[.uk] Taylor's Guide to Annuals: How to Select and Grow more ... (ISBN 0395943523)

Attractive, concise and informative:
The Taylor's series of gardening books have a admirable reputation and it is easy to see why. This update of "Annuals" is in a slightly larger format but still contains the excellent information as the previous edition. A 30 page introduction discusses growing techniques and care throughout the season as well as an insect identification guide. This is followed by the "Gallery of Plants", a 200 glossy section of beautiful photographs of annuals arranged by their Latin name (an index of common names is provided in the back). Each photo is accompanied by a brief description statement and a page number reference to the plant's entry in the "Plant Encyclopedia" section in the last part of the book. Here you will find a detailed description and cultural instructions on how to grow the plant. The book is also an excellent tool for helping you identify unknown plants.

Taylor's Guide to Perennials:
The colored pictures in order are extremely helpful in identifying plants. There are sun/shade and water information for each plant. Sometimes the common names aren't given and I don't know all of the Latin names for plants.

Annuals, tender perennials, and tropicals are all there:
The Taylor's Guides are known for their great pictures and good cultural information. This book lists annuals as "cool weather, "warm weather" and "tender perennial." I have often told customers that tender perennial means it is perennial somewhere, but certainly not here. That may not be the case for everyone reading this book. You have to look in the encyclopedia area to see what zone the plant is hardy in. Some tender perennials may be perennial in your climate or only some winters in your climate. The problem with any book on annuals that includes tender perennials and tropicals is availability. For other categories in the Taylor's Guide, like perennials, shrubs, etc. most of the plants are available from good nurseries. Annuals is a different story. The best sellers are available. Some of the tropicals are available depending on where you go. The rare or unpopular annuals to only be grown from seed are available from seed vendors and garden centers who sell a variety of seeds. For the tropical combination plants, which are the most interesting listed, you have to go to the better nurseries or mail order sources. What I am getting at here is how to use this book. Don't have your heart set on a picture in this book. The plant may be only available by seed, and perhaps that does not suit your lifestyle. Regarding the ideas decide if you want to grow from seed or not. With the tender perennials, after you have read about them, decide what you want to try. This is a great book on annuals. Anyone interested in plnats should buy it. When combining with tropicals and plants from seed, use your common sense.