The Complete Shade Gardener (ISBN 0881925349)

Book Description:
First published by Houghton Mifflin, this classic and indispensable reference for shade gardening is now back in print.

Worthwhile classic:
The author spends the first part of the book discussing what to do to prepare a shady site for a garden and his informal tone and candid assessment of his own mistakes will encourage the most timid to venture into the darker regions of the garden. There are 8 pages of full color and scattered black and white photos throughout the book, so for those unfamiliar with the mentioned plants, another photo-heavy reference or two is a must. The black and white photos, however, are very useful to indicate foliage texture and form, which is often not noticeable in color pictures. Rather than using USDA hardiness zones, Schenk gives region codes to indicate the hardiness of plants. He includes trees, shrubs, groundcovers, vines, ferns, perennials, annuals, even edibles. The book was last updated in 1991 and the list of hybrids grows ever longer; still, this is a handy reference to consult before a nursery trip to see the latest and greatest. A helpful list of specialty nurseries, with notes on the specialty of each, is included, as are suggested plans for a shady retreat. A terrific book.

A Bible for Flower Gardeners Challenged by Shade:
Thinking I needed full sun to grow any plants and flowers, I was prepared to cut down trees and clear land. But finding this book in the library stopped me in my tracks. I renewed it three times because I didn't want to give it back. Finally I came here for my own copy. There are incredibly beautiful flowers that grow in partial and full shade. I would've never known that without this excellent book.

Great Content...But Low Use:
When I ordered this book, I was expecting beautiful examples like the photo on the cover, but instead got an outdated black and white books, which is of little use to me when I'm in the middle of a project looking for inspiration. While the content on this book is excellent, and it is a great primer for beginning gardeners, it is not for the designer looking for quick ideas.

The Complete Shade Gardener:
This book was great because they have pictures that show as well describe the plants and tree's. My wife has low vision and this book was great for her. We recommend this book to all people who want to know what grows in the shade.

Not Entirely Satisfying:
There was some good advice in this book and some original descriptions which was nice. The author certainly has an intimate knowledge of many of the shade plants he describes. However, it does seem a little dated and the pictures are uninspiring. If the pictures were in color, and the information edited for current practices, it would have been much more satisfying.