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"The Well-Tended Perennial Garden has been out for almost ten years," Tracy said, "And we thought it needed a new look. This edition is very visually appealing, with more than 200 new photos scattered throughout the text. We included new border shots from my own gardens, and more before-and-after photos from my recent clients. We’ve even provided an illustration with every entry in the encyclopedia section, which is really beneficial for beginners. When you are just starting out, it can be very difficult to distinguish different plants, especially at different stages of growth."

"Another change that I’m really delighted with is the addition of a 32-page journal section, where readers can make their own notes about their garden experiences," stated DiSabato-Aust. "There’s a lot of value to taking a scientific approach to your gardening—in fact, that’s how I researched much of the information I provide in the book. I experimented with different timings and with different techniques for deadheading, pruning, pinching, thinning, and such, and recorded what I did, and when, for each plant. Later, I went back to my notes to assess the results. The new journal segment of The Well-Tended Perennial Garden is structured to help gardeners manage—and learn from—their own experimentation."

Tracy added, "This book is meant to be used! I don’t want it to sit on a shelf or a coffee table." She laughed and said, "Many times, when people bring me their copies of the earlier edition to autograph, the book is stained, with dirt clinging to the pages and leaves stuck inside. And I love that! I guess that’s another good reason to offer a new edition—some folks need an excuse to get a clean copy!"

In addition to her writing activities, DiSabato-Aust is keeping extremely busy with speaking engagements and consulting around the world, particularly in England. "I’ve felt very honored to do so much speaking in English venues. I understand it’s rare for an American woman to be invited to do that." Indeed, Tracy has shared her expertise at the Oxford Botanic Garden; the Kew Royal Botanic Garden; twice at Wisley, the Royal Horticultural Society Garden; and three times at The English Garden School, to name a few.

Tracy doesn’t have to be on the road to be busy. Just keeping up with her home garden in Sunbury, Ohio, would keep most folks fully occupied. Then there are the many hours invested in honing her skills as an avid triathlon competitor. And to top it off, add into the mix her husband Jim, son Zachary, three dogs, several cats, and 15 chickens! No wonder that DiSabato-Aust says that she’s embracing a more low-maintenance lifestyle, whether it be her hair or her garden. "You know, people always ask me about my braided hair, and I just answer that I prefer it because it’s low maintenance," laughs Tracy. "For the same reason, I’ve been moving away from flowering perennials, and making more room in my designs for shrubs, plants with colorful foliage, and species that bring texture and form into the landscape."

In a Fine Gardening article from October 2005, Disabato-Aust describes how to choose plants based on a checklist of 10 maintenance needs. "If two-thirds of the plants in your garden are not fussy," she says, "it's easier to keep your garden looking good without being a slave to it." The maintenance checklist includes questions such as: Is the plant long-lived? Is it invasive? Does it require staking? "Gardeners today certainly don’t want their time to be devoted solely to work," she adds. "We want time to enjoy the environment we’ve created. We want to entertain, to have a spacious outdoor living area that doesn’t demand relentless, heavy effort."

This appreciation for the value of outdoor living informs Tracy’s current approach to garden design. She notes, "There has always been a need for artistic, creative design. As gardeners have become more educated, more sophisticated about horticulture, we’re expanding our concept of what gardening’s all about. The trend for some time now has been to view the outdoor living space as an extension and a reflection of one’s home and personality. The garden becomes a refuge, a place where you can just let go of any negativity, and recharge yourself with positive energy. When I’m outdoors, I feel a sense of ‘groundedness’ and that connection with nature that is the base of our souls. People everywhere are seeking an antidote to the increasing role of technology in our lives. For years, we’ve been losing green space as more land is developed. Now, even city planners are beginning to appreciate the value of setting aside some land for parks, gardens, living plants. Recently, I was in Las Vegas and was delighted to see plants all around, and even a conservatory. I said to myself, ‘There is hope!’"

When asked if she finds any current garden trends disturbing, Tracy responded by saying, "The only thing that disturbs me is that so many gardeners still rely on chemicals as much as they do. I cringe when I read advice that focuses on solving every garden problem with some chemical application. That’s why I’m so pleased with the trend toward using natural, organic methods." DiSabato-Aust noted, "We’ve made so much progress in understanding how to feed the soil, how to foster a living, healthy soil. We don’t need chemical band-aids. The industry is continuing to progress with more organic approaches, and we’re seeing more research on organic techniques. The progress is exciting—and more is needed!"

Folks who are just beginning their journey into the gardening world are sometimes intimidated by the challenge of learning and balancing horticulture and art and fashion. Tracy’s advice for the overwhelmed? "Relax! Take a deep breath! Have fun!" To get started, she suggests, "Think of a few basic objectives for your garden. When do you want it to peak? What do you want to emphasize—Color? Texture? Narrow the focus, be flexible, and do what you like to do. Don’t worry about what everybody else is doing." DiSabato-Aust suggests a few key questions to help any gardener gain focus: "How much time do you have for gardening? How will you use your outdoor space? When will you use it?" Finally she offers advice that she clearly takes very seriously and for which she is an excellent role model: "Marry your gardening with your home, with your life. Do what you love!"

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Her experience includes stints at Longwood Gardens in the U.S., The Montreal Botanical Garden in Canada, the Kalmthout Arboretum in Belgium, and Knightshayes Court in England. She earned a B.S. and M.S. in Horticulture from The Ohio State University. Her first book, The Well-Tended Perennial Garden, which has been referred to by many as "the bible for perennial maintenance," has become Timber Press' best selling book in their publishing history.