Collecting contributions from 100 distinguished horticulturists, the handsome and lavishly illustrated Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants is a truly definitive gardening reference. With its 1,092 tiny-print pages, this may not be the book to tuck into your pocket as you weed and mulch, but what this encyclopedia lacks in portability, it certainly makes up for in scope. Hardy and tender plants, heirloom varieties and the latest hybrids--they're all accounted for here, with growing tips and background information about native habitats and ornamental features. You'll also find a fascinating section about botany, as well as information about basic gardening techniques such as mulching, staking, pruning, propagating and protecting plants for winter. But the encyclopedia's main attraction is the individual plant entries--more than 15,000 of them, embellished with 6,000 full-colour photographs and illustrations. From the visual glossary of leaves to the map of growing regions, the Royal Horticultural Society A-Z of Garden Plants provides an unsurpassed wealth of botanical information, making it the yardstick by which all other gardening references must be measured. Synopsis
This is the ultimate gardening reference: two volumes covering everything you need to know to keep your garden flourishing, from the experts at the RHS. Choose the plants you want for your garden and learn to position and care for them properly with the new edition of this perennial favourite. It offers detailed profiles of 15,500 garden plants: from new and exotic varieties to garden favourites, that provide all the guidance you need. In this title, draw on authoritative, expert advice from Britain's leading horticulturists on cultivation, beating pests and diseases and creating outstanding displays. It includes a special section on how to use colour and in-depth features on the most popular plants such as lilies and hostas.

Awesome and utterly fascinating - a must-have for every serious gardener - this is lavishly illustrated and full of stunning expert knowledge - everything you need and could ever want to know about garden plants.

Feast your eyes and taste buds on Mary Berry's celebration of desserts. From Chocolate Truffle Cake and Raspberry Sorbet to Toasted Sesame Cookies, whip up perfect desserts with one of the best-known cookery writers, Mary Berry. Whether you fancy cakes and gateaux, pies, tarts, pastries and hot fruit puddings ice-cream, biscuits, or even cookies; serve up over 200 mouth-watering treats with these easy-to-follow recipes. It features step-by-step, delicious photos and Mary Berry's know-how that help to make the desserts quick and easy. The Queen of desserts - mouthwatering recipes with eye-watering illustrations!

A new edition of this A-Z guide to the world's favourite flower, from the experts at the RHS. From the Barkarole to the Moonbeam, discover everything you need to know about roses with this definitive A-Z guide to over 2,000 species. Every one is thoroughly catalogued with detailed descriptions; from the size of their flowers and their scent, to growing habits, cultivation, breeding and name origins. Keep your roses blooming following practical advice on care, cultivation and the latest growing techniques. Plus an introduction on rose history, anatomy, special gardens and the breeding of new varieties makes this the ultimate reference for every rose enthusiast.

All you could ever wish to know about roses - everyone's favourite...

Delve into the dark comic universe that produced "Constantine" and "V for Vendetta". Get up close and personal with every major Vertigo character and title ever published in this unique one volume encyclopedia. From The Sandman to the Preacher you'll find out all about your favourite Vertigo titles, including information on its history, creators and impact. Plus key characters and storylines from leading comics are revealed in a comprehensive A-Z section. Over 500 colour illustrations taken from the original comic books and graphic novels, featuring the spectacular cutting-edge work of Vertigo's finest artists through the decades, bring this extraordinary journey to life.

Vertigo are responsible for some of the greatest non-series comics, and also some series of their own. This brilliant book tells you all about the Vertigo universe, its characters, writers and artists. Just perfect.

In this title, technology is explored, explained and exploded. Widescreen TVs, mobile phones, even space rockets have turned what was once outlandish into the everyday. But how do they actually function? What are the secrets behind this science? And what would they look like if you could delve right into the heart of their insides? Let your child delve into a host of inventions, objects and gadgets to explore the ways they work. Incredible 'exploded' images and huge fold-out pages reveal their components in fantastic detail, showing what each device does and how it does it. There's also an ingenious CD-ROM where children can interact with 3D animations that show the latest gadgets exploding before their eyes. Technology has never been cooler!

I can just see someone like the moronic Jeremy Clarkson raving about this title, but it would be wasted on him - it's educational as well as exceptionally informative and brilliantly well done. Fantastic.

Join Dr Frankenstein in his laboratory and see how the human body works! In this title, take your child on an incredible journey into Dr Frankenstein's laboratory as he binds bones, organizes organs, sets up systems and creates a living, breathing human body, and watch as they open the holographic cover and join him as his trusty assistant to learn all about how our bodies work. From skeleton to skin they'll be with him every step of the way, helping to assemble the body and learning all about the parts and processes involved. It's an eye-popping around the body experience!

The only thing missing from this stunning and perfect book is the reproductive system - but you'll marvel at the illustrations, which will in turn make you want to learn how the bits of you work - amazing!

Books Monthly is published on the first day of every month. If you'd like me to publish a story you've written, please e-mail me at editor@booksmonthly.com ~ no payment, I'm afraid, as I don't make any money from the magazine. The length of your story is no problem - long or full-length stories can be serialised. Similarly, if you have a feature article on a book, author or artist you would like me to publish, e-mail it to me and I'll fit it in. Deadline for inclusion in the next month's magazine is 15th of the month