Native Treasures: Gardening With the Plants of ... (ISBN 0520244265)

More than just beautiful photos:
I just finished reading this book and it was a delight! More than just a reference book, it is chock full of excellent information on origins, habitat, usage, reliability and much more. The suggestions and advice from Mr. Smith, who has been a plant enthusiast for so long, really hit the mark. The style is so friendly without a bit of condescension. There is nothing dry or distant about the book. It bursts with the excitment of discovery, knowledge and the adventure of plant hunting, growing and then selecting. If one is even a little bit curious about the amazing native plants of the west, this book is for you. It is a book to go back to again and again for suggestions and information. I read it over four cloudy days and couldn't wait to get outside and see for myself the beauty and wonder of our native plants. Patrick Jesse Pons-Worley