The Flower Gardener's Bible: Time-Tested Techniques, Creative Designs, and Perfect Plants for Colorful Gardens Book

Part 1: The Joy of Flower Gardening

Chapter 1: The Fascination of Flowers It Takes All Kinds to Make a Garden
• A Perfect Marriage

Chapter 2: Designing Your Flower Garden Where Does Your Garden Grow?
• The Site That Is Right
• The Garden as a Neighborhood of Plants
• A Garden for Bouquets
• Using the Bulb Family
• Designing with Color Coordination in Mind
• Designing the Garden on Paper
• Ornaments in the Garden
• Illuminating Your Garden

Chapter 3: Nurturing Your Garden Soil Evaluating Soil Texture
• A Look at Soil Fertility
• Sweet or Sour Soil?

Chapter 4: Planting Your Flower Garden Putting In a New Garden
• Transplanting Perennials, Shrubs, and Vines
• Planting Bare-Root Plants
• Getting Bulbs Off to a Good Start
• Planting Annuals
• Moving Plants
• The Many Advantages of Mulch
• Living on the Edge
• Reviving an Old Perennial Bed

Chapter 5: Making More Plants Starting Plants from Seeds
• Hybridizing Basics
• Layering
• Divide and Conquer
• Starting Plants from Cuttings
• Grafting Techniques

Chapter 6: Coping with Garden Pests Chemical Gardeners vs. Organic Gardeners
• Insect Invaders
• Animal Scoundrels
• When Diseases Are the Problem
• The Fine Art of Weed Control

Chapter 7: Caring for Your Garden The Joy of Awakening
• Planting and Transplanting
• Early Summer Chores
• Summer Care
• Fall Chores
• A Flower Gardener's Calendar

Part 2: A Gallery of Gardens Down the Garden Path A Fantastic Foundation Garden Wildflower Extravaganza: Meadow and Woodland A Rock Garden to Love Don't Forget to Smell the Flowers Great Gardening on a Hillside Gardening in a Shady Nook Successful Seashore Plantings The Charm of a Cottage Garden The Magic Spell of Water Gardening The Multifaceted Herb Garden Outdoor Gardening in Containers A Deckside Garden A Bed for Butterflies A Five-Star Garden for Hummingbirds A Garden for Plant Collectors Create a Child's Garden An Island of Flowers True Blue, the Zenith of Gardens A Take-It-Easy Garden A Shrub Garden Gardening with Groundcovers The Romance of a Rose Garden

Part 3: A Feast of Flowers An alphabetical listing of plants with species-by-species information on each plant's characteristics and how to care for it.