I have a gardening book called "Exotica" Series 3/8 Edition. "Pictorial Cyclopedia of Exotic Plants" It has 1831 pages. The only damage that I can see is that in the front there was a 2 page map and one page of it's missing and on the Title Page it is stamped in red by the library from which it was discarded and where I bought it. It will cost a bunch to send it so I'd like some good plants for it of good size if you're interested. There is one on e-bay for sale with a buy it now price of $65.00. Please let me know if you're interested. Nancy Here is a link that might be useful: E-bay listing

Ah, the Alps--in my dreams, Mindy. But you pose a fair question. The best books for New England gardeners were written by longtime New England gardeners. No surprise there. Here are a few to get from the library or from a used book site like bookfinder.com, the most comprehensive such site, link below. The original Time-Life gardening series by Jim Crockett-- JAMES UNDERWOOD CROCKETT. A basic collection would include his volumes on perennials, annuals, flowering shrubs, evergreens, trees. But there are many more--bulbs, house plants etc. Jim was from Haverhill MA and was of course the first and longtime host of PBS' Victory Garden. The books have clear how-to info and accurate descriptions of the best species/hybrids for our area. Mostly color drawings, not photos, but that's why they invented the internet! DONALD WYMAN was at the Arnold Arboretum for many years and wrote a number of terrific books on woody plants--shrubs and trees. One I use constantly is "Shrubs and Vines for American Gardens"--the revised edition, pub 1969. Wyman's info spans decades so he can talk about the once-in-25-years freeze that killed a certain popular evergreen and you can save yourself the trouble of planting it. His one-volume "Wyman's Gardening Encyclopedia" is one-stop shopping for people who want a lot covered in a small space. Not a New Englander, more's the pity, but a Michigander from similar climate was ISABEL ZUCKER. Her "Flowering Shrubs" is the best book on the subject I've ever read. It also covers small flowering trees. Isabel was a no-nonsense calls-em-like-I-sees-em type and tells you all the bad as well as the good, a very rare quality in garden writers--or the editors who censor them. B/w photos. Her no-nonsense personality shines thru her writing and you will find yourself chuckling as well as learning. My favorite garden book genre is the book written by someone about his/her own garden of many years. These books are full of the trials and tribulations, thrills and successes of real gardeners. They are full of information and interest; many focus on perennials. New England has been fortunate to have many such writers. FREDERICK MCGOURTY, whose Hillside Gardens home and nursery in Connecticut may be remembered by many of you, wrote "The Perennial Gardener" about perennials. Knowledgeable, skilled, witty--but that could be said of all these writers. I learn something new each time I read McGourty. The book is a collection of articles written for Horticulture Magazine so you can read one at a time--or just look up the plant you are interested in. ELISABETH SHELDON gardens in upstate New York and created the most amazing garden with her own hands. She has written a number of books, mostly about perennials, and every one of them is packed with information based on experience. Again, they are independent essays that can be read separately or the reader can look up specific plants. "A Proper Garden" and "Time and the Gardener" are two of her titles. HELEN VAN PELT WILSON was one of the most popular garden writers in the country some years back. She gardened in Pennsylvania and then Connecticut. She wrote many books but "The New Perennials Preferred" is my favorite. It's about perennials, obviously, but like all these writers, she presents them in the context of a real garden, her own. And, just like talking to a friend, she describes what perennials really do in a real garden and how she copes with the endless surprises of a real garden. No advertising copy here. One of the very best garden writers for New England today is GORDON HAYWARD. He gardens in Vermont and all of his books are filled with beautiful photographs as well as his excellent, experienced writing. He writes a lot about hardscape too, especially how to incorporate our native stone into our gardens. I like "Stone in the Garden" but every one of his books is worth buying and learning from. And I'm sure many of you know the name of SYDNEY EDDISON. She gardens in Connecticut and has written many books based on her experience in her own garden. She deals with deer and declining energy, as well as the joy of a successful planting or the latest daylily. Again, all of her books are worth reading over and over, learning something new each time. There are certainly others to be added to this list but this post is long enough. Do not be put off by the fact that a number of these books are older; the information is still reliable and useful. The internet and magazines are the places to find the latest cultivar. Cultivars are mostly here today and gone tomorrow. The real-garden experience is these books is longlasting. Here is a link that might be useful: Best site for buying used books

I agree that it's important to not only read the description of any free book you're considering, but the reviews of it--so you won't waste your time on the less good ones. Amazon e-authors have the option of offering several free days for their books in each 3 month period. Especially those who have a series going do that, to introduce people to their 'line'. So you really have to keep on top of things. I've had my kindle for 2 years now (or is it 3?) and I think I've only spent about $25 on buying books for it--there really are a lot of good free ones out there.

I know this will be a shock to many but...all worthwhile information is not housed on the internet, or digitally, or electronically. Yes, there is actually information in those dusty old tomes that can't be found by googling. Not yet. Not for some time. It's a bit too soon to be throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Flat-screen TVs? How appalling that taxpayer dollars are going to pay for such foolish things. (I just moved from a community where my tax dollars were spent on a glass-walled cafeteria and a marble fountain in the name of education. Guess the flat-screen TVs are a step up.) Well, I'm preaching to the choir here. I think electronic books and information are great for things that change frequently, or are actually dangerous to carry around - I would love to see the end of the 50 lb. kid carrying the 45 lb. backpack. But this is just ridiculous.