2 comments about Table Flowers: Innovative Floral Designs for Entertaining.

1. As always, Paula Pryke leads the way with inovative and beautiful floral creations. This book contains fantastic photos and instructions on how to create the same design or how to upgrade it. Whether you are a novice or season floral designer, this book is one you will want to have in your floral library. All of her books are real treasures and great value for the money.



2. This is my first book by Paula Pryke and I will buy others. She gives beautiful photos of each arrangement while giving you instructions on creating the design and the proper name of each flower and filler used. In addition to the names of all the flowers in each arrangement and the simple instructions she guides you as well on the best container for each arrangement. I was able to design a topiary for a bridal shower by following her guide on type of flowers and how to do everything from soaking the oasis, ordering the flowers and the best container. I like how she mixes colors and gives you help on what season the flowers are available. I will use this book for many occasions that call for fresh flowers! This book is filled with great ideas for wedding, outdoor entertaining, birthday centerpieces and Christmas table design - you'll love it if you love fresh flower arranging!

5 comments about Lavender: The Grower's Guide.

1. Virginia tells all about lavender! This is the only book you need to be successful growing lavender.



2. If you are a lavender lover who maintains all the plants in the garden with labels, then this book's for you. In a recent move, the labels of two plants were lost--I needed to re-identify them. This is a technical book right down to it's bracts and sepals. But it also is beautifully photographed so one can identify individual flowers, not just big pictures of a plant's growing habits. The only drawback was falling in love with a particular flower and realizing that it might only be available in her English homeland. But part of the fun of collecting is in the hunt! This book is truly the lavender "bible".



3. This lady knows her stuff. Every attribute you ever wanted to know about lavender is here. Though told from an Australian's exposure to lavender it is the bible for lavender grower's in identification of species and their traits. My only wish is it was more directed at America's varieties and conditions but it can be easily enough transferred over. The pictures are stunning and accurately done



4. In my opinion, Virginia McNaughton's book, Lavender the growers guide is a very good book. However, the title may mislead buyers into thinking it is a "how to" book, which it isn't really. It provides excellent detailed information on classification of lavender, but does not provided a great deal of information on actually growing it. Since there are numerous other sources on the ins and outs of growing of lavender, but few, if any others, that provide this level of detail on classification of lavender, it provides a unique contribution to the field, albeit a bit esoteric for the average gardner.



5. I find the title slightly misleading since it implies it will go into detail of what to expect and run into when growing lavender. The book mainly covers all the different varieties of Lavenders and their subcategories. All in all an informative work with beautiful photography.

3 comments about Green Roof: A Case Study: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates' Design For the Headquarters of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

1. This case study is primarily geared towards the client's requirements and satisfaction, rather than basic green roof benefits. For example, there is more emphasis put on employee/ human use of the roof over the traditional benefits that roof greening putatively confers. Although there are some interesting techniques employed, like the grating over the sedum plantings, it is quite clear that roof greening is still for the elite rather than us common folk. Considering this, the concept of roof greening still has a long way to go before it will become a truly 'sustainable' practice in North America. The ASLA intended this project to showcase their involvement in this arena, but we would all be better served if they would test/employ techniques that were affordable to the masses rather than the wealthy elite.



2. Exceptional text, supplemented with beautiful and informative graphics and diagrams. Very good book for anyone interested in Greenroofs.



3. This book is perfect for readers who already know that green roofs are good for our planet, but are looking for technical information on how to build one. Product and plant guidelines and the construction process are marvelously detailed. It's also generous with photos and diagrams. This particular green roof demonstrates that they can be more than just sedum in planters on a flat roof--green roofs can be a building amenity and enhance the viewshed for nearby buildings as well. The book is very well written. It should be noted that the author is a German landscape architect and Germany leads the world in green roof design. An excellent resource for developers, real estate executives, building owners, and designers.

4 comments about Floral Art Structures.

1. Great book for profesional florists amazing techniques and all the variations that can be done with them.
   Thanks.



2. This book is a reminder that a container does not look like the items you can buy in a store. We can create containers that look like nothing else available, to bring out of ourselves the imaginative designs that the best of our profession create. This book can take your designs to the next level!



3. For art lovers, especially those who appreciate contemporary sculpture, this book is a stunner. As a floral designer, I found it fun and inspiring (and a bit humbling.)
   
   I highly recommend it to flower lovers--you will never look at flowers the same way, and to all who just appreciate great art--ephemeral though it may be. This is a visual concert recorded for your eyes.



4. I was hoping for pictures of the mechanics of the floral arrangements in the book. I could not figure out how water was given to the flowers. Sorry

3 comments about Planting the Natural Garden.

1. After reading the foreward for this book, I was expecting to be able to learn about how Piet Oudolf designs, however there isn't any information regarding his designs in this book other than what plants he likes to use and the environment requirements for those plants. It's an interesting book, just not what I was looking for at the time.



2. I had high expectations of learning more about the thought process that goes into the creation of Oudolf's garden's, useful information on structures and habits of particular plants. However there is none of that. The photos of gardens are beautiful and you can learn from looking - but info on individual plants is pretty minimal, and there is no discussion on the creating aspect of the gardens. I wouldn't recommend it.



3. This book offers a comprehensive list of the plants used and developed by Piet Oudolf. And list them under a few different categories of uses as well as offering their colors, heights, and a couple other traits. If you want to start a business in the likeness of Oudolf I think this listing of plants offers a extensively comprehensive if not brute force method for doing so. Of course if one wants to design gardens of this complexity a few classes on art or design would definitely not hurt as design work takes training of the mind and eye and Piet's gardens are very complex. His approach is also intuitive (in my opinion) and therefore training/practice is more than likely a must.

5 comments about Tropical Slipper Orchids: <i>Paphiopedilum</i> & <i>Phragmipedium</i> Species & Hybrids.

1. This is a book with hobbyists and collectors in mind and less scientific stuff. Great pictures of hybrids. Although, the author should give Phargmipedium more concentration or as much as Paphiopedilum. Still all in all it is a good book. If you like Lady Slipper Orchids, this is a must in your library.



2. I have six other books on paphs (Braem, Cash, Birk, Cribb, Bennett, and Slippers of Borneo) but I couldn't wait for this new book from H Koopowitz. I am thrilled that while other books concentrate heavily on species, HK chose to discuss hybridizing in depth, with lots and lots of yummy pictures. More material on phragmipediums would've been nice, but the earlier-known species were covered in Cash's book quite adequately, and the book was obviously sent to press before we all got a look at the first Phrag kovachii hybrids to flower in 2007. Well, that's what second editions are for...



3. This book has a scientific text. I bought it for the wonderful images of orchids and would have preferred a more layman text, but that is not who this book is written for. So I just enjoy looking at the pictures.



4. This book has gorgeous pictures and lots of information. I highly recommend it for the experienced orchid grower, especially a Slipper grower. It might be a too overwhelming for the beginner unless they are really dedicated and determined to grow Slippers.



5. I have been growing tropical slipper orchids for over 40 years and was aware of much of the material covered in this book but found that I was still learning as I read through it. It's a wonderfully written review that is great for those of us with years of experience as well as those who are just developing an interest in these intriguing orchids. I heartily recommend it to all those with all levels of interest.

No comments about The New Encyclopedia of Daylilies: More Than 1700 Outstanding Selections.

5 comments about Armitage's Native Plants for North American Gardens.

1. I found this book an excellent reference to have for studying native plants. It should be in your personal library.



2. Good presentation of native plants, but could have more photos of some of the more obscure species. The book is slanted more toward the southeast and east U.S. Representation of western species is not as strong as it could be, but overall a very interesting book.



3. I gave this book as a gift and have heard wonderful things about it. This book is very useful for help planning for choosing native plants and for figuring out where to plant natives in a garden.



4. Really great book. I got it from the library and just couldn't get enough of it. ...so I bought it and am glad I did. Great conversational writing makes it a joy to read. Really helps you figure out what plants will work best for you.



5. I received this book very quickly and in excellent condition, exactly as described. I find Armitage's books (this is my third) to be informative, beautifully illustrated, and entertaining to read. The author is witty and opiniated, besides being very well informed. I look forward to ordering more of his publications, especially if Amazon makes them available!

2 comments about Coleus: Rainbow Foliage for Containers and Gardens.

1. A very thorough and logical presentation of "all you ever wanted to know about growing Coleus" without getting too collegiate. Sensational photography. I've always wanted to incorporate more Coleus in my California in-ground landscape and patio-pot settings...now I'm much more confident that I will be successful. This book is a must-have...so informative and such luscious photos...and reasonably priced. Show it off at your next "garden-club" meeting.
   
   Wayne R. Martinson



2. I've been a coleus fanatic for years, and really enjoyed this book. Lots of good information here that I hadnt known, even though I've grown a great many coleus.
   
   I only wish the book could have been twice as long and included a more comprehensive listing and photos of coleus (in all fairness, there are thousands of them and many are very similar). It would also have been nice to have included more photos of coleus combined with other plants-coleus fills out a pot/planting of flowering annuals beautifully if done well. It's not a talent I have but I have many photos of wonderful combinations done by others.
   On the whole, this is a terrific book. Any coleus lover will enjoy it and learn from it.

5 comments about The Knot Book of Wedding Flowers.

1. I found this book useful in that it was simple, straight forward guide to the most common flowers used in weddings. The first half is essentially a glossary of flowers. It provides basic information that made it easy to compare flowers: photo, meaning, colors available, when in season, and price range. The book also provides information on bouquet styles, color schemes, and flower arrangments, but I found the single flower photos most educational.
   
   This book enabled me to have an intelligent conversation with my florist and narrow down which flowers I wanted for my wedding. I even took it along with me to discuss specific flowers with my florist.
   
   I plan to lend it to all my friends for their wedding planning!



2. I bought the book used, but it looked brand new. I was pleased.



3. If you are looking for some floral tips and arrangement ideas, this book will help you with those ideas. However, if you are looking for an instructional book on how to make arrangements yourself, this book doesn't give enough information on this. (Yes, there is a small section in the book about making them yourself--but does not tell you how to make certain ones shown in the book). I would like a more informational--how-to-make boquet book. I might just have to write one myself!



4. I didn't find this book very exciting. I looked through it and there's really nothing in it that I can use. I was looking for ideas for my wedding bouquet and I really got NONE.



5. The first part of the book provides a list of favoured wedding flowers (with photos), and it gives a basic summary on their characteristics, seasonal availability and cost. The second part of the book contains a few DIY tips (not a lot) and a small gallery of centerpiece/bouquet designs, grouped by colors and themes.
   
   The information in this book can be helpful for brides-to-be who are unfamiliar with the names of flowers, or what certain flowers look like. I personally think that the design examples are quite simple and unintimidating (ie. not flashy or over the top), and thus this book will be useful for brides who are looking for inspirations along those lines.
   
   I recommend this book as a preliminary reference and it's a good start before meeting with your florist to discuss wedding flowers.