I have a couple of Henry Mitchell books and they are wonderful. His rule of not to bring home a new plant if he's left a bunch of work to do in the garden is a good one (I need to find the exact quote). I still have yet to follow it, but I know I'd be less stressed if I did. 'Roses in the Southern Garden' by Mike Shoup is my idea of a perfect rose book, if only it were four times longer or in multiple volumes. Though it's only a list book, describing varieties, each variety has 2 or 3 pictures along with it. In addition to some closeups, tons of long views of the roses in gardens. Every photograph in that book tells a story. I'm not even in the south and probably a third of the roses wouldn't be hardy here, but the book still has a lot of inspiration I can use. It's easy to forget that Landscaping itself is an art when you look at some of the seemingly uninspired assortment of shrub landscapes. That seems so boring to a worshiper of the queen of flowers. But landscaping is about using the principles of design like balance, unity, emphasis- aren't those artistic terms? It's helpful to have a plan before we dig up the next patch of lawn, and to think about the why and how it will interact with the garden as a whole. Some people are naturals at designing their gardens, but I am not. I grab this plant and that because it's oh so pretty and then have to try and figure out where to put it. Learning to see- something that's talked about on the Landscape forum, is a process for me. Here are some regional books that have helped me... 'Cutting Edge Gardening in the Intermountain West' by Marcia Tatroe (my absolute favorite) 'The Undaunted Garden' by Lauren Springer 'Passionate Gardening' by Lauren Springer and Rob Proctor 'Xeriscape Handbook' by Gayle Weinstein (This was the one recommended in the class I took because of the sections on assessing the site and making a plan) 'Landscaping on the New Frontier-Waterwise design for the Intermountain West ' by Susan Meyer and others (excellent illustrations and how to draw a plan info- definite native bent) Vettin- the above list might not help you specifically, but I thought I might include it for others who may be reading. You might find some regional books too. Winter seems very long round these parts and there's plenty of time for reading. Nuggets of Inspiration can be had from many books. No book has to be treated like a bible- well except maybe The Bible. : )

Please contact me. I am unable to email to you??

One of the Sunset Container Gardening books the Herbal Yearbook The Lavender Garden Edible Landscaping by Creasey oh, but if you have Leptosperman (of any sort, rooted cuttings pleas!) I'd like that; also homemade soap or fallen antlers from the woods (I love them, and mine are degrading in the New Orleans rains. They make nice calciam additions to the soil!) and I can be tempted....try me. Gotta be something to live in New Orleans, though. And local folk, give me a ring-I will swap for hard-to-ship items too.

I have new books of quilting, quilting step on it rugs, quilting coats & totes, Illustraded guide to English paper piceing, how to quilt 3d fabric flowers. I also have other books on my trade list, am looking to trade for plants