Book excerpt: Gardening is now the favorite leisure pastime in America. Homeowners are realizing the health benefits derived from gardening and the increase in their home's property value. The Illinois Gardener's Guide: Revised Edition is written by the popular gardening expert James Fizzell. It contains easy-to-use advice on the top landscape plant choices (more than 190 entries) for Illinois. It also recommends specific varieties, and provides advice on how to plant, how to grow and how to care for Illinois' best plants. It is a must read for every Illinois gardener.