True, but even I need to remind myself that there are always beginners, and they need to start somewhere. Once they have discovered gardening, they tend to move on to more complex sources for content. So, although targeting beginner or casual gardeners, at least it's making an effort to move up to the bar, rather then mindlessly staying behind. That's not an easy thing to promote or design towards, when one is completely main stream and as big as Meredith.

Also, look at the new BH&G through the lens of the core consumer. The Mass Market lifestyle magazine buyer – walking through Target or Walmart, and choosing between the garden magazines available this month on those shelves. I have to look at it through those lenses. Am I the target audience? OR You? Not quite.

I have looked at the latest issue of the new Garden Design, and the content is quite good. The first couple of issues were disappointing, and the design still needs work, but this latest issue was very nice – especially that article on German Bearded Iris. The cost is high though, and even though there are no ad's, for a quarterly, I could choose to subscribe to a British magazine like Gardens Illustrated or even Curtis' Botanical Journal for the same price.

Emily – the new BH&G is not THE GARDEN, not even close, so hold in your expectations. I would say that it's on the same level as the current Martha Stewart Living as far as content goes, but no nearly as horticulturally interesting as The Garden, or any other RHS publication for that matter. It's just a nice value read with some decent content which is far better than the original Better Homes and Gardens. I should push the bar for other main stream magazines however ( as in the Baptisia story), but it is still just a brief article.
I give them credit for raising the bar as far as they could, right now.