The lazy-hazy days of summer are supposed to be coming, and with them perhaps holidays, or time to look at some special books.

Here's some, just to enjoy - or, if you are a gardener or traveller, to inspire you to new projects or destinations.

The Shores We Call Home - The Art of Carol Evans (Harbour Publishing Co. Ltd.): The author's parents lived in Burnaby, and Evans lived here herself for a time, but this is a book about her love affair with B.C.'s coasts, oceans and waters. After taking some art courses, she decided to live by her art, painting six months a year, then waitressing six months. She had shows and sales, building up her reputation, and now she can live by her talent. Arthur Black calls her art "pure West Coast." This is her third book, with full-page illustrations of her works that are so clear and evocative you can almost hear the soft surf, the lapping of the water against the hulls of canoes, and the calling of the gulls.

Off the Beaten Path: A Hiking Guide to Vancouver's North Shore, by Norman D. Watt (Harbour Publishing): Offering 31 different North Shore hikes that explore old trails and cabins, and unspoiled native plants and trees. Maps, photographs and detailed instructions should take you safely in and out of these unique adventures.

Cross-Canada Crosswords 6 - Themed Puzzles for Canadian Crossword Connoisseurs, by Gwen Sjogren (Harbour Publishing): Once again, another intriguing set of puzzles to entertain you this summer.

Time-Saving Gardener - Tips and Essential Tasks, Season by Season, by Carolyn Hutchison (Firefly Books): This is my kind of gardening book. The subtitle says most of it, but Hutchinson's clear photographs, excellent diagrams and text take you from seedlings to pruning in easy-to-follow steps, all through the year.

Front Yard Gardens - Growing More than Grass, by Liz Primeau (Firefly Books): This is a picture book of beautiful gardens, as well as hints and instructions on how to turn your dull front lawn into a lush and blooming year-round vista. You have a choice of cottage, minimalist, opulent, shady, natural or even secret gardens - and no more mowing.

New Perennials for Canada, by Don Williamson, and New Annuals for Canada, by Rob Sproule (Lone Pine): This pair of beautifully illustrated books, with close-up photos of each variety mentioned, first divided by colour, then alphabetically, make it easy to find just the new plant for that special place in your garden, whether it's sunny, shaded, wet or dry. Many are native and local

North of Iskut - Grizzlies, Bannock and Adventure, by Tor Forsberg (Caitlin Press): A young woman decides to forsake the city and live in the bush, and she finds she has a lot to learn, about hunting and trapping, making bannock and beaver stew and just basically how to survive on her own. It's interesting to follow her self-discovery journey as she learns all the skills. Illustrated with photos.

Outdoor Medical Emergency Handbook - First aid for Travelers, Backpackers, Adventurers, by Dr. Spike Briggs and Dr. Campbell Mackenzie (Firefly Books): Starting with hiking and travelling tips and suggested aids to avoid injuries or illness, this book goes on to cover, with photographs and diagrams, everything from minor ailments and injuries to more major emergencies, and even emergency medical and surgical procedures. Very clear and detailed and not for the squeamish.

The Ultimate Student Cookbook: From Chicken to Chili, by Tiffany Goodall, (Firefly Books): This could be called the ultimate "student of cooking" book, as the easy recipes and step-by step illustrative photographs would be invaluable to anyone embarking on cooking for themselves or others. Simple ingredients and explanations of spices and herbs remove any mystery or stumbling blocks.

The Encyclopedia of Raincoast Place Names: A Complete Reference to Coastal British Columbia, by Andrew Scott (Harbour Publishing): Whether you drive, canoe, sail or kayak our coast, or just puzzle