Allan M. Armitage has written an all encompassing color encyclopedia of garden
perennials. This is a fully comprehensive
resource for the beginning gardener or the expert alike. It will be a welcome addition to any gardeners
resource library. The major selling point of this book is the photographs. Armitage takes great care in providing detailed shots of each perennial. He chooses close up shots of the leaf or bloom, as well as a photo of the entire plant. It is my experience that this is rare. I have found that most books show you one close up photo of the bloom which doesn''t do the entire plant any justice. These are excellent. He follows up great photos with a detailed description about each plant. He includes the varietal scientific name, pros, cons, ideal zones and where to best use the plant, like in a planter or border, etc. This part is well written and easy to understand. Finally, in the second part of the book, Armitage lists specific plants for specific purposes. This is presented in a list format and is broken down by topics like plants for wet or boggy places, plants for cut flowers, plants that are aggressive, plants that are drought tolerant, flower color and winter interest. I found this extremely useful when trying to find a plant that would fit into a pre- existing bed with specific characteristics. Overall, I consider this book indispensable. I would not be without it. It is a fantastic resource. I would strongly recommend any gardener to purchase their own copy.