The availability of books on gardens and plants grows increases every year. The rare book gives the gardener the tools to start a project and complete it successfully. Bobbie Schwartz’s new book, Garden Renovation: Transform Your Garden into the Garden of Your Dreams, shows homeowners that change is good and how to implement change. They need to be willing to look at their yards with fresh eyes. The author’s years of working as a landscape designer doing just what she describes in the book gives the readers confidence to make decisions and choose new and exciting elements for their backyards.

As Bobbie writes in the preface she is an obsessed gardener. Her knowledge of plants, particularly perennials, is astounding. I have been with her on garden tours where she gives botanical names of nearly every plant we see. She was my mentor on the Association of Professional Landscape Designers board of directors, when I was preparing to replace her as Certification Chair.

The chapter, "Understanding Landscape Essentials," provides explanation of basic components of the landscape. Read it carefully. The chapter, "Working with Hardscape Elements," covers an important and large topic and may be better studied after initial familiarization with landscape planning is learned.The chapter, "Assessing and Choosing New Plants," will be very helpful as well as enjoyable for the homeowner. Bobbie writes from great knowledge and experience growing plants.

The photos of materials, plants and completed projects illustrate the text, adding inspiration to the book. Having been on many garden tours with Bobbie, I know she has thousands of photographs. I would like to see more of Bobbie’s own projects in the book. I am sure readers would enjoy them.