The Washington Post Garden Book: The Ultimate Guide to Gardening in Greater Washington and the Mid-Atlantic Region

Which plants do best - and worst - in Greater Washignton and the Mid-Atlantic region? How do you transform a neglected yard into a wondrous garden while minimizing the need for check-writing, maintenance and toxic chemicals? How can you create a flowing landscape with breathtaking colors and forms that will enchant you year round, not just seperate flower beds that bloom briefly in spring or summer?

You'll find the answers to these questions - and many more - in this extraordinary guide, which is as masterfully written and beautifully illustrated as it is useful. Whether you have an urban backyard, a suburban landscape, a rural spread or an apartment balcony, this is your essential reference for gardening in Washington, Virginia, Maryland, and beyond. In addition to all the basics on soil composition, tools, drainage, pruning and the like, the guide provides what you need on an exceptional array of subjects.

Adrain Higgins, garden editor and writer for The Washington Post's Home section, is a prize winning author whose work also has appeared in House and Garden, Garden Design, Horticulture and other publications. He is the author of The Secret Gardens of Georgetown.

Susan Davis is a painter, muralist and illustrator. Her art has graced the cover of The New Yorker magazine, the pages of The Washington Post and noted posters, including the official one for a presidential inauguration. She has illustrated a number of books.