The Scented Garden

Obviously, the major attraction of most gardens is their visual appeal, but to create a special sanctuary, you shouldn't overlook the subtle benefit of carefully arranged fragrances. The Scented Garden, by renowned horticulturist David Squire, focuses on filling the air with a rich palette of wonderful scents, "creating a treasure-house that will provide plenty of interest throughout the entire year ... to add an extra dimension of surprise and delight." Using perhaps a bit more text than the average gardening book, Squire offers well-organized and thorough information. He has devoted complete chapters to selecting daytime scents and night-scented plants, creating fragrant pathways and patios, choosing redolent trees and shrubs, and nurturing an especially successful herb garden. There are also detailed charts grouping plants by aroma, citing preferences for optimal results, and useful instructions on a variety of craft projects such as creating wreaths, perfumed papers, and candles. Hundreds of colorful photos make the book visually appealing as well, and help illustrate various plants and recommended combinations. Whether your plot spans the window of a city apartment, borders a suburban patio, or spreads across a country mile, this lovely volume can help take your garden to the next level of sensory perception and develop the aromatic appeal of your entire home. --George Laney