1 comments about Complete Hydrangeas.

1. I have about 30 books about hydrangeas and this is a must for every plant lover.by the way from America to Slovenia arrived in 4 days.Buy it.

5 comments about Perennials for Minnesota and Wisconsin.

1. I've never written a review before, but I really love this book. Any gardener in Minnesota should have this one. It's full of beautiful color pictures and all the information you need to create your own borders: the height, spread and when to expect the bloom. The information is straight to the point and easy to reference.



2. This book is very user-friendly and full of helpful information for the amateur gardener, which I am. It is laid out in a very helpful manner and gives much information about each plant discussed, including personal experiences of the author with various perennials. It is filled with lovely color photographs of all the plants, as well as text about each one in alphabetical order. I would recommend it for anyone interested in learning about perennials that work in the climates of Minnesota and Wisconsin.



3. Not as good as Melinda Meyers book, but a good resource for backyard gardeners nonetheless.



4. I got into flower gardening three years ago and got this book. I barely knew the difference between a perennial and an annual at the time. It has been invaluable in helping me choose perennials for certain sites in my yard, as well as suggesting particular cultivars based on color, growth habit, etc. I also appreciate the extra information on continuing to care for the plants I choose, particularly about pruning, dead heading, and dividing.
   
   I liked this book more than several others I have because there are no illustrations--only beautiful, full-color photos. I don't think an illustration is very helpful when trying to picture a new plant in my yard.
   
   One criticism I have is that there are very few pictures that show the entire plant. Usually there is a close up of the leaves or blooms. I would appreciate being able to see what the plant would look like from farther away. I have the same complaint about perennial catalogs and websites, though, too.
   
   My yard looks beautiful and I have gained a lot of confidence as a new flower gardener thanks in large part to this book. I would purchase an updated version should the author write one in the future.



5. This is a good guide to perennials to grow in Minnesota. My only issue is that it is too predictable. There are many more perennials that are native to the Minnesota/Wisconsin area and are not as well known. A little more research on the part of the authors would have been appreciated. There are many beautiful plants that need to be discovered. I suggest visiting a couple of web site that sell native plants. (My own favorite is Prairie Moon Nursery.)

5 comments about Encyclopedia of Perennials (American Horticultural Society).

1. This is a great resource for advanced gardeners interested in learning about a variety of species within a genus. I have been able to identify many lesser known plants that I have inherited using this book. It tells in-depth information about the genus and lists several species with pictures of many of the species. There is very little info about when plants bloom or where they should be planted. I found this book very interesting and loved seeing the lesser known varieties of common plants. I would not have found this useful when I was a beginner gardener looking for advice on how to keep plants purchased at the local nursery alive.



2. I've had time to look through this book and I am pleased with it - I found pictures of most of the plants I didn't know in my new garden. Also, I enjoy the tips about how to decide what to plant together, based on height, color, and blooming time. That is a subject I did not know enough about, and this book has some wonderful and easy to understand ideas. The only thing I would add is the common names of the flowers to make looking them up easier. The pictures are great and the information is clear and easy to understand.



3. I got this book cause I figured it would help me prepare some of my plants for winter and spring, the ones that I'm not as familiar with. I don't know all of their technical names and this has proven to be a problem for me. I can't find the plants I need and I know that they have to be in there, but there is soooooo much information in there and there isn't a photo with each one so I don't know whats what. I have found some of the plants that I already know what I'm supposed to do with them and the info is very good. I just need to take the time I guess and go through it page by page but I really don't have time for that. On the bright side it does have pretty pictures.



4. it's a full and complete guide listing of perennials but i wanted to read about the care of the plants as well. there is no info on the care of any of the plants in the book



5. I am just getting beyond petunias, hostas and impatiens in the world of gardening, so ordered this book when starting up our local garden club "ended up in my lap." (If I don't know what I'm doing on a project, I buy books...) At first, this volume was a little intimidating because it is organized by the scientic names of all the plants. Once I got the hang of looking up the common name in the back, then finding the cross-referenced scientific name, it's wonderful! My friend, a much more accomplished gardener than I, used the book to help with our plant sale and the questions customers had about the perenials we had for sale. The pictures are amazing. I have identified in my back yard many of the plants I'd been previously pulling as weeds...I'm also looking up how to separate and move these wonderful newfound treasures, so the book can pay for itself -- all in all, a great investment!

5 comments about The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes.

1. Beautifully illustrated book and so specific. I had a hard time getting used to the detail because most books give you just a paragraph on the grass and very little on care, etc.
   
   It's everything you want to know about Ornamental Grasses and more. Very, very complete reference source. Maybe be a bit too much for a average gardener, but if you love grasses and gardening -- this is an excellent book.



2. In depth, beautifully photographed and written by someone who obviously cares a great deal about the subject. Great for reference -- also great just to peruse.



3. This book is the bible of all ornamental grasses, great pictures for referance and identifacation of grass plants !!!!!!!!!!



4. Excellent for the experienced and inexperienced grasses' growers. Beautiful photographs and readable, informative text. We live in Maine and have planted many grasses. This book helped us understand soil conditions and care.



5. This is an awesome book. I own another of Rick Darke's grass books, the Timber Press pocket guide, which is also excellent as an overall reference. This one, though, goes in to a depth I didn't know I needed until I saw it! I find I am reading every page, after having skimmed every beautiful photo. I particularly admire the wisdom behind the design theory (see the chapter on design)--a true artist's understanding of color, form and line. Why use grasses in a garden design? And how to do so? The topic is eloquently covered. So well in fact that I have had a bit of a paradigm shift.
   
   In addition to Darke's exquisite artistic sense, his horticultural, encyclopedic knowledge of all these plants is very appreciated. I can trust what he tells me. The only thing missing (and missing from almost all--dare I say ALL--ornamental grasses books) is the width size for grasses listed. One needs to try to extrapolate a probable width from the height which IS given for every plant. Granted this piece of info must be hard for authors as there may be two or even three width sizes for grasses--the basal clump in spring, the foliage fully expanded in summer, and tip-to-tip spread IN BLOOM in fall, for example. And there is the question of time as well: e.g. a 3-year size vs. a 10-year size. Still, a gardener needs to know these things: what sort of space to give a grass for its best look to be achieved.
   
   The above is a small point for an overall excellent book. It covers ornamental grasses from every angle, from a man very experienced in the genre.

5 comments about Well-Tended Perennial Garden: Planting & Pruning Techniques.

1. This book as been invaluable in caring for my first perennial garden. She doesn't just tell you what to do she actually explains what each task means/is/how it is done. The only thing truly lacking that i find myself wishing for every time I go through the book is more on design. The pictures are great but there is often not a listing of all the plants or a corresponding lay-out so I can use them for help in future planning. A key element for her to have left out I think. Maybe I will find another book with more on that aspect.



2. This is a book that I give to all my new perennial clients. It is well written and easy to understand.Tracy cuts my extra
   phones calls down to a minimum. She gives easy care instructions with optional more in depth instructions for general propogation. Highly recommend it for the perennial gardener.



3. I've been gardening for 4 years and I learned a few really useful things from Tracy's book; enough to keep it on my list of "most wanted" gardening books. There is a great deal of information on preparing beds, soil amendment, planting and some creative pruning ideas. I think of this book the same way I think of Jaques Pepin's "La Technique" when it comes to cooking. It's a basic, a classic, and it should be on your shelf, or better yet in front of you.



4. This is not another book of pretty pictures of flowers. The book takes you from start (preparing the soil), to caring for your plants (pruning tips), to finish (dividing mature plants).



5. Most garden books concentrate on flower type, color, pairing or such. This book gets you into the day to day maintance such as pinching, dead heading and pruning in a stright forward manner. By following these guides a gardener will end up with much fuller longer lasting flowers. If done with perenials the pinched tops can be just stuck in the ground in a shady spot and have new plans even if 75% do not start.
   HLM

3 comments about Timber Press Pocket Guide to Hostas (Timber Press Pocket Guides).

1. This is another in the continuing series of Pocket Guides being published by Timber Press, more or less based on TP's comprehensive collection of authoritative books on a wide variety of gardening and horticultural subjects.
   
   This volume, stemming from Diana Grenfell and Michael Shadrack's classic reference tome published in 2004, "The Color Encyclopedia of Hostas," will appeal to all gardeners and nursery people interested in hostas and want to know more about them.
   
   In addition to being up to date with the inclusion of over 70 new introductions, it lists the tried and tested classic hostas enjoyed in numerous large and small gardens in North America and Europe.
   
   Easy to carry around, the small volume is packed with information on cultural details, pest control and landscaping ideas. There are also succinct sections on history, botany and what to look for when purchasing hostas, an excellent index and a quick reference at the beginning on choosing hostas for different sites and climatic conditions.
   
   The photographs clearly illustrate the wide variety of textures and shades of leaf color, as well as the sumptuousness of hostas with the largest leaves. In addition, they highlight the wide variety of different shapes in which hosta leaves are available.
   
   Highly recommended for all gardeners and nursery people; a wealth of practical information at a bargain price.
   
   Warren I. Pollock
   Contributing Editor
   "The Hosta Journal"



2. This book was everything I expected based on the previous reviews I had read. You won't be disappointed!!!
   
   John



3. It is a good handbook but does not contain all the important information to identify a hosta like the number of vein pairs.

5 comments about The Color Encyclopedia of Hostas.

1. My husband and I love to collect hostas and although we have numerous varities, over the years we have failed to keep a record of the name and genus of the individual hosta. We decided to purchase this colorful book as a reference to help us know just what we have and the location where it is located. We plan to do a better job labeling our purchases and this book has already proved to be extremely helpful giving us the necessary info to identify our hosta. The book also contains information regarting growing requirements.
   
   We feel it was a great purchase at a great low Amazon price! We highly recommend it.



2. The author makes a concerted effort to bring to you the vast numbers of hostas available today in a concise way. The book is designed to assist you in finding the hosta that best suites your needs. It does not meet the definition of an Encyclopedia, the species and cultivars are not arranged alphabetically, however in alphabetical order by the way they look, an informative work but not an encyclopedia. So the name of the book is yet another marketing ploy. For me, I can only use the book by way of index. It does have some information that's hard to find elsewhere. They make a darn good hit at getting info on some of the best hostas available and some that are barely available. It is not a five star book but it is a solid four star. The pictures woo the ladies but men want content, we know that a hosta may only look that way for one week in spring.



3. A wonderfull reference book. I was finally able to identify some of my hosta's correctly. More important I now have a list of the ones I want.



4. I am thrilled with this book. I am highlighting the ones in my garden and several of my family and friends are using their own colors to highlight their hostas. What a nice record of our gardens. I'm glad I found the book. And I got it in only two days!



5. Beautiful photos, lots of info. Wish there was an updated version of this book with info on all the newer hosta varieties.

5 comments about Perennial All-Stars: The 150 Best Perennials for Great-Looking, Trouble-Free Gardens.

1. Great for the beginner gardener, it's easy to understand and gives a lot of information on planning your perrennial gardens to look great from early spring right into the fall.



2. Keep this book on your counter all spring and summer long - you'll find lots of reasons to refer to it.



3. My wife wore out her 1st copy and the yard looks great.



4. I am really enjoying this book. It has given me a lot of good ideas for my garden this summer. I already have some of the flowers it lists, and I agree they are winners. An excellent book for beginning and experienced gardeners looking for new flowers for their yard.



5. This is a well organized and colorful book that is good for the first time gardener as well as the seasoned veteran. Attractive pictures pull the reader into the page, then concise, helpful information is readily available.

5 comments about Perennial Combinations: Stunning Combinations That Make Your Garden Look Fantastic Right from the Start (Rodale Garden Book).

1. This is a wonderful guide to planning and developing a perennial garden. The author gives examples for numerous planting condition,such as shade, sand, clay. I can't wait for spring!



2. Although I have a plethora of gardening books, this one stands out as one of my favorites. It shows a picture example on every page. It has planting diagrams (garden plans) so you can duplicate what you see and it gives a lot of information about the plants. It's the best of both worlds - you can use the information and get creative, or follow the plans and duplicate what you see. Either way, you'll have a great garden!
   Although I've been gardening for a good many years, it's nice to have a reference as to how things will look together, instead of my usual "plant it here and hope for the best" approach! I'm tired of moving my plants every year.
   I bought my book over the winter and it's a great "dream" book. Now I can't wait till I can get out there and put it all to good use!



3. This book was (is) a big disappointment, containing as it does nothing new regarding perennnial combining that isn't covered in at least a dozen or more recent and more interesting books, not to mention the classics. This is perennial combining 202 with no spark of imagination in the pairings that can make a garden jump for joy. The photography is so ordinary and the color is extremly garish. Is that due to the Digital Imaging Specialists Dale Mack and Jane Ramsey or what? I can find no photographic credits (except for the cover) which is probably just as well. Obviously in a book this size (351 pages), from someone who is as accomplished as Mr. Burrell, there is useful information to be gleaned but I already have books that serve that purpose. If I had seen this in a book store, having thumbed through it for a few moments, I would never have bought it. However, if you are just beginning your library of perennial books this one may be useful to you.



4. One of the drawbacks of buying gardening books online is that you can't see the photos. If I had thumbed through this book I don't think I would have purchased it. Not that it doesn't have a lot of good information and ideas. It's just that the photos are, for the most part, awful. The color is garish and over-saturated and the images actually look blurry. Also, many of the plant combo photos are very close up, which doesn't help when you are trying to figure out how to place your perennials when planting. For me, a good gardening book has to not only give useful information and how-tos (which this book does for the most part), but it has to inspire with lovely photos! And that is where this book fails.



5. Being pretty new to perennials but having read many books I was having sort of a writers block when it came to WHAT to put in my new garden.
   
   I knew all about HOW but with so many choices I was overwhelmed!
   
   This book has a good number of templates to give you a jump start and many outstanding photos of combinations of flowers that work together. In fact this has some of the best photos I have ever seen in a garden book.
   
   It also covers difficult situations like what works in Heavy Clay and wet sites an so forth.
   
   My plan was a butterfly garden and they had the perfect template for a 12x8 garden.
   
   Excellent book for beginners or people that are looking for new combinations!! My fav book so far. (out of the 30 I have looked at).

5 comments about The Well-Tended Perennial Garden: Planting and Pruning Techniques.

1. 
   I was looking for a book to give me some practical insight into setting up and managing a perennial garden and I think I found the book. Seven chapters are devoted to designing, bed preparation, planting, pests, diseases, staking and division issues. I wish I had this book before starting my garden; the bed preparation chapter would have saved me a lot of effort in planting. Five more chapters are devoted to pruning, deadheading, cutting back, pinching, thinning, dead-leafing, and winter/spring preparation. The book contains many pictures and diagrams to accompany the instruction provided.
   
   I found the encyclopedia section to be very helpful in giving specifics for individual plants, and it contained pictures of the plants discussed. The listing of plants is in alphabetical order by genus/species with the common name listed beneath. This is good; however, for someone accustomed to using common names, it would have been helpful to have an appendix with a cross reference to common names. I generally don't memorize genus or species names for most plants.
   
   The book also contains three helpful appendixes on grasses, maintenance and pruning requirements. I found the glossary helpful to me (not being a plant expert) when it was necessary to look up terminology used in the text.
   
   Overall, I found this book to be very helpful on the subject of perennial gardening.



2. i ordered this book after we moved to a new home and were faced with the monstrous task of identifying (and subsequently managing) the numerous perennials in unkempt beds around the property. this book is filled with useful information about pruning, thinning and transplanting, and has a wonderful picture index at the back. this book does not really cover garden design, so you may want to purchase a different book exclusively dedicated to that subject. nonetheless, it is well written, organized and a great reference book to have.



3. This book is written in a very casual way that I find very easy to read. The author, from reading the book, probably has very extensive experience and knowledge with gardening and plants. However, I think the author tries to stress her key points too much by repeating what she thinks is important and thus, the book suffers from not providing the information I would like. I think I'll be more happy with a plant encyclopedia.



4. As a fairly new gardener I discovered this book at the library last year and it is wonderful. It really gets into how and when to pinch and prune (and what these terms mean) plants which I now realize is such an important part of how your flowers will look when they bloom...The author mostly talks about tried and true perennials, but we see them in a whole new light, you can control the height of your plants and even the bloom time. Excellent drawings and color illustrations are very helpful. I really enjoyed the "before and after" photos of gardens that the author has designed.



5. I work as a perennial salesperson in a large, family-owned garden center in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago. Any time a customer asks for a book on perennials or gardening in general, I always recommend this one.
   
   It provides a wealth of general gardening information on soil preparation, watering, diseases, pruning techniques and more. The plant encyclopedia section is the most valuable part of the book. In it, Ms. Aust discusses the most widely available and popular perennials individually and in detail. For each plant, there is a picture next to which she lists the latin name, the common name, the light, water and soil requirements, the height, width and bloom-time. After those details are presented, she discusses when to prune, cut back, dead-head, divide and fertilize that plant. She has gathered this information over a lifetime of gardening experience.
   
   The appendix of the book contains many valuable lists of plants under headings such as "Plants to Pinch for Height Control" or "Clay Busters". I can't imagine selling perennials to others or tending to my own garden without this bible.
   
   One complaint that customers have mentioned to me about this book (after I have recommended it)is that Ms. Aust uses the Latin nomenclature for everything. This was intimidating to me at first, too. I had to learn the Latin for my job as a perennial salesperson so I was forced to "embrace" it. I am glad that I did because it makes reading a book like this easier. My advice to anyone interested in gardening: learn the Latin! It's intellectually challenging and fun. It will open up a wide world of plants to you. Carpe diem!