Gardening with ornamental grasses

Grasses, once given slight attention, have moved to the forefront of the garden in recent years. Their leaves, seed heads, and changing autumn colors combine to grab the gardener's attention. One of the world's leading authorities on the topic, Grounds (Ornamental Grasses) covers selection, purchase, propagation, and maintenance. An extensive A-to-Z section includes botanical and common names, flowering season, coolest U.S. hardiness zone, symbols for height in flower, the author's personal choices of grasses deserving a place in gardens, and whether a particular grass is a warm or cool season grower. Planting schemes for shade, prairie, waterside, containers, meadow, early summer border, and late summer border are included. Appendixes offer lists of grasses for special uses and where to see and buy ornamental grasses. Color photographs add to the beauty and value of this detailed book, and the occasional British reference does not detract. A welcome addition to libraries where there is interest. [Horticulture Books is a new joint venture of F+W Publications and Horticulture magazine.-Ed.]-Nancy Myers, Univ. of South Dakota Lib., Vermillion (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.