The next best thing to knowing all about gardening is having a friend who's an expert on the subject--and horticulturalist Sydney Eddison is just that friend. In a neighborly, over-the-fence manner that will appeal to novices and practiced gardeners alike, she offers experienced, personal advice on every aspect of gardening. But this guide is more than just a technical handbook, for Eddison's true gift is her overwhelming love of gardening, a love she communicates in an innovative format that reflects the way a gardener gradually builds skills and ambitions. Teaching you how to tap into your own instinctive sense of design, color and form, how to avoid common mistakes, and how to learn from others, Eddison offers a wealth of practical tips on helping plants flourish, while providing invaluable lists of sturdy, versatile, and beautiful plants that will anchor your garden for years to come. Intimate and amiable, The Self-Taught Gardener will encourage you to plunge right into planning and planting, and to find within yourself the potential for creating the garden you've always wanted.