Plant This Instead! ─ Better Plant Choices: Prettier - Hardier - Blooms Longer - New Colors - Less Work - Drought-tolerant - Native

Plant This Instead! tips you off to 75 lesser-known plant types that will give you a garden that is beautiful—and perhaps far lower-maintenance than one planted with common local selections—no matter where you live in the U.S.

Troy B. Marden (Nashville, TN) is a plantsman, garden designer, exceptional photographer, and author with a passion for plants. His twenty-five-plus years of professional experience include time spent in nearly every facet of the horticulture industry. Troy has been a co-host of Nashville Public Television’s hit gardening show Volunteer Gardener for more than 10 years; writes regularly for some of the country’s top gardening magazines, such as Horticulture, Fine Gardening, Garden Design, and Southern Living; and is an accomplished landscape designer. In addition to his media appearances, Troy is a popular, lively, and in-demand speaker for all kinds of gardening and social groups. His blog, Gardener Cook (http://troybmarden.blogspot.com), has become popular with plant lovers and food lovers alike. His latest venture is a garden tour division of his business that will take other passionate gardeners on trips to some of the finest horticultural destinations in the U.S. and around the world. You can find more information at www.troybmarden.com.