Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

If you have an old 2001 edition of this book do not give it up for a new one. For most gardeners the 2007 edition has a fatal flaw. Perhaps there is some other reason but I can only chalk up to horticultural elitism. Sunset decided it would be good to completely drop the plant index cross referencing common to botanical names. While this may have saved a few pages of print, it is a great injustice to an otherwise excellent reference book. Want to look up columbine, sunflower, foxglove? Forget it. I have been gardening for 30 years and have numerous friends who visit my garden to enjoy its richness. Knowing the taxonomical nomenclature of my native columbine does not contribute to successful cultivation nor to its beauty. It will however allow you to look the plant up in the new, unimproved Western Garden book issue. What were the Sunset editors thinking.....that they were going to force we gardeners into botanical literacy? No thanks, at 60, I would rather be gardening. If you still have a 2001 edition, keep the old beautiful dog eared copy. Do not waste your money on the 2007 edition which