''The Well-Designed Mixed Garden'' is a design book with a difference. Written for gardeners who are passionate about plants of all kinds (hence the 'mixed garden' of the title), it reflects decades of professional experience and artistic innovation. As with her bestselling book ''The Well-Tended Perennial Garden'', master designer and plantswoman Tracy DiSabato-Aust provides not only inspiration but also scrupulously organized information on design and connoisseur plants - all from original research dating back to her degree work in horticulture. This paperback reprint is a master class of design fundamentals, with an emphasis on often-neglected topics, such as site evaluation, color theory, and planning for maintenance. It is also a gallery of detailed design plans that show how ideas are put onto paper and then translated into three dimensions. Lessons learned in its first two parts are strengthened in an ''Encyclopedia of Plant Combinations''; each entry notes the design considerations at play and provides tips on how to keep the combination looking its best.And the lifetime care needs and unique design characteristics of featured plants are summarized in the useful charts and lists that conclude the book. The result is a nearly foolproof guide to every aspect of designing superior gardens with superior plants. With more than 250 color photos and illustrations, this book is as much a feast for the eyes as it will be a trusted reference for the library shelf.