Book Description
Succulent plants offer dazzling possibilities for garden design and require only minimal maintenance to remain lush and alluring year round. Featuring the work of more than 50 professional garden designers and creative homeowners, this complete design compendium is as practical as it is inspirational. Lavishly illustrated with over 300 photographs, it gives design and cultivation basics for paths, borders, slopes, and containers; hundreds of succulent plant recommendations; and descriptions of 90 easy-care, drought-tolerant companion plants. Beginners and experienced designers, landscapers, and collectors alike will find what they need to visualize, create, and nurture the three-dimensional work of art that is the succulent garden.
Customer Reviews:
informative.......2007-09-20
As a newcomer to succulents, I found this volume to be full of beautiful photos and wonderful information. It is a joy to peruse during a lull or sad moment. I had no idea how vast the subject is...........Debra Lee Baldwin has earned earned her prized reputation.
Just what I needed.......2007-09-18
Want to reduce water use in the garden and had no idea where to start with succulents. This is a great balance of practical and inspirational (pretty pictures).
Just in time.......2007-09-09
Hello Debra,
I am writing to tell you how much I love your book! I moved to
Carefree, AZ
two years ago from the San Francisco Bay Area (where I did garden
design and
everything grew) and have immersed myself in the study of all things
desert.
Your book is beautiful and informative and a breath of fresh air in
landscape design.
Thank you, thank you!
Erin
Great Book!.......2007-09-03
This book provides stunning photo's of some of the most beautiful landscape design work with succulents I have seen. As an owner of a retail shop selling pots for the garden, I leave it on my counter for my customers to refer to for ideas. Good, good stuff.
Wonderful resource for the Southwest gardener.......2007-08-24
This is an outstanding resource for gardeners of the Southwest and in particular Southern California. Excellent photos and very informative text. Provides numerous intriguing examples of what you can do especially if you are seeking to save water and reduce irrigation. What is surprising is all the wonderful variety and amazing color succulents provide year around.
Book Description
Only now, at the beginning of the new millennium, is there an up-to-date, comprehensive study of the cactus family. This long-awaited, monumental work covers the Cactaceae in an encyclopedic manner, addressing 125 genera and 1810 species. The most comprehensive single resource on the subject available today, it includes more than 1000 color photographs in addition to other illustrations. The introduction to each genus concentrates on the discovery of the cacti, and the improvements in our understanding of them, many of which result from relatively recent investigation. As stated in the foreword, "Cacti have a special fascination all their own. Miniature spiny dwarf cacti less than an inch in diameter are hidden in the arid regions of North and South America; the majestic columns of the giant saguaro, Carnegiea gigantea, dominate the deserts of Arizona. Yet all these cacti, given time, offer the surprising paradox of brilliant flowers, their delicacy a striking contrast to the strong spines that keep the viewer at a respectful distance." This remarkable diversity is fully described and illustrated in this authoritative encyclopedia, which is both scientifically accurate and readable. It also includes a chapter by Roger Brown on the cultivation of cacti, making the book even more useful to growers and hobbyists, as well as to taxonomists, ethnobotanists, and conservationists — indeed, anyone interested in succulent plants.
Customer Reviews:
A must have for cactus collectors.......2007-07-24
This is considered the 'Bible' for cactus collectors and researchers alike. Well worth the money for the information and photos.
I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD ABOUT THIS WORK.......2006-08-01
I can start with the old line "I I had only one book on cacti....." Well, this would certainly be the one. I spend a great amount of time traveling and photographing flowering and interesting plants, cactus being among them. I also collect this type of plant. I have found this work to be almost absolutely necessary for identification purposes and it certainly enhances by hobby of collecting and attempting to raise. As one reviewer points out, this is not a simple book of pretty plants. This is the real thing. There is absolutely a wealth of information here. I never travel area where cacti grow without it. The text is quite readable. There are indeed many, many wonderful color plates. It makes by hobby much more interesting and enjoyable. Recommend this one highly.
Simply the Best.......2004-10-28
Where do you start with a book of this magnitude? (well I had to borrow a review copy from an editor friend of mine, unfortunately he wanted it back). The author a Senior Research Botanist spent most of his lifetime amassing the information that forms this book and then sadly died only two weeks after publication. This is a book for the serious hobbyist. If you are looking for nice photographs of plants in pots, this is probably not the book for you. Having said that there are enough photographs in this book to satisfy even the most avid plant spotter (1016 colour plates.) "Is this plant an Acanthocalycium or an Echinopsis?" This book will give you the answer. In one form or another the book covers most of the Cactaceae family. It is certainly one of the first books to use the nomenclature of the IOS Consensus group. This is a big book 776 pages, "Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed and some few to be chewed and digested" Francis Bacon 1561-1625. This book certainly falls into the latter category and it is a great shame that the author is not with us to take the acclaim he surely deserved, but what a legacy he has left. I would love to own this book and it will be one of the first things I order from Amazon after I've sorted everyone elses Christmas presents out.
Excellent reference for those avid in the hobby of cacti.......2004-08-31
This book is a comprehensive reference of cacti. It contains desciptions of most all the species within each genus. It also has a fairly a good section in the front of the book about the origins and botany of cacti. There are pictures for about half of the listings, though because this is more of reference books they are relatively small. Also very helpful, each listing has the previous or other accepted botanical names for each species.
Outstanding Reference Source!.......2003-12-19
Between 1919 and 1923, a landmark publication in four volumes, The Cactaceae, was published by the Carnegie Institution. It remains a landmark publication in the world's literature on cacti. Edward F. Anderson has produced a massive one volume encyclopedic work, which expands and extends the work of Carnegie Institution. This marvelous resource has been well worth waiting for as it is based on Anderson's forty-five years of research on cacti.
The unique attributes of cacti are discussed in five chapters. Cacti occur naturally and are native to what is called "The New World." Only one species of native cacti is found in tropical Africa. In all other countries of the world where cacti are present, their existence is owed to the early explorers who carried cacti back to Europe on their ships and to birds that dispersed cactus seeds throughout the world.
Cacti as food, both for humans and animals, is addressed along with the medicinal uses of cacti. Cacti have long been used for ceremonial and religious purposes by indigenous peoples of the New World and as a source of dyes, especially the beautiful red cochineal dye. A chapter on cacti cultivation has been contributed by Roger Brown. For those interested in growing cacti in their homes and gardens, Brown's advice on containers, potting and repotting, air circulation and ventilation, pests, pesticides, and propagation is a valuable bonus to this specialized encyclopedia.
Pages 105 through 681 contain over 1,000 stunning color photographs (many photographed by Anderson), which are overwhelming in their portrayal of both the beauty and the idiosyncratic nature of cacti. Examples of the photographic artistry found within these glossy pages range from close-up snapshots of cactus flowers and large photographs of intriguing oddities. It will be difficult for cacti enthusiasts to wean themselves from this prodigious book, which weighs almost ten pounds.
The appendices, glossary and indexes are superb. The eight-page double-column international bibliography is comprehensive, spanning over two centuries of research on cacti (the earliest citation is dated 1760 and the latest references are from 2001). This is truly a state-of-the-art source. This splendid work stands alone and at the top of its genre.
Book Description
This book is my glowing invitation to you -- to live a rich, succulent life! I explore love, sexuality, romance, money, fat, fear and creativity. It's a little bit like reading my diary -- with permission. Succulence is powerFull! and so are we as women.
Book Description
Succulents are among the most popular and fascinating plants — with their extraordinary variety of forms, they can be found in the wilderness and cultivated in homes and gardens. A time-tested reference, this first volume includes some of the best-known and most cultivated genera such as Agave, Haworthia, Kalanchoe, and Yucca.
Customer Reviews:
Succulents: The Illustrated Dictionary.......2005-09-13
Beautiful, colorful and descriptive photgraphs with text of a very inclusive group of succulents and family. Excellent help when used to identify succulents in my garden and help to decide which new succulents to purchase.
Good Book for Identification Purposes.......2005-08-09
This books is essentially a photographic encyclopaedia of succulent plants and while it covers an great number of genera and species it would be impossible to cover them all in one volume, hence a second one has been published.
It is excellent for finding that name of that plant you have had in your collection for a long time and have never been able to put a name to. The book gives the genus, species and habitat of the plant. Also some indication of the size the plant may attain and also flower colour.
Of its type it is as good as anything on the market and if you can afford both volumes covers most of the plants available to collectors.
Good beginning........2004-07-08
"Succulents: The Illustrated Dictionary", is the original work of these two partner authors. This concise original offers hundreds of succulents, beautiful and strange, in scientific names. The photographs are as beautiful as "Cacti: The Illustrated Dictionary", but more close up. However, for this guide to be complete, the sequel also needs to be bought along with the original. "Succulents 2" is almost identical to the original in photo and binding quality, which are fine. However, you may as well be purchasing half a book if you only buy one of the series. Both are needed for completion.
The content is rich, featuring different succulent families, such as the poisonous "Euphorbia" genus. (I am still waiting to purchase the sequel to find more interesting families.) When you have these, there is not a chance that you will misidentify differing species.
A must have book for all Succulent Enthusiasts.......2002-07-24
This is a very well written and illustrated book that covers almost all major groups of succulent plants. The photos are really nice and the book has been a great use for plant identification. The author's have also taken the time to explain very basic knowledge of succulent care, not assuming that the readers are advanced botanists.
No cultivation information.......2002-06-16
I am a beginner with succulent plants and rock gardening. This is a very pretty book with information & photos for identifying plants. I find the pictures a bit small (about 2"x3.25"). For me, differentiating some of the Sempervivum species (or Jovibarba) would be difficult with the description and photos provided (someone more expert may find the descriptions quite sufficient).
I really NEED more information on habitat and cultivation. For me, sun exposure, soil & water requirements, pest problems and such are what I want right now. Also of interest, how variation in sun exposure and water will effect color & habit, cold and heat tolerance, winter protection. Once again, for a more experienced gardener, or someone wanting to move into more exotic succulents (I am working with Sedum, and "hens & chicks" (common name)) this may rate five stars.
I did learn that what I know as "hens & chicks" could be Sempervivum, Jovibarba, or Graptopetalum. This is an example of why it would be nice to have a common name cross reference, as mentioned by another reviewer.
Initially, I thought I would return the book, but have decided to keep it. I have learned about some species that I would like to grow, if I can get information on their culture & habit. This reference will allow me to get new species to experiment with. (This may mean special orders, as local nurseries have limited supplies of common plants.) So far, the Crassulaceae family is where my interest lies - See, I have learned something of value!
Book Description
This dictionary concentrates on the globular cacti, particularly Mammillaria, but includes some popular columnar cactus forms such as Echinocereus.
Customer Reviews:
Informative and helpful.......2007-05-23
I have really enjoyed looking at all the different plants in this book. It has helped me identify plants I already owned as well as add to my wish list of exotic plants I want to add to my collection.
Necessary for the New Collector.......2007-01-31
People that have an extensive collection of cacti reference material either don't need this book or, likely, already have it! I use this book in conjuction with other reference books to help me identify the many different species. I would recommend it to anyone.
CACTI: THE ILLUSTRATED DICTIONARY.......2005-09-25
SUPERB COMPACT REVIEW OF A VERY BROAD SPECTRUM OF CACTI TO HELP ANY SERIOUS AFFICIONADO OF THESE CRITTERS. ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED, GOOD PICTURES OF EACH BASIC GROUP WITH CLEAR CONCISE DESCRIPTIONS. I WOULD SAY THIS IS A MUST IN THE LIBRARY OF ANY CACTUS LOVER.
in a few words.......2005-08-25
Very beautiful book, with as much colorfull pictures as you wish. The title should be "dictionary of globular cacti", because only such species are presented.
Family Album, but who is missing.......2004-10-28
It is very difficult to find fault in a book that is so comprehensive in what it sets out to achieve, and I have no wish to do so. However I would like to point out to potential purchasers, if your interest lies in columnar cacti (Cereus, Cleistocactus, Pilosocereus, I know I could go on forever), or anthing from the Opuntia genus, you will be disappointed because they are not included in the book. Of course many other species are not included but this would be virtually impossible to achieve. There is a very good selection of species for all of the more popular genera, many in flower, which obviously aids in the identification process. As a plant identifier this book would be very difficult to beat. Plant care is virtually non existent, but this is not what the book is about. Under most photographs you will get details of the distribution of the plant; flower colour; spination and some of the different synonyms the plant may be labelled under. if you have any serious interest in Cacti you need this book.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful Cookbook!.......2007-05-25
I highly recommend this Chinese cookbook. I don't know if I just lucked out when selecting it, but I will tell you it was put together very well by Rhonda Lauret Parkinson. It is packed full of recipes we have all heard of and feasted on at the tastiest restaurants. For example, I became really excited to learn how to make Honey Walnut Prawns, a dish that my husband and I really enjoyed at our favorite chinese restaurant in an area we long since relocated from. We hadn't been able to find a restaurant that served them since then--not until very recently. And I have to say, hands down, the recipe in the book is far better than the dish we had in Seattle. Also, I love all the tips she gives because I find them extremely helpful.
Has All the Good Recipes.......2005-01-05
The thing about this book that distinguishes it from other Chinese cookbooks, is that is had ALL the recipes I was looking for (e.g., black bean sauce for noodles, Dan Dan, Singapore noodles, sweet and sour shrimp, etc). The only downside is that the author decided to make some of the dishes lighter (e.g., not having the shrimps dipped in batter and fried for the sweet & sour shrimp) - which I think should go into a different kind of book than a general Chinese recipe book as this. However, to me that is something that can easily be corrected without exercising too much imagination.
I've flipped through many Chinese cookbooks, and this is the only one that I've bought.
Simple but easy cooking.......2004-08-02
This book is pretty good for beginners like me ..it's so informative on the cultures and what to do but ..there's no illustration of the food itself how it would look like when it's done...so basically having to guess what it looks like ,however it definately teaches me how to make the food from dim sum but and it's pretty simple and easy but the ingredients are sort of hard to get ...in all like i said it's a good book .
Deliver expertly prepared and palate pleasing Chinese fare.......2003-11-14
In The Everything Chinese Cookbook, Chinese cuisine expert Rhonda Lauret Parkinson has developed a truly "user friendly" specialty cookbook which is ideal for the novice kitchen cook wanting to prepare and serve traditional Chinese dishes as part of a family dining experience. With an informed and informative introductory chapter on getting started with respect to Chinese cooking, individual chapters are devoted to dipping sauces, appetizers, soups and salads, rice and noodles, beef dishes, pork entrees, chicken and other poultry, tofu and eggs, fish and other seafood, Chinese vegetables; desserts and snacks. An ideal introduction into the kitchen mechanics of preparing popular Chinese dishes, The Everything Chinese Cookbook is further enhanced with two appendices: "Putting It All Together" and "Glossary of Asian Ingredient". The Everything Chinese Cookbook will take even the most amateur kitchen cook and show how to deliver expertly prepared and palate pleasing Chinese fare for ordinary daily dining or those special celebratory dinners with a true Chinese flair and expertise.
For the Chinese Takeout lover!.......2003-09-07
I love Chinese food: Not the torturous, pages-long recipes found in "gourmet" chinese cookbooks, but the delicious concoctions I can get at the local Oriental restaurant. This terrific book seems to have been cribbed from a Chinese takeout menu; all your favorite are here, from Moo Goo Gai Pan to Hot-and-Sour Soup. the recipes are well written and easy-to-follow, and none of the dishes is difficult to prepare. There are hints and tips for the novice, as well. A great value!
Book Description
An essential guide to cacti and other succulents, featuring 420 color photos and a wealth of information on the plants and their cultivation. Beautifully illustrated and highly accessible, this guide is both an instructive practical manual and a rich source of reference. More than 250 different species or genera and their natural habitats are profiled and illustrated. Topics include: the unique nature of succulents; their natural environment; history, classification, and nomenclature; watering, feeding, general care, and propagation; and pests and diseases. Lavishly illustrated, this is an indispensable guide for growers and enthusiasts.
Graham Charles is a National Cactus and Succulent Society judge and lecturer.
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful Book.......2007-06-10
Great pictures. A lot of educational information regarding cultivation, display, pests & diseases, plant distinctions etc. A large selection of recommended species with detailed information about each.
Book Description
These exotic natives of the Americas are among the most striking of drought-tolerant plants, and they make wonderful accents in the landscape, providing excellent contrasts to flowering perennial plantings. They can also be massed effectively, and many of the species are small, ideal for use in containers.
The authors point out that innovative nurseries and gardeners in cool, humid regions of North America and Europe have shown that many of these plants may be suitable for areas with climates very different from their native range. Full information on cultivation and propagation is provided.
Customer Reviews:
Agaves & Yucca Bible.......2007-05-22
This was also a Mother's Day present, so yet again my review is based on the impressions of another trusted source.
*************
HUGE amount of information - for the enthusiast of all levels
Excellent pictures
Comprehensive
Great price
Good Binding
Good size
*************
Fantastic Book.......2005-12-18
This is the book to have if you are interested in growing agaves, and yuccas particularly if you have an interest in growing them as landscape plants and want to know how hardy a particular species is likely to be. It has rapidly become the Bible for growers of these plants.
Agaves, Yuccas, and Related Plants: A Gardener's Guide.......2005-09-19
A complete description, history, guide and care to this plant group. Not a coffee table book for sure but very informative for the serious gardener.
Agaves, Yuccas, and Related Plants : A Gardener's Guide.......2000-06-13
This book fills a real gap in information for gardeners interested in agaves, yuccas, and similar plants, such as hesperaloes. I haven't found any other book that lists so many species of these plants AND has photographs of each. The text has extensive information for both identifying and growing these plants, whereas many books on plants will emphasize one aspect or the other. In other words, this book would be useful for botanists as well as gardeners and horticulturalists.
There is also some useful information on the cold hardiness and adaptability of these plants to wetter climates. Some experimental gardeners on the east coast of the U.S. may find the minimum temperature limits listed for some plants to be a little conservative. However, the horticultural information on growing these plants, more than makes up for that.
All around, this is a very good book and would be of interest to anyone interested in growing or identifying agaves, yuccas, and similar plants.
Terrific resource.......2000-06-12
I am the librarian at the Desert Botanical Garden and this book has been a tremendous addition to our collection. I have only had it for two weeks and have already used it several times to answer reference questions. The photos are wonderful and the index is extensive. What sets this book apart from all the rest, however, is the clear and succinct format used to describe each plant. Each reference includes the botanical name, synonyms, common names, descriptions of the size, leaves, blooms, distribution, propagation, cultural requirements, similar or related species, and uses. Mary and Gary Irish have created an invaluable resource for anyone interested in agaves, yuccas and related plants.
Average customer rating:
- Ultimate? Not Quite
- Kill Your Lawn - Part 1
- Good reference for many hard to find and unique succulents.
|
The Ultimate Book of Cacti and Succulents
Miles Anderson
Manufacturer: Lorenz Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Cacti
| By Plant
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Similar Items:
-
Complete Book of Cacti & Succulents
ASIN: 1859674607 |
Book Description
With their incredibly hardy and low maintenance nature and their distinctly beautiful characteristics, it's no surprise that succulents are favorites among many people. With over 1,000 full-color photographs, this comprehensive volume details the botany and classification of cacti and succulents, and examines their diversity. Included in this informative resource are designs for growing succulent plants indoors and out with tips and ides for hanging baskets, patios and terraces, garden settings, and container cultivation. The photographic plant directory provides a definitive reference section for over 400 varieties of cacti and their care. The cultivation section provides guidance on all aspects of buying, planting and maintaining cacti and succulents and techniques for planting, propagation, grafting and maintenance.
Customer Reviews:
Ultimate? Not Quite.......2004-10-28
To give this book the title "Ultimate" is stretching the point a little. The subject of cacti is far too vast for any book on the subject to call itself ultimate. OK they had to call it something.
On the serious side the book is excellently produced, well layed out and informative. The author knows his subject and presents it in an enjoyable and easily readable format. For those cactophiles who like their photographs, the ones in this book are hard to beat. The genera that are described in the book are described in some depth (not one species from each genus, a style I personally hate). There are symbols to tell you whether the plants are suitable for outdoors, greenhouse or windowsill. Each description of a species gives the natural habitat for the plant, average size the plant may attain and flower colour.
The Cacti and Succulents have separate sections (good idea), and there are chapters on grafting (excellent photographs); pests and diseases; seed sowing and soil mixtures etc.
Because the book covers both Cacti and Succulents, only the more popular species are catered for, but there are many specialist books on single genera for those who need them. After all a book is similar to a dog, a friend for life, and you can't have too many of those.
This book contains all the information any hobbyist would need to grow cacti successfully and to keep them looking healthy for many years to come. It's in my collection.
P.S. This book has appeared under several titles, so check before you buy, you may find you already own it.
Kill Your Lawn - Part 1.......2001-08-01
For many years my students heard me say that when I bought my own house, I would kill my lawn and plant a cactus garden. Three years ago, I bought my very own California bungalow here in Whittier and began to convert the front yard into a cactus garden. One of the most helpful references in the process has been The Ultimate Book Of Cacti And Succulents by Miles Anderson. This book is not an encyclopedia nor is it meant to be. This book is a comprehensive introduction to cacti and succulents. It covers subjects such as planting and care and it also covers a selection of representative plants. The style of the book is similar to all the great books put out by DK. The garden is still a work in progress, but if you saw it you'd know how much this great book has helped.
Good reference for many hard to find and unique succulents........1999-02-24
A very succinct listing of many common and some rare cacti and succulents. The best thing about this book is the vibrant and beautiful pictures that accompany the sometimes sparse text. The author gives a good general background on cacti and succulent origins, makeup, and care. One of the better books that I have come across in this genre.
Book Description
The Complete Book of Cacti & Succulents features the history, cultivation, and imaginative use of more than 300 plants -- in step-by-step color stages. This is a feast of in-depth information and eye-catching photography. DK's new line of paperback titles combines all the qualities of its hardcovers with the advantages of the soft cover format. Each of these already popular books will now be available to a large new readership who will delight in the essential elements of every DK title: clarity, educational value, and visual appeal.
Customer Reviews:
care for your cacti/succulents with a base of knowledge.......2007-07-23
I've read this book from cover to cover a number of times, always exposing more useful information. Particularly of interest are the many excellent photographs, which help us longtime cactus fans who've bought various cacti through the years without knowing what we've bought, or purchasing packets of mixed seeds, stand a chance of identifying these plants. Even in the photos that suggest planting possibilities, the plants are identified. Perhaps the most useful suggestion is the purchase of an inexpensive moisture meter (I picked one up at a ubiquitous discount chain for less than $5 that is a marvel of invention), which showed me that my watering habits needed rethinking. The book is printed on heavy stock, loaded with luscious photographs and details concerning the needs of any particular group of cacti/succulents - yes, there are omissions - the book covers; also there are planting tips, information on growing medium, fertilizing, etc.. Overall, this is a very worthwhile and valuable book for the cactii/succulent enthusiast.
GREAT ADDITION TO MY LIBRARY.......2006-09-24
I've been collecting these wonderful plants for a number of years now and am constantly adding not only plants to my collection, but books. I am glad I added this one! No one book can completely cover every aspect of cacti lore and this one certainly does not, But, this work, added with several others, help to round my research library out. Each new addition, i.e. books, helps and this was certainly a good addition. The text is well done as the author is abviously very knowledgeable and I did like the photographs. I did agree with another reviewer in that the shots from the top of the plant, looking down are indeed pleasing to the eye, but they fail, in some cases, to give a true picture of the plant. I photograph plants and find it is helpful to get side views of different subjects. That is not big deal though. This is a helpful book and I do recommend it highly.
Not Complete but still Very Good.......2004-10-27
The book is very well produced and the photography is very good. The author is well known and respected in Cacti circles and the book reflects his knowledge and status. The first section relates to the history and discovery of cacti and shows some amazing photographs of cacti in their habitat. It goes on to show how best to display your cacti in suitable containers and then a chapter on the differing shapes of the plants and their flowers The plant catalogue itself does not show too many of the different genera, but the popular ones are there and what it does do is show photographs of a number of species within a certain genera and this appeals to me. Too many books try to over-reach themselves and try to cram in as many genera as possible, showing a photograph of one species and very short descriptions of one or two other species. In this book the descriptions of each plant give the average height, flower colour etc. and also the min. temp. each plant will stand. The book shares space equally between true cacti and succulents and they are presented separately which makes the book layout clean and easily readable. At the end of the book are several pages on plant selection in sections, i.e. Plants for beginners; Plants for the Greenhouse; Free Flowering plants etc. This is another plus. One criticism I have is that many of the plants are photographed from directly overhead, this may be aesthetically pleasing, but does not give a true reflection of the size and shape of the plant and is not really my cup of tea. But this is a small moan about what is otherwise an excellent book. At this price the book is a good buy and there is something for everyone interested in the care of these unusual plants. I am happy to have this book in my collection.
Not the "Complete" Book without Yuccas!.......2003-09-29
This is a georgeous book, but it doesn't mention Yuccas at all! There is very little on Agavaceae in general.
The outstanding photography makes it somewhat worthwhile. All of the plants are photographed on white seamless, so they really pop off the page.
Excellent reference, not just for beginners.......2003-02-14
If you had to limit yourself to just one book, this should be that book.
For novices, this book has excellent basic advice for getting started, including many pictures and of how to display and plant them. For those with more experience, the book is a handy first reference before searching a specialized botanical tome.
This book makes the specific point that (popular, commonly available) cacti are no more difficult to grow than any other house plant.
The book thoroughly covers the needs of these plants, including what kind of soil, how much water, what temperature and amount of light they prefer.
The largest section has all of the popular genera, including the tropical varieties. This section has excellent photography of the plants at their best. If a person had a cactus that's in this book, that person would very likely be able to identify it from the descriptions and pictures. The book usually describes the distinguishing feature that classifies the plants of that type.
Typical and maximum sizes are given, along with the plants' growth habits and the age at which they first flower (some varieties do not flower until they are many years old).
Also included in this section is the hardiness, or how cold the plants can get before they die. If you don't live where these plants naturally grow, this is very important information. For instance, many kinds of cactus grow where it snows in the winter and can be grown outdoors in most of the USA.
At least one of each of the different general forms of cactus is shown: columnar cacti, prickly-pear types, barrel types, etc.
Following the section on specific cacti is a fairly representative section on popular succulents. There are so very many different kinds of succulents in the world, even a book ten times thicker would barely scratch the surface. This book concentrates on those species which are most commonly planted alongside cactus.
The lists at the back of the book are almost worth the price of the book itself. There are lists that categorize cacti and succulents in every which way, including many species that were not pictured or discussed in the main sections. There are lists by how easy the plants are to grow ("easy", "moderate", "difficult"), lists by temperature range ("cool", "temperate", "hot"), and other useful groupings. These lists help make this book continually valuable, even as one's experience and knowledge grows beyond the basics.
This author (Terry Hewitt) has written other books on cacti and succulents. Those books are also excellent, and worth purchasing for the unique information that they contain, but mainly as supplements to this book.
There are also other excellent cactus books that are more complete, but also more technical - or more specialized (for instance, there is an entire reference work on just the "opuntia" (prickly-pear) species).
This book is perfectly written for the average amateur cactus lover.
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- Edible Forest Gardens (2 volume set)
- Elementary, My Dear Watkins (Smart Chick Mysteries, Book 3)
- Elementary, My Dear Watkins (Smart Chick Mysteries, Book 3)
- Essentials of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach
- Fatal Flaw: A True Story of Malice and Murder in a Small Southern Town
- Food Not Lawns: How to Turn Your Yard into a Garden And Your Neighborhood into a Community
- Food Not Lawns: How to Turn Your Yard into a Garden And Your Neighborhood into a Community
- Four-Season Harvest: Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Long
- Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Standard & Poor's Fundamentals of Corporate Credit Analysis
- History: Fiction or Science
- Writer's Guide to Hollywood Producers, Directors, and Screenwriter's Agents, 2002-2003: Who They Are
- A Victor, Not a Butcher: Ulysses S. Grant's Overlooked Military Genius
- Blonde Ambition: An A-List Novel
- High Country Bride
- Gene Cloning and Manipulation
- Working Papers, Chapters 1-16 for Gilbertson/Lehman/Ross' Century 21 Accounting: General Journal, 8t
- Asymptotic Theory for Econometricians: Revised Edition
- Tetched: A Novel in Fractals
Pots in the Garden: Expert Design and Planting
Succulents: The Illustrated Dictionary
The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes
Succulents for the Contemporary Garden
