This is the first review in a list of over 60 books on the bookshelf.  I plan on starting with the mosted used (and most available) on the shelves.

The Sunset Western Garden Book is a staple in nearly every West Coast home.  Developed by Sunset magazine in 1954 it provides useful garden information, plant profiles and handy lists for specific garden regions and conditions.

Unlike most gardening books the writers at Sunset have developed a whole new classification of zones.  Sunset calls their zones “Climate Zones.”  They are based on a number of factors including night temperatures, day temperatures and proximity to bodies of water.  Conversely, 90% of the books you buy at your local bookstore have plants classified by USDA Hardiness Zones.  Trouble with this is that hardiness zones are defined by extremes of winter cold.  According to the map Washington is in the same zone as central Texas.  This makes the Western Garden Book unique.  Plants are classified for our specific regions making it much more accurate to determine what can be grown in your area.

I happen to own a first edition Sunset Garden Book, published in 1954.  It is the latest in my collection of vintage garden books.  When the book started it focused more on how plants grow and how home gardeners go about tending them.  At the time it was the authority for the new gardener.  Since then other books have emerged as better resources for the person just starting out.  However, if you were to have one book on your shelf about gardening in the Northwest Sunset would be the one to pick.

Today, the book is full of bright photos and illustrations.  Unfortunately, I don’t own a copy of the 8th edition, but when Sunset came out with the 7th edition I grabbed one as soon as I could.  The change from six to seven was tremendous.  They included 2000 new plans, over 1300 photos and color illustrations.  Plants are classified by botanical name, but if you don’t know your Latin have no fear.  Look up Candytuft and it will direct you to Iberis.

The plant encycolopedia section outlines botanical and common names, the plant family, which climate zone the plant grows in, where the plant should be placed in the garden and how the plant should be watered.  In addition there is a description of the plant and its cultivation needs.  Even more, the writers provided you with a list of cultivars that are commonly found and that perform well.

The gardening guide has diminished over the years, but the general information is still there.  Basic information for gardeners on the go keep your plants strong and healthy.

The most used portion of my Western Garden Book is the special situation section.  If I’m looking for a tree that grows in a dry area I find that section and select from the plants listed.  I know that a Pine, Cedar or Oak will all do well in dry zone 5 East garden.

You can find the Western Garden Book at nearly every bookstore in Washington, Alaska, Oregon, California, Nevada and Hawaii.  They even sell it at Costco.  This is the one book I recommend you go out and purchase first if you are new to the gardening scene.