The `Sunset Western Garden Book' Not Only Updated, But On CD-Rom

Grandma Esther had a well-thumbed copy of the "Sunset Western Garden Book" on her shelf. I remember studying a rose-pruning diagram with her one day more than 35 years ago, and I can still see her sitting in the kitchen, dirty gloves and trowel on the table, leafing through to find out how to deal with the pests nibbling her tomato plants.

Her book could well have been a first edition; chances are it was published in 1954. Or it could have been older. The 1954 edition was an expanded version of the "Sunset All Western Garden Guide" first published in 1934. Through six revisions and 4 million copies, the Western Garden Book has become a bible to gardeners from California to Montana, and most points in between.

The 40th anniversary edition - the one with a gold medallion and gold flowers on the cover - debuted at the recent Northwest Garden and Flower Show. Sunset Magazine senior editor Kathleen Brenzel, who shepherded the revision, was there to talk about it and the electronic version of the book, which will be available on CD-ROM computer disk next month.

The revision took a staff of six almost a year, said Brenzel, an avid gardener who has been at Sunset for almost two decades. "The book hadn't been fully updated since 1967. There have been so many new plants, techniques and tools on the market since then."

So how do you make a bible better?

"We knew it would have to grow," she said. "We surveyed hundreds of the best nursery people all over the West."

From those surveys and other research the team came up with 6,000 new or revised entries in the "Western Plant Encyclopedia," which Brenzel says is the heart of the book. That includes 75 new genera and 168 new species of plants, plus countless new varieties.

There are 2,500 color photos, illustrations and charts. New plant and data icons that make it easy to choose plants that are right for a particular climate zone.

The book offers information for 24 climate zones around the West, and just in case you don't know which climate zone you live in, there are big charts that not only show you, but explain the weather and the reasons for the weather in each.

Take greater Seattle, for example. It's in Zone 5, where the mild marine climate brings us warm winters, cool summers and a long growing season. Head out to nearby Kent, Auburn, Issaquah or Woodinville and you'll be Zone 4, where the higher elevations bring colder winters, hotter summers and fewer days to plant and hoe.

For many gardeners the "Plant Selection Guide," with crisp, clear pictures of many of the plants, will be the place to first dive in.

The "Practical Gardening Dictionary" is a handy new section that describes terms and techniques (from acid soil and aeration to whorls and xeriscape) found throughout the book. The "Visual Guide to Identifying Weeds" makes the pesky invaders look rather attractive!

Also new is a resource directory of gardens, catalogs and mail-order suppliers in the Western states. There's even a guide to understanding and pronouncing botanical names and words.

"We cross-referenced everything time and again," Brenzel said. "You can find whatever information you want, very quickly."

The electronic book will include plant information and photos developed for the paper book, plus video footage of gardening techniques, gardens and plants. It will talk, too, and pronounce those Latin names. You'll be able to categorize and print out your own list of favorite or suggested plants.

And if you're still not sure about your climate zone, you'll be able to type in your zip code and pop it up!

Which brings us to the final question: If you buy the $24.95 book, will you need the $49.95 CD-ROM or vice versa?

"We'd like to think so," said Brenzel. "There's more in the book, it's bigger. But the CD will be very speedy and fun to use. We hope both will become indispensable to Western gardeners."