Birds are searching for homes, apricots are forming on trees, and roses are showing us their plumage.... Spring must be here!  We have some lovely books at the store to celebrate the rebirth such as The Nature Garden Conservancy's Open Days Directory:  The 2008 Guide to Visiting America's Gardens. This is a gem of a little book bringing you the dates, times and addresses of private gardens that open their doors once a year throughout the country.  Los Angeles Open Days are Sunday April 27, and Saturday May 10 for instance. Going to take your graduate to college in Boston August? Well, why not visit "Ellen Cool's Garden" on 19 Circle Street in Marblehead?!  "We believe that the best way to learn about gardens and to appreciate them is to simply spend more time in them."

Gardening at the Dragon's Gate, At Work in the Wild and Cultivated World by Wendy Johnson. Beautifully illustrated in pencil drawings, this book is for the real gardener and lover of the earth.  Wendy Johnson is an organic gardener, and involved in an edible schoolyard program in Northern California.  She covers the gamut - from compost to pest, and even to a tolerance for some weeds! "If Earth took a human voice it would be Wendy's."

Sunset's Western Garden Book is a must have.  Revised and ready for research.  The landscaper's bible.  Especially nice since it's directly about the plants here in the west.  Very precise with info as to our 'zone' and appropriate plants.  A homeowner could stave off mistakes just through this book.

Gardens in Time by Alain le Toquin and Jacques Bosser  features photographs of the most beautiful gardens in the world, including China, Japan, India and the Islamic world. For the gardener who's also a traveler, this is a gorgeous coffee table book.

Gardens of California by Nancy Goslee Power is a classic and although not new, is a must have for anyone interested in gardens, especially California gardens. Power was involved in the new Getty gardens.  She's designed throughout the basin and is widely respected.  Here you have public gardens as in Lotusland, Huntington, and my personal favorite, Filoli in Northern California - and private gardens designed by the likes of the late Philip Chandler and Chris Rosmini. Beautiful full page photos.

Garden to Vase: Growing and Using Your Own Cut Flowers by Linda Beutler.  Who needs to take a class?  This book has beautiful photos, suggestions of certain varieties and plenty of advice - for instance the section called "Beautiful Idiots" which describes those flowers that won't drink once cut and placed in a vase!