Magda Salvesen, the widow of the very prominent Expressionist painter Jon Schueler, who died in 1992, has taken some time off from preserving and placing his legacy with discriminating collections to write an authoritative guide to the finest publicly available gardens in the New York area, from Storm King to the 155 acre Sister Mary Grace Arboretum in New Jersey.

Fresh from her authoritative talk at the Horticultural Society the previous evening, Magda hosted a small celebration of her book's publication last night at the smaller independent bookstore Idlewild Books at 12 West 19th St, second floor, 414 8888, a literary Treasure Island where one might go first to check out the latest available editions of P.G. Wodehouse, for example, rather than the last remaining blockbuster, Barnes and Noble.

Friends from all over gathered including one especially happy couple from as far away as Delaware. The editor at Norton responsible for the well produced, flexible cover book was in attendance, as well as the marketing manager, for a well written guide which will undoubtedly be in print for many years.