I have an enormous amount of books tagged on various bookshop sites, but I think this is the top 5 “most desired” list for 2008. Is ihttp://greayer.com/studiog/?p=259&preview=truet good? Let me know if you have these books and if you think they are worth it.

#1 Crossing Boundaries: A Global Vision of Design
by Vicente Wolf – Apparently it talks a lot about developing your design eye and noticing details that make a place unique – particularly as you travel. Sounds like good eye candy…which I always like, and while it doesn’t seem like it has much in the way of gardens, it seems like it might help me capture the essence of places I have never been to as well as those I have.

#2 Garden Design Details
by Arne Maynard, Anne De Verteuil – The word details always intrigues me, details are always what makes ‘good’ go to ‘great’. Arne Maynard was introduced to me by a good friend when I was in design school as he one of his ‘design heroes’. So I am intrigued.

#3 Seven Deadly Sins of Gardening: And the Vices and Virtues of Gardeners

by Toby Musgrave and Mike Calnan. Toby Musgrave authored one of my other favorite books, so maybe this is really good too? It sounds like garden history with a sexy, dark, quirky, eccentric side. I hope it is well written .

#4 Professional Planting Design: An Architectural and Horticultural Approach for Creating Mixed Bed Plantings
by Scott C. Scarfone – It’s expensive, so it has to be good, right? If it has as much info as promised, I am not sure how I am currently living with out it.

#5 Growing Hawaii’s Native Plants: A Simple Step-by-Step Approach for Every Species
by Kerin L. Lilleeng-Rosenberger. I came across this book while researching my 50 natives piece for Obama….and I am really quite intrigued. I have heard of almost nothing in the book, but apparently I might be able to grow it if I try.