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.

3 comments about A Glass Act.

1. This is the most beautiful of all of my floral arrangement books. Just awesome photos. Great ideas that are easy to execute.



2. Ron Morgan is an amazing artist with flowers! I have seen him, in person, in a workshop and his talent and personality is reflected beautifully in this book. As extraordinary as these pictures are, you can see how easy it is to duplicate his work. This book is a true inspiration to anyone who would like to create extraordinary arrangements.



3. I really enjoyed this book on flowers arrangement. I'm thinking about purchasing another one by Ron Morgan.

5 comments about Western Garden Book.

1. This book has been a mainstay of gardening information for many years. There have been positive changes/updates through the years and it is a great reference.



2. My latest obsessive interest is gardening, specifically vegetable & fruit gardening. So I've been in info-gathering mode: going to the library to scope out books, obsessively cross-referencing blurbs about the same plant across 5-10 books at a time, being some of the things I've done. So I'm drowning in a sea of gardening books as I write this.
   
   This is a book that I would not buy for substantive gardening because it does not measure up to what else is available. Many of the blurbs are less substantive than a seed envelope. I looked at it because of Amazon's high ratings, but here's why I think this book is an unwise investment for that purpose:
   
   1) It's hard to read. For most of the plants listed, the header is accompanied by a single tiny (~1inch size) representative pastel-colored illustration followed by 1-10 short paragraphs of generic text. I'm only in my 20s and I feel like I have to crack out reading glasses.
   
   2) The meat of the book is like a dictionary, alphabetically listed by scientific name or common name. To find something, you have to thumb through pages of tiny print with nothing to grab your attention. It's boring, having neither anecdotes (if you like those) nor the utility of bullets. Too bad Sunset magazine didn't include some of their big, eye-popping, full-page colorful photo spreads.
   
   3) And like a dictionary, the blurbs are short and generic. For all the bountiful garden greens available in California & along the west coast, there is a 7 paragraph generic description of "lettuce". The strains are mentioned not to describe their look or taste, but to just list their names so they've been covered. Some of the fruits and trees are accompanined by tables, so their descriptions are better.
   
   4) This book tries to have the scope of American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Gardening while being the local expert, but falls very very short because it is not detailed enough and also passes the buck. True, there's a huge list of plants, but it's more like a cheap catalog with generic, cursory tips and zero visual stimulation. The worst is the passing of the responsibility. For example: (a small blurb on tomato problems) "If certain diseases or nematodes cause trouble locally, you may be able to grow varieties that resist one or more problems. Keys to resistance you may see on plant labels or in catalog descriptions..." Thanks. My all-in-one West Coast compendium tells me to look for local info in other resources.
   
   5) With such generic, short descriptions, you'd think there'd be plenty of space on the page. But the margins are about 1/2 inch, so if you plan on jotting down notes, crack out your reading glasses.
   
   6) There's almost zero visualization because not only are there so few pictures, a lot of times the strains are not even described, merely mentioned by name only. There is a short chapter in the beginning with 1-2inch color photos, but it is organized by scientific name. It wasn't useful because I didn't know the scientific names of strains I was trying to learn about. The seed catalogs that I've gotten from online companies do a much better job.
   
   7) Because I was impressed by how bad I thought this book was (given it's high ratings), I checked the library for older editions to see how it had "improved" over time. Unfortunately, they only had the 7th ed and it was same as the 8th, minus different cover art.
   
   
   For better, encyclopedia-like gardening books that have gorgeous color photos and insightful, detailed writing, try:
   American Horticultural Society A to Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants and The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers (American Horticultural Society Practical Guides) and American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Gardening
   -- has it all including photos and sequential drawings when plants need specific instructions. Fat, heavy books (You may pull a muscle, but together, these are the books that comprise a full reference.)
   
   New Illustrated Guide to Gardening
   -- succeeds where Western Garden fails; big coffee-table photos with substantive, practical writing; not as heavy cause it doesn't list everything like the book above, but it comes close
   
   The Random House Book of Vegetables (Random House Garden)
   -- I put this one in because in an ideal world, I want to see pictures of the varieties alongside good text in an all-inclusive gardening compendium. If anyone knows of any current book like this, please let me know! Thanks!



3. As Master Gardeners my wife and I are often asked questions, and while we have a lot of gardening books, this is the book that most often answers our questions.



4. A good reference book to replace my 40th Anniversary edition (1998) hoping to get more information on draught tolerant landscape (not much more than the 40th edition). What's missing though is the Index with scientific and common names. My 1998 edition had a 12 page index the new one has 3 pages. All in all, I like the old one better.



5. The Western Garden Book Western Garden Book (Sunset Western Garden Book)is THE standard reference work for gardening from California to the Pacific Northwest, the desert Southwest up to western Montana. Includes descriptions and scientific names for plants that will grow in various climate zones. Plant descriptions include growing conditions, when to prune, and dealing responsibly with diseases and insect pests. It has been produced for over 40 years with many editions. Used editions are still good. Get a new one every ten years or so if you are a serious gardener. Makes great holiday/birthday gift for the new homeowner in the West.

5 comments about The Handbook on Plumeria Culture.

1. Just about the only coprehensive book on this genus of tropical trees. As a frangipani/plumeria collector and grower it has been indispensable. It started me off (great for beginners ) and is still muy bible. It would be wonderful if a publisher would have the Eggenbergers write a coffee table styled book on their subject.



2. This book is THE handbook for anyone interested in growing plumerias. It gives all the info you'll need to be a "plumeria farmer." Whether you have one tree or 200, you'll find all necessary info about the following topics (and many more): classification and naming of cultivars, historical data, plant types and descriptions, propagation of seeds, cuttings, grafting, soil mixes, planting and transplanting, sun requirements, watering, fertilizing, mulching, pruning, hybridizing, pests and diseases, problems and solutions, dormancy, cold tolerance, winter storage, growing plumerias indoors, landscaping, ETC. You can grow plumerias in any climate if you know how. This book makes it easy. It includes MANY color photographs, and the entire book is on glossy paper. The Eggenbergers are experts in plumeria culture, and their knowledge is poured into this book. Despite the plug for their Indian religion in the introduction, it is a VERY valuable book. It's paperback, and has 107 pages, but contains all you need to know about plumerias.



3. This is a very informative, thoroughly researched book; from history to propagation, it has it all. The amateur will especially appreciate the succinct information to be found within its pages, without being too technical. If you've bought those plumeria cuttings at various fairs and garden shows, as I have, this is the book you need to really get those cuttings to produce healthy, blooming plants. The numerous colored photos throughout are a definite plus.



4. This is the bible on plumeria cultivation; there is no other work on the subject that even approaches its scope, thorough attention to detail, and even visual beauty. For twelve years it has been the source to which I have turned repeatedly for inspiration as I amassed my collection in New England; I have also referred scores of people to it for advice and given it as a gift several times. It's hard to imagine a more comprehensive treatment of the subject, from the overview of its history in cultivation, to the listings and descriptions of dozens of cultivars, to the step-by-step course in cultivating, propagating, and hybridizing plumerias. No detail is overlooked, and invaluable tips concerning every aspect of plumeria growing are given throughout. Along the way, the text is enlivened by views and comments on the plant through the eyes of mystics and poets both Eastern and Western. The abundant photographs by the authors are works of art in themselves. For any admirer of this extraordinary flower, this book is essential; by far the best and most beautiful work available on the subject.

   For those having trouble locating a copy: see also plumeriasandoleanders.com, botanictreasures.com, and stokestropicals.com

   (Addressing the issue of storage brought up by another reviewer: The method does indeed work, but I would perhaps not use it on first-year plants. It is important that a first-year cutting be kept growing as long as possible so that it can develop a very strong root system. After the first year, I prefer continuing to store the plants in their pots, watering very sparingly or not at all during the winter. The problem of stem rot is usually due to a soil mix which is too moisture-retentive. There is virtually no risk of stem rot if the following soil mix is used: 8 parts (by volume) soilless potting mix, 1 part coarse sand, and 1 part perlite. I have not lost one in ten years since I began using this formula).




5. ...see also plumeriasandoleanders.com, botanictreasures.com, and stokestropicals.com

3 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.

5 comments about Native Florida Plants, Revised Edition: Low Maintenance Landscaping and Gardening.

1. As a fairly new resident of Florida I look forward to Robert Haehle's NGA email each month, with his great advise & tips. This book is a "must have" for anyone new to tropical gardening, as well as, the Southern natives. The information & beautiful photos are especially helpful in identifying what is in my yard & what I would like to add.



2. Native Florida Plants is NOT out of print! A new, updated edition was published early this year, and includes additional plants, an updated source list, and a list of family names. Hope it appears on Amazon's website ASAP. (I am the co-author.)



3. I am the co-author of "Native Florida Plants". The new revised edition was printed in early 2004. The new book is not listed on www.amazon.com I think the problem may be the different ISBN number. The new ISBN number is 1-58979-051-0. The book is available from National Books Network at 1-800-462-6420. We hope to see our book on www.amazon.com very soon. This is a great site to get new and used books. I am a customer. Robert Haehle



4. Great book. Shows many pictures of native plants, trees, shrubs, flowers, vines, etc.
   Also talks about how they grow, best areas, etc.
   While this book will show you all the native plants in Florida, it does not touch (of course) on plants that WILL grow in Flrodai, of which would be an even bigger book.
   Still very useful & will stay on my shelf for many years.



5. While no one book is perfect, this revised edition has a lot going for it. It has interesting chapters on Florida's climate and different plant communities, e.g. seaside, interior sections, etc. Then it gives an excellen t and concise description of plants, e.g. DAHOON HOLLY (Ilex cassine)with a GOOD COLOR PHOTO. I have one in my backyard. It gives all the relevant information in a clear and concise way: height, light, bloom,etc. Habitat was extremely helpful, i.e. usually found near streams and swamps. I started making sure it got more water! It is on my shelf next to "Florida Landscaping Plants Revised Edition" by Watkins and Sheehan, and between the two, I think I can usually find some helpful information.

5 comments about The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids.

1. This book is truly my orchid Bible. There is some information about almost everything you want to know orchids. I find this book useful when trying to find the general characteristics of a genus or even to identify a plant by its flower. Many, many pictures, and they are all beautiful. They lack in the growing tips category, but make up with the fairly detailed species descriptions for the species they cover in the book. Hope this is helpful!



2. This is one of the Orchidbooks that anyone who loves orchids should have. Its filled with a lot off information of botanical orchids.
   
   It's one of my favorites.



3. I never received the book from Amazon. My order was cancelled after I had paid for it. I was refunded. I bought it from someone else and its great. Really good pictures and informative.



4. Good illustrations and tips on how to take care of the orchids.



5. This encyclopedia is quite fascinating!
   
   It shares a good amount of information about a plethora of orchids.
   Further, the book is nicely organized & easily comprehendable.
   
   Although it is regarded for it's "beautiful photography", I would disagree. Majority of the photos are nice, but not wonderful.
   Many of the photos may appear beautiful because orchids are absolutely gorgeous not exactly the photography skills & technique used to take the photos.
   Also, I wish it had more photos.
   
   Overall, I would recommend it for it's information & facts.

5 comments about The Impatient Gardener.

1. I started using this book in mid summer and so far I have been amazed. I purchased a house that had nothing but weeds in the back yard. I hired someone to get rid of the weeds and all they did was kill what little grass there was. A friend gave me The Impatient Gardener and I started doing what it recommended and now I have a yard full of grass. My next door neighbor came over to find out what I had done to make the grass grow. I plan on giving her the book for Christmas.



2. Even if you don't garden much, you'll love reading all the little stories and tidbits in this book. If you do garden, consider them a huge bonus!



3. I really enjoyed the book. It was laid out in a straight forward manner, and I can see why do many have purchased this book over the years.
   
   Baker's book trades on simplicity and practicality and in that respect reminded me of Haley's Hints. Haley's Hints
   
   I recommend this book to anyone with a love of gardening or think they may have it within themselves to develop a love of gardening.



4. This is a great book. Easy to understand and gives you enough confidence to get creative. Even the experienced gardner will find good solid facts and techniques.



5. I bought this book for my husband and 2 years later.....unbelieveable success. Our neighborhood of clinically trimmed lawns by landscapers actually have asked WHO does your lawn. My husband has given this book to friends and they are always inspired when they see ours. Our neighbor bought it a year after we started. I am happy because I have small kids and if I had a dog, I would be comfortable that all of them were not being exposed to chemicals through their nose, skin by rolling around in toxic chemicals. Simple solutions by Jerry Baker - THANKS!

5 comments about Roses.

1. I carry it with me to the nursery to make my selections. I'm a novice antique rose fancier with some particular geographic/climate needs, and this book makes it easy to determine what will thrive in my yard. There is a picture and detailed description of every rose in the book. The charts also make it easy to search for the right plant by color, flowering frequency, light needs, size, etc. I never shop for roses without carrying along this book.



2. Along with Ortho's "All About Roses", and HP Books' Roses, How To Select, Grow and Enjoy", this is the backbone of the easy way to learn about roses. As an introduction to some or the "mysteries" about growing roses, this book and the other two mentioned have no equals. The illustrations are great and there are a lot of color photos of rose varieties, making a good picture book as well as a good "How To" book. I think everyone who has an interest in roses will enjoy this book and also the other two mentioned.



3. After carefully comparing other books that provided comprehensive information on roses, I chose the Sunset Roses book and have not regretted it one bit. When I purchased the book, I had 4-5 roses in my garden, and now I have 52 (at the time of this writing ;-). I still refer to this book as a reference for pruning techniques, disease, planting and placement, and just as a wonderful review of the next rose I must have!
   
   The roses covered are certainly the most popular and easy to grow, and there is a section in the back that lists specific roses that are favorites of regional rosarians. So, for instance, if you are in zone 5-6 in Ohio, you can find best roses for the midwest/great lakes area, and so on. This is really valuable because a rose that will be a star for one gardener (such as Mr. Lincoln), might not perform well in another garden in a different part of the country.



4. I must say, this book was well worth the money. The information provided was very descriptive and the up-to-date pictures and reviews on the most current quality roses out there were beautiful! I highly recommend this book for any new rose growers out there and for the more hardened, the gallery of roses is a must!



5. This book was so well put together, pictures and illistrations were wonderful. would recomend to all.

2 comments about Orchid Grower's Companion: Cultivation, Propagation, and Varieties.

1. This is an excellent book about orchids. It shall take you from the very first steps into a more advanced understanding of this hobby. There's a lot of pictures and they are beautiful. The matter is tidily organized. Growing media, phytopathology, light and temperature requirements are clearly explained. I do recommend this book. For those who are on a budget a good alternative would be "Growing orchids" by Rittershausen.



2. I am a beginner as far as orchids go. I received a free orchid from Sarah Jessica Parker when I signed up for a free sample of her perfume "Lovely." Now I am hooked and in love with orchids! They are so beautiful! This book is one of the best and shows perfectly how lovely orchids are. It contains a wealth of information too. I highly recommend it.