Well, I don't have just one favorite, but if I did it would be "The Southern Gardener's Book of Lists" by Lois Trigg Chaplin. If you're into propagation (or want to be), check out "Making More Plants" by Ken Druse - he makes it look so easy.

I too like the Book of Lists, and The Georgia Gardener's Guide, but the one I always refer to is The Southern Living Garden Book...

For reference, any of the Ball Guides are awesome to have around. Seeds and Disease guides are my favs.

Month by Month Gardening in the South by Don Hastings is nice.

What's your favorite gardening tasks? I usually buy sepcialized books on my favorite gardening topics like organic gardening, propagation, etc.

I already have the book of lists, and Southern Living Gardening Book and the SL Garden Problem Solver. As well as quite a few others. the propagation book is actually on my wishlist, but it is more than my gift card and I noticed it is quite a bit cheaper at Amazon.com so I think I'll wait on that one. I did notice a cheaper book called Creative Propagation that looks promising, anyone familiar with it?

Hasting's Month by Month gardening in the south is not available.

I was thinking about a book about Hydrangeas (but which one there are several that look good, Dirr's,) or maybe Hostas, Organic gardening books are usually so utilitarian, I confess I want pretty books, as I love to look through them in bed at night and dream. If I want hard core info I usually do Internet searches or ask you guys.

My two favorite gardening books are "Essential Earthman" and One Man's Garden" both by Henry Mitchell. But more than that, I can tell you what the NEXT greatest gardening book will be: It doesn't have a title yet but the author will be Hal Massey of Musella Georgia. He is a fantastic writer and a great American.
I do like Lois Trigg Chaplin's book of lists but thought Don Hasting's book was rather pedestrian - realizing of course that readers opinions are subjective.

Kathy,
Sounds like I'm a bit more of a science freak than you. I like to read all the nuts and bolts and rivets type detail. Uh, in gardening topics that is. I hate all those instruction sheets and diagrams my wife tries to get me to read before I assemble something for her.

I have the American Horticultural Society book on Plant Propagation which is very detailed and has loads of meaningful pictures. Might be worth taking a look at.

The Color Encyclopedia of Hostas (by Grenfell and Shadrack) is a favorite, too.

FLORA by Timber Press is quite impresive. Two volumes and big as a love seat. Probably very expensive, but I caught mine on an awesome clearance sale at the last SE Flower Show.

Hastings' book won't appear on Amazon via title, but you can use ISBN search on number 1-56352-551-8 and there it is. Go figure. Remember,Eddie says this is rather pedestrian. I suppose that's as opposed to drive-by or mass transit (just kidding, Eddie.) It is more of a month-by-month tickler of what to do when, but sometimes I like to be quick and cut to the chase and this is a good reference/to do guide for that.

Just for grins, while writing this I counted the garden books on the shelf. There are 112 in sight, probably a dozen or so more scattered in the sunroom and the parlor. Proably another 5 or 6 in the truck, a few at the office and a dozen or so on loan. Going through this counting drill made me think, "sheesh, and I thought I went nutso with the plant purchases!"

Oh well, I hear from a reliable source that some guy in Musella is working on a killer gardening classic. That's on the list now, too, and . . .

Eddie, Should I know who Hal Massey is? I will look at the Henry Mitchell ones

Geez Mcrean1-- that is a lot of gardening books. Made me have to count mine. I only have 24, but I also tend to give mine away if I am no longer referring to them. I am fighting hard against the pack-rat genes I was born with.

I agree with Eddie on the Henry Mitchell books. Best books ever. You can get one in paperback at Barnes & Noble (if they have it) for about 7 dollars (it's words, no pictures) and maybe you'll have enough for a picture book. I know what you mean about that. Probably my favorite picture book that I own is Reader's Digest "A Garden for All Seasons."

Have fun!
Rose

I have to chime in and say I love Henry Mitchell's One Man's Garden. It makes you fall in love with gardening all over again. I take it down about once a year to read an essay and end up reading the whole book. If you get this book, be prepared to ignore everyone until you finish the last page.

I buy few gardening books ( I have most of the popular, often mentioned books) but I did get Dirr's book on Hydrangeas and don't regret it a bit. The charts on hydrangeas are worth the book price alone and I forsee using it for reference often. Of course, I love hydrangeas best!

Dirr's manual of woody shrubs, at least I think that's the title. I'm out of town and don't have it in front of me. Wouldn't be without it. It's not a novel-it's a bible.
Bill

I forgot to mention the best book ever - The Southern Garden by Elizabeth Lawrence.