Book excerpt: Gardeners living in the wide-open Prairie and Plains states need this guidebook on their bookshelves--it's bound to get smudged with dirt from constant reference! Growing annuals, perennials, and edibles on the great plains or in windy prairie country can yield flat-out beautiful gardens--provided you know the best gardening tricks to tackle each month! Prairie and Plains Month-by-Month Gardening is the ideal guidebook for home landscapers and gardeners living in the Prairie and Plains states (Oklahoma, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa). Falling in step with Cool Springs Press's regional garden series, the book streamlines planting and growing information by grouping timing tips and how-to advice according to months of the year, from the harsh, cold winters to the hot, humid summers. This chronological organization makes the book easy for readers to navigate quickly and offers invaluable troubleshooting tips from gardening expert Cathy Wilkinson Barash. Prairie and Plains Month-by-Month Gardening also includes fully illustrated how-to information via step-by-step gardening instructions, helping home gardeners and landscapers become masters of their garden domains. Throughout the book, gorgeous photography provides inspiration and ideas, and a comprehensive formatted calendar, replete with planting information, urges gardeners to plan ahead. So, roll up your sleeves; it's time to transform that wide-open space into the garden you've always wanted.