As a person who collects and disseminates information about gardening, I have a one-word review of the new Mid-South Garden Guide: Wow!

Dr. Carolyn Kittle, who wrote and edited the book published by the Memphis Garden Club, did a masterful job of presenting tons of succinctly written information and user-friendly-charts. She is pictured above with some of the local experts who contributed to the book.

Kittle, a remodeling contractor with a doctorate in analytical chemistry, loves details and fun facts" about plants and gardening.

The Mid-South Garden Guide, first published in 1954, was last revised in 1984. The last edition had no information on water gardens or tropicals and only a little on hostas. It also suggested lots of synthetic fixes for problems.

Kittle advocates natural remedies and fertilizers as well as beneficial insects and animals as the first-choices resources for gardeners.

She said: There have been many improvements in disease resistance in the plants themselves. I am just blown away by how everything in nature works together.

One of the charts spotlights plants that are tropical and hardy here in Zone 7 such as elephant ears, needle palm (which can survive -10 degrees), ginger lily, some non-invasive bamboos, calla lily, canna and hardy banana.