4 comments about The Meaning of Flowers.

1. I am extremely disappointed in this book. I expected to be enlightened to the symbolic nature of flowers, but instead encountered a book that reminded me of a fourth grader's book report written late on a Sunday night. The symbolism discussed was largely limited to one word per flower with little or no explanation as to why this word found itself attatched to the flower in question. I cannot express strongly enough the lack of depth in this book.

   To make matters worse, there were not even pictures to accompany every entry! The sparing use of words, one might imagine, would require brilliant pictures to drag the book into respectability. The pictures that *are* included in the book do nothing to justify the purchase of this book. In short, I am sorry to be out my fifteen bucks :-(




2. This book is not to be bought as a reference book for a complete history of flowers and their names. It is a synergistic combination of pictures and words. It is to be experienced as a greeting card from the flowers to you, a photographic essay about flowers and the way they can touch you. The words and pictures are witty and inventive. See this book not as a reference work, but as a special gift for a flower lover and you will be pleased.



3. If you are looking for something to lay on a table & look pretty, you may find something worth buying in this book: The cover is very pretty, and the subtitle, "Myth, Language & Lore" gives a suggestion of depth and sensitivity. If, however you have any intention of cracking the cover in search of useful information, go find something else.

   Consider the following entry for heliotrope (quoted below in its entirety):

   HELIOTROPE [Heliotropium Arborescens]

   The sun-loving heliotrope suggested DEVOTION to the Victorians.

   These pale mauve flowers have a strong sweet sweet scent of almonds or cherry pie. Thomas Jefferson once referred to heliotrope as "a delicious flower. One of its varieties has been known in Europe since the dawn of the West, though the variations brought from Peru in the eighteenth century stirred public amazement.

   (End of entry.)

   The entry, by the way, does not include a picture. In this book, which bases its appeal far more on the quality of its visual presentation than its insight into floral culture, almost half of all entries are without pictures.

   I cannot even recommend this book as a starting point for further exploration, since the author has not seen fit to document any of her observations or facts: There are no footnotes, no bibliographic entries, and no hints to further reading. In short, I found it to be a substanceless work. I'd give it zero stars if that were an option, although I suppose it deserves credit for interesting pictures, where pictures have been included.




4. While I must bow to the expertise of the first two reviewers, who seem to have done much more research on the topic of flowers and their meanings than I have, I found the book to be a useful initiation into a subject I previously knew nothing about. I am currently online looking for other books on the subject because I found it so compelling.

   I think the book is more likely to serve as a resource for an artist--as a source of inspiration or ideas--than for a researcher. If you enjoy the study of symbols and tradition, and if you are looking for a jumping-off point for further investigation, or for some creative enterprise, this could be your book. If you are a serious researcher, you will--apparently--be badly disappointed.

No comments about Garden Seed Inventory: Inventory Of Seed Catalogs Listing All Non-Hybrid Vegetable Seeds, Available in the United States and Canada.

4 comments about The Complete Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs: Descriptions, Cultivation Requirements, Pruning, Planting.

1. The Complete Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs: Descriptions, Cultivation Requirements, Pruning, Planting
   by Ernie Wasson (Editor), Eric Wasson is a great book for all fields involving trees shrubs and cultivation. It has opened a world of interesting plants I had never before seen. I recommend it to all enlightented lovers of nature!!!!!!!!



2. The book has great pictures and covers any plant you could ever think of but is lacking in its content. Do the math, 8,500 trees and shrubs covered in 815 pages. That does not leave much room for a complete description. It is a very attractive book to look at, but is not for the serious landscaper or nurserymen.



3. i have found this bood to be an excellent resource for all types of trees and shrubs. it has both common and scientific plant names and is loaded with pictures and comprehensive descriptions. the cultivation tips have been very useful and i would highly recommend this book to anyone!



4. I'm a landscape contractor and have a lot of material available to me and have somewhat of a small library of encyclopedias, reference how-to books, etc. Ordered this book not knowing if I would get just another repeat of what I already have. This is one book I will return to quite often. Towards the front of the book will outline how the book works. The index in back is alphabetized with Latin nomenclature. Some common names are included too. If you want to look up Maples, you will find it under Maple, but will refer you to Acer and page #. Each genus entry gives you some info about the species over all and some 'cultivation'. Then gives you more specifics about each species/ variety alphabetically. First the Latin name then common name. Then includes range, size of the tree or shrub, characteristics, subspecies info, and zone tolerance ranges. There are a lot of very good photos that accompany each entry as well. Now, this is not 'Complete' in that it lists every tree/ shrub out there. That's unrealistic in any volume. But it is a very outstanding and 'Complete' in what it does cover - and it covers alot. I would recommend this encyclopedia be included in your library of reference material.

1 comments about Bug, Slugs, & Other Thugs: Controlling Garden Pests Organically (Down-To-Earth Book).

1. I picked this book up some time ago, and I have to say it has saved me in my garden endeavors on more than one occasion. Simply, this book covers every garden pest imaginable. I have never seen a book dedicate almost five pages on how to defend your garden against gophers. She takes an organic approach to her pest control; so if your looking for a book full of poisons available this is the wrong book for you. However, I have never seen another pest control book that is primarily dedicated to all the animal and insect pests you could encounter in your garden. One of the best books I've encountered. It is easy to read, insightful, and just plain full of knowledge. This is a top notch resource. I'm surprised Amazon doesn't have it in stock. Could it be out of print. Pick it up used, you won't regret it.

1 comments about Medieval Gardens (Historic Gardens).

1. Interesting, informative, beautiful little book. It's illustrated with gorgeous medieval paintings showing the various aspects and functions of medieval gardens. Highly recommended.

5 comments about Wyman's Gardening Encyclopedia.

1. Offering more information than you'll find anywhere else, this encyclpedia does NOT read like a pretty plant catalogue filled with the usual tired (and brief) descriptions. This book is a labor of love: full and opinionated, proof that a picture is not worth a thousand, well-researched words.



2. I have many gardening books and catalogs in my library, however, Wyman's is the one I refer to time and again because of its comprehensive discussion of each plant. If I could only have one reference, this would be it.



3. I would like to be able to rate this book at 4.9 stars, because, in my opinion and by way of usage and reference, only one other usually supercedes it (the comprehensively illustrated "AHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants"). Yet the Wyman's remains a valuable reference that I consult as a second (and often first) source of botannical and gardening information.

   The other readers' reviews here should give ample incentive to buy this book. Their words-"well researched" [the book is thorough in its descriptions and definitions], "full and opinionated" [the writing is colorful and makes for interesting reading] and "comprehensive" [Wyman even gives the correct Latin pronunciation of each listed genus (I wish the AHS book did)]-affirm the book's usefulness.




4. I would like to be able to rate this book at 4.9 stars, because, in my opinion and by way of usage and reference, only one other usually supercedes it (the comprehensively illustrated "AHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants"). Yet the Wyman's remains a valuable reference that I consult as a second (and often first) source of botannical and gardening information. The other readers' reviews here should give ample incentive to buy this book. Their words-"well researched" [the book is thorough in its descriptions and definitions], "full and opinionated" [the writing is colorful and makes for interesting reading] and "comprehensive" [the book is well edited and informative]-are testimony to the book's usefulness. One does not just gain enjoyment from reading this tome; one reaps knowledge from consulting it.



5. What it lacks in glitz (American Hort Society books for example), it more than makes up for in information and organization. Covers everything. If you want to look up information on growing a plant, general information about one, diseases it gets and their treatments: this is the place. Further there is copius information on general gardening, recommendations for different conditions, and on and on, all written in a wry style that I enjoy.
   
   If you want beautiful books with lots pictures of pictures try the AHS series, if you want to look stuff up about the pictures, you can not do better than Wyman's.

No comments about Pests & Diseases of Herbaceous Perennials: The Biological Approach.

No comments about Garden Rooms: Create and Decorate Outdoor Garden Spaces.

1 comments about Practical Science for Gardeners.

1. Easy to read science of plants, soils, seeds, pests, diversity, and the advantages and disadvantages of fertilizers and organic gardening. If you are ready to go from just planting stuff to understanding why things grow and how you can help, this is a good choice.
   
   Not strictly organic, but extols the virtues of taking advantage of both methods to increase the fertility of the soil and the health of your plants. By understanding the processes behind their uses, you are better able to avoid the pitfalls of both, and take advantage of each.
   
   Recommended for anyone looking to understand what is going on in the garden.

2 comments about Geraniums: The Complete Encyclopedia.

1. I have been collecting pelargoniums for 20 years. Mrs. Brawner's book is the best available guide ever to the cultivars and how to grow them. The color pictures are abundant and of excellent quality. Please note that this book uses the common American name 'geranium' for the plants that are known to science as pelargoniums. If you want to grow perennial, cold-hardy geraniums you will need a different book.



2. This book covers the geranium from A to Z. Easy to read and is packed with alot of helpful and useful information.