Northern California Gardening: A Month-by-Month Guide; ...

Read it every month:
I've had this book a while and was curious why it didn't have a 5 star rating. If you live in Northern California this book is very informative and very well presented. It is the only garden reference I've read cover to cover, but that is due to its layout taking you through the season month by month. Yes, it does not have photos, but if you actually take the time and read you'll find it very informative and even discover information about drought tolerant plants.

No photographs!:
If you are looking for guide that includes photos, you will be disappointed. If you are a novice looking for a visual guide to give you design ideas, this is not an appropriate book.

No Drought Tolerant Section?:
Pretty good book but beware the cover lists that there is a special section on drought tolerant and xeriscaping which is no where to be found. Advice on Fushsias and Hydrangeas is very good.

Using Grace's book for a decade I've become a great gardener:
My go to book each month for over a decade now. It has consistently provided me monthly useful information and to do lists to grow fantastic gardens filled with flowers, fruits, and vegetables suitable for living in the bay area. I'm here to buy another copy for a friend. This book has worked for me from my beginning gardener stage, to my now very comfortable in growing by seed, cuttings, or transplants, hundreds of varieties of plants. Photos are readily available using online search engines, or better yet, seek out the plants in three dimensions at californias many gardening stores. I've taken lists of plants from this book with me to check out in person at nurseries which provided me first hand info no glossy photo could have. This book is fantastically useful.

Don't be fooled by the gorgeous cover photo!:
Since a lot of the joy of gardening is visual, I was surprised to find this book includes NO photos of the plants described. Not exactly helpful if you're trying to decide what to plant! There are some good hints, and the book is well-organized, but an occasional sketchy hand drawing is no substitute for photos. I suspect the author and publisher were trying to cut costs. Overall, very disappointing.