Annuals for Alberta.

Sandy Campbell is a reference librarian in the Science and Technology Library at the University of Alberta.

Authors Donna Dawson and Laura Peters are well known in the local gardening and horticulture community. Both are Master Gardeners and both have previously published on gardening, Peters having published 14 gardening books.

Following the same format as their field guides, Annuals for Alberta gives overviews of 555 annuals that successfully grow in Alberta. The guide’s first 46 pages are filled with advice on how to start annuals from seed, how to select plants at the greenhouses, and what to do about viruses and pests. There are some interesting recipes for pesticide alternatives, including a compost tea and a garlic spray. There are also practical instructions on how to plant annuals for the best effect and for easy day-to-day care. For example, the authors recommend watering plants thoroughly and infrequently, because if you give annuals a little water every day they “develop roots that stay close to the soil surface, making the plants vulnerable to heat and dry spells.”

Most of the guide consists of plant descriptions, and these are arranged alphabetically by their common names. Each description includes height, spread, general growing instructions, and recommended varieties, and is illustrated with a half-page photo showing the blossom and sometimes the leaf in detail (the text often flows around the plant). Usually, another two, smaller, nicely executed shots show variants in colour and/or planting. It is the combination of clean, stylish design and excellent photographs that makes the guide such a pleasure to read.

The guide also includes an index, a glossary, and a quick reference chart, organized by species, that tells colour, sowing, height, hardiness, light, and required soil conditions. This is an excellent reference work.