I've finished the Eddison book. A lot of wisdom, well-said, but not very applicable to me for several reasons. She says that gardeners are perfectionists. Anybody who sees my garden, or the Sacramento cemetery, knows that I am not. I do strive to grow every rose as well as possible, but I am a "good enough" gardener. I can focus on the things that please me, and block out the things that do not. Eddison's lowered standards probably are still much higher than mine! Being such a perfectionist, probably there are few roses that would have suited her. She likes hot colors, which would have driven her to modern roses. She says in the book that probably the only more labor intensive garden than a sunny perennial border is a rose garden. I'm pretty sure that she'd have made roses a tremendous job, deadheading them every day just as she does the daylilies, and feeling the need to spray or fuss in pursuit of "perfection." I do think that Albas or species roses would be fabulous in her garden, but don't think such a thing ever occurred to her. (She does mention grubbing out wild multiflora, a good thing!) Eddison gardens on a scale that few of us have the space, finances or energy to do. She had help all through the process, too. She has woodlands, shade gardens, sun borders, etc. She describes her "little" woodland garden as 175 by 70 feet. That's about a quarter of an acre, huge by California suburban/urban standards. She talks about pruning being terrible for the hands, and choosing plants that don't need it. I'm blessed with very little arthritis so far (nearly 60 yrs old), and wonder if decades more of wielding secateurs will take an inevitable toll. I had some bursitis in my hips, which was keeping me awake at night, but no longer have a problem now that I do water aerobics several times a week. Being in the water has made my hands, back, shoulders, etc feel better, as well as improving my overall disposition! She advocates container gardening as being an easier strategy. I've been intrigued by the differing views of containers in this thread. In hot, dry Sacramento, watering containers is a major chore. I also find wrestling things into/out of a pot is a problem. I just had a plastic pot shatter from old age, and its Japanese maple has grown into the ground. I asked my husband to build a box around it, because otherwise I'd kill the tree (and my back) trying to repot it. Overall, I don't think that containers are a strategy for MY old age, unless I end up somewhere with only a balcony. I've never read her other books, but do love how she writes, and she truly is a real gardener, even if her garden in Connecticut has very little resemblance to mine. Hostas and primroses are tatty and short-lived for me. I have to say that she seems largely oblivious to the fact that many people garden in different climates from hers. Reminds me of those maps of NYC, where Manhattan is very large and everything to the west is miniscule. One thing that I love about this forum is how it's made us all very aware of regional differences. Anita

I have this big, hard-bound book to trade. Published 1997, by Susan A. Roth. It was my first gardening book and referred to it for a few seasons before I realized it really wasn't written for my zone. It's slightly worn in the lower spine but the photos are lovely and it's full of good information (more for colder climates up to zone 8.) I'd like to trade for plants on my trade list. Feel free to make suggestions for trade. Here is a link that might be useful: My trade list

Annie thanks for the heads up, I don't subscribe to any magazines anymore but a magazine chockablock full of good ideas and info will hit the spot right about now. The few things I have blooming right now are pretty sad looking from getting repeated dumps of snow on them, I do have a pretty yellow Hellebore and a lonely little leucojum vernum, snowdrops and crocus blooming in my winter ravished garden though. Come on decent weather I need to get cracking. Annette

Kathec, I need all the help I can get figuring out my color palatte for my kitchen & family room because of the brick on the fireplace. I'll definitely check out this issue of BH&G. Thanks!