Re: Perennial Book Picks

The gardening book I find myself referring to more than any other these days
is the "Harrowsmith Perennial Garden" by Patrick Lima (published by
Harrowsmith booksm, Canada) which is about "Larkwhistle", the garden Mr Lima
and his partner have created on the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario (Zone 4/5).  

Each of the six or so chapters covers the garden's themes and blossoms during
a segment of the growing season, describing the flowers in bloom in loving
detail. Photographs show the same borders at different times of the year so
you can see the progression through spring, summer and autumn.  There are also
diagrams showing the layouts of some of the borders.  The book is not
exhaustive in its list of perennials, but covers a good assortment of common
and uncommon plants hardy in Zone 4/5 that Mr Lima has tried in his garden.  

I find this book an incredible inspiration.  Before I purchased and planted
bulbs this autumn, I pored over the photos and descriptions for hours, trying
to envision the progression of blooms, the colour schemes, the effect I wanted
to achieve in my own little borders.

While I have a couple of perennial reference books, I get the greatest value
in learning from the achievements of other gardeners.  I hope some day to
visit "Larkwhistle" myself, assuming a garden tour is available.  The hardest
part will be deciding in what season to visit - each one is more beautiful
than the last!

-Sheila
Ottawa, Canada (Zone 4/5)
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Someday I will burst my bud of calm
   And blossom into hysteria
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