Book excerpt: Intermediate to advanced home gardeners who are interested in learning how to be even more successful in their Southwest garden need this book on their bookshelves! This handbook offers information about how to select plants best-suited for arid Southwest environments (states which include Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah). It's a comprehensive, highly visual resource for gardeners that's rich with planting advice, including specific plant recommendations and critical when-to and how-to pointers necessary for successful home landscaping and gardening. Southwest Gardener's Handbook addresses everything from plant selections to accurate planting timelines and gardening maintenance information. Planting and growing information for edibles is also included with plant selections for the most common plant categories (annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, and succulents). Another special differentiating component of this book includes the firsthand advice of a local gardener in the region (Utah). Featuring nearly 300 full-color photos of the best plant selections for the dry Southwest region to aid in plant selection, plus an introduction for each plant group and a monthly tips section, this book is a comprehensive resource--a must-have for avid gardeners. You'll find recommended plants, garden how-tos, what-tos, and when-to information for planting, pruning, proper watering, lawn care, and much more. Don't start planting in the Southwest without it!