I have this book. I like how it advocates the view that something does not have to be completely hardy to be worth growing. You can enjoy a plant for a few years until a really cold one comes along, or you can take simple measures to protect plants from cold temperatures on the few coldest nights - and such measures are not really so much more work than various other things people do to take care of their plants. Also, the view that some degree of winter damage can be tolerated for certain plants whose ornamental virtues are worth it. It also picks out a few plants that are much hardier than commonly supposed, especially the Southeastern native palms, and some other plants that may be tropical-looking but are actually temperate-zone plants. However, the book seems to make a bit much of plants that will only survive mild winters, but not even average ones. Personally, while I like to grow many plants that may not survive a very cold winter, I feel that it is more worth growing plants that can survive average (and mild) winters because at least the odds of it surviving a given winter are in your favor. If you plant things relying on a mild winter your luck will run out pretty quick. Also, the book's coverage is heavily biased towards plants that are more available and more popular back east; and, in some cases, the plants are much better adapted to their hot humid summers and more continental climate. Coverage of more 'maritime climate plants' that are more appropriate for us is very limited. Many outstanding broadleaf evergreens that thrive here are excluded from the book. A couple of the color plates show incorrectly identified plants. Still, it's kind of a fun book to have.

Back in the 70's when I was young and, in the words of Moms Mabley, "just as cute as I wanted to be," I had a dress that suited me right down to the ground...it was a narrow winter white cotton sheath with a mandarin collar and a long, wide sash, and it was covered in big black Asian calligraphic characters. I wore it and wore it, until one day I was standing in the will-call line at the theatre, feeling fabulous, and a Chinese family walked by, did a quick double-take, and burst out laughing. I will never know what my dress said, but I didn't wear it again outside my house!

You can't go wrong with Neil Gaiman, whatever the mood -from fairly light and playful (Stardust - and it definitely still has dark elements too) to very dark (American Gods) - just an incredible author. Sherri Tepper is always great. Connie Willis is too especially if you like well done time travel. Terry Pratchett for something lighter that still has some "meat" to it. Most of Orson Scott Card's. Sharon Shinn is a recently discovered fave - especially Heart of Gold and the "Angel" series - don't let the angels throw you off - they are not what you think - this series is pure sci-fi - just in a different package. And of course there are the classics - Clarke, Bradbury,Le Guin, PK Dick, Asimov, Heinlein, PJ Farmer, etc. Love them all. I tend to like sci-fi that deals with deeper themes - xenophobia, conflict of nature vs technology, etc. But then again, I guess all good sci-fi does that. OH!! - and almost forgot - how could I? - Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. So, so good. Never understood why it was marketed to young adults - they are "grown up" books definitely.

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