[.ca] Color for Adventurous Gardeners (ISBN 1552975304)

TRUE value!:
The first thing a book about color in the garden ought to have is big pictures and lots of 'em. This book is positively unstinting: full page and even double page wonders (muzzle yourself; although the paper quality seems good, it would be a pity to sully the pages with drooling). The seldom-under-opinionated Christopher Lloyd provides text as colorful as the photos, so brace for throwaway remarks about mundane dahlia leaves and not being snobby about dandelion flowers. There is a reassuring coziness, too, as Lloyd reviews his delights and prejudices about gardening in general and on his own expansive plot. Here's a Christopher Lloyd lecture and slide show to peruse at your leisure. Just like such events, the book is thoroughly informative and completely entertaining.

A must have for all gardeners:
Christopher Lloyd was one of the greatest gardeners who ever lived, and also one of the finest garden writers. Reading any of his books is like sitting down to tea, sherry or something stronger with a dear friend; he could be curmudgeonly, didactic, encouraging, funny, and above all, enthusiastic about plants. The most valuable lesson to be learned from this book: "Learn about the rules of colour...so you can break them!" Lloyd not only explains about colour in the garden, he gives plenty of plant recommendations, and while they might not all be hardy to everyone's zone, each colour-themed chapter encourages us to try other plants in our planting schemes. One of the books I most strongly recommend to other gardeners.