I know it's that time of the year again, when all our efforts are put into the house and Christmas spirit (a bottle or otherwise), so it is unfair to talk about garden chores.

To overcome the surfeit of Christmas Fare, may I suggest the following Garden Books, which might entice you back into the garden, and perhaps lose some of the pounds gained with inactivity!

I do not spend a great deal of time in Hamilton if I can help it - too much traffic. However, on a recent trip, I wandered into Queen Street, and found myself in a cosy little store browsing through a selection of gardening books. With several interesting topics covering the garden spectrum being represented, a sample offering will hopefully assist you in part of your shopping list, and one thing about garden books, they very really go out of style!

As an artist takes a blank canvass and creates a statement, 'The Gardener's Palette' is an inspirational approach to transforming a dull garden into one of colour and interest, using of course Mother Nature's own bountiful harvest of candidates. It explores the colour wheel and basic colour theory used in art, to create harmonies and contrasts, as if laying out a canvas for display. Many photographs are used to give examples, both real and imaginary. The mixing of container plants to create interest and the simple use of basic colours is discussed for use in any garden. A fun book to have and use in any garden setting, and without question, perhaps a different approach to garden design.

'Naturalistic Gardening' by Ann Lovejoy, is another interesting addition to the gardeners bookshelf, in that it explores the planting patterns of nature in a reflective manner. Chapters cover such areas as, Gardening in Layers Placing the Plants, Stroll Gardens, Naturalistic Gardens in the City and Suburbs, Gardens and Habitat. As with many books, one has to be creative in one's thinking to cross over the line of examples shown, especially so in Bermuda's climate and location. This book crosses the spectrum from woodland gardens, rock gardens, water and quiet gardens. Lavishly expressed with photographs, it will certainly create a feeling of 'wanting to try'.

Gardens, as with houses, suffer from unintentional neglect; they are 'allowed' to become jaded in their appearance, until someone actually notices!! 'New Life for Old Gardens' by Allan Seale will assist in restoring the charm and character in any garden, even those that have lost their vitality through the vagaries of time.

The author suggests that often enough, subtle changes can start to make a difference. A little pruning to rejuvenate old plants and a little TLC to restore weedy lawns can bring the property to life. There are chapters on Changing Character in your Garden; Identifying & Solving Problems, and one on Rejuvenation. Assistance is offered in determining what is presently there and what to look for in tackling problems, such as plants that had once grown in sunlight but now were found to have a shady cover; to compacted soil problems, help is but a turn of the page away.

'Feast Your Eyes', by Susan Pennington, is literally what you will do with this most interesting book, extremely well written and presented by the author. Vegetable gardening has made a comeback in recent years, after almost sliding off the popularity scale for a number of years. This is a form of history book and design book at the same time, a sort of two for the price of one story. By examining and discussing European gardens of the seventeenth century, and the present approach to developing interest in 'growing your own for freshness', this book allows you to feast your eyes on the antecedent of this modern movement.

It is generously illustrated with fine examples from the Smithsonian Museum, Versailles, Ming Dynasty (not the local ilk), and covers the use of such candidates as kale, chilli peppers, sweet potato and eggplant. An interesting read for both the coffee table and the kitchen table, an old-world reminiscent read.

Flower Arranging is a hobby and a profession, admired by many but mastered only by those who persevere and have a creative bent. 'Flowers White House Style' is a story of the time the author spent at The White House as the Chief Decorator, who began in President Nixon's term of office and retired during president Reagan's second term. It covers the how-tos of flower arranging for very specific arrangements, lunches, dinners and special occasions; with foreign dignitaries and government officials of all political leanings. The use and types of containers, centrepieces, table vases etc. with numerous varieties of material used for each and why, add to the interest of the reader and curiosity reasoning of the author. Lavishly illustrated with beautiful photographs of numerous creations. No mention however, is given on how to decorate a water gate.

For those of us who just like to sip our coffee or cognac whilst browsing through a good picture book, I would recommend 'Garden Plants of the World' by Don Ellison. With more than 4,250 listings of internationally grown trees, shrubs and climbers listed, every one shown in close-up photographs and in alphabetical order for quick and easy reference and visual identification, it is indeed an exceptional guide to the stated subjects. Reference is given to country of origin, climatic preference, planting use and propagation methods. Botanical names are given and so are (localised) common names, with typical characteristics and growth habits. Named plants cover the gamut from tropical to temperate, mild, cold, wetland and desert. So wherever you are, from Liverpool to Leningrad you have no excuse, the botanical name should flow freely with all appended information thereto found, and good look to you!

Designing a landscape in Bermuda is not an easy task purely and simply because of our climate, from the dog days of summer to the brutal winter winds. 'Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates' by Bijan Dehgan provides useful information about growing on the Gulf of Mexico, it is a book that covers the survive and thrive approach to landscaping exposed areas. Factors, which play a critical role in the success of a plant and subsequently the design, include sun, shade, rainfall, wind, salt spray and in Bermuda cold snaps.

'Tropical Plants for Home & Garden' by William Warren, is a masterpiece of photography depicting indoor and specimen garden plants in situ. From patios to sunrooms, quite gardens to open design gardens, each is shown in full glory with excellent choices of plant material. For protected areas the ideas are worth considering, for those with exposed locations read one of the other books!!!

This is just a random selection of interesting reading, which is usually a good idea in January and February, just the primer for thinking of spring.

A very Happy Christmas and a successful growing year to you all.