4 comments about The Curious Gardener's Almanac: Centuries of Practical Garden Wisdom.

1. This is such a delightful book! If you collect garden books, as I do, then I know you'll want to add this one. Full of tidbits, lists, advice, recipes, quotes and all sorts of gardening information arranged by season...you're sure to find bits that will also make you laugh! I'm so glad Mr. Edworthy moved to the country and became so curious! You'll be glad you bought it!



2. I bought this as a gift for a friend, and have been reading it myself, and I love it. I might just keep it :-) or order another one. Any gardener would love this book on their shelf. And it's pretty too, and has a ribbon bookmark in it.



3. I bought this book as a gift, and luckily I opened it before I sent it, because it seems that the book was printed upside down. Weird.



4. The Curious Gardener's Almanac, centuries of practical garden wisdom, by Niall Edworthy, published by The Penguin Group in New York is not a book about ponds. In fact, it is not a book about gardens either. This book has no pigeon hole in which to be pushed. Curious gardeners will love this compendium of over 10,000 tips, tidbits, facts, quotes, recipes, customs, quotes and general ephemera contained in this delightful little volume.
   
   Did you know that you can fry zucchini with cumin and paprika and have spicy zucchini. That's nice to know after you have exhausted every possible way to use zucchini in the summer and the neighbors will not open the door if you have a bag of it in your hand.
   
   Did you know that the paper stuff that wasps make their nests out of is from wood they chew? So humans are not the only creature who makes paper from wood. I wonder if the first paper makers learned it from watching wasps.
   
   Onions can treat gunshot wounds and was used widely during the Civil War. (Or the war of Northern Aggression as it is known in the Southern parts of the US.)
   
   Garrison Keiller said, "Sex is good, but not as good as fresh sweet corn." Well, we don't have to agree with everything in this book, now do we?
   
   Saffron is the most expensive spice needing 4000 crocuses to make 1 ounce.
   
   Daffodil bulbs can last up to 80 years.
   
   Ronald Reagan declared the rose the National Floral Emblem of the United States in 1986. And it took him a good many words to do so.
   
   Britain is the only country that grows apples expressly for cooking.
   
   If you boil rhubarb leaves, you can spray the resulting liquid to control aphids. It's the poisonous oxalic acid in the leaves that kills the aphids.
   
   The pond is probably the most beneficial thing you can have in your garden for it gives a habitat to frogs and toads which are disappearing due to the pollution on our earth.
   
   "A house though otherwise beautiful, yet if it has no garden belonging to it, is more like a Prison than a House." William Coles, 1656
   
   Cora Lea Bell says, "An addiction to gardening is not all bad when you consider all the other choices in life." And she certainly was right.
   
   This book is chock full of these little bits of things to think about or just smile about and nod your head knowingly.
   
   Do not plan to sit and read this book in a sitting or two. Leave it in a convenient spot so you can pick it up when you have a few minutes to open it and smile for a time.
   
   As a pond builder and garden designer for the last 20 years of my working life, I have read and owned many books: technical books, pretty coffee table books, design books, hundreds of garden books about the hundreds of aspects of gardening, even more about ponds, their building and design. The Curious Gardener's Almanac is a joy to have in the house, a great book to give as a gift whether to a gardener or non-gardener. It may start a lifetime addiction to gardening in you or a friend. Be careful. This is a powerful book.

5 comments about Gardening 101: Learn How to Plan, Plant, and Maintain a Garden.

1. Bought this book based on the reviews only. It has good photos, but beyond that, I thought is was fluff. Guess I should have known from the title Gardening 101. Maybe it should have been Garden - SQUARE 1. Your results my vary - just my opinion.



2. I just love this book. Look, if you've never gardened before, this is a great book to get you started. And, if you have acres of gardens, this book can help you trouble shoot as well. I actually took the raised bed garden idea and made my own this spring with my husband. Our book is covered with dirt and grease spots from all of our referencing!!! We run to it if we are unsure of where to plant a certain veggie or how long it takes to grow a certain seed. This is a good investment.



3. Don't be fooled by the size of this book. An abundance of information is inside. It is essentially a step by step guide to creating your first garden. If you are more experienced this is probably not the book for you. But for the novice (like me), there aren't many better.



4. If you are truely a beginner at gardening, this book would be ok but it seems to only scratch the surface. I've read other gardening books and have discovered and benefited more from them than this one. I know it's tempting to buy a book because it says that its for the beginner but in this case, I'd advise beginners to seek more comprehensive books on the topic. They may sound intimidating but in the end, they will make you a better gardener and work for you long after you've moved on from the beginner stage. I abandoned this book after I learned more.



5. The photos truly are lovely, but I'm so glad I didn't buy based on reviews - I read a library copy first.

   It does start out with some good advice. The Preface talks about choosing your gardening style and doing a bit of planning before digging. The Introduction talks about matching the plant to the site, and urges readers to ask local extension services or nurseries for advice. Invaluable info for a novice gardener, but I don't believe it was ever repeated later in the book.

   Alas, the book then takes a nasty turn and descends into the pit of Martha's garden and Martha's terms. Rock powders - perhaps that's the New England name for soil amendments, but you'll have trouble if you ask for them in nurseries around here (unless they've read the book). Her lists of vegetables, perennials, and annuals must be the ones she favors growing in her zone; quite a few of them wouldn't do well in other parts of the country. You'll have to get ideas for your zone from some other book, because they're not in 101.

   A lot of basic info is touched upon but not explained very well; for instance, one page is devoted to watering, yet three pages give instructions for casting your very own garden trough.

   I didn't much care for her sources at the back of the book, either.

1 comments about Encyclopedia of Exotic Plants for Temperate Climates.

1. Exotic plants, temperate climates - the possibilities' are endless if you know what temperature range a plant can withstand. High-impact plants are all the rage these days, and Will Giles profiles more than 1500 of them in his book Encyclopedia of Exotic Plants for Temperate Climates.
   This book offers readers in cool climates information on exotic plants that can thrive in their region thus allowing them to introduce the flamboyant beauty of the tropics to their own backyard.
   Many of the plants profiled are also photographed so that readers can see what the plant looks like. Latin as well as common names are used in each profile. Next is a listing telling of the plants hardiness and sun or shade requirements. This information is followed by a brief description of the plant.
   This is a must have book that should be on the shelves of all serious gardeners' reference books.

5 comments about Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants.

1. From its detailed descriptions of almost all medicinal plants, to its step by step instructions for different preparations, this book has it all!! It tells you where the plant is from even the history behind todays uses. If your interested in healing with plants... this book is for you!



2. THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MEDICINAL PLANTS by Andrew Chevallier is a relatively comprehensive source of information about herbal uses for healing. This is not the most recent volume by this author, however. The 2000 version is more comprehensive and includes the most current information about research associated with herbal medicinal uses.

   A less expensive and highly useful book on herbs and their uses is available from Rodale, entitled, ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HERBS. The Rodale book includes information missing from this version of Chevallier's book concerning negative effectives of herbs including accidental poisoning owing to misuse or problems with plant identification. Also, Rodale has been the the organic growing business for several decades and offers information about plant horticulture. Chevallier's book is better illustrated, and filled with many colorful photographs but relatively less text (ratio of 1:4 pages for each item).

   Unlike Ody's book, THE COMPLETE MEDICAL HERBAL, the Chevallier book contains information about native American herbs such as Cimicifuga Racemosa (Squawroot, Black Cohash). THE COMPLETE BOOK OF HERBS by Leslie Bremmness does not contain the comprehensive coverage of medicinal uses, but it does provide much information about medicinal and other uses such as pot pourri and sachet making, paper making, and food preparation.




3. ... if you like your herbs from the herb store, that is. And if you like the TCM view of things.
   
   I prefer books about herbs that I can grow myself, or pick in my back yard. I'm really not all that enthusiastic about books about exotics that I have to buy from far away places.
   I also prefer books that focus on herbs used in the western herbal tradition. This book has just a tad too much of an emphasis on Chinese herbs for my tastes.
   Finally, I _like_ books with one single, sometimes enormous, index. This one has two. I'm always looking things up in the wrong one, in books like this.
   
   YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary), of course.



4. This book has been on my most used shelf for over ten years. It has some shortcomings that are easily augmented by anyone with a good herbal library. I love the layout and medicinal information as well as the history of the different herbal systems in the world. Great Book!



5. I have been looking for this book for over a year, and hadn't been able to find it. It is just what I was looking for and has great information, and really nice pictures.

5 comments about Passalong Plants.

1. This book was delightful in many respects. I learned alot about plants that have been around forever and "shared" with other plant lovers! I will keep this book to read and re-read. Also liked the pictures and especially the stories.



2. A wonderful book that I will use over and over through the years!



3. Unlike other members of my family. I have not inherited the green thumb. This book is fabulous if you live in the south. This book lets you know which plants can be started from others. Propagating plants either from cuttings or seeds can help you have a good deal of money.
   
   This book is mostly geared for those of us who live in the south. While there are other plants mentioned, I think you would be better served if you live in the south. I like that this book broke plants down into types, and areas that they typically do best in. This way your not having to play any guessing games about what may grow best in your area.
   
   If you are fond of of heirloom plants, this book is ideal for you, as it has many plants that are of older stock. It also gives you ideas for sources as well as sources for these older variety of plants. This book also tells you how to propigate the plants and make more!
   
   This is a great resource. My only personal drawback is that while their are pictures for 80% or more of what is mentioned in the book. I am not plant savvy and when their isn't a picture, I have no idea what plant they are talking about. Do not let that stop you though, this is a great resource, and my garden will benefit from this book greatly!



4. This is the best gardening book I own. It's so good, I've bought it for gifts over and over and over again. All of the plants listed are fabulous, the profiles are just plain funny, and all in all, the book is inspiring. Steve Bender and Felder Rushing are a great team- their essays on the plants feel like sitting down with a good gardening friend. They teach a lot, but not in a pedantic way. I can't recommend this book enough- I'd give it ten stars if I could.



5. Another great book. Filled with nostalgic and informative profiles of dozens of plants that are great to grow and share.

1 comments about Encyclopedia of Planting Combinations: Over 4000 Color and Planting Schemes.

1. As an award-winning author, photographer, horticultural consultant, and an adviser on gardens to Britain's National Trust, Tony Lord combines his talents with the exceptional photos taken by Andrew Lawson, an award-winning photographer in "Encyclopedia of Planting Combinations: Over 4000 Color and Planting Schemes."
   
   "Every gardener wants to create the perfect garden. We all have a favorite plant - but it is not always easy to know what to plant beside it, or how to display it to its best advantage..." "Encyclopedia of Planting Combinations: Over 4000 Color and Planting Schemes" can help you solve the problem: it features over 1,000 individual plants and more than 4,000 combinations. It includes 8 chapters: The Art of Combining Plants, Great Planting Styles, Shrubs and Small Trees, Climbers, Roses, Perennials, Bulbs, and Annuals. It covers practical and useful information such as assessing the sites, choosing plants, scale and size, plant habit, form and texture, color in the garden, timing the season, planting beds and borders, woodland planting, meadow planting, naturalistic gardens, country style, cottage gardens, grasses, Mediterranean style, Minimalist styles, and great planting designer case studies.
   
   "Encyclopedia of Planting Combinations: Over 4000 Color and Planting Schemes" has 464 pages and many beautiful interior color photos. It is a valuable addition to your garden library.
   
   Gang Chen, Author of "LEED AP Exam Guide" & "Planting Design Illustrated." LEED AP, AIA

4 comments about Accessible Gardening for People With Physical Disabilities: A Guide to Methods, Tools, and Plants.

1. Janeen Adil's book is an excellent source for those persons with disabilities and/or those who live or assist persons with special needs. This book's methods can be used both in a private home setting or in an institution's horticultural therapy program



2. This is a visually appealing book, starting with the cover, which demonstrates a gardener's ability and success in accessible gardening!The paper is brighter than most and the print is clear. This book is designed to give you specific ideas, aids, and the source to obtain them! It is full of B&W photos that show people gardening, while using the various products! It is a readable book for beginner gardeners. It is a helpful book for advanced gardeners that need to modify their gardening for increased accessibility. They need to print a revised edition to include more ideas and product update. The initial building of items would probably require help or hiring out.



3. I was disappointed in the content of this book. It merely covers basic gardening. I was hoping it would cover some tips on accessible gardening for people with disabilities. It does mention some ideas on how to achieve that but the techniques they offer is outdated. The techniques they mention usually require costly physical modifications which can be somewhat frustrating to pursue. If you are really interested in gardening but have some physical limitations, there are products out there that are already adapted to your needs. There are many gardening tools that have extended and ergonomically desinged handles at Home Depot. There are also products that are ergonomically desinged if you have arthritis. Its better to do an internet search for these up to date products that spending a dollar on this book. Buy yourself a real gardening book and do an internet search on how to modify your garden and your tools.



4. Although Adil's book provides excellent information on accessible gardening at any age, it is in the area of gardening with children with disabilities that she excels. It is one of the very few books that even addresses this issue.
   
   She devotes a complete chapter to "Children and Gardening". Because her own child was born with spina bifida, she brings a very knowledgeable approach to gardening with children. The information is both practical in terms of tools, design, and activities. But she also looks at the psychological and physical benefits of gardening for children.
   
   Most books concerning gardening with disabilities usually ignore children's special needs, but this provides aid for parents, care-givers, and educators who want to introduce the joys of gardening to children.
   
   The only reason for 4 stars is that some of the resources provided have changed since its 1994 printing, but the basic usefulness of this book has not diminished at all.

3 comments about Smart Garden Regional Guide: Southeast (American Horticultural Society Smartgarden Regional Garden Guides).

1. South-eastern gardeners won't want to miss the Society's Southeast Smartgarden Regional Guide, a reference to over 3,000 plants which grow well in the Southeast. With literally thousands of color photos accompanied by step-by-step gardening sequences and techniques, this is packed with fine detail.



2. This is a gorgeous book overflowing with beautiful color photos and sure to motivate any gardener. The intent is to help gardeners select plants that are compatible with specific growing conditions. It is comprised of three parts: Part 1 features "The Ten SmartGarden Tenets" which includes detailed sections on factors like assessing your site, choosing the best plants, working with nature, managing pests, keeping a garden journal, etc. The bulk of the book is Part 2 which is a plant selection catalog and features plants in every conceivable category (examples are "Drought Tolerant Trees," "Winter Flowering Shrubs," "Shrubs with Gray or Blue Foliage," "Vines for Small Arbors," etc.) Every plant has a photo and basic, general information is designated by a symbol. Part 3 covers gardening techniques with excellent step-by-step photos and directions on selecting plants, planting, pruning and propagation. Appendices includes gardening resources, web sites, horticultural organizations, and botanical gardens and arboreta in the U.S. The only issue I have from giving the book 5 stars is that even though the plant categories are endless, each section contains only about 8 or 10 plants and sometimes that just isn't enough to choose from. Still, the photos along are worth the price - this is a beautifully designed book.



3. Beautiful and very helpful book. I am very happy to have it in my reference book colection

3 comments about Food Plants of the World.

1. for anyone interested in the very staff of life: what we eat, why and where it came from. this book has information on every obscure fruit, herb, drink component, bark, vine, grain and spice you can think of. each species has a full page with three pictures, description, origin and history, parts used, cultivation and harvesting, uses and properties, nutritional value and notes. written by a botanist, it includes family information and the author is careful to include leaves, flowers AND fruit in almost every species account.
   
   belongs in any good kitchen or botanist's library and always bound to settle any argument about a food item. invaluable.



2. This is a reference work. It's not written with much style. The entries all have nice photos and not a lot of in-depth text. I'm glad I have it but it could have been a great book.



3. Does a skilled botanical artist better capture leaves, fruits, and flowers than a gifted photographer? Ever since the first printed herbals appeared in the Renaissance, this question remains as reframed by each era's technologies, and the publication in 2005 (by Briza in Pretoria) of van Wyk's Food Plants of the World continues the debate, now five centuries old. Often cited for it's sparklingly precise paintings, the Francesco Bianchini, et al., Complete Book of Fruits & Vegetables (Italian: I Frutti della Terra [Arnaldo Mondadori pub., 1973; English trans. pub. US 1976]), now is challenged by the refulgent clarity of the color photography in van Wyk's inclusive assembly of botany's edible varieties from Ziziphus jujuba ("Chinese date") to Abelmoschus esculentus (okra), and van Wyk is the better by far. Food Plants of the World not only identifies very carefully each species with instantly comprehended triplicate images (natural settings of growth, flower/fruit/seed/rhizome/root, and 'finished' product), but also supplies up-to-date phytochemistry, dietetics, and the essential details of the physiology and biochemistry immediately applicable to nutrition, diet, and the maintenance of a healthy "balanced" intake of food. Multilingual nomenclatures (Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Malay, Portuguese, and Spanish) accompany the English and Linnaean Latin, so that vegans world-wide can immediately use this volume to key their own cultures and how the multitudinous adaptations from one continent to another characterise modern 'national' cuisines. Van Wyk also leads any reader into the best of the vast literature on the topic ("Further Reading," pp. 446-447), including publications by nutritional scientists throughout the world. A detailed index (pp. 450-480 [four columns per page]) concludes this most satisfying reference work. Food Plants of the World is one of those rare volumes that provides basic information on the great majority of botanical foodstuffs and is a reliable gateway into the enormous body of writing in several languages on this, an essential facet of human existence.

5 comments about Marijuana Grower's Handbook: The Indoor High Yield Cultivation Grow Guide.

1. This is an okay reference book. I found this book easier to navigate than Indoor marijuana Horticulture by Jorge Cervantes which is packed with information but not well presented. Between both of these guides I was able to improve on my cultivation techniques but there are gaps still not covered by both works. If you find yourself in this kind of a situation then I recommend that you look for normal botany books on growing. I have a collection of other readings which helped. You might have to go down that route too.

   Well worth the read but you will need much more than just these two books.




2. This is a great starter book for any grower. I still refer to this book many times. The information is great and useful. A book for people who are starting to grow.



3. I read 90% of this book front to back when I first recieved it. It could have been organized better, and yes it did seem to jump around a bit, but it had some quality information that are the building blocks for the best techniques available.



4. I have been useing Ed's books for years. I follow his column in heads magazine and Cannabis Culture magazine. He knows what he is talking about. This book is the ultimate handbook. It tells you everything you need to know to get a garden started. I think this book is very easy to follow and is a great buy. Theinformation is priceless. I trust Ed and this book.



5. A good all purpose book, very useful but nothing new to an experienced reader.