I lucked out with this book - I found it in the bargain bin at a local bookstore several years and couldn't resist a $4 book (or whatever it was). Over the years, this has been my go-to source whenever I'm thinking about adding something to my garden. The book is broken down into a number of sections based on plant type (i.e., ground covers, annuals, perennials, bulbs, etc.) with each new plant receiving a two-page spread. Each plant's pages contains all the vital information: sunlight requirements, height and spread, colors of flowers, bloom season, etc. It is particular handy for me to have a book dedicated to what will work in my state, instead of getting excited about a particular plant only to find out it won't work in my climate. There are only two downsides. The first is that herbs, vegetables and fruits are not included in this volume so you'll need another source of information if you're interested in growing these. The second is that all of the color pictures are contained in a section of glossy pages in the middle of the book. I understand this is so that colored pictures can be added without breaking the bank on printing costs, but it's a little annoying to be reading about a flower on page 200 and thinking it sounds great from the description, only to have to flip back to the middle of the book and see what it looks like (and deciding it's not for you after all). Overall though, this is a great resource and one that I use all the time. ( )