Jane Sargent asked, "I was wondering whether anybody could recommend a good book on what plants look good together. My problem is that I like so many kinds of plants that I think they all look good. There is a level beyond this. " Although most books of this kind are written in England for conditions there (much milder than Massachusetts), those by Beth Chatto and Penelope Hobhouse might be rewarding. As I recall, they don't deal much with bulbs but concentrate on shrubs and perennials (i.e., mixed borders). However, it's possible to incorporate many bulbs in that kind of planting -- just remember where you put them so you don't stick a spade into them when adding a perennial. I can't recommend many specific combinations for Jane's climate, since I live in the maritime Pacific Northwest, but can just observe that many spring bulbs tolerate the root zones of deciduous trees and shrubs very well. And don't forget the rock garden, where small bulbs can flourish. Jane McGary Portland, Oregon, USA _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…