It seems everyone is going back to basics - Delia Smith and cookery, Alan Titchmarsh and gardening. But long before that John Cushnie, regular contributor to Radio 4's Gardener's Question Time, has been taking listeners back to basics, giving solid, easy to understand advice to those daunted by something horticultural. While Alan Titchmarsh gives advice in a sexy way on TV, John Cushnie uses his gentle Irish charm to attract attention and this is carried over into this, his second book, now available in paperback. Aimed at novice gardeners who have just found themselves with a garden they do not know what to do with, he leads them through the basics of soil preparation, planting and the minimum of aftercare necessary to ensure a plant's survival but at the same time not taking up all of the new gardener's free time. He offers advice on container planting for those with little or no garden, shrub and tree planting for larger gardens and design tips for developing the kind of garden you want - cottage garden, wildflower, Mediterranean, woodland. The use of ornamentation and water features are covered and the whole is lavishly illustrated with the photographs of Steven Wooster. These alone should encourage even the most apathetic of gardeners outdoors to transform their own plot into a place of relaxation and enjoyment. Ending with John's top ten plants, together with an A-Z list of all the plants mentioned within the book, this gives the reader a starting point amidst the myriad of plants currently available from a garden centre. An excellent present - to oneself or another, this is a book that covers all the basics as well as a few more advanced techniques for the beginner or still-learning gardener. Accompanied by John's wit and soft Irish humour, it is an enjoyable but educational read.