Reddit mentions: The best annual flowers gardening books

Well, since you like flowers, you might enjoy growing some houseplants or starting a garden, if you don't have one already. My favorite houseplants are African violets, but I also like orchids and succulents. You can either just do it as a casual hobby and keep a few plants on the windowsill, or you can decide to get more serious about it if you find you like it. My plants do well with whatever amount of care I have time to give them, as long as I remember to water them. They respond best when I treat them like show plants, but they'll be fine if you don't have the time for that. You can show African violets (and probably other types of plants, but I only know about African violets for sure), and there are clubs for this type of thing. They usually sell African violets and other houseplants at the supermarket, Pike Nursery, Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. They have a wider selection of varieties on the Internet, and some groups even trade leaves (you can grow African violets from cuttings) so that members can get new varieties. [This] (http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/afrviolet/) is my favorite forum for African violets, and there's a subreddit for houseplants [here] (http://www.reddit.com/r/IndoorGarden/). [This] (http://www.amazon.com/African-Violets-Complete-Joan-Hill/dp/1861261500/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374020196&sr=1-4&keywords=african+violets) book should tell you just about everything you need to know about African violets to grow them with some success. Expect to kill at least a couple when you just start out, though. Don't worry; it happens to everyone. Best of luck, and I hope you enjoy growing houseplants, if you decide to. I find it to be relaxing, and taking care of living things might help you to cheer up. At the very least, you'll bring life and beauty into your home and find a pleasant, calming hobby.

Just keeping the pyracantha and vine pruned will go a long way towards tidying up this beautiful garden.

Pyracantha are tough plants and can take any amount of pruning. Even taking them right down to the ground won't hurt them, although it may take a few years for them to regrow to the same size. Wear long sleeves and gloves because they have thorns. You can prune them into tree forms by removing small branches at the bottom of the clump.

[Tree pyracantha] (http://a4.pbase.com/o6/34/494634/1/131721016.GgrjA1Cc.W18Pyracntha2.jpg)

Article about pyracantha: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyracantha

A basic book on pruning (available at your local library or used on Amazon) will help you maintain your beautiful garden.

[The Pruning Book] (https://www.amazon.com/Pruning-Book-Completely-Revised-Updated/dp/1600850952)

I love these books:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Botanical-Garden-Perennials-Annuals/dp/1552975924/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376363975&sr=8-2&keywords=roger+phillips+and+martyn+rix

There are two volumes, early perennials and late perennials.

Curl up with a plant dictionary at a chain bookstore. Something like http://www.amazon.com/Flower-Gardeners-Bible-Complete-Anniversary/dp/1580174620/.

This is really specific stuff. I'm not an expert on apples (don't really like them), but I think an essential book for every gardener that changed my perspective and expanded my understanding greatly was:

https://www.amazon.com/Pruning-Book-Completely-Revised-Updated/dp/1600850952

As an aside you should know that many people into permaculture "don't believe" in pruning, making various appeals to "nature knowing best" and such. In this particular subject i find this way of thinking to be absurd and demonstrably wrong, but i thought you should know.

The Pruning Book