It is a far cry from the earliest gardens which were tiny plots used exclusively for food to the colourful, decorative gardens of today, ranging from the window-boxes and small courtyard gardens in towns to the spacious acres of country landowners. Many of the flowers which we take for granted are the result of patient breeding by nurserymen, often from indigenous flowers. Many others common now in gardens in temperate regions were introduced from the tropics and successfully cultivated. The reverse process, that of importing plants from temperate regions into the tropics, is usually difficult. However if we consider the flamboyance and luxuriance of . tropical flowers these areas cannot be considered to be seriously deprived because of such problems. In temperate areas, whatever the time of year, there is always some garden plant in bloom. The broad sweep of this book-is seasonal, beginning with the delicately beautiful spring bulbs, progressing through summer (and tropical) gardens to winter shrubs. The summer months reveal the prolific variety of plants that can be grown as a result of the extra hours of sunlight and the warm soil. A major section of the book is devoted to the flowers that appear at this time. Town and country dweller alike will find this book a source of pleasure and inspiration, bringing reminders of the richness of summer even in the depths of winter. - from Amzon