These books make great gifts for homeowners, gardeners

Almost every homeowner on your holiday gift list can use a book about home design or gardening. Even Kindle owners might want a pretty tome to toss on the coffee table or some lush pictures to drool over.

If you need inspiration, here are books to get you started on your quest.

And remember, even the publishers' Web sites have discounted books off their issued price.

Design

Finally for us old-house folks, Sarah Susanka, the architect who has practically garnered a cult following, has come out with "Not So Big Remodeling: Tailoring Your Home for the Way You Really Live" (Taunton Press, $32). As fans know, Susanka is all about quality over quantity, and she promises this does not have to cost a fortune.

While we're talking followings, Sue Whitney has elevated junk to pretty classy standards. Her latest book, "Junk Beautiful Outdoor Edition" (Taunton Press, $21.95), will thrill your favorite flea market fan.

"Perfect Curtains: Smart Solutions, Fabulous Fabrics & Inspiring Designs" by Stephanie Hoppen (Clarkson Potter, $35) is a great gift for those of us who are challenged when it comes to window coverings. A helpful touch is her warnings that the designers' rooms look great, but executing your own could be trickier than it looks.

"The Art of Tile: Designing with Time-Honored and New Tiles" (Clarkson Potter, $40) by Jen Renzi shows the amazing variety available in tiles today from ceramic through stone, acrylic and shattered glass.

"The Lampshade Lady's Guide to Lighting Up Your Life" by Judy Lake (Potter Craft, $27.50) offers great design ideas from baseball cards to antique looks, as well as the how-tos.

"Outdoor Entertaining Idea Book" (Taunton Press, $19.95) by Natalie Ermann Russell tells how to create everything from garden rooms to poolside fun with panache.

"Small Space Living" (Schiffer, $34.99) by Christine Brun, features ideas for remodeling and decorating along with products that can make that small area work.

Gardening

Serious gardeners wait with baited breath for the latest offerings from the American Horticultural Society. While this group is known for its encyclopedia of plants, "New Encyclopedia of Gardening Techniques" (Mitchell Beazley, $45) is different. It's all about how to garden. And it would be a great resource when pests and problems pop up.

Roger Turner gardens in England, but he is careful to mark plants according to climate zone in "Tall Perennials: Larger-than-Life Plants for Gardens of All Sizes" (Timber Press, $34.95). And how tall is tall? Well the book promises 600 plants that grow at least 5 feet.

Gardeners have a mild, stay-at-home reputation, but at heart they are adventurous, always looking for a new and exciting plant. Daniel J. Hinkley, founder of Heronswood Nursery, has actually gone as far as the Himalayas (home of rhododendrons, who knew?) searching for new plants. "The Explorer's Garden: Shrubs and Vines from the Four Corners of the World" (Timber Press, $39.95) is one of the results. Hydrangeas and viburnum are joined by many choices you probably can't pronounce.

"The Wild Garden" expanded edition by William Robinson and Rick Darke (Timber Press, $29.95) is for those gardeners who love history. A bible for naturalistic gardeners, the book was originally published in 1870, and this is a copy of the fifth edition from 1895, with new chapters and 125 color photos by Rick Darke, landscape design consultant.

"The Family Kitchen Garden: How to Plant, Grow and Cook Together" by Karen Liebreich, Jutta Wagner and Annette Wendland (Timber Press, $24.95) is full of information on making gardening and harvesting a family affair.

Although there are color photos in "The Essential Garden Design Workbook" by Rosemary Alexander (Timber Press, $34.95), this is really a workbook full of ideas and sketches from the founder of the English Gardening School.

"The Ever-Blooming Flower Garden: A Blueprint for Continuous Color" by Lee Schneller (Storey, $19.95) deals with an issue I have always had - what should I plant to have perennials blooming after June.

"The Perennial Care Manual" by Nancy J. Ondra with photography by Rob Cardillo (Storey, $24.95) tells us what to do with each type of plant, what can go wrong and how to fix it. Who knew perennials - even hostas - are susceptible to viruses.

"The Backyard Homestead" edited by Carleen Madigan (Storey, $18.95) maintains you can grow your food on a suburban lot. Pigs and goats are probably out of the question for most of us, but fruit and vegetables for your family seem like a good idea.

"Landscaping with Fruit" by Lee Reich (Storey, $19.95) recommends 39 species for our temperate climate.

"Right Rose, Right Place" by Peter Schneider (Storey, $29.95) is for people who love these gorgeous flowers but have trouble getting them to grow or are afraid to try.

"The Vegetable Gardener's Bible" by Edward C. Smith (Storey, $24.95) explains the author's system: Wide beds, organic methods, raised beds and deep beds.