From The Bookshelf

Flower & Garden Magazine, Feb, 1999 by Jennifer Curry

Leave the winter blues behind by curling up in a cozy spot and reading a good book. This first new book about secret gardens is sure to be just the escape you need.

"Secret Gardens," by Jennifer Potter, (Conran Octopus Ltd., 1998; $29.95; 144 pages) provides wonderful profiles of the hidden, mysterious gardens of Europe and America. Potter's writing induces the same feeling of wonder that the gardens themselves would excite. This beautifully photographed and designed book includes five garden plans and lists helpful plants so you can design a secret garden of your own.

While you are planning your next vacation, you might want to pick up a copy of the "National Geographic Guide to America's Public Gardens" (National Geographic Books, 1998; $25.00; 384 pages). Three hundred of the country's finest public gardens are listed by region and state. The concise descriptions and colorful photos will help garden lovers choose the perfect vacation destination from a variety of gardens.

Yvette Verner's "The Blooming Lawn" (Chelsea Green Publishing Co., 1998; $16.95; 138 pages) explains how homeowners can create a natural habitat in the yard using natural grasses and other plants. Verner provides a well-written, inspiring narrative of how she and her husband created their own flowering meadow. She also shows how other gardeners can attract wildlife to their yard using a seasonal calendar and lists of species and resources for readers in North America.