to help readers select complementary plants for their garden. Still, the book is primarily geared to more serious gardeners, not weekend planters, and Winter's tips are clearly intended for people with large gardens. For example, he says, "Celosia is not a flower to be spot planted. Mass plant celosia for the most effective landscape display." (Mar.)