5 comments about Trowel and Error: Over 700 Tips, Remedies and Shortcuts for the Gardener.

1. As an avid collector of gardening books, I am proud to add this to my library. It is a fun, quick read with no nonsense everyday tips and remedies for the novice to the experienced gardener. It is easily becoming my first reference when tackling the out-of-doors, and it is small enough to tote around the yard as I work. No more "rummaging thru" pages of information. Everything is at my fingertips. THANK YOU Sharon !!



2. He loves it so far, and I'm enjoying the bits I''m getting to read.



3. This is a great "sitting by the garden" book. I have learned a lot, and it has reinforced some things I thought I already knew. Lots of great ideas, and I love the organic ways to take care of gardens/pests/etc.



4. From clever outdoor decorating ideas to eco-friendly pest repellent recipes, this little book is a wealth of simple tricks to transform your garden. The first time I read it, I couldn't put it down. Page after turned page, I found myself gasping "who knew?" or "genius!" Having only a light-green thumb myself, I especially enjoy Sharon Lovejoy's humorous and uncomplicated approach to a wide variety of gardening challenges. There probably isn't a whole lot of information in this book that would be news to the seasoned gardener. But for the beginner or the well-intentioned-albeit-lax like me, it is informative and delightful. My only complaint is that the book is not water/dirt repellent ... the amount of time this book has spent by my side in the garden SHOWS! :-)



5. Lovejoy's gardening help and humor have been assembled over a long time as a gardener--in good times and bad. She knows bugs. She knows weeds. She understands my gardening pain. Her remedies for problems are safe and effective, and best of all, tend to be created out of stuff we all keep on hand. On a few gray, rainy days I have read her book simply for entertainment. Also, this book is a terrific gift. Enjoy!

5 comments about The Worm Book: The Complete Guide to Worms in Your Garden.

1. great information for the novice, or as a review guide for the more experienced. topics are easily referenced, and written to be understood.
   the only reason it did not receive 5 stars is it was published in the late 90's so some of the data given is outdated. as far as the how to it is 5 stars.



2. This is one of the two books most recommended by the vermiculture sites that I have visited. It is a comprehensive guide. It is a great book for children and adults who want to raise worms. It's easy to understand. It is a "most" before you buy the redworms. The only reason I give it a 4 is because it is so basic that young children can understand it and I am quite a bit older.



3. Really now... What is there to say about a worm book? Can it actually be INTERESTING? Well, this book held my attention well, taught me many things I did not know, did not burden me with super technical bunk that I do not need or want to know, and was a detailed, well rounded book on the topic.
   
   That said, I think the book was excellent.
   
   Of course, a more recent publication would be better (for instance: no mention of european nightcrawlers -- something rather recent on the American worm market)... but this book gave me ALL the information that I needed to begin raising worms and understanding the HOW's and WHY's of worms and vermiculture.



4. Quick read. Interesting book. Yes worms are helpful in the garden..sometimes. Had a Tif bermuda lawn in La Jolla that became a sea of worm castings. Flushed them all out with Ivory Liquid soap and water. They came screaming up out of the ground--a bit cruel but entertaining. Tried washing them off and saving them. Mostly they died. Worms are like weeds. A weed is a plant that is growing where you don't want it to grow. Worms in the compost pile are good and even amongst the veggies but in a Tiff Bermuda lawn, you gotta kill them.



5. I used this book as second verification information on the best treating of my worm population. Has great advice and different ideas. I have a modular worm station and this book helped with worm advancement thru the stages of vermicomposting.

No comments about The New Encyclopedia of Orchids: 1500 Species in Cultivation.

5 comments about So You Want to Start a Nursery.

1. This book is not your typical "grower" book. It has little to do with actually growing, this is a business book. If provides you with details of the actual running of a nursery business that you probably have never thought of. If you are looking at starting a greenhouse/nursery/veggie stand etc this book would be a wise investment.



2. I was engrossed when I first picked the book up and have been reading it every night since. Lots of great information and no nonsense advice. Real world information and a must have for anyone thinking about starting a nursery.



3. This is an excellent book on a subject that, admittedly, is not something a lot of people are involved in. It is especially nice to see a book that is readable and informative on a topic that is hard to find covered in a regular bookstore. I would highly recommend it for anyone contemplating a business involving plants.



4. Tony started a nursery from scratch, so he knows his stuff. Well written. Could be used as a text.



5. I recommend reading this book if you are interested in starting a nursery or just curious about the subject.

5 comments about Complete Book of Cacti & Succulents.

1. This is a georgeous book, but it doesn't mention Yuccas at all! There is very little on Agavaceae in general.
   The outstanding photography makes it somewhat worthwhile. All of the plants are photographed on white seamless, so they really pop off the page.



2. The book is very well produced and the photography is very good. The author is well known and respected in Cacti circles and the book reflects his knowledge and status. The first section relates to the history and discovery of cacti and shows some amazing photographs of cacti in their habitat. It goes on to show how best to display your cacti in suitable containers and then a chapter on the differing shapes of the plants and their flowers The plant catalogue itself does not show too many of the different genera, but the popular ones are there and what it does do is show photographs of a number of species within a certain genera and this appeals to me. Too many books try to over-reach themselves and try to cram in as many genera as possible, showing a photograph of one species and very short descriptions of one or two other species. In this book the descriptions of each plant give the average height, flower colour etc. and also the min. temp. each plant will stand. The book shares space equally between true cacti and succulents and they are presented separately which makes the book layout clean and easily readable. At the end of the book are several pages on plant selection in sections, i.e. Plants for beginners; Plants for the Greenhouse; Free Flowering plants etc. This is another plus. One criticism I have is that many of the plants are photographed from directly overhead, this may be aesthetically pleasing, but does not give a true reflection of the size and shape of the plant and is not really my cup of tea. But this is a small moan about what is otherwise an excellent book. At this price the book is a good buy and there is something for everyone interested in the care of these unusual plants. I am happy to have this book in my collection.



3. I've been collecting these wonderful plants for a number of years now and am constantly adding not only plants to my collection, but books. I am glad I added this one! No one book can completely cover every aspect of cacti lore and this one certainly does not, But, this work, added with several others, help to round my research library out. Each new addition, i.e. books, helps and this was certainly a good addition. The text is well done as the author is abviously very knowledgeable and I did like the photographs. I did agree with another reviewer in that the shots from the top of the plant, looking down are indeed pleasing to the eye, but they fail, in some cases, to give a true picture of the plant. I photograph plants and find it is helpful to get side views of different subjects. That is not big deal though. This is a helpful book and I do recommend it highly.



4. I've read this book from cover to cover a number of times, always exposing more useful information. Particularly of interest are the many excellent photographs, which help us longtime cactus fans who've bought various cacti through the years without knowing what we've bought, or purchasing packets of mixed seeds, stand a chance of identifying these plants. Even in the photos that suggest planting possibilities, the plants are identified. Perhaps the most useful suggestion is the purchase of an inexpensive moisture meter (I picked one up at a ubiquitous discount chain for less than $5 that is a marvel of invention), which showed me that my watering habits needed rethinking. The book is printed on heavy stock, loaded with luscious photographs and details concerning the needs of any particular group of cacti/succulents - yes, there are omissions - the book covers; also there are planting tips, information on growing medium, fertilizing, etc.. Overall, this is a very worthwhile and valuable book for the cactii/succulent enthusiast.



5. Good book for suculent lovers. Doesn't show every type but shows families. Great instructions for replanting and other care.

5 comments about The Complete Book of Bonsai.

1. A great way to see many different examples of well done bonsai. Excellent inspiration for beginners.



2. This book is really nice the presentation is awesome it looks like a collection book it has a hardcover protector and the information is very usefull nice pics and good tips for begginers and medium masters it`s a must have book i recomend it 100%



3. When I received a bonsai tree for mother's day, I was determined not to kill it like I had done with a previous bonsai. After researching 7 or 8 books at the library, and several more at local book stores, this one stood out as positively the best one out there. It offers full-color pictures of over 100 different species plus growing, watering, pruning, propagation, and other tips for each kind of tree. There are step-by-step instructions for growing bonsai from seeds, cuttings, and several other techniques such as grafting are included. This has been the most helpful book out there, and my trees, including several I bought, pruned, and potted myself, are flourishing! This is a wonderful book for any bonsai lover, or even just as a beautiful centerpiece for your library. Happy gardening!



4. Great photos but lacking detailed information. Wonderful, I think, if you're a beginner. I was hoping for more.



5. If you are just getting started in Bonsai and could only buy one book this book will give you everything you need to know for a long time.
   
   This book has a nice section on the art of bonsai; it has beautiful pictures and good information, including pictures of bonsais in every season. The next section is on creating a bonsai. This includes style and containers; it shows in detail how to prepare a pot before planting. It has pictures and descriptions of all the tools that are used in bonsai, plus it has pictures and descriptions on how to use each tool. Excellent for beginners.
   
   This book gives many methods of creating a bonsai. It shows before and after pictures and many pictures of the author actually doing it. Along with each picture there is good descriptions of what he is doing. This first section of the book is very good for anyone getting started.
   
   The next section is a species guide to over 60 species. There are one to two pages on each tree. It has at least one picture for each species, plus an up close picture of the leaf. There is a description, cultivation information and additional points of interest for each species. This section has beautiful pictures and valuable information for both indoors and out door bonsais. I think this section is good for everyone. It is good to know what a bonsai requires before you get it.
   
   At the end of this book there is a list of over 300 trees and shrubs suitable for cultivation as bonsai. There is a description and cultivation information for each entry.
   
   This book is excellent, the text, the photographs and the captions combine make this a very easy to understand guidebook and a good reference book. I recommend this book very highly.

5 comments about Home Gardener's Problem Solver: Symptoms and Solutions for More Than 1,500 Garden Pests and Plant Ailments (Ortho Home Gardener's Problem Solver).

1. This is the paperback version of the hardback you will find at most gardening stores. You will find all answers. You look up the plant you are having troubles with in the index. Then go to the plant page. It gives the typical pests/ailment with photos for clear identification. And an easy fix. Great for someone just getting into gardening.



2. I bought this book and the pictures are outstanding. They are all life like, not sketches. It is very easy to read. This book talks about insects, climate and soil and other topics to numerous to remember.



3. Being a certified nurseryman,I have found this book to be an invaluable tool for customer service and to boost sales. I just wish Ortho would take the professional edition and split it into maybe four books to make it more manageable.



4. It is a wonderful reference book! The pictures are great and it is easy to identify the culprit in the garden. The recomended treatments are easy to understand. It is a must have book for every gardner.
   I also feel that the price for this book is fair for the information that it contains.



5. Fair as a gardening resource, but is basically a very large instruction manual for the line of Ortho gardening chemicals. Its whole purpose is to tell you which of their products to use for which pest or fungus or nutrient difficientcy.

5 comments about Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening.

1. If you are interested in organic gardening, this is the book to have. I have not had one question that it couldn't answer yet!



2. I've been gardening for a few years, and this book really broadened my knowledge. Also made me feel less like a cheapskate for not running out to buy all the latest garden gizmos - they point out that you can reuse pruned shoots, for example, to stake up your garden plants. Highly recommended.



3. I find this book very user friendly. I find the format helpful and it's contents very informative. I especially find the care and pruning guides helpful and the variety of topics inspiring.



4. This book is poorly researched. One section of the book talks about fungi being plants that do not undergo photosynthesis. This idea has not been accepted by the science community since the mid 50s. It goes on to mention potato blight as common pathogenic fungi....potato blight is not casued by a fungi. The causative pathogen (an oomycete) was once in the kingdom fungi but later moved to a different kingdom in the late 70's. This leads me to beleive that the authors have taken a lot of updated information for granted. I could go on and on about this book. If you are new to gardening and and want something to ready this is an OK book. If you want or need a book that give real uptdate advice this is not the book. In my opinonin this book falls into the catagory of books that are ment to be on a coffe table and not really used. A good name was used to sell a poor product.



5. this is a great source for those who are interested in organic (or close too) gardening/growing, etc. answered many questions i had and shed light on some problems i had with plants last season. great book!!!

5 comments about Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds to Your Backyard: Watch Your Garden Come Alive With Beauty on the Wing (A Rodale Organic Gardening Book).

1. This book is wonderful for anyone who wants to garden in nature's best interest.



2. This book was just what I needed to learn about attracting humming birds and
   butterflies. This has been very useful for figuring out how to start my garden.
   I am very visual, so the beautiful pictures in the book and the general text design layout
   makes it easy to read.



3. I found the book extremely informative. There are numerous recommendations of different plant species to attract and nourish North American butterflies and their caterpillars. The book would make a wonderful project for young people and their parents to do together to explore the natural world, beautify their yard, support dwindling numbers of species and just have fun together. Information about hummingbirds is just as delightful.



4. This book has great information and lots of it. The author provides a lot of easy ways to attract life into a garden. Also, many plants are listed that thrive in midwest states (where the soil is like clay) were listed that I have never heard of before. It is explained why hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to certain plants, which helps you to think for yourself when you are out plant shopping. There are some tips and techniques that cost practically nothing which are fun projects for couples or parents and their children. I really enjoy this book and it is one that I can look at over and again and still learn something new to use in the garden. It will be a great tool this summer to me.



5. This book is a beauitful learning tool and is so well done with illustrations. A definite buy.

5 comments about The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers (American Horticultural Society Practical Guides).

1. This book has great pictures and covers any type of flower you can dream up in it's 700 or so pages. The book is broken up into sections (i.e. Shrubs, tulips, etc.). A great value here too, it costs $60 in any other book store. The book also tells you what seasons each type of flower grows in.



2. Pair this book with The American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants and you will have the most comprehensive gardening guides you will ever need! The reviews suggested buying the books together and I'm glad I took the advice.
   The books are HUGE! I wasn't prepared for the sheer weight of them but they are beautiful as well as informative.



3. My kids and I use this as part of their homeschool education. It has wonderful pictures and TONS of information!



4. Great for anygardener and it is a useful reference for people trying to figure out what to plant and where to plant it. Great book would highly recommend to any one.



5. VERY thorough but the vast majority listed do not include the common name, not even in a crossref table/index, which makes it too tough to discuss with family, friends, neighbors. I had to return the book.