Amazon.com (ISBN 0789441551, Paperback)

Full of solid, practical advice and plenty of how-to pictures, Roses is an ideal title for those wanting all their questions answered about these lovely, surprisingly versatile flowers. Focusing on possible combinations with different varieties, training possibilities, containers, and growing conditions, you may be tempted to turn your lawn into an award-winning rose garden. With so much detail on one particular type of plant, you'll find plenty of direction for growing healthy blooms, no matter what your specific needs may be.

Designed to be a complete do-it-yourself guide, don't let the small format of this book fool you--it's absolutely jam-packed with ideas for all styles of gardens, and as always, publisher Dorling Kindersley manages to take fairly complicated projects and reduce them to a manageable size that even the gardening novice can handle. Practical considerations are dealt with firmly--choosing healthy plants is an essential beginning, and without intelligent pruning, your roses will never achieve perfection. The listings by size, bloom shape, color, and optimal conditions are very specific, and new gardeners will find all kinds of useful tips.

Inspirational ideas are plentiful--the garden photographs are lush and detailed and provide all kind of unusual notions for creating a truly unique gardening space. Whether you're looking to design a simple bloom-filled trellis or a garden filled with fragrant hybrid teas, you'll find options for all your projects involving these lovely and versatile plants. --Jill Lightner