By Jim McCausland, Sunset senior garden writer
Garden photograph by Terry Moyemont, Mesogeo Garden

Will Giles literally wrote the book about how to grow tropical plants in temperate climates. Called Encyclopedia of Exotic Plants for Temperate Climates (Timber Press, Portland, 2007; $49.95), the book has quickly become a standard reference for growing some 2,500 kinds of exotics in England and the Pacific Northwest. Now you can hear Giles speak.

His talk, scheduled for 4:30 this Sunday (April 27) at Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island (just a short ferry ride from Seattle), is sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Branch of the Mediterranean Garden Society. As part of the lecture, he’ll be screening pictures of his own garden and of other gardens that fit the same category. A regular on BBC radio, Giles has nearly as much experience talking about gardens as growing them.

Giles has been cultivating exotics on his 1-acre garden in the English East Midlands (at nearly the same latitude as the Queen Charlotte Islands) for about 25 years. For reservations to Giles’ talk ($5), call 206 855-9017 or go to www.mesogeogarden.com.