1 comments about The Genus Iris.

1. The Genus Iris is an important resource for growers of irises, whether home garden or commercial. Dykes is recognized world wide as an authority for classification and naming purposes, even though there have been changes since this book was first published in 1913. Perhaps the most remarkable feature of this classic volume is that so little has changed since it was compiled (I. Kaempferi, the original Japanese Iris, has been reclassified as I. ensata, for example). The 48 outstanding watercolor plates cover a range of species available at that time. This of course cuts out modern developments such as Louisianas, Pacific Coast, etc.However, as a comprehensive record of the structure and distribution of wild and cultivated irises, including the scientific nomenclature used throughout the world, Dykes is outstanding. Although it is a scientific tome it is easily navigated, with clear and concise descriptions. A true classic.

No comments about The Iris: The Rainbow Flower.

1 comments about The Siberian Iris.

1. The book THE SIBERIAN IRIS by Dr. Currier McEwen is the most comprehensive work on this flower imaginable. Well written and easy to understand, even for the beginner. Dr. McEwen is one of the most respected and foremost hybridizers of these beardless irises. Nothing has been left out. The history, the culture, favorites, sources, showing, judging, hybridizing, registering and introducing a new cultivar, etc. The photographs are wonderful and the illustrations by Jean G. Witt are dynamic and extremely good. The only think I would have asked for is even more photos! This is an excellent gift choice for someone who is interested in these easy to grow but exotically beautiful flowers.

2 comments about Iris: Flower Of The Rainbow.

1. The is absolutely the best book I've seem on iris. The book is well laid out and very informative. Grosvenor is a leading authority on iris and comprehensively explains each genus as a group as to characteristics, culture and breeding. Then he gives detailed descriptions the best cultivars of each type. The photography throughout the book is fantastic and completes this book as a treasure!



2. The photography is awesome.

No comments about The Iris Book.

3 comments about Irises (Gardener's Guide to Growing Series).

1. "The Gardener's Guide to Growing Irises" by Geoff Stebbings is more readable and less usable than many of the gardening books I own. It is a wonderful book to curl up with in the winter when your garden is covered with snow. The pictures are beautiful and in color, although I wish there were more of them (I think I've been spoiled by the photos in the Iris catalogues that show up in my mailbox every Spring). The author has definite opinions as to which varieties work best in the garden. In his chapter on "The Value of Iris in the Garden" he states the following:

   "Perhaps it is because the bearded iris show such variety that many gardeners do not look elsewhere in the genus for garden plants. This is a mistake, however, because although the deep, blackcurrent purple of 'Superstition' may have a velvety sheen, a ruffling and size that are hard to match, the deep purple of forms of 'I. Chrysographes' are augmented by bright golden markings on a flower of refinement and poise that makes the other look clumsy and almost grotesque."

   The tall, bearded Iris also gets short shrift in the popular "The Well-Tended Perennial Garden" by Tracy DiSabato-Aust, but I would venture to say that theirs is the minority opinion among gardeners. Most of us love the bearded irises for their gorgeous colors and perfumes, and in spite of their short season of bloom. This book's longest chapter is on the Tall Bearded Iris, so it can't be said that the author neglects them. There are also chapters on the Siberian Iris, the Pacific Coast Iris, the Water Iris, the Spuria Iris, the Stinking Iris, the Dwarf Bulbous Iris, and "Iris for the Specialist".

   As interesting as this book is to read, it is not really organized to help you locate a quick paragraph on what to do about the Iris borer grub that you just discovered in your 'Beverly Sills' rhizome. In fact 'iris borer' isn't even listed in the index. If you flip to the lone page on 'pests', you won't find them there, either-just a few miscellaneous paragraphs on aphids and wet rot.

   Buy "The Gardener's Guide to Growing Irises" if you love irises and would like to learn more about them. However, you might want to look elsewhere for a straightforward guide to growing and caring for these lovely flowers.




2. For a person who needed information on growing Irises outside England and the Pacific Northwest, this would be not be the best first purchase. I can't judge how well it would describe cultural best practice in England but with Irises climate is extremly important. What works in one climate will not work in another, Iris Borer, for example, only lives in North America but it is a terrible pest there. It would make lovely winter reading for most of us because of the artistic photographs and excellent botany of the various Iris species. However don't expect to be able to buy many of the varities shown, the English have their own set of Iris varities and only rarely import the American ones.



3. Written by Geoff Stebbings (the establisher of the National Collection of Award-winning Irises), The Gardener's Guide To Growing Irises is a professional-quality botanical guide profusely illustrated with full-color photographs, and suitable for flower gardens of all caliber and experience levels. Extensively detailed information concerning a wide variety of irises makes The Gardener's Guide To Growing Irises an eminently suitable and "user friendly" reference, from choosing the right strain of iris, to properly caring for and presenting it. The Gardener's Guide To Growing Irises is an essential and strongly commended addition to any dedicated personal or professional gardening collection, as well as an academic Horticultural Studies reference library.

2 comments about The Louisiana Iris: The Taming of a Native American Wildflower.

1. Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, The Louisiana Iris: The Taming Of The Native American Wildflower covers every aspect of the history, botany, and development of these distinctive flowers, with particular emphasis on the newest hybrids, hybridizing techniques, and horticultural practices. Drawing upon their members' extensive and practical experience and expertise, the Society for Louisiana Irises provides the perfect introduction to these remarkable plants to the gardening public with a beautifully and profusely illustrated volume that is exhaustive and authoritative with information. The Louisiana Iris is an invaluable and much appreciated addition to any personal, professional, academic, or community library horticultural and gardening reference collection.



2. This book is a must for Louisiana Iris growers.
   It provides excellent growing information and the graphics are both beautifully done and they provide help in identification of your plants.We also found that Amazon offered a great price value. Shipping was prompt, and the product arrived in excellent condition. Amazon is a great place to buy.

No comments about Irises.

5 comments about The Gardener's Iris Book.

1. With fabulous photography by Roger Foley et al, this is an indispensable reference on irises for newcomers to these flags or old-times iris lovers. All the essential care needed for a spectacular display of these moving flowers. The Gardener's Iris Book is a wonderful way to learn how to tend your new crop of these amazing & historic plants. This is a book I've often re-read, the information I keep gleaning comes just at the right time. END



2. My mother has found this book to be a very informative and helpful reference. When she started losing some of her plants to rot, the book explained what it was and how to treat it.



3. "The Gardener's Iris Book" describes itself as an introductory book for American gardeners. In my own experience, books about irises tend to fall into two categories: beautiful and fun to read, but not particularly useful or well-organized; and books that I can take out into the garden and actually use. This volume manages to straddle both categories, which is good because I like to look at beautiful pictures of irises, but I've also discovered that they are not particularly easy to grow. I've lost two complete plantings of Bearded Irises to borers, and even managed to kill off a bed of hardy Siberian irises.

   Why bother with a touchy plant that has such a short growing season? That's easy: because they're one of the most beautiful flowers in the garden when they do bloom.

   The author has a gift for clear, succinct phrasing, very well-suited for a 'how to' manual on growing irises. He also loves his subject--in the chapter on Louisiana Irises, he refers to himself as 'Johnny Iris Seed' because of his habit of planting his extra rhizomes in the mud at the margins of farm ponds, park pools, or even roadside ditches. "Most will establish themselves and give pleasure to passersby in years to come."

   After forty years of growing irises, he has learned that a good garden springs from a healthy, living soil. He suggests using pesticides and commercial fertilizers only as a last resort. For instance, in the section on Iris borers, he starts with the least toxic methods for ridding your garden of these pests: carefully clean up your garden debris in late fall and early spring to limit the number of borers that will hatch. Monitor the young foliage fans for notches, then pinch the fan below the notches to squash any burrower (a mano a mano approach not recommended for the squeamish).

   Irises can also be treated with beneficial nematodes. I tried this method one year with some success, although the neighbors probably wondered why I was running around with what looked like a horse hypodermic and sticking it into iris stems. According to this author, the nematodes can be sprayed on plants or used as a soil drench, so I can throw away my hypo.

   "The Gardener's Iris Book" is fun to read straight through to the appendices on Iris specialist nurseries (listed by state), and iris books and computer resources. However the book is divided into sections that treat irises with similar growing characteristics, e.g. those requiring substantial moisture or those that thrive in dry conditions. These useful subdivisions allow the reader-in-a-hurry to concentrate on the irises that thrive in an environment most closely resembling his or her own garden.




4. This book is so easy to read, most iris books I have come across goes way to deep into botany that they are a bore to read, not to mention confusing. The pictures are beautiful. This book is definately for anyone wanting to grow irises.



5. I bought this book since I'm just starting to plant different types of iris. The book provides a good overview and is an easy reference to understand. If I were a more experienced iris gardener I would probably be disappointed in the content covered.
   Overall, would recommend for the gardener with little or no experience in planting iris.

2 comments about Iris: The Classic Bearded Varieties.

1. Wow, how disappointing. I am a grower/lover of bearded irises and automatically purchase any newly published book on the subject. This book is just set up poorly to read, the varieties depicted are from the author's garden(I assume) are bland, boring, and non representative of some of the finest varieties of bearded irises out there. I really didn't appreciate most of the photography either...a lot of that artsy "looking into the center of the flower" stuff. The only reason it got even two stars is that I appreciate the author's text in some areas and that she's endeavored to create a book to showcase and promote the iris. Unfortunately, the overall effort seems to fall short.



2. This book was a lot more than I expected, and I loved the thoughtful cross-reference guide included with each photo. The photography itself is superb, and it is wonderful to see the spots, stripes, and colors on these garden queens. It was nice to see some of the more common irises included and that even though a grower, the author didn't turn this gem of a book into a mere catalog. Bravo!