AROUND HOME : Vertical Gardening BY CAROLINE BOISSET (Weidenfeld & Nicolson; 1988)

GARDEN DESIGN focuses primarily on planting the grounds around the home. But here is a book with a different viewpoint--working with the vertical planes of the garden. A blank wall can serve as the canvas for a climbing garden full of color and texture year-round.

“Vertical Gardening” is of interest not only to those with limited space but also to those with larger gardens who wish to divide them into smaller, more intimate spaces with planted fences or trellises. Sections include ideas for window boxes, “edible” walls, walls of scent, hanging gardens and water features.

The book’s one drawback: As with most garden books, this one is written for much colder climates, and many of the plants suggested for use are not suitable to Southern California. But with a little extracurricular research to find similar plants, the same principles of design can be applied. ($24.95)