1) The Garden - too British for my taste. Much of it talks about local gardens and British issues. None of the articles include zone information which in my mind distinguishes a good gardening mag from a bad one - at least for gardening in North America. most pictures are too small to enjoy. I like Fine Gardening. If you already get that one - not much else to choose from. 2) Coppicing has the same meaning in North America. The technigue described by Butterfly4u is NOT coppicing. Coppicing will result in a low bush the first year. If the shrub has not been pruned for several years it might go into shock and not grow much the first year. 3) I don't think the description by Butterly4U is what you want. This will result in a plant that will keep getting taller. 4) I will guess that you want the shrub to be both shorter and less wide. Maybe even less dense. Prune in Spring. I would first cut for desity. Cut out stems to ground level to thin out the bush. Take out the oldest stems. Since new stems will grow back you really need to thin a bit more than you want or else after the first year it will be too thick again. Next cut side branches that point into the center of the bush and cut right back to the main stem. This is less for estetics and more for the health of the bush. it will also have an effect on the density of the shrub. With a bit of experieince you can do this step along with the first step. Now cut for height. Cut every branch to a point where you are happy with the height keeping in mind that the bush may grow 4 feet next summer. Don't cut every branch to exactly the same height - that does not look natural. Vary the cut heights by 1-3 ft. Now cut for width. Cut side braches back to a length that meets your need - again taking into account this years gorwth. Don't remove more than 1/2 of the shrub. You may have to do this trimming over a couple of years. In future give the shurb a trim each spring to keep it shapped to the size you want. Goggle "prunning" to make sure you are making good cuts.

Okay, all you diggers and dividers: I was in a digging lull today so took a couple more photos of eyed tubers and how to divide them. Some from last year: this plant had blown down and the stalk broke off below ground level so the pink shredded tissue is where the stem was and began to rot. The collar material surrounding it is where the eyes will form, or on the underside of the clump. Marked with eyes Marked with where I'd cut. Don't forget to turn the clump upside down to check for eyes associated with tubers on the underside. One or two cuts from left and right to get these two tubers off the clump. A careful slice between eyes and you'll get two tubers off this "V" shaped offspring. Eyes marked in red, where I'd make cutting lines in green, brown spot fungus marked in blue. I'll have to use chemistry to kill that in my soil next year. Notice the stalk is pointing down, so don't forget turn the clump over to get some easily nabbed tubers that may be there. From last year or 06, marked for dividing. This kind of clump is a real gift: tubers usually only take one cut, are widely spaced, eyes bulging. Happy dividing.

I do not normally order hostas by mail. But here in Canada;s Ottawa Valley, I am fortunate to have two excellent hosta suppliers nearby in Budd Gardens http://buddgardens.com/plants.html and the Rideau Woodlot Ramble http://www.rideauwoodlandramble.com/ Both have posted their catalogues for the upcoming season. I will evaluate my needs in late May after the hostas and other shade plants have emerged. At that point I will decide what I would like to add based on foliage colour and mature size. Then I will visit the two suppliers and talk to the owners - both owners are experienced and knowledgeable hosta growers - before buying potted plants. I get to see what I am buying. Doug

Thanks, mboston -- I looked at that book at googlebooks. Somehow I get the feeling the person who did this is just not quite as precise as Virginia L. Burton was. Not to talk down my own piece...maybe I'm wrong... I did see something really cool, though, and loved learning about her life with George Demetrios (didn't know that!) Here is a link that might be useful: This is her son!