“Controlled and fearless perfection.” —Carolyn See, The Washington Post

“A sustained meditation on the grinding wheel of family, with mother always at the hub; on the countries of our past, both real and emotional, which we have fled and in which we have felt like strangers; on death as a devastating injury and dying as an irritating inconvenience . . . a memoir about death that portrays it as it is, not as we would have it be, as we so often tailor it both in memoir and fiction.” —Anna Quindlen, The New York Times Book Review

“In the rush to embrace perennials, many of us seem to have forgotten the simple pleasure of planting a seed and watching it grow. Larry Hodgson hasn't forgotten, and this book provides all the whys and how-to's you'll need. Whether you want vases full of flowers all summer or rich color after the burst of June perennials, annuals fill many needs and niches in every garden. This excellent reference will reintroduce you to the wonderful plants you thought you could find only in six-packs at the garden center. Beginners will find it invaluable, and those of us who've grown annuals all along will find many helpful tips and ideas.” —Renée Beaulieu, Internet editor, White Flower Farm and Shepherd's Garden Seeds