IF YOU like visiting gardens and have ever been in another city or area of this country or in the U.S.A., and wondered if there was a garden anywhere nearby worth seeing, then here are two books that should be in your possession. William C. Mulligan of New York City has recently authored “The Complete Guide to North American Gardens,"’ in two vol- umes. Volume One is ‘‘The Nor- theast’* and Volume Two is ‘‘The West Coast.” The books are published by Little, Brown and Company and the price in Canada is $19.95 each. In his introduction to both books, Bill Mulligan says, “It was my objective in preparing this book aot only to illuminate beautiful gardens and to en- courage interested travellers to experience their enchanting color and fragrance firsthand, but also to make the reader aware of the increasingly important role these institutions play with regard to ecological and environmental con- cerns and conservation of en- dangered species. “Information, advice, en- cOurageinent, and a sympathetic ear are waiting at each garden of such amenities as a gift shop, plant labelling, a restaurant, parking areas, and availability of courses and membership.” Each book is 176 pages with a good coior photo on virtually every page of the descriptive gardens section. While the gardens are predominantly in the United States, the author has covered Canada well, too. In fact, the cover photo on Volume One is of the Metis Gardens at Grand Metis, Quebec. The Metis Gardens is one that is likely unknown to the vast major- ity of Canadians — even Cana- dian gardeners. The 19-hectare (45-acre) site was a salmon fishing camp inherited from an uncle by Elsie Neighen Reford in 1919, Lady Reford transformed the site over a period of eight years into a luxurious villa. Gathering more than 1,500 kinds of plants from around the world, including 560 species of herbaceous perennials, she continued the development of the property’s gardens until her death in 1954. Her legacy of beauty was acquired in 196! by HOME & GARDEN Books are for gardeners and tourists the Government of Quebec, which began restoring the gardens to their original splendor, and open- ed them to the public. These gardens are open daily from June to mid-September and are located about 320 km_ nor- theast of Montreal, on the south bank of the St. Lawrence (High- way 132) at Grand Metis. In Volume Two, horticulturists from the Canadian Garden Coun- cil read the listings for The Japa- nese Garden at Washington Park and The Berry Botanic Garden, both at Portland, Oregon. These too were found to be concise and accurate. Likewise, the many gardens located in the Van- couver/Victoria areas of British Columbia are well treated. Bill Mulligan even telis, in capsule form, the warm story of how hor- ticulturist Brian Minter came upon the site for what is now his Minter Gardens near Chilliwack. And if you've visited famed Butchart Gardens near Victoria, have you also visited Fable Cot- tage Estate, and Hatley Park — | ELEGANT WALLPAPE ALL INSTOCK WALLPAPER ALL BOOK ORDERS over 600 boots Schumacher Sanderson jWeely #£§;%£°&@”™© 20- 30: Royal Roads Military College, both near Victoria? If not, you definitely need Bill Mulligan’s book, ‘‘The Complete Guide to North American Gardens — The West Coast.” One of the features of these books is their small size: they should easily fit in the automobile glove compartment or door pocket. While “iting about gardens to visit, the Canadian Garden Coun- cil would like to add one to your list if you are planning to travel OUR COLOR MATCHING EXPERT So you think you’ve got a hard-to-match coior? Meore’s Computer Color Matching System loves a challenge! Just bring in your sample — whether it’s fabric, wallpaper next spring/summer/autumn. Ameriflora ’92 is being hosted in Columbus, Ohio, to mark the quincentennial anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ voyage to the New World. It wili be orga- nized very much like the Floralies held in Montreal in 1980. An in- door flower show will be heid from April 3 to 19 that will cover almost a hectare (or just under two acres). Then, on April 20, the 42-hectare (100-acre) outdoor show will open. It will run until October 12. or almost any decorating material — and our computer will give you an accurate paint-color match in minutes.