Hardy Trees and Shrubs: A Guide to Disease-Resistant Varieties for the North

Pleasance Crawford is a Canadian landscape and garden-history researcher
and writer, and the co-author of Garden Voices: Two Centuries of
Canadian Garden Writing.

This trees-and-shrubs book is the second collaboration between Robert
Osborne, a professional gardener and nursery operator, and fellow New
Brunswicker Beth Powning, a professional photographer and author of
Seeds of Another Summer (1996). Intended for gardeners in “the colder
sections of North America,” the book includes a solid presentation of
Osborne’s environmentally friendly horticultural practices, more than
80 color photos, descriptions of recommended species and cultivars, a
USDA zone map, tables outlining hardy species and their characteristics,
and an appendix listing plant sources and additional references.

Although Hardy Trees and Shrubs bills itself as a “user-friendly
guide,” the cross-referencing of text, photos, tables, and index is
inconsistent and incomplete. The strength of the book lies in
Osborne’s friendly yet authoritative voice and in his ability to give
new twists to common knowledge. A useful reference for any northern
gardener’s library.