4 comments about Zen Flowers: Designs to Soothe the Senses and Nourish the Soul.

1. This book is an absolute work of art. I highly reccommend it to anyone who can appreciate magnificent flowers in all of their natural glory. I applaud the two authors & plan on giving this book as a giftt to all of my friends for Xmas!



2. Incredible photographs of elegant simplicity. Anulka and Brenda have imparted grace and ease in an un-easy world. My guests have all looked through the book with oooh's and ahhhhh's.
   I have already been inspired to evolve my own flower arrangements.
   I LOVE this book!



3. I was enchanted to have received such a lovely, beautiful book as a gift.
   I loved it so much that I, in turn, sent it to many friends and relatives who also really enjoyed the serenity of the photographs and the inspirational prose by the two authors.
   It's a great gift to buy... and to enjoy !!!!!!



4. This book is absolutely beautiful. The quality of the book is truly impressive with it's gorgeous, unique photographs and insightful writing. The book goes into detail about the how and why of Zen design. The attention placed in the layout of the book is rare, and perfectly unites the text with the photography.
   
   Truly refreshing to see a book that leads us into the mysteries that lie within the universe of flower arrangement.
   
   Allan McCormick

1 comments about The Potpourri Gardener.

1. This is a pretty unusual resource and a very exciting guide to growing your own potpourri garden.
   
   The book highlights which herbs, bulbs, annuals, perennials, shrubs and - of course - roses, to grow for your potpourri making enjoyment. There are also chapters detailing how to plant, grow, harvest, dry, store and prepare those plants for potpourri use.
   
   Specific kinds of potpourri recipes are provided, along with everything you need for stocking your workshop. Recipes are divided by seasonal mood - Spring mixes are different than Winter mixes. Pictures show how to decorate with the different potpourris as well.
   
   If you've ever wanted to set aside some of your garden as a potpourri harvesting smörgåsbord, then this is the right book for getting started.

No comments about Paradise Found Mini Address Book.

1 comments about Tulips: For North American Gardens.

1. 'Tulips for American Gardens' by bulb retailers, Brent and Becky Heath is an excellent book on at least three counts, if you can get it for less than $10 and not at its list price of $24.95. The most important feature is the fact that it is all about tulips. There are no general facts which include daffodils, narcissus, corms, rhizomes, tubers, or other subterranean perennials. My practical experience says that tulips and daffodils require substantially different treatment, and this book tells all about tulips. The second special feature is the fact that the catalogue of tulip species and cultivars actually fits what I see in my favorite bulb dealer's catalogue. So many times, one sees no connection between cultivar names in texts and your favorite distributor. But, since virtually all tulips originate in Holland, everyone is pretty much working off the same page. The third virtue is that the book is dedicated to our own 'neighborhood', the planting zones of the United States.
   
   While the book as printed is a bit pricy, it is a great source at discounted prices and there is nothing I needed to know which was not in here, most especially information on which cultivars naturalize well and which do not.

No comments about Gardening 'Round Atlanta: the best plants for Atlanta . . . and more.

2 comments about Christopher Lloyd's Garden Flowers: Perennials, Bulbs, Grasses, Ferns.

1. Lloyd's normal rambling, storytelling style doesn't suffer at all from being organized into this alphabetical presentation of his favorite plants. In fact, I like him this way. Some plants get a quick brush off. Some get rich detail. Even the ones I'll never grow are fun and interesting to read about.

   He includes names of favored varieties. Unlike with many "Euro-gardening" books, I have been pleased to find those varieties available by mail and even locally (from a good nursery specializing in perennials). There are exceptions. I liked the Dr. Seuss look of Helianthus Salicifolius in one of Lloyd's photos. Most sites I found by searching for it on web were in foreign languages. There's hope, however, as it's apparently known as "willow-leaved sunflower and rock sunflower" in Kansas. If it doesn't get to Ohio from Europe, maybe it will get here from Kansas.

   I can't give five stars to a book that commits my pet peeve: photos, although lovely and colorful, are printed in sections. They are cleary labeled and referenced to the text and text descriptions have photo number references in the margin, where they are easy to find. It works, but I have four other books by Timberland Press, each intermixing great content with great photos. Go figure.




2. Following a short but informative introduction the main body of the book is arranged alphabetically by plant genus, wherein there is a general description followed by an assessment of each species or variety of that genus. The book concludes with a glossary and an index to plants and photographs. The book is beautifully illustrated with in excess of eighty full and half page colour photographs depicting plants singly and in stunning combination - but however fine the photographs are the stands on its writing.
   
   Unlike any other gardening "encyclopaedia" Christopher Lloyd's Garden Flowers is a personal account. Yes it is full of information about the plants, size, colour and so forth, but it is honest and forthright in its descriptions. It is typical of his work; in discussing plants he takes no prisoners, and he is not afraid to express his opinions; one might not always agree with him, but such was the stature of the man that I am sure he would not expect one to.
   
   This is a book full of delightful phrases and expressions, brimming with powerful observation and wit. Christopher Lloyd is always a delight to read such that I am sure even a non-gardener would fine his writings pleasurable. It is his combination of informed authority, open mindedness, fearlessness, adventurousness, his passion for plants and gardening and his wit which make his writings such a joy. Christopher Lloyd was one of our greatest plantsmen and garden writers, and this is perhaps the book we've always wanted from him, how fortunate we are now to be able to enjoy it.

1 comments about Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South.

1. This is a small colorful book which describes flowering plants that grow fairly easily in the South, and everything it says is true. I never needed such a book when living in South Florida. Plants there either grew wildly or died immediately. When I moved to Mississippi, I had no idea what would grow well. Every plant described in this book that I have planted not only grows, but does very well. I don't always follow all of the advice, and they still grow showing the "tough-as-nails" title is exactly true. I recommend this book to anyone planting in southern climates.

1 comments about New Holland Professional: Floristry: The Complete Guide to Professional Results (New Holland Professional).

1. This book is a must have for anyone learning the mechanics and tricks of the trade. Great!

1 comments about Vireyas: A Practical Gardening Guide.

1. This small book is a jewel. It is so beautifully produced, the colour photographs are simply stunning. The text is easily readable and highly informative, and the newcomer to the Vireya world will find all the basics. The breathtaking colour cover just shows you what is waiting for you!...

4 comments about Edible Flowers: From Garden to Palate.

1. This is the best book of edible flower recipes I have found. It is packed with delicious recipes using over 60 different flowers. Conveniently, about half are accompanied by small color photos of the dish.

   The book starts out with essential information on cooking with flowers including preserving & drying them. General recipes such as flower butter, honey, sugar, syrup & jelly for each flower follow.

   There are also facts on each flower including the scientific name, a brief history, physical characteristics, description of flavor & ideal growing conditions. Great basic information on organic gardening in included as well.

   Most of the recipes I've tried, including soups, salads, desserts, drinks & main dishes have been easy to make. My favorite is the herb & flower cheese terrine. It makes a tasty & impressive party appetizer.




2. "Edible Flowers from Garden to Palate" is a feel good book written for people who are already experts on the subject. How else can you explain that less than 1/3 of one page of this 250 page book is dedicated to "What part of the Flower to Eat" and much of that paltry 16 lines of text is either confusing or inconsistent with other key portions of the book? Although there are specific warnings about flower parts including stamens, styles, pistils and sepals -- there are not any pictures or diagrams illustrating what they look like on the various flower types or how best to remove them. Infact, they are not even listed in the index! Even within these three short paragraphs Ms. Barash apparently contradicts herself. At the bottom of paragraph 1 she states "Remove the sepals of all flowers except violas, Johnny Jump-ups and pansies." Then at the bottom of paragraph 2 she states, "Others, including Johnny jump-ups, violets, runner bean, honeysuckle and clover can be eaten in their entirety." Does "eaten in their entirety" include the sepal or the stamens, the styles and the pistils? For that matter, why is the term pistil used in The Ten Rules of Edible Flowers and not refered to in the section on what parts of the flower are edible? Furthermore, Ms. Barash appears to consistently violate her own "rules". For example, prior to the Introduction she lists The Ten Rules of Edible Flowers which includes number 7, "Remove pistils and stamens from flowers before eating. Eat only the petals." Then on page 231 she states, "If they are on the plate, they should be edible." Both seem like good consistent advise until you read the sections on the individual plants. Page 17 shows a whole Calendula on a plate. Is all of it edible? Page 28 shows a whole Daylily on a plate. Is all of it edible? Page 43 shows a whole nasturtian on a plate. Page 59 shows a whole stem of sage including leaves and flowers on a plate. Page 75 shows a whole stem of anise hyssop including leaves and flowers on a pizza. This raises the question, which flowers do you really have to follow the rules and only eat the petals? A rule is not a rule if almost everything is an exception. This seeming lack of consistency is continued throughout the book. On page 173 both the recipe and the photo call for a whole pineapple guava flower. Is all of the flower edible? Even the dreaded stamens, styles, pistils, and sepals? Which rule if any is being violated by these examples, rule 7 or the prohibiltion on page 231?
   Unfortunately, readers who don't already know the answers to these questions will have to find the answers from another source. From my perspective, this book is yet another example of a very disturbing trend in books and magazines related to organic gardeing. It seems at an ever increasing rate that "essential facts" are being replaced by glossy paper and beautiful photos. Why authors and publishers seem to think the two are mutually exclusive is beyond me.



3. What can one say about an author who thinks that Sappho was a man?



4. Well worth having as a reference book. There are numerous tasteful ways to prepare the flowers As well as ways to grow them. The Pictures are very good for descriptions of Plants and What the prepared foods will look like (providing you have the right skills) In the back is a list of some of the plants to look out for that are not to be eaten and she has her list of "rules" when looking into eating the flowers. 250 pages of great Information!