Amazon.com
Collecting contributions from 100 distinguished horticulturists, the handsome and lavishly illustrated American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants is a truly definitive gardening reference. With its 1,092 tiny-print pages, this may not be the book to tuck into your pocket as you weed and mulch, but what this encyclopedia lacks in portability, it certainly makes up for in scope. Hardy and tender plants, heirloom varieties and the latest hybrids--they're all accounted for here, with growing tips and background information about native habitats and ornamental features. You'll also find a fascinating section about botany, as well as information about basic gardening techniques such as mulching, staking, pruning, propagating, and protecting plants for winter. But the encyclopedia's main attraction is the individual plant entries--more than 15,000 of them, embellished with 6,000 full-color photographs and illustrations. From the visual glossary of leaves to the map of growing regions, The American Horticultural Society A-Z of Garden Plants provides an unsurpassed wealth of botanical information, making it the yardstick by which all other gardening references must be measured.
Book Description
More than 15,000 plants in 6,000 photographs and illustrations.
The AHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants is the most comprehensive, detailed, and lavishly illustrated guide to garden plants ever published. With authoritative coverage of more than 15,000 ornamental plants, accompanied by nearly 6,000 full-color photographs, it is destined to become the essential reference work for all gardeners, from novice to expert. Plants are arranged alphabetically by their botanical names for fast, straightforward access. All names are completely up to date, and previous names (synonyms) appear as cross-references throughout. Any plant can be located quickly, even if the current botanical name is unfamiliar or not known. Detailed plant profiles, prepared by an international team of more than 40 expert contributors, describe growth habit, leaf and flower anatomy, plant height and spread, geographical origin, and hardiness. A concise introduction to each genus provides essential details of botanical family, native habitat, number of species, and the ornamental qualities for which the plants are grown, together with succinct advice on cultivation, propagation, and pests and diseases. Specially commissioned photographs closely integrated with the plant descriptions, capture the beauty of nearly 6,000 plants. The full diversity of growth habits within a genus is shown wherever possible, and special close-up panels illustrate the range of flower colors and shapes. A comprehensive introduction and glossary guide beginners and experienced gardeners alike to a greater knowledge and understanding of the key elements of plant classification, anatomy, and cultivation.
Customer Reviews:
Just what I was looking for.......2007-08-23
I am very pleased with my choice of many horticultural books that are on the market. It has all of the information that I was looking for and more. Yes, it is pretty hard to haul around the garden, but worth it!
American Horticultural Society A to Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants.......2007-08-10
I just purchased 3 more of this book because it is so complete and great that my 3 children keep borrowing mine.
A must for any gardener.......2007-07-15
I had been admiring this book at my local library for quite a while and was surprised to see it offered through Amazon at a great price. This book has wonderful photos of each plant (and species) as well as detailed information, which makes identifying plants so much easier than with any other gardening book out there. If there is one draw back, it would have to be the weight. With over 1100 pages, it is not a book to carry around the garden.
Great housewarming gift!.......2007-03-24
This book works best if paired with The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Each book stands on it's own but the two together give total information and abundant photos. I bought one set for new homeowners about to plan their first yard and bought another set for myself. Even after gardening for many years, these books provide answers to questions that come up every gardening season.
The books are substantial in weight as well as information.
American Horticultural Society A to Z Encyclopedia.......2007-01-12
This is an excellent source of information about plants and the photographs are wonderful.
Amazon.com
This gardening classic was first published in 1975, and now a second generation of gardeners who prefer pest-resistant planning to chemicals will find a place for it on the shelves. Not only does it tell what to plant with what, but also how to use herbal sprays to control insects, what wild plants to encourage in the garden, how to grow fruit and nut trees, how to start small plots or window-box gardens, and much more. It's one of the most practical books around for any gardener of edibles, no matter how serious or casual.
Book Description
This classic has now taught generations of gardeners how to use the natural benefits of plants to protect and support each other. Here is a reader's complete reference to which plants nourish the soil, which keep away bugs and pests, and which plants just don't get along. Here is a complete guide to using companion planting to grow a better garden. 555,000 copies in print.
Customer Reviews:
A Must Have for the Gardner's Library.......2007-07-19
Great book. Very informative. I highly recommend anyone who likes to garden, or even those who just want to landscape their yards.
Katy loves "Carrots love Tomatoes ".......2007-06-14
Really A good Guide... I work hard in my garden.. so I want the best results
this book helps me to do this!
Notthing special.......2007-06-09
I was disappointed that this book offered no scientific evidence for companion planting, and offered little more information than you could easily find for free on the internet. I read this book, took a few notes and then sold it immediately. Not one for the shelf.
useful reference book.......2007-05-23
I was hoping for a book that would be an interesting read. This one is more like reference book. It is comprehensive, but kind of like reading a dictionary. I would recommend it because it has useful knowledge, but if you want a gardening book that you can read and relax with, this one probably won't do it.
... and veggie gardeners just love companion planting!.......2007-05-23
True, there are many edible plants and herbs that Louise Riotte does not mention in her wonderful 'Carrots love tomatoes', and true again, her hot and humid part of the world is not the same as the cool, flat countryside
of Holland's extreme North (where I live). So, she doesn't write about witlof (white chicory roots) or our wonderful brands of kale, but what she DOES write about it absolutely amazing. In my view companion planting is one of the basic principles - and such a sympathetic one! - to create a healthy garden. And what better haven, to enjoy everyday, by yourself and with others? Good on you, Louise!
Alma
[...].
Book Description
Over 400 entries of the most practical, up-to-date gardening information ever, collected from garden experts and writers nationwide!"Gardens are places to renew yourself in mind and body, to reawaken to the truth and beauty of the natural world, and to feel the life force inside and around you. And the organic way to garden is safer, cheaper, and more satisfying. Organic gardeners have shown that it's possible to have pleasant and productive gardens in every part of this country without using toxic chemicals. They make their home grounds an island of purity."--Robert Rodale
Customer Reviews:
Very imformative.......2007-09-07
This book was recommended by a friend and it is exceptionally informative and well written. I would recommend it to anyone seeking more info on organic gardening. It has ideas that are cheap to do that work wonderfully!
Organic is not a synonym for boring.......2007-07-23
This book is so bland and boring it is nearly generic. If you are at all excited by the prospect of things organic, don't buy this book. Look for something with juices flowing in the veins or you will find yourself semi-comatose and bored with organic before you begin.
This book could have been more than just a [quite generalized] reference book. It could have been an inspiration. Fortunately it's recyclable.
It's okay, but it's not the original!.......2007-05-15
I was in a used book store recently and compared the old and new versions side-by-side. I bought the old one. The old version has so much great detailed information that the new one lacks.
Don't get me wrong, the new version is "prettier". It's still got some great stuff in it you might not find in some other sources. But, it is more of a treatise or "Cliff's Notes" version--it isn't exhaustive.
Still a great reference for those new to gardening. However, it should have been called "Rodale's All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: LITE".
Encyclopedia... That's Just What It Is!.......2007-02-07
Rodale always does an excellent job of researching what we gardeners want to know about. And the ALL-NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA of ORGANIC GARDENING is no exception. I refer to it frequently and usually find the information I'm looking for.
A Great Beginner's Reference (with a small "bug" of an error).......2007-01-18
I have repeatedly returned to my copy of this book, usually when I am about to embark on a garden chore and want a refresher course in the hows and whys. The alphabetical topics include "Animal Pests", "Asparagus", "Beneficial Insects", "Cold Frames", "Edible Landscaping", Garlic, "Irrigation", "Pelargoniums", "Trees" and hundreds more, all simple to locate as though you were reading a phone book. Each entry contains an encyclopedia-style summary with an organic method slant. Beginners and intermediate gardeners will find the info provided invaluable, but if you want an in-depth explanation, seek a more expert book.
Other features include a recommended reading list, an index of common plant names paired with their botanical names, and simple line drawings illustrating many of the book's topics.
That said, I was sad to see a mistake in the "tomato" entry as I was reading it just now... the book recommends planting dill near your tomatoes to attract tomato hornworms. Unfortunately, these are not the same species and killing caterpillars found on dill will simply reduce the number of swallowtail butterflies in your garden (tomato hornworms are a type of sphinx/hawk moth.) I advocate planting the dill anyway and leaving the caterpillars alone! The rest of the 5 pages devoted to tomatoes includes an overview on choosing plants or seeds, bed preparation and planting, tomato pruning tips, recommended fertilizers, how to make long-lasting tomato cages, a disease summary, harvesting information, recommended cultivars for organic growers, and tomatoes raised in small spaces.
A nice reference for the gardener who is in a hurry to get outside and plant!
Customer Reviews:
Best garden book.......2007-01-05
If you want to know anything about plants, this is the book to buy. Have looked thru a bunch of other books, and none of them even come close to the variety of plants covered and depth of info. If want to buy only one book, this is the one.
The Most Complete Reference.......2000-08-21
This is the most complete reference I have in my collection of garden books. I have yet to find a plant variety that is not in this book. Truly a "must have" for any gardener.
Excellent resource!.......2000-07-17
One of the first books I reach for when I feel I need to look something up. Good for beginners and hardy gardening veterans.
Contains a plant encyclopedia with botanical names. Detailed Climate zone maps and climate descriptions. Does not use USDA zones but a more thorough and detailed zoning system. All zones are described in detail. Zoning includes southern regions of Canada (very useful) but not all of it. (If you live in the northern portion of the provinces you will be disappointed it's not truly for Canada like it claims.) The only thing I wish for are Latitude and Longitude lines on the zone maps.
Also contains: Plant selection guide, Pest and disease reference, Botanical name guide and a gardening dictionary all of which are well explained for beginners.
One of the best of the many general gardening books available that I've picked up. Very handy if you move around quite a bit.
Know how for the garden ignoramus.......1999-12-03
Essential for anyone who starts out, as well as for the one who knows a bit about flora and fauna and how to bring colour, fragrance and life to his/her home and garden. Thoroughly recommended by one who did not know a toss about gardens but can now actually dabble with an Adenium Obesum in the home!
Know how for the garden ignoramus.......1999-12-03
Essential for anyone who starts out, as well as for the one who knows a bit about flora and fauna and how to bring colour, fragrance and life to his/her home and garden. Thoroughly recommended by one who did not know a toss about gardens but can now actually dabble with an Adenium Obesum in the home!
Average customer rating:
- Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms
- An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms
- For the Palm Enthusiast and collector
- As much as you care to know about palms
- Beautiful reference
|
An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms
Robert Lee Riffle , and
Paul Craft
Manufacturer: Timber Press, Incorporated
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Similar Items:
-
Ornamental Palm Horticulture
-
Palm Trees: A Story in Photographs
-
Landscaping With Tropical Plants (Sunset Series)
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Plants for Tropical Landscapes: A Gardener's Guide
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Palms Won't Grow Here and Other Myths: Warm-Climate Plants for Cooler Areas
ASIN: 0881925586 |
Book Description
Cowritten by the author of the award-winning The Tropical Look, An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms offers a definitive account of palms that may be grown in the garden and landscape. Because palms are often underutilized as a result of their unfamiliarity — even to tropical gardeners — Robert Lee Riffle and Paul Craft have exhaustively documented every genus in the palm family. Approximately 890 species are described in detail, including cold hardiness, water needs, height, and any special requirements. Generously illustrated with more than 900 photos, this volume is as valuable as an identification guide as it is a practical handbook. It even contains photos of several palm species that have never before appeared in a general encyclopedia. Interesting snippets of history, ethnobotany, and biology inform the text and make this a lively catalog of these remarkable plants.
Customer Reviews:
Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms.......2007-04-04
This is was excellent and easy to read and follow. I really enjoyed this book.
An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms.......2007-03-17
Very good colour plates, many showing the inflorescences and fruits useful in the identification of the palms. Clean, concise descriptions of genera.
For the Palm Enthusiast and collector.......2007-02-08
Of all the publications that I have acquired for understanding growing conditions and idenfication of palms, An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms is the motivation that I use to proceed searching out and adding to my collection. I have purchased through Amazon two additional copies as gifts. My only complaint is that the book is not available in Spanish as our quest continues here in Costa Rica. Puravida Kevin
As much as you care to know about palms.......2006-11-10
If you have trouble making up your mind, this otherwise excellent guide will frustrate you. There are 2,500 species of palms in the world, and Floridians Robert Riffle and Paul Craft almost never met one they didn't like -- a lot.
Like mothers who love all their children but have a favorite, Riffle and Craft do praise some palms more than others. This is what they have to say about Cyrtostachys renda from Southeast Asia:
"The slender diaphanous trunks are heartbreakingly beautiful and so thin and lissome as to often bend as if they were long stalks of big blossoms in a bouquet. . . . The younger stems add incredibly beautiful tiers of leaves from top to bottom; however it is the magnetic attraction of the long, red crownshafts that makes this species irresistible."
Not every entry in "An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms" involves quite so much heavy breathing. Of the Samoan palm Clinostigma samoense, they say merely, "There is no more beautiful palm species."
But they say that about lots of species.
Ceroxylon quindiuense of the Columbian Andes, for example, is the tallest palm in the world, and Craft and Riffle label it "beyond spectacular."
In truth, they make the reader believe that palms are underappreciated.
For a plant family that is the essence of the tropics, it is surprising how few species like real heat. Like humans, almost all palms like to be warm but not hot.
Only a few can stand even a short while at below freezing temperatures, but equally few are able to stand the scorching desert the way the date palm can.
Hawaii would have been a paradise for palms, but only one or perhaps two ever made it here on their own.
It is still undetermined whether the coconut floated here by itself or came with the Polynesians. The only native palms are the Pritchardias, all evolved from (probably) one migrant that made its way up from somewhere in the South Pacific.
Once here, Pritchardias radiated into more than two dozen species, but many of these are either extinct or heading that way. They are commonly called fan palms, or loulu in Hawaiian, and a few species are regularly encountered in landscaping.
Many, many of the species in this encyclopedia are either extinct in the wild or probably going. The center of palm extinction is Madagascar, where a rapidly expanding, desperately poor population is eating its way through its forests and the 200 species of native palms.
Elsewhere, the expansion of agriculture, coastal development and an extravagant taste for eating the growing tips of large trees are threatening many species of palms.
There is -- or was -- a palm for just about every situation between the tropics of Capricorn and Cancer, from salty marsh to high desert, though rainforest is the favorite setting.
Mature palms range down from Ceroxylon's 200 feet to just a few inches. The longest, some of the rattan palms, grow over 300 feet, but they have to climb over other trees.
Palms are amazingly spindly. Even the most robust come nowhere near the girth of deciduous trees like, say, monkeypod, and some species in New Guinea are more than 500 times taller than they are thick. How these hold themselves up is a wonder.
Beautiful reference.......2006-04-15
The photographic plates are indeed very beautiful but having the descriptions in another section of the book does make for an inconvenient flipping from the front of the book that has the photographs to the back of the book with the textual information.
It has an informative section named "Seed Germination Notes for Selected Genera." I would have liked to see more growing notes...like suggested soil mixtures for best germination results.
Book Description
500 color photos and more than 100 illustrations.
All techniques for designing and shaping a landscape plan and common outdoor structures.
Includes plant identification photos and charts.
Customer Reviews:
A construction book.......2006-07-27
Great book if you want to know how to build structures like gazebos, walls, fences,pools, ramps,decks,irrigation systems,etc. It shows you the step by step with photos and drawings.
This book is not the right choice if you are looking for plants arrangement.
Great book.......2001-11-14
I am new to landscaping and bought this book because I have a lot of questions. This book gave me a lot of great ideas. If you are new to landscaping you will find it very usefull. Don't hesitate to buy if you are a newbie to landscaping.
A excellent buy; very good structure and content........1999-08-01
This book walks you through the processes of landscaping, from planning to installation, in a very readable, understandable and enjoyable manner. As a landscape designer, I'm always searching for references of any type to use when creating "yard spaces" and presenting those ideas to my customers. With books, I'm usually disappointed either with the graphic and/or written content regarding the details of landscaping, particularly those publications sold at the Home Depots et al. This was different. Technical to the point that's necessary and not too "flowery" in it's narrative, it just provides well written ideas and executions for many landscaping tasks.
The illustrations & photography in many books I've seen work OK but give the books an "old" feel, because, in many cases, they are old in date and style. With few exceptions, the artwork and landscape "styling" in this book appear current and appropriate. That made it a more believable book too.
All said and done, this book is an excellent value for those seeking general-to-semi-technical information for a wide variety of landscaping tasks. With its emphasis on extensive and educated planning, this book is an asset to the homeowner and the landscape professional alike. In my opinion, one of the book's greatest achievements may be that homeowners, after reading it, can decide better whether to tackle a project themselves or work with professionals.
Book Description
Hortus Third The one essential authoritative reference work to the plants of North American horticulture
- 1,312 pages
- 23,979 entries with description for families, genera, and species
- 10,326 cross-indexed synonyms
- A large but uncounted number of entries for subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars
- Notes on use, culture, and propagation
- 187 general articles
- 260 illustrations
- 3,293 authors of botanical names cited
- 1,105 glossary definitions of botanical terms
- 10,408 common names
More than two decades were spent in writing and producing Hortus Third. It is the outgrowth of a program of research in the systematics of cultivated plants, initiated in the late nineteenth century by Liberty Hyde Bailey and continuing today within the framework of his philosophy that knowledge in basic science should be made available to society as a whole. Hortus Third is for advanced horticulturists and others interested in cultivated plants, including horticultural and garden writers, gardeners, nurserymen, landscape architects, botanists, and professional scientists in universities, botanical gardens, extension services, and government.
Customer Reviews:
One of the most important reference books I own........2001-11-27
Hortus Third isn't perfect. I wish it had more drawings and I wish it included more non-cultivated plants.
That said, Hortus Third is probably the most important garden/botany reference book I own. I am a professional garden writer & speaker (author of Allergy-Free Gardening) and Hortus is one book I turn to almost daily. I now and then do find some things in it that I don't completely agree with, but by and large it is very accurate.
Hortus is an expensive book, and not really one for the casual gardener, but for those whose interest is deep, it is worth the money--and then some.
My own copy of Hortus Third is pretty well dog-eared by now from so much use. I have given it only 4 stars as a rating, and that is because I, like many, wish it included more natives, but still, there is no other book quite like it and it is a very useful, important reference that I simply could not do without.
The BEST plant book available!.......2000-03-28
If you're *seriously* interested in plants (i.e., a plant "nerd")and love learning about the technicalities of plant families, similarities, differences, etc., then this book is for you. It's not for wimps! It's fascinating to study, and a great read if plants are your world.
Book Description
First published in 1971 and revised in 1977, Wyman's Gardening Encyclopedia has sold more than 100,000 copies and become a veritable bible for the gardeners of the United States and Canada. Now the dean of American horticulture has revised this classic once again. In addition to offering the best general advice on gardening practice, this updated and expanded edition includes:
* Up-to-the-minute information on safe use of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides, along with a list of products that have been banned as unsafe since the publication of the last edition.
* New lists of quarantined plants, with the countries from which their importation is prohibited.
* Updated requirements for importing plants with minimum trouble.
* The newest and most popular varieties and hybrids now available, for hundreds of plants, along with their characteristics and requirements.
Whether you're an expert or an amateur, you'll find everything you need to know about planning, planting, and maintaining any kind of garden. Covering trees, shrubs, fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, and lawns, Wyman's Gardening Encyclopedia features:
* 9,500 different plants listed alphabetically by scientific name, cross-referenced for common names.
* The rating of all species for hardiness, keyed to the six-color Hardiness Zone map of the United States and Canada.
* Boldface listing of scientific name, height, hardiness rating, and common name for easy reference.
* Description of the ornamental value for each plant, so you'll know what it will contribute to your garden before you plant.
* 53 lists of plants and display gardens for quick, expert help in choosing plants for specific purposes and locations.
* 59 major articles on horticultural practices, from air-layering to greenhouse management, from mulches to tree surgery.
With nearly 1,300 pages, 10,000 articles, 206 drawings, and more than 100 photographs, Wyman's Gardening Encyclopedia is the most complete, authoritative one-volume gardening sourcebook on the market today.
Customer Reviews:
The best -- bar none -- reference book for gardeners.......2006-04-24
What it lacks in glitz (American Hort Society books for example), it more than makes up for in information and organization. Covers everything. If you want to look up information on growing a plant, general information about one, diseases it gets and their treatments: this is the place. Further there is copius information on general gardening, recommendations for different conditions, and on and on, all written in a wry style that I enjoy.
If you want beautiful books with lots pictures of pictures try the AHS series, if you want to look stuff up about the pictures, you can not do better than Wyman's.
Just about the best.......2001-08-28
I would like to be able to rate this book at 4.9 stars, because, in my opinion and by way of usage and reference, only one other usually supercedes it (the comprehensively illustrated "AHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants"). Yet the Wyman's remains a valuable reference that I consult as a second (and often first) source of botannical and gardening information. The other readers' reviews here should give ample incentive to buy this book. Their words-"well researched" [the book is thorough in its descriptions and definitions], "full and opinionated" [the writing is colorful and makes for interesting reading] and "comprehensive" [the book is well edited and informative]-are testimony to the book's usefulness. One does not just gain enjoyment from reading this tome; one reaps knowledge from consulting it.
Just about the best.......2001-08-28
I would like to be able to rate this book at 4.9 stars, because, in my opinion and by way of usage and reference, only one other usually supercedes it (the comprehensively illustrated "AHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants"). Yet the Wyman's remains a valuable reference that I consult as a second (and often first) source of botannical and gardening information.
The other readers' reviews here should give ample incentive to buy this book. Their words-"well researched" [the book is thorough in its descriptions and definitions], "full and opinionated" [the writing is colorful and makes for interesting reading] and "comprehensive" [Wyman even gives the correct Latin pronunciation of each listed genus (I wish the AHS book did)]-affirm the book's usefulness.
Indispensable........1999-08-25
I have many gardening books and catalogs in my library, however, Wyman's is the one I refer to time and again because of its comprehensive discussion of each plant. If I could only have one reference, this would be it.
Five stars from Zone 5.......1999-03-05
Offering more information than you'll find anywhere else, this encyclpedia does NOT read like a pretty plant catalogue filled with the usual tired (and brief) descriptions. This book is a labor of love: full and opinionated, proof that a picture is not worth a thousand, well-researched words.
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!
Books:
- American Horticultural Society Plant Propagation: The Fully Illustrated Plant-by-Plant Manual of Practical Techniques
- American Indian Healing Arts: Herbs, Rituals, and Remedies for Every Season of Life (Healing Arts)
- Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life
- Between Heaven and Earth
- Breaking the Limit: One Woman's Motorcycle Journey Through North America
- Brother Cadfael's Herb Garden: An Illustrated Companion to Medieval Plants and Their Uses
- Building a Deck (Build Like A Pro)
- Burpee : The Complete Vegetable & Herb Gardener : A Guide to Growing Your Garden Organically
- Burpee : The Complete Vegetable & Herb Gardener : A Guide to Growing Your Garden Organically
- Cass Turnbull's Guide to Pruning: What, When, and Where and How to Prune for a More Beautiful Garden
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Riding The Waves of Culture: Understanding Diversity in Global Business
- Concrete Countertops: Design, Form, and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath
- The Kill Bill Diary: The Making of a Tarantino Classic as Seen Through the Eyes of a Screen Legend
- To the Golden Cities: Pursuing the American Jewish Dream in Miami and L.A.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, Third Edition
- Drown
- Bacteria for Breakfast: Probiotics for Good Health
- The Complete Guide to Electronic Trading Futures: Everything You Need to Start Trading On Line
- The Poetics of Primitive Accumulation: English Renaissance Culture and the Genealogy of Capital
- Memoirs of a Coxcomb
The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers (American Horticultural Society Practical Guides)
American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Gardening
American Horticultural Society Pests and Diseases: The Complete Guide to Preventing, Identifying and Treating Plant Problems
American Horticultural Society Plant Propagation: The Fully Illustrated Plant-by-Plant Manual of Practical Techniques
American Horticultural Society Pruning & Training (American Horticultural Society Practical Guides)
