My Garden of Flower Fairies

Book Description

In a large garden live the Flower Fairies™ and their many friends. There's mischievous Periwinkle, shy Daffodil, Poppy, who likes to give parties for Flower Fairy™ children, and Marigold, who loves the sun. Seventeen fairies in all are featured in this book that's chock full of the details young readers and listeners love to know about the Flower Fairies and their secret lives.

Customer Reviews:

Our girls LOVE this fairy book.......2006-01-28

The illustrations are really nice. Beautiful. Our 3 preschool daughers are very into fairies right now and they LOVE this book. They love the stories associated with all the flowers. Part of me would think the book would be a bit old for them, but not at all. They love it and want to read it over and over and over.

Enhanced pictures, cute text.......2004-12-16

My 5-year old enjoyed this introduction to the flower fairy friends. It takes the lovely drawings of Cicely Mary Barker and places them with photographs of flowers, and combines them in different ways. It is neatly done. The text describes the different fairies and what their personalities are like. It is sweet but uninspired. We're looking forward to reading others id the Flower Fairy Friends series.

Quilts from Grandmother's Garden: A Fresh Look at English Paper Piecing

Average customer rating:

A really Great quilting book
Good paper piecing instruction
VERY DISAPPOINTED
Quilts from Grandmother's Garden: A Fresh Look at English Paper Piecing
Grandmother's Garden

Quilts from Grandmother's Garden: A Fresh Look at English Paper Piecing
Jaynette Huff
Manufacturer: That Patchwork Place
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Needlework | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Patchwork | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Quilts & Quilting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Learn English Paper Piecing by Machine (Quilting)
Tea in the Garden: Quilts for a Summer Afternoon (That Patchwork Place)
Illustrated Guide to English Paper Piecing (Master Quilter's Workshop) (Master Quilter's Workshop Series)
Simple Traditions: 14 Quilts to Warm Your Home (That Patchwork Place)
The New Applique Sampler: Learn to Applique the Piece O' Cake Way

ASIN: 1564776425

Book Description

A little handwork—and a few quick tricks—is all it takes to create these striking quilts inspired by old-fashioned Grandmother's Flower Garden quilts. Instead of sewing together thousands of tiny hexagons, make appliqué units instead!

· Start with one learning place-mat project, then get creative with ten quilt patterns

· Take these perfectly portable projects wherever you go; appliqué units make it easy

· Learn how today's inexpensive precut papers make the process a breeze—no need to draw and cut hexagons

Customer Reviews:

A really Great quilting book.......2007-02-11

A really helpful quide to paper piecing in quilting!..A thin book but full of both helpful and interesting paper piecing quilting ideas.

Good paper piecing instruction.......2006-08-12

I purchased this at a local bookstore especially for the instructions for English paper piecing which are very well laid out. I was also impressed with some of the very pretty quilt designs she came up with using such a basic hexagonal pattern shape. As a newbie to quilting, I look forward to trying out several of these for first projects.

VERY DISAPPOINTED.......2006-08-07

I was through reading this book in two minutes. A waste of money. The only good section was the illustration on how to do English paper piecing. The remainder of the book was boring and geared toward making tiny, trite little pictures. It missed the wonderful scope of haxagonal English paper-piecing. I was looking for just such a book, and was sorely disappointed. I really wish I could get my money back.

Quilts from Grandmother's Garden: A Fresh Look at English Paper Piecing.......2006-07-07

This book has some delightful English paper piceing quilt patterns made from tiny hexagons. I saw one of these little quilts made up and was fasinated. I am currently making the one the cover. The book is well written and the directions are easily understood.

Grandmother's Garden.......2006-06-26

The book was in excellent condition. It was a lot better than I expected. The shipping was a lot faster than I anticipated. I am very pleased with my experience and will continue order from Amazon's site.

Average customer rating:

Great Coloring book
Fun-filled Coloring Book For People Of All Ages

Garden Fairy Alphabet Coloring Book
Darcy May
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Linguistics | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Flower Fairies Alphabet Coloring Book (Flower Fairies)
Trolls, Elves and Fairies Coloring Book (Dover Pictorial Archives)
Richard Doyle's Fairyland Coloring Book (Dover Pictorial Archives)
Garden Fairies Stained Glass Coloring Book (Dover Pictorial Archives)
Garden Fairy Stickers

ASIN: 0486290247

Book Description

Exquisite renderings of ready-to-color floral favorites — one for each letter of the alphabet — include azaleas, bluebells, columbine, daisies, foxglove, and other flowers. Among the florals are a troop of enchanting sprites in a variety of carefree poses: snuggled in a blossom, swinging on a vine, more.

Customer Reviews:

Great Coloring book.......2007-09-14

My wife and family loved this coloring book!
We took it on vacation and all of our nieces and nephews colored their initials. It was great on a family vacation.
The artwork is very nice. FIVE STARS!

Fun-filled Coloring Book For People Of All Ages.......2000-06-19

The Flower and Fairy Alphabet Coloring Book by Darcy May is a very neat, interesting, fun-filled, and educational book. It can be enjoyed by gardeners, children who like to color, and other people just looking for a good way to spend their free time. I originally bought the coloring book for my seven year old daughter, but it turned out my teenagers (ages fourteen and seventeen) enjoyed it just as much, if not more. After I found out how much fun the Flower and Fairy Alphabet Coloring Book was, I got back on Amazon.com and ordered more for me and for gifts. The pictures in the coloring book are very intricate and well drawn. Therefore, it's lots of fun to color, but also may take some time. Overall, this low priced book is lots of fun and will provide a good time for people of all ages.

Smith & Hawken: 100 English Roses for the American Garden (Smith & Hawken)

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Smith & Hawken: 100 English Roses for the American Garden (Smith & Hawken)
Clair G. Martin
Manufacturer: Workman Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

English Gardens | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

100 Old Roses For The American Garden (Smith & Hawken)
The English Roses: Classic Favorites and New Selections
In Search of Lost Roses
David Austin's English Roses: Glorious New Roses for American Gardens
Old Roses and English Roses

ASIN: 0761101853

Amazon.com

The rose has always been a popular flower; ancient Romans, Egyptians, Greeks, and Chinese cultivated rose gardens and used the blooms in festivals and funerals. Yet the roses we grow today have generally been in existence for less than a century, and English roses--in spite of the traditional-sounding name--have all been developed since the 1950s by rosarian David Austin in an effort to combine the fragrance and beauty of old roses and the frequent blooming habit of modern hybrids. 100 English Roses for the American Garden presents those English roses best suited to the diverse North American climate. As the curator of rose collections at the Huntington Botanical Gardens, author Clair G. Martin knows his roses. With a large section devoted to general rose care (mulching, composting, container growing, and cutting) and individual pages (each, of course, depicting a single perfect rose) detailing the availability, stature and habit, usage, and disease susceptibility of each variety in various climates, this is an enjoyable and useful introduction to a fragrant subject.

Book Description

WIFE OF BATH, THE REEVE, GERTRUDE JEKYLL, and the beloved CONSTANCE SPRY

Growing more popular every year, English Roses (often called David Austin Roses, after the hybridizer who created them) combine the charming, open-flowering habit and deep fragrance of Old Garden Roses with the continuous bloom and color range of Modern Hybrids.

Here, in a book focused exclusively on the needs of North American gardeners, is a complete guide to selecting, planting, feeding, pruning, and caring for 100 English Roses. It includes full-color photographs throughout, plus a source guide, a list of public gardens displaying English Roses, and an index of cultivars by color.

Average customer rating:

A Charming Gardening Companion
A Celebration Indeed!

Emily Dickinson's Gardens
Marta McDowell
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Criticism | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Home & Garden | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

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Similar Items:

The Gardens of Emily Dickinson
Garden Voices: Stories of Women & Their Gardens
Open Me Carefully: Emily Dickinson's Intimate Letters to Susan Huntington Dickinson
The World of Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson's Herbarium: A Facsimile Edition

ASIN: 0071424091

Book Description

A beautifully illustrated gift book exploring the flowers and poems of the beloved "Belle of Amherst"

A woman who found great solace in gardens, Emily Dickinson filled her poetry with references to her flowers. Now, in Emily Dickinson's Gardens, author Marta McDowell invites poetry and gardening lovers alike to explore the words and wildflowers of one of America's best-loved poets.

Each chapter of this illustrated book follows a different season in the gardens, conservatories, and Amherst environs where the poet tended, collected, and drew inspiration from flowers.

"Here is a brighter garden" where you will discover:

Excerpts from Dickinson's poetry and letters
Historical details about the poet's life, emphasizing her horticultural interests
Plus: Instructions on how to create an Emily Dickinson garden of your own, including plans, design ideas, plant sources, and growing tips

Download Description

A woman who found great solace in gardens, Emily Dickinson filled her poetry with references to her flowers. In the beautifully illustrated "Emily Dickinson's Gardens," author Marta McDowell invites poetry and gardening lovers to explore the words and wildflowers of one of America's best-loved poets. Also included are excerpts from her poetry and letters, historical details about her life and instructions on how to create an Emily Dickinson garden.

Customer Reviews:

A Charming Gardening Companion.......2006-10-23

Ms. McDowell is a delightful writer. Her book on Emily Dickinson's Gardens kept me reassuring company this spring as I worried my way through my first seed growing experiments. I kept it next to my seed growing trays by my computer where I sat and worked everyday. Her conversational style was reassuring, informative and entertaining. Somehow her book managed to say the right thing at the moment when I needed to read it.

A Celebration Indeed!.......2005-01-10

The wonder of this book is that the author has done a fabulous job of conmbining biography, poetry and gardening into one terrific volume.

The descriptions of Dickinson's life are intimate and homey; reading it, you feel like you're spending a few hours with a friend.

And McDowell does a great job of helping us understand the role that gardening played in both Emily's life and her poetry by providing a lot of specific details that bring Emily and her home to life.

As a gardener myself, I was extremely impressed with McDowell's gardening knowledge. She's included a number of tips and techniques that will be useful to both novice and experienced gardeners.

Bottom line: this is just a wonderful book, and one that I'll be giving to many of my poetry and gardening friends.

Average customer rating:

Sacred Gardens.....

The English Flower Garden
William Robinson , and Graham S. Thomas
Manufacturer: Sagapress, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Landscape | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Garden Design | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Small Homes & Cottages | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Gardener's Essential Gertrude Jekyll (Godine Country Classic)
English Cottage Gardening: For American Gardeners, Revised Edition

ASIN: 0898310318

Book Description

Called "the best single garden book in our language" by Henry Mitchell, this classic includes an encyclopedic listing of the best flowers, trees, and shrubs for the natural garden, illustrated with charming etchings. It presents Robinson's influential ideas on garden design and features. First published in 1883, it went through 15 printings during Robinson's lifetime. This edition represents the definitive 1933 version, with updating by Graham Stuart Thomas to current nomenclature.Published at $35.00 Our last copies available at $17.49

Customer Reviews:

Sacred Gardens............2000-12-31

THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN by William Robinson, was first published in 1883 and republished a number of times afterward. The current version available from Amazon is a reprint of the 15th Edition Robinson edited shortly before he died in the 1930s. This new reprint of the 15th Edition contains the "Botanical Revisions" prepared by Graham Stuart Thomas for the 1984 Edition, as well as a Forward by Henry Mitchell, and an introduction by Deborah Nevins.

The book is set in old style type and contains numerous black and white illustrations--etchings of photos and prints of sketches. Some of them are a bit grainy, but many are not, and even the grainy ones have their good points. The content of each photo is quite interesting, and the sketches provide the "personal" touch one seldom sees in text books these days.

In one print, taken at Gravetye Manor over 100 years ago, a climbing tea rose clings to a bamboo split-rail post fence surrounded by bush roses. The sunlight reflects from the walkway and warms the flowers and a huge clay pot sitting in a corner. In another photo, pots of 'Chimney Campanula' guard an old Jacobin chest sitting in a hall at Staunton Court. Sketches and photos are used to illustrate flowers all through the last half of the book--a flower dictionary with anectdotal and literary "blurbs" written by Robinson himself.

Mitchell says Robinson "for all practical purposes invented gardening as we know it." Robinson's garden, 'Gravetye Manor' is a hop, skip and a jump from Sissinghurst, but few know of it's existence. Yet, Robinson is the "grandfather" of Sissinghurst, because Gertrude Jekyll who helped Mrs. Nichols design Sissinghurst, was Robinson's disciple. She literally followed in his footsteps and emulated his style.

Robinson found most of the gardens of his day deplorable (19th Century Victorian). Those of the wealthy were modeled after the French and Italian formal plan, loaded with clipped Yews and bedded out every spring with ribbons of color provided by geraniums and marigolds. The walkways were lined with ornate scupture and surrounded by towering "imprisoned" evergreen shrubs and trees including clipped Yews which he loathed. He said these gardens reminded him of graveyards.

His ideal was the cottage garden. He considered the garden a sacred space. He said one had to visit the houses of the poor to find truly beautiful gardens. Henry Mitchell reflecting on this says, "The thing that separates the true gardener from the mere architect or designer (and there is something extremely suspicious in the airs they give themselves nowadays) is that the gardener stands in awe before his violets, while others think of them in terms of [sic] plant materials."

Book Description

In this first substantial study of Emily Dickinson's devotion to flowers and gardening, Judith Farr seeks to join both poet and gardener in one creative personality. She casts new light on Dickinson's temperament, her aesthetic sensibility, and her vision of the relationship between art and nature, revealing that the successful gardener's intimate understanding of horticulture helped shape the poet's choice of metaphors for every experience: love and hate, wickedness and virtue, death and immortality.

Gardening, Farr demonstrates, was Dickinson's other vocation, more public than the making of poems but analogous and closely related to it. Over a third of Dickinson's poems and nearly half of her letters allude with passionate intensity to her favorite wildflowers, to traditional blooms like the daisy or gentian, and to the exotic gardenias and jasmines of her conservatory. Each flower was assigned specific connotations by the nineteenth century floral dictionaries she knew; thus, Dickinson's association of various flowers with friends, family, and lovers, like the tropes and scenarios presented in her poems, establishes her participation in the literary and painterly culture of her day. A chapter, "Gardening with Emily Dickinson" by Louise Carter, cites family letters and memoirs to conjecture the kinds of flowers contained in the poet's indoor and outdoor gardens. Carter hypothesizes Dickinson's methods of gardening, explaining how one might grow her flowers today.

Beautifully illustrated and written with verve, The Gardens of Emily Dickinson will provide pleasure and insight to a wide audience of scholars, admirers of Dickinson's poetry, and garden lovers everywhere.

Customer Reviews:

"Beauty crowds me till I die".......2004-06-28

Emily Dickinson continues to fascinate the literary world, not only because of her unique, eerily beautiful poetry, but also because of the delicious mystery that cocoons her life well over one hundred years after her death. Some have painted her as a looney eccentric, some as a recluse shrouded in sexual ecstasy: she has been seen on theatre stages throughout the world as the Belle of Amherst, and her works have been incorporated into songs and symphonies - the most poignant being John Adams' "Harmonium".

Yet few investigators have the quaint, informed pique as the highly admired Dickinson scholar, Judith Farr. This book THE GARDENS OF EMILY DICKINSON maintains the level of biographic study that began with her THE PASSION OF EMILY DICKINSON in 1994 and continued with the elegant, aptly eccentric epistolary novel I NEVER CAME TO YOU IN WHITE in 1996. Like the previous books, Farr does not confine her writing to academia (though she obviously has consumed every bit of available information on her subject and footnoted these books extensively): Farr prefers to open doors and windows of imagination to make the factual data supplied have a semblance to the radiance of Dickinson's gifts to posterity.

During Emily Dickinson's lifetime (1830 - 1886) the poet was better know for her commitment to the oh-so-proper Victorian art of gardening. Books on Botany from that period held dominion over reading tables and bookshelves and Dickinson was as astute a garden scholar as the best of them. Flowers are frequently referenced in her poetry, her letters, her life, and Farr has used this other half of Dickinson's life as a means to explore the meanings of her poems. 'Flowers - Well - if anybody/Can extasy define -/Half a transport - half a trouble -/With which flowers humble men:...' She divides her writings into chapters 'Gardening in Eden' (the more spiritual aspect of the garden), 'The Woodland Garden' (the exploration of her natural garden on the grounds of the Homestead in Amherst, Massachusetts), 'The Enclosed Garden' (the conservatory where exotic looms were coddled), and 'The Garden in the Brain'. In each of these chapters Farr takes almost every reference to flowers in Dickinson's poems and discusses their significance both herbally and philosophically and passionately. The characters that played significant roles in Dickinson's odd life are all addressed (Susan Dickinson, Bowles, Higginson, etc) by referencing letters to and poems about each , and each bit of evidence breathes floral dimensions. Almost as an intermission to this theatrical diversion, Farr has placed a chapter by Louise Carter "Gardening with Emily Dickinson" which is well written and serves to ground the ongoing growing tales of the Belle of Amherst with a sophisticated diversion on the techniques of the Victorian Gardener - a chapter which could easily find its way into all Garden books! And aptly, in a manner that would no doubt find Dickinson's approval, Farr ends her book with an Epilogue, which indeed places all of her information in perspective and is enlightening to both the scholar and the occasional reader of the Poetry of Emily Dickinson. Judith Farr is a solid scholar, a fine writer, and if at times she cannot resist the tendency to 'personalize' her data, then that is merely her style and for this reader is only additive. The preface page of her book quotes the words of Thomas Wentworth Higginson: "There is no conceivable/beauty of blossom/so beautiful as words -/none so graceful,/none so perfumed." This lovely thought is a fitting introduction to the writing of Judith Farr, too. I wonder which aspect of Emily Dickinson she will explore next....

Another Tour de Force from Judith Farr.......2004-04-03

Judith Farr is the preeminent Emily Dickson scholar alive today. This is a worthy companion to The Passion of Emily Dickson, also published by Harvard Press. If you are unfamiliar with Farr's work and love Emily Dickinson, you owe it to yourself to read both works. Farr's insights are bold, well-defended and entirely convincing. Her writing is crisp, direct and immensely readable. Also, this is without a doubt one of the most beautiful books I have ever seen in presentation. The color plates are worth the price of the book alone. Better than 5 stars.

The Magnificent Flora Graeca: How the Mediterranean came to the English Garden

Average customer rating:

The Magnificent Flora Graeca: How the Mediterranean came to the English Garden
Stephen Harris
Manufacturer: Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Books | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1851243062

Book Description

The publishing of the Flora Graeca was a landmark event in 1830. Only 25 copies were published, due to the book’s size of 10 double folio volumes and its numerous illustrations, and it cost over £620, a colossal sum at the time. The Flora Graeca brought together beautiful renderings of the fruits of the travels of British scientist John Sibthorp, who made multiple trips to the eastern Mediterranean in the early nineteenth century to collect a rich array of exotic floral specimens. Now The Magnificent Flora Graeca chronicles Sibthorp’s immense undertaking, including brilliant selections from his groundbreaking volume.
The story of the expeditions of Sibthorp and his renowned illustrator Ferdinand Bauer is a tale replete with larger-than-life characters and adventures on land and sea. Harris profiles the lives of Sibthorp, Bauer, and other leading characters, and explores the Flora Graeca’s rich cultural and scientific legacy. Sibthorp’s pioneering adventures unearthed floral specimens previously unknown to science, as he collected the originals of such popular garden flowers as the Crocus flavus ssp. flavus, the parent of the Golden Yellow; and Cyprus’s Cyclamen persicum, the parent of the widely grown garden cyclamens species.
This new volume, drawn from photographs of Sibthorp’s remarkably well-preserved specimens and luminous reproductions of the original watercolors and engravings by Bauer, features more images from the Flora Graeca than have ever been published since its first printing.
A fascinating treasure of floral wonders, The Magnificent Flora Graeca is an essential addition to the bookshelf for the plant lover or anyone curious about the natural history behind their beloved garden retreats.

David Austin's English Roses: Glorious New Roses for American Gardens

Average customer rating:

Thank you, David Austin!
NH Yankee in King Arthur's Garden
My Favorite Rose Book
Just a beautiful book
Good information about English roses

David Austin's English Roses: Glorious New Roses for American Gardens
David Austin
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Ornamental Plants | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Old Roses and English Roses
The English Roses: Classic Favorites and New Selections
Smith & Hawken: 100 English Roses for the American Garden (Smith & Hawken)
Shrub Roses and Climbing Roses
PASSION FOR ROSES: Peter Beales' Comprehensive Guide to Landscaping with Roses

ASIN: 0316059730

Customer Reviews:

Thank you, David Austin!.......2007-08-19

Similar to another reviewer, this book started my passion for gardening. I never cared to spend much time outdoors but this book got me into my garden and to experience the wealth that gardening has to offer. Thank you, David Austin for the English Roses that you've developed!!! Prior to reading this book and planting English Roses, the only outdoor plant I ever took care of myself was back in college. After purchasing this book about 6 years ago I planted 13 varieties of David Austin's roses and eventually planted over 20 varieties.

This book was the first book I ever read on roses, or anything related to gardening for that matter, and the beginning of a collection of rose books and other gardening books. I still don't have any other books about roses that I would consider to rival this one when it comes to the beauty portrayed on the pages of the book, the quality of the photographs and the fact that it's hardback. Maybe some of his more recent books would be as good as this one but I haven't purchased them yet. The text in this book is helpful for a beginner but I found other books on roses to be more helpful. This book is a bit more general and isn't intended to be a `how to' guide. I believe that the main purpose of the publication is to advertise some of the most beautiful roses in the world that David Austin has created. Even if you don't plant any of his roses, it would simply be a beautiful coffee table book. David Austin offers many more roses than are shown in this book and by going to his website you can see the vast array of roses that he offers. I've purchased my David Austin roses by telephone through a seller in Tyler, Texas who publishes a mail order catalog showing beautiful pictures next to the list of roses that they offer.

I'm extremely late in reviewing this book but due to my love of this book and these intoxicating beauties I need to share my discovery of the way to conquer nasty Japanese Beetles! I should preface this by stating that I have no connection to the company of Bayer and no reason to promote it other than to help other gardeners. The horrendously little devilish Japanese beetles set me back a couple of years with my rose bushes. I almost gave up on my roses due to the devastating effects that beetles caused to my rose bushes but recently I was told by a landscape architect that everyone she knows is having success with the Bayer Advanced Rose systemic granule product that can actually take care of the problem. She said that you must start using it about 3 months prior to the arrival of the Japanese beetles which is much earlier than I anticipated. I wasn't getting it into the plant soon enough to protect it. I look forward to letting my passion run wild again with these intoxicating beauties next year!

NH Yankee in King Arthur's Garden.......2002-07-29

WOW!!! The pictures of the roses in this book are unmatched by any other publication. I have for many years been a Hybrid Tea Rose fan, but after reading this book and after visiting several gardens with Austin's roses in them, I have been converted. I just ordered over 20 bushes and I cannot wait for their arrival next spring. I agree with a previous reviewer who commented that the writing is self serving at times, but Austin's passion for his plants can be understood. Austin's comments about group plantings and his recommendations concerning minimiums for plantings of each species, I found invaluable. I believe this book is well worth the price and will win you over to a relatively new breed of rose.

My Favorite Rose Book.......2000-06-16

This book is what started my passion for roses and transformed me into a true gardener. I carried the book around with me for days, amazed that nature could create such beautiful flowers. Within two months I was watering my new English Rose garden comprised of 16 roses from the pages of this beautiful book! If you even think you love roses, you must get this book!

Just a beautiful book.......2000-05-01

This book is a really beautiful book full of glorious photos of Davids Roses. We are given a brief family history on each rose and a rating for the overall assesment and fragrance of them. Full to the brim with color shots, this book would make a terrific gift for anyone who loves roses or as a special treat for yourself.

Good information about English roses.......1999-02-13

This book contains an encyclopedia of English roses with descriptions, photos and a line drawing (depicting the shape of the shrub) for each rose. It is a great book for professionals interested in learning more about the different types of English roses available in the trade. The book begins with the history and details of the various classifications of roses (ie, floribunda, tea, shrub, etc.) that will help you distinguish between and select varieties more wisely.

Average customer rating:

Dated, but of interest to garden historians...

My Garden in Summer (My Garden Series)
E. A. Bowles
Manufacturer: Timber Press, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Essays | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

English Gardens | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

My Garden in Autumn and Winter (My Garden Series)
My Garden in Spring

ASIN: 088192413X

Customer Reviews:

Dated, but of interest to garden historians..........2000-12-08

E. A. Bowles book, MY GARDEN IN SUMMER, is part of a several part series of books he wrote describing his garden at Myddelton England during his tenure in the early part of the 20th Century.

I bought this book because I enjoyed books written by Beverly Nichols, an English writer who moved to the countryside after WWII and rebuilt the garden surrounding an old house. Nichols has the help of an excentric gardener, and all sorts of adventures with his cats and kooky maiden neighbors. I thought Mr. Bowles would prove to be another Brit gardener with a wry sense of humour but he is not -- at least in this book.

I am also a fan of Elizabeth Lawrence, a horticulturist with the N.C. State government who practiced her craft in the latter part of the 20th Century, beginning in the 1940s. Ms Lawrence referred to Mr. Bowles books in her own books. I love Ms. Lawrence writing because she not only provides the scientific particulars of each plant, she shares the gardening experiences relayed to her via her correspondance -- with Mr. Howdyshel in Ohio and gardeners in other parts of the country. Ms. Lawrence also provides the reader with many anectdotal bits about the plants, as well as the history of the plant. Ms. Lawrence is factual, sometimes amusing though not funny, and I find her books entertaining.

If MY GARDEN IN SUMMER is a fair sample of Mr. Bowles writing, his book will appeal to no one but the avid historical garden enthusiast with an in-depth knowledge of plants and curiostity about another gardener's experiences with various plants at different times in the last century. Or, someone who intends to visit Myddleton Garden in England, or has visited it might enjoy the book. Being able to see the real thing often helps, and the gardens are being restored--probably why the book was republished.

Mr. Bowles book contains a dozen or so black and white photos of mixed quality. For some reason, about half of them appear in the section he wrote on sedums and succulents. One photo in particular is very pretty, showing a long terrace with about 30-40 pots of various succulents. I'd like a blow-up of that photograph for it's aesthetic properties. You won't be able to identify many of the succulents in the pots, however.

An appendix in the back of the book provides the reader with the current names of the plants Mr. Bowles discusses. In spite of this update, I found the sections of greatest interest to me a bit deficient. On my next visit to England, I will visit Myddleton Garden, and then I'll reread the book -- or sections of it. That should help me better appreciate it.

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