The Complete Shade Gardener

This classic and indispensable reference for shade gardening is now back in print. Long considered required reading for those with difficult low-light areas, it covers the basics literally from the ground up, leading the gardener through the creation of his or her own shady retreat. Part One concerns the art and science of a shade garden, from preparing the soil, to pruning, to considering different "shades of shade" (does your favorite bed lie in dappled shade or high shade?). Part Two, which details information on growing the plant, is neatly arranged in sections according to the type of plant. These descriptions are casual, to the point, and often humorous. The sago palm, for example, "will put you in touch with paleobotany." Selected photographs and line drawings both illustrate and inspire.

A former nurseryman and landscaper, George Schenk retired from business to pursue his related passions of designing and planting gardens and writing about them. He splits his time between gardens and residences in Seattle, North Vancouver, Auckland, and Manila. He is a specialist in the sculpture of the tribes of the Philippine Cordillera and is active in the effort to preserve their cultural heritage. Schenk is the author of several magazine articles and books. His book Moss Gardening won the Book Award of the American Horticultural Society; his The Complete Shade Gardener has been recognized by the society as one of America's seventy-five "Great American Garden Books."