In this companion volume to the bestselling The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants, Charlotte Adelman and Bernard L. Schwartz offer another indispensible guide to replacing nonnative plants with native alternatives. This time, their subject is the native woody species that are the backbone of our gardens and landscapes. Among other ecological benefits, native shrubs and trees provide birds and butterflies with vital food and reproductive sites that nonnative species cannot offer. And they tend to be hardier and easier to maintain. The authors provide a comprehensive selection of native woody alternatives that, season by season, provide effects similar to those of nonnative shrubs and trees used for ornamental purposes and shade. These plants are suitable for all garden styles, provide blooms and fall color, and have the same cultivation requirements as their nonnative counterparts. Nature notes alert readers to the native species' unique ecological roles. Unlike other gardening guides, Midwestern Native Shrubs and Trees goes beyond mere suggestion to provide gardeners with the tools they need to make informed, thoughtful choices. Knowing which native species to plant for desired effects empowers landscapers and gardeners to take on a greater role in protecting our midwestern environment.

Wherever you live in Florida, "Your Florida Guide to Bedding Plants" meets your special needs with step-by-step information from experts in Florida horticulture. From colorful container plants to multi-level landscaping designs, this full-color, beautifully illustrated book will help make all your outdoor projects a success.

Learn how to:
--design attractive beds with easy-to-follow landscape plans
--choose plants most appropriate to your corner of Florida
--place and use over 70 bedding plants with the at-a-glance color photo reference
--garden successfully in coastal areas
--prevent and cope with plant pests and diseases
--create hanging-basket, fragrance, and cutting gardens.

Robert J. (Bob) Black is the consumer horticultural specialist for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

Ed Gilman develops educational materials and conducts educational programs for the nursery and landscape industries.