This is a guide to gardens around Australia which are open to the public. It is the only alternative to the Open Garden Scheme magazine and has many advantages over that publication. This guide features almost 400 of the most beautiful gardens you can visit (every state) and covers everything from private country and city gardens to Botanic gardens and historic house gardens. It provides all the basic information like addresses, entry times, costs, contact numbers and details of where to stay nearby, however it also provides extensive botanical notes, anecdotal material and a lively description of what you will see in the gardens. Each garden has been carefully selected by the author for inclusion and she has also visited each and every one. It is a pleasure just to browse through. In combination the descriptions of gardens in this volume provide a special record of Australia's horticultural and landscaping heritage With more than 100 exquisite colour photographs taken by the author this is a very attractive book which also contains reference maps and extensive indexing for locations, accomodation, plants and gardens. While the practical information relating to the opening times etc is guaranteed to be current for two years from mid-1998, this is a book which can be used well beyond its due date. A must for every garden lover and every tourist in Australia. Great value at $24.95