I like Dirr's Manual of Woody Landscape Plants better than Hardy Trees and Shrubs. It doesn't have photos (that's what Google images is for) but it has much more info. And I love his writing style - often opinionated (and I regularly disagree with his opinions because my growing area is so different from his) but well written and with a sense of humor. I use this lots more than any other garden-related book on my shelf and really appreciate the depth of information included. (I also own and use as reference his book on Viburnums, though that is too specific for your purposes.)

For well written garden essays, I really like anything by Joe Eck and Wayne Winterrowd. Well-written, excellent plant knowledge (especially for my northern area,) and great design sense, often along with gentle humor. What more could I ask of garden essays? They have a nice one on annuals if you're looking for one that fits a particular category.

Most other garden books I own I've read once and may refer to periodically, but in reality I rely more on web searches since I can usually find detailed information on whatever I'm looking for. For design I read blogs written by several professional designers that are well-illustrated with photos. (Disclaimer - I read a lot of books, just don't find they fit most of my needs as an experienced gardener - because of the economics of publishing, most garden books are written to appeal to a broad spectrum and so may not have the level of specificity I'm looking for and they are hard to keep up-to-date with new plant offerings.)

However, I am looking to get a good pruning book, so I'm hoping that I can get some ideas here. Thanks for the topic.

Whus' up whaas? I just like that name.

This link is quite quintessential:

The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University: 'Order of Bloom'

Dax

That is pretty handy!

Here are a couple additional Confier books selections that where suggested.

A Handbook of the World's Conifers
by Aljos Farjon, Pieter Baas

Conifers of the world, the complete reference
By James E. Eckenwalder

The Exuberant Garden and the Controlling Hand by William H. Frederick, Jr. - which crosses several boundaries that you've set up.

Bill Frederick also wrote 100 Great Garden Plants much longer ago, but it's still a great text.

You might express more about what you expect to gain from this list. I don't want to guess, but it seems you'd like to have every answer at your fingertips for anything that might come up garden-wise at your residence. If so, you'll perennially (as well as annually) be disappointed.

Overall, look for knowledge that is place-based and matches well with where you garden. Everything else is really good stuff that likely has only peripheral application to your needs, but will be cool to have at hand and will expand the boundaries of your experience.

For now, I'm focusing on design and more specifically the first steps to work in the right conifers in the design.

Designing with Conifers: The Best Choices for Year-Round Interest in Your Garden - Richard L. Bitner

This one sounds very promising, but it doesn't come out till April...what bad timing on the publishers part.

All the others would go on the back burner. Next year I'll be all over roses, hydrangeas and perrenial combinations.

This is one is pretty good for landscape design.

Home Outside: Creating the Landscape You Love [Hardcover]
Julie Moir Messervy