From a purely personal view, my own feelings on this subject are mixed.
For most people, information and education on drought resistant plants and water saving measures are invaluable. However, I have to admit to a feeling of frustration when I pick up yet another book on mediterranean gardening to find that it is only written on those lines.
My own garden is tiny. Small enough for me to hand water it all, which I do once a fortnight in summer. (The pots get watered once a week.)
I also have eclectic tastes. I like to include plants from the sub-tropical, to those fully hardy plants that can take the heat of the summer here.
I am fortunate indeed, because I am surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, mountains and the sea-shore. I can walk or drive in my neighbourhood and see a lot of the truly mediterranean plants in the most beautiful setting. But for my own garden, I want something different. Perhaps it is deeply psychological, but I want my garden to go on and on. I do not want it to aestivate for months every year. Long flowering periods and looking good all year round, are extremely important to me for my tiny garden.
If it was a large garden, I am sure my outlook would be very different. But it is not, and I would like to hear about all plants that it may be possible to grow here.
I am surely not alone. There must be many people who have small gardens, or just a few pots. They would like to know about all the choices open to them surely?
I have bared my soul enough now
Having said all that, I would like to recommend a book for any rose lovers out there.
Tea Roses. Old Roses for Warm Gardens
Lynne Chapman
Nolene Drage
Di Durston
Jenny Jones
Hilary Merrifield
Billy West
For those of you who don't know this book, it was written by these Australian ladies and extols the virtues of these beautiful roses. They thrive in warm climates and do not need any watering after the first year. I have a few in my garden, and with my fortnightly summer watering regime, most of them flower year round.
Daisy