The Flower Yard in Containers & Pots: Creating Paradise Season by Season

British gardener and photographer Parkinson (Chicken Boy: My Life with Hens), who trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, has written a love letter to his favorite plants grown in containers. Lavishly illustrated with stunning color photographs, the book discusses the different types of pots, their characteristics, and the necessity of cold frames. Parkinson stresses the importance of gardens being wildlife-friendly and pesticide-free. The book was first published in Great Britain, but this edition includes English measurements as well as suppliers in the United States. The bulk of the book is arranged by season, beginning with spring, where Parkinson shares information about his favorite plants for growing in containers: bulbs, sweet peas, cosmos, marigolds, scabious, lilies, edibles, herbs, grasses, dahlias, pelargoniums, crabapples, hellebores, and amaryllis. He offers multiple suggestions for each of the cultivars he has had success growing. He concludes with planting lists, yearly tasks by season, and suppliers.