5 comments about The Rose Bible.

1. "The Rose Bible" is the best and most helpful book on roses I've ever browsed or read. The pictures are magnificient, the language is informative, honest, and humorous, and the history of roses is explained very well. There is a slight bias towards cutting as opposed to garden roses in the top fifty list, but the contents and organization are nearly flawless. No potpourri tips here! If you want to know where roses came from, what is available now (with strong and weak points for each), how to buy, feed, prune, protect roses, and if you don't mind drooling over hundreds of rose pictures in the most undignified fashion, this is the book you want.



2. Make no bones about it, this book is about roses the author enjoys. This is not a bad thing. He gives you a good concise history on roses, introducing you to the various types of roses grown through time. He gives great advise on planting, pruning and maintenance over the year. Then there are the pictures- lots of them, and beautifully photographed. Yes there is a whole chapter on his favorite roses (many of them tried and true) but hundreds more are referred to with photos and text. This is an ejoyable book, fun to flip through, but still has the information a beginner needs to know when choosing roses.



3. I am an avid gardner and appreciate a book that tantalizes me with new ideas for my garden. Although I already have some 18 roses in my garden, this book has inspired me to create even more space for more roses, and collect some amazing bourbons and antiques that are out there. I originally purchased this book to research new climbers, and found that and more! The photos are captivating, and the author provides a great history on the various species. In addition, I feel like the author does an outstanding job of explaining the positives and negatives of roses he highlights. I have reread the chapter on "Fifty Immortal Roses" numerous times, and can't seem to put this book down. I can't wait to start digging in the dirt. Very inspirational!



4. It would take volumes to cover the multitudes of roses that are out there, but, with a name like "The Rose Bible" I expected more than this book delivered.
   It's not a bad book, it just doesn't live up to it's name. The roses listed are common, the type you can find information on anywhere. ( Try: [...])
   There is nothing new in this book.
   
   If you're new to roses The Rose Bible will open your eyes to a whole new world that exists beyond the Hybrid Tea rose and it gives very good information about selecting, growing and pruning roses.
   
   As an experienced rosarian whose looking for more in depth or obscure rose information, The Rose Bible doesn't have it.



5. Even if you aren't into roses this is a good book to brouse through. He does concentrate on his favorites making them sound like they are the best. The thing to keep in mind with this book is that most of the modern roses will do well in his area as he says they do. However the best chapter in the book is the part on how to grow. He does give detailed type of information generously, plus pictures to show you how to do it which is a big plus. I haven't found clear photos like his in most rose books.

5 comments about Graham Stuart Thomas Rose Book.

1. This book is magnificent - as a reference work for a rosarian. Unfortunately, it fails to give the clues a gardener might wish for in terms of how a rose will adapt to climates, etc.



2. This book has turned into my best and most accurate reference on roses, especially historical roses. Graham S. Thomas has given fascinating and thorough information on the development of roses. I have also found his descriptions of many varieties of roses to be supurb and thorough. Gardeners who prefer a more lush and informal style of gardening will also appreciate his information on growing roses as he doesn't carry pruning to the extreme that so many gardening books advise. On the whole, if you are interested in the history of roses and growing Old Garden Roses, you must get this book.



3. If you are a rose-lover who lives from show to show, this book is not likely to please. Nor is it likely to be a good book first book for people new to roses. Firstly, it is not a picture book, though it does have some of the best rose photos to be found in books. Secondly it is not about the "hot" roses of today Hybrid Teas, Floribundas, and Miniatures.

   Graham Stuart Thomas started out growing such roses, but in his early twenties he was visited by Constance Spry, an Old Rose lover who changed the way he looked at roses. Thomas has spent the rest of his life preserving, promoting, and documenting Old Roses, Shrub Roses, and Climbing Roses. His studies have honed his aesthetic sensibilities. And it is these keen sensibilities that inform this book. We can rely on Thomas to tell us not just the features and history of a rose, but to relate to us how he feels about it. It is this judgement that makes the book extremely valuable.

   As we mentioned, the book has a section of one or two hundred photographs and watercolor paintings. These are classic photos, of whole plants. They teach us how the roses will look as garden plants. And as such they are more valuable than a ten thousand photos of single hybrid tea blossoms.

   It is easy to recommend this book to anyone who wishes to learn how to choose good, gardenworthy roses that work as landscape plants. Any well-rounded rose grower really should have spent some hours perusing its pages.




4. One of the previous reviews said that this book is "not for the gardener." Perhaps it is not for the general, whining newby who can't tell the difference between a hybrid tea and a gallica or the lazy reader who can't get past any book that isn't slopped about with gaudy, glossy photographs and illustrations. But it *is* for the TRUE gardener who appreciates substance over style and really wants to learn about all that roses have to offer. The information contained in this book is priceless, charming and soul-satisfying. If you want a basic rose book with those goofy illustrated directions for planting a rose or identifying black spot, then please drive to Wal-Mart and pick one up there. If, however, you have outgrown the Ortho series (or the equivalent) and want something a bit more...wonderful...then please look no farther than G.S. Thomas and his unsurpassed trilogy of rose books.



5. I love this book, but found it a little daunting when I first unwrapped it. It is not your standard "lots of beautiful pictures" book. There are a few pictures, but they are not particularly good. It is the writing and the information contained that make this book so valuable. I keep it on my bedside table now and browse through it regularly, to read the fascinating histories and yummy descriptions of roses.

   One thing that makes this book so excellent is the beautiful writing and the fact that he includes text and information from older rose resources/material that would be difficult to find without going to an extensive library. It is informative and gives detailed histories of old garden roses with descriptions that truly give you a feel for the roses. There is a rich section on propagation and the cultivation of roses, as well, although I found this less interesting than the historical information. I am particularly interested in Moss roses and this book had excellent material relating to the development of this type of rose, as well as all the other categories such as Portlands, Gallicas, Albas, etc. If you are confused by the categories, you cannot find a better source for explaining how these classes are different and how they may have come into being. I highly recommend it for people who are interested in history and development of roses. I have not seen a better book in this category, and I have quite a number of rose books.

   If you are fascinated with the history of the rose, you should get this book--I read this time and time again when considering additions to my garden or when I simply want to know more about the old garden roses I grow and get the characterists of the various classes of rose straight in my mind.

2 comments about Roses for the Scented Room: Beautiful Ideas for Entertaining, Gift-giving and the Home.

1. Like the other books that have been put out my Ohrbach and Milo this book is joy! It is filled with beautiful photos of ways to use one of natures most beautiful creations - the rose. It includes recipes for things such as teas and potpourri and includes other ideas for lovely items that make perfect gifts or decorations for your home. The imformation is presented in a simple and thoughtfull manner so that it is relatively simple to complete the projects shown. The ideas are realistic - they are things that you really would do . There is also good information on how to care for roses in the garden and as well as great arrangement suggestions. All in all I really love this book. I'll be ordering at least 2 more since it will be the perfect mothers'day or easter gift. A must have for all of those who appreciate the beauty of roses!



2. I love this book. If anything its fun to just look at. There is some history, some info on types of roses, gathering roses, crafts, products you can make with roses (that are simple), and decorating/arranging...etc, etc! It's just filled with lots of great stuff. It's fun to read and lovely to look at!

2 comments about Jackson & Perkins Rose Companions: Growing Annuals, Perennials, Bulbs, Shrubs and Vines with Roses (Jackson & Perkins).

1. This is an excellent guide to integrating roses into a garden with other plants instead of keeping them in a separate location in a bare, mulched rose bed. Well written text and good pictures.
   
   Shame on the publisher, though, for such poor copyediting! Next time pay a good copyeditor or proofreader and spare yourself the embarrassment of roses "baring their hips" (bearing, perhaps?) and "while your nose is ravaging the blooms" (really? RAVAGING?) and miscellaneous omitted words.



2. The author's rose experience gives the knowledgeable rosarian broader understanding and the novice rich new territory to discover. Roses become assets for gardens rather than specimens separated from the whole. If I had this book when I first began my rose adventures it would have been a constant source of help and inspiration.

4 comments about Growing Roses Organically: Your Guide to Creating an Easy-Care Garden Full of Fragrance and Beauty (Rodale Organic Gardening Book).

1. Growing Roses Organically: Your Guide To Creating An Easy-Care Garden Full Of Fragrance And Beauty by garden designer and horticulturalist expert Barbara Wilde is a fabulous, full-color guide to creating a beautiful organic garden tailored to the rose-lover's tastes. Direct, simple instructions and details on a wide variety of roses enhance this superb reference which is ideal for gardeners of all skill levels. From the basics of getting started; through issues such as watering, fertilizing, pruning, disease and insect infestation; to the details of designing rose gardens (included the Mixed Border; Wild Gardens, Hedging, and Wildlife Gardens), Barbara Wilde writes with an accessibility that is as informative as it is easy-to-apply. Of special note is chapter ten, "A Gallery of Roses". If you aspiring to growing a garden of roses, begin your preparations by giving Barbara Wilde's Growing Roses Organically a careful reading!



2. This is a practical, pretty, and highly useful book for anyone who wants to smell the roses, especially in climates less temperate than the west coast.

   The number of roses included is far from encyclopaedic, but for the roses Ms Wilde does include, she reports thoroughly on on their disease susceptibility, growth habit, hardiness, fragrance, and more. In nearly all cases, a gorgeous color photo accompanies. In fact, stripped of its useful information, this book would still be a fine buy for its large color photos. Before the gallery of roses, you'll find clear and helpful instructions about how to prepare for planting and how to accomplish the actual planting. Although the emphasis obviously centers on organic methods, this is a fine general reference on growing roses.

   The book itself seems reasonably well put together. I haven't spent months poring over it yet, but I do not have the early feeling of dread when a poorly glued book seems ready to fall apart in my hands. Probably part of the reason is that the book is large enough to be helpful, but not so large that its very size works to break it apart. The format, in other words, allows for some large and luscious eye candy, but it is not as big as many modern illustrated gardening books which should really come with their own stands.

   Photographs, clear drawings, and lucid instructions and descriptions make this book a pleasure to own and and treasure to use.




3. This book is an outstanding resource not only for rose gardeners, but also for gardeners in general. I learned all sorts of useful facts about growing plants organically. The book is beautifully written and easy to understand. The illustrations are excellent.
   This book is attractive enough to be given as a gift.
   Wilde has given us a treasure:
   her vast experience and great love of gardening.



4. I am a big fan of organic gardening, but I just can't agree with the other posters here who've raved about this book. I'm glad it's not the first one I've read on organic gardening or on roses. If it had been, I think I would have given up! Wilde makes it sound entirely too complicated, especially for the typical home gardener. Also, not that many roses are featured, and information on them (fragrance,etc differs from what I've read elsewhere and/or experienced in my own garden. An OK book, but be sure you read others and go to the excellent site help me find dot com to get some perspective. Visit local gardens to see what does well. And don't be afraid to experiment in your own garden, keeping it simple as much as possible. If you 1.) choose roses known to do well in your area, 2.) plant them properly making sure they have plenty of sun, food and water, and 3.) cultivate them cleanly, keeping their bases free of fallen leaves and debris - the job is mostly done. ENJOY YOUR ROSES!

5 comments about Classic Roses.

1. Publishers, please bring "Classic Roses" by Peter Beales back into print! I bought a copy for a friend and now I can't bear to give it up. It has everything for the rosarian: thousands of enticing color photographs and descriptions (the author's own collection of roses numbers well over 2,000 species and varieties); extensive chapters on using roses in the landscape (even if your 'landscape' happens to be an apartment terrace), the care and cultivation of roses, the history of roses; and at the back of the encyclopediac text, there are extensive appendixes, indices, a glossary of terms, and suggestions for further reading.

   Peter Beales is also a pleasure to read--very British; very knowledgeable; and it is very obvious that he loves his subject. I have only two minor suggestions for "Classic Roses" if it is once again revised: include U.S.A. climate zones for the roses; include photographs of all (not most) of the roses (I'll bet the author wanted to do this and the publishers wouldn't let him).

   As fond as I am of my friend, "Classic Roses" and I are never going to part company.




2. This is not a coffee table book. Though the pages are high-quality paper, the photos excellent and plentiful, and the binding high-quality, the book is essentially a meaty reference. If there were a college course on roses, this might serve as a texbook.

   Beales starts as most authors do by talking about rose history, culture and using roses in the garden. It is clear that Beales is not so interested in roses as show-bench trophy fodder but as vital elements of a user-friendly and colorful garden. This sentiment shows in his selection of cultivars.

   The bulk of the book is descriptions of roses. Beales has developed the most complete shorthand available for expressing all the things you wish to about a rose: how well it does in the shade, which diseases it gets, when it blooms, how big and bushy the plant is. This means that his text entries can focus on the facets of the rose that make it unique in the garden. In other words, he manages to convey the same amount of information as would a book twice the heft of this very hefty tome.

   The book does a commendable job covering all old rose classes, climbing roses, shrub roses, species, and near-species cultivars. It is the over-fat classes of Hybrid Perpetuals and Hybrid Teas, that have pricipally recieved the editorial hatchet. And since Beales considers only 2000 or so cultivars, this book is good for culling out the considerable amount of dross among roses - especially among hybrid teas.

   If you know you will never use roses for any purpose than cutting or showing on a bench, this book will be of only peripheral use. But if you yearn to understand how roses can work in a garden setting, this is one of the best buys around.




3. I purchased this beauty along with Botanica's Roses, from Amazon. WOW was I delighted! Between the 2 I have almost every rose info I could imagine. It is well worth the money and a must have for every rosarian. I have 40 roses so far and found the info very useful in my continued purchases. (ex: I live in the NW and have wet weather...many roses dislike wet and don't open properly. The books reveal which are poor choices for my such climate. Now that is USEFUL information!)

   Of course it goes without saying that the author knows his roses and the pictures are, well, drop-dead gorgeous (as are in the Botanica's Roses book.)

   A 100% must have, along with Botanica's.




4. As its name implies, Classic Roses emphasizes older garden roses and species roses. Its organization by subgenus and section (e.g., "Synstylae") is useful to botanists, but more idiosyncratic for gardeners, especially as most modern roses have ancestors from many species. The book does cover Hybrid Teas and more recent introductions, even including over 50 of David Austin's "New English Roses" up to and including `Scepter'd Isle' (1996). It is not as easy (i.e., a 2-step process via the index) to find specific cultivars as in the similar-sized and also excellent American Rose Society Encyclopedia of Roses, but this book has slightly more cultural information on most varieties, as well as longer - and excellent - chapters on rose history, "Roses in the Landscape" and "The Cultivation of Roses." This book also has a very useful appendix of cultivars by height and narrowly defined (e.g., 4 different yellows) colors. To actually come up with my personal "Rose List" (a 1-page Excel sheet I bring to nurseries) I have primarily used the much smaller (200 page) but in its own way very useful Peter Schneider on Roses - which is limited to that rosarian 's favorite varieties - but of course one also has to have a reference tome or two.



5. As its name implies, Classic Roses emphasizes older garden roses and species roses. Its organization by subgenus and section (e.g., "Synstylae") is useful to botanists, but more idiosyncratic for gardeners, especially as most modern roses have ancestors from many species. The book does cover Hybrid Teas and more recent introductions, even including over 50 of David Austin's "New English Roses." It is not as easy (i.e., a 2-step process via the index) to find specific cultivars as in the similar-sized and also excellent "American Rose Society Encyclopedia of Roses," but this book has slightly more cultural information on most varieties, as well as longer - and excellent - chapters on rose history, "Roses in the Landscape" and "The Cultivation of Roses." This book also has a very useful appendix of cultivars by height and narrowly defined (e.g., 4 different yellows) colors. To actually come up with my personal "Rose List" (a 1-page Excel sheet I bring to nurseries) I have primarily used the much smaller (200 page) but in its own way very useful "Peter Schneider on Roses" - which is limited to that rosarian 's favorite varieties - but of course one also has to have a reference tome or two.

No comments about Old-fashioned and David Austin Roses.

3 comments about Visions of Roses.

1. This is a visually stunning tour of rose gardens throughout Europe and the United States. Beales interviewed the owners and describes their gardens in glorious detail. The photographs by Russell are equally beautiful. This is a beautiful book that gardeners and rose lovers will love to have in their library.



2. Anyone who has seen Vivienne Russell's book on Monet's Garden knows that this photographer is capable of capturing the spirit of a garden - the way it looks and feels. She has an eye for light, detail, nuance, composition. So when I ordered this book, I was expecting to be equally wowed. But I wasn't.
   
   Much of this is because Monet's Garden at Giverny is in a class by itself. It is, perhaps, less a garden than a living, breathing three dimensional piece of art. I know as a photographer that when I photograph a garden, it is usually the case that I must move through the garden judiciously and figure out exactly where to stand and what to look at if I am to capture it at its best. But at Giverney the opposite is true. Stand in any spot and look in any direction and you will find a perfect shot. This explains much of the gap.
   
   Yet I know the discrepancy is more than this, because one can find photos with noticable photographic flaws in this book - mostly blown highlights. So part of the blame lies in the photography. That said, the photos are generally first rate and they are blown up large and reproduced well, all this giving us a better view of rose garden vistas than we can get anywhere else.
   
   In delivering these vistas it fills a niche that few books attempt. And it does so very well. It describes how to build gardens with roses; how to use them in all sorts of ways other than lining them up like so many wooden soldiers on a review field.
   
   In some ways I prefer Tony Lord's Designing with Roses. It is more about the language of design expressed in rose language. And its photos are more colorful. But to see real gardens and to hear them being discussed by their owners and one of the best rose authorities writing today is a great and rare asset. There is no other book that tries to do this. And this one does it very well.



3. Most of the photos are not of the "garden", but only the plants, plus a lot of the pics are not sunny enough to be pleasing. There are only a few worthy interesting "garden" scenes. The book's inside flap's description, therefore, was too misleading.

1 comments about Tender Roses for Tough Climates.

1. This is an excellent and very detailed guide for the rose gardener who wants her roses to survive from one northern winter to the next. This book will save you money by preventing the loss of roses to sub-zero temperatures.

1 comments about Growing Beautiful Roses: Your Guide to Creating an Easy-Care Garden Full of Fragrance and Color.

1. Growing Beautiful Roses: Your Guide to Creating an Easy-Care Garden Full of Fragrance and Color This is an easy to follow book with good suggestions about taking care of your roses. Liked its easy to follow style