Down and Dirty

by Ellen Zachos. Ostensibly aimed at beginning gardeners, Ellen Zachos book of 43 garden projects has plenty of great ideas for everyone. And imbedded in all the garden projects are all the basic skills a gardener needs to learn. Four categories of projects are scattered through the book. Down and Dirty Basics include tool collecting, seed starting, season extending, bird gardening, soil improving, deer and bug problems and more. Down and Dirty Projects range from forcing tulips to container, raised bed and grow bag gardens. A few Down and Dirty Adventures involve photography, elder flower Champaign and community gardens. And finally, there is Down and Dirty Plants, featuring plants for cool theme gardens - hummingbird and feline favorites, plants for the senses, vines, fruits, night gardens, and my favorite - the dinosaur garden, featuring prehistoric-looking plants that offer the perfect playground for kids dinosaurs. Colored photos illustrate. Softcover 248pp. Pub at $19.95. Wicked good deal!