[.ca] Landscaping with Roses: Gardens Walkways Arbors Containers (ISBN 1561583820)

Practical and Useful:
There are many books about roses but this is one of the better ones. Written by well-known garden host (HGTV and PBS) Jeff Cox, it is a beautiful yet practical book that delivers exactly what the title promises. The first couple of hundred pages give you ideas for using roses in a whole range of different garden settings. The remainder explains how to buy, plant and care for roses. The advice is excellent for the novice or intermediate gardener. I give the writer full marks for not just providing a "directory of roses" - a cop-out all too often used to fill pages in garden books. Instead he shows how different types of roses can be used in the landscape. The book has plenty of colour photographs showing roses used in different settings. I have to say that I was turned off by the hype on the cover. This is not a "ground-breaking book", the effects are not "dazzling" and as a guide it was useful rather than "inspirational". However, the writer has produced a practical, workman-like guide to effective landscape design using roses. The book is well-designed and easy to read. I would recommend it to anyone who was thinkinf of incorporating roses into their garden.

Incorporate the rose bush into a variety of landscaping goal:
This isn't your usual all-encompassing guide to rose varieties: instead it tells how to incorporate the rose bush into a variety of landscaping goals; from walkways and arbors to container gardening. Tips on choosing and growing the newer, hardier, low-maintenance breeds blend with those on how to arrange roses in conjunction with shrubs and other perennials for maximum effect.