Austin-based writer Culbertson and Fort Worth horticulturist Urshel take readers to gardens both large and small, celebrated and unsung. The affordable, 170-page paperback helps readers navigate both major legacy civic gardens in cities like Dallas and San Antonio as well as secret gems in unexpected corners of the state. From the misty bayous of southeast Texas’s Shangri La to the rugged Chihuahuan Desert Botanical Gardens 700 miles to the west. Many appear in unlikely places shaped by climate, persistence and a passion for experiement. No two are alike. Every one a labor of love. The guide is filled with evocative descriptions and practical information — enabling enthusiasts to get the most from the gardens they visit. Perfectly sized for toting in a pocket, purse, backpack or glove compartment, it’s also perfectly priced, at $8.50 a perfect impulse gift for the garden-lover.