2 comments about Ortho's All About Shade Gardening (Ortho's All About Gardening).

1. Open the door to possibilities, garden design, and learning the secrets to a beautiful shade garden in your own back yard. Learn about soil classification, drainage, climates, soil testing for ph, and developing good soil. Many improvements to your garden and solutions to your garden problems can be found in this book. How to care for your shade gardens, from fertilizing and learning about other nutrients needs. Is my garden in Light shade to full shade, and what makes the difference anyway? How do I measure the light? The most important part the plant selections are wonderful. You get so much information and so easy to find. This book is a must for any shade gardener.



2. This is a simple, basic book that provides the fundamentals of shade gardening. So many gardeners have trouble because they are try to have a full sun type plant garden in a shady area. Plants just will not grow. This book solves the problem in defining just what shade is and the different degrees of shade. Then gives a very good listing with photographs of good shade plants.

5 comments about The Natural Shade Garden.

1. If you have a shady garden space, this book will make you feel like the luckiest gardener in the world. Ken Druse structured the book around the organization of natural woodland plants: understory, middle layer, and overstory. (Note that this is not the right book for you if you are looking to create a formal shady garden.) The beautiful photographs, both closeup and scenic, and the detailed yet readable text make this book a success on two fronts. There is enough practical advice to take you from designing your shade garden to keeping it healthy and beautiful through the seasons and years. There is even a resource list to help with ordering your plants. Did I mention how amazing the photographs are? This is my favorite garden book so far, and I am accumulating quite a little collection.

   Partial shade, dappled shade, and deep shade are all addressed with beautiful pictures of plants and gardens and with descriptive, practical text.




2. Ken Druse delivers a great perspective on shade gardening, providing an understanding of different types of shade and the plants that are successful. The wonderful photography makes this book a joy to peek into successful gardens and plant combinations. The text is for moderately experienced gardeners, but flows well and is well organized.
   
   As mentioned by several others, Druse too often suggests invasive plants such as ivy, porcelain berry, and purple loosestrife, so a word of caution is in order. I would like to see Druse taking a leadership role in awareness of these problem plants.
   
   On the whole, this is another terrific book from Ken Druse and I highly recommend it to everyone who loves a shady garden on a warm summer day.



3. We have a shady, sloped yard in Texas which is highly unusual for this part of Texas. This means we usually can't grow many of the plants that most people in our community do. So, my husband and I went to the bookstore and found this book. There were others on shade gardening, but this had the best photography. The publisher obviously used high-quality printing techniques on this book to get the vivid color. So, this makes just a beautiful book to look at. I used to feel a little disappointed that our yard was so shaded (except that it's cooler in the hot Texas sun than others!), but when I saw this book I realized we could make it into quite a gem.
   
   I will admit that I am a novice gardener, but I found this book inspiring with lots of ideas for plants that we could use in the shade. I am not sorry that I spent $40 on this book!



4. If you like pretty pictures, then this book is for you. I bought it in conjunction with "The Complete Shade Gardener", which is black and white, to be a sort of color companion. The section of the book titled Plants and Plantings goes through the author's favorite plants for shade (which very well may be all of them) and gives a text description that does very little to give you any real understanding of the plant-not what it looks like, or how to grow it. Perhaps worst of all, the pictures in this section don't seem to correspond to the text of what the author is describing at all, so you are forced to thumb ahead or behind to see a picture of the plant the author is talking about at the time. This makes it very hard to read as you are always thumbing through the pages to find a picture of the flower the author is talking about.
   
   The first 60 pages deal with inspiration and design, and are much easier to understand, as well as being laid out better than the next 100. The last part of the book, which presents individual garden examples also seems to be better organized and well written, although I haven't read it through yet.
   
   Since about 2/5 of this book was enjoyable, I am giving it 2 stars. The middle section has all the monotony of a plant encyclopedia with half the information, and none of the organization. The strengths of the book stand out as the beautifully photographed plates, and the pleasant tone of the author, which still manages to be witty and friendly even during the monotonous middle section.



5. I have a shady garden and bought this book expecting some good information as well as inspiration.
   I must say the photos are all indeed beautiful and pretty inspiring. But this is not a book you would consult for gardening information. For example, it doesn't even tell you the hardiness zones for the plants cited. I for one, am glad I knew that Hostas will not grow in California, but I'm pretty sure a lot of beginners out there will get excited on plants they can't even grow.
   I would say this is an absolutely beautiful "coffee table book", but not really a "gardening book".

5 comments about Southern Shade: A Plant Selection Guide.

1. I find this book, Southern Shade and its companion, Southern Sun, to be excellent resources for the Southern gardener. Both books provide many plant options - some that perhaps you haven't thought of - which are beautifully photographed. The books are laid out in a way that makes them easy to read and access. I would recommend investing in both so that you have a complete outdoor gardening guide - they make great gifts, too!



2. This book helped me transform my yard to a beautiful sanctuary. Finally, though the help of this book, my landscaping is easy to maintain. I have learned so much from the authors' explanations and photographs of the plants that do well in shade. I recommend this book and her other book, Southern Sun: A Plant Selection Guide, as a marvelous housewarming gift for new homeowners.



3. My daughter took this book to her office and several people looked at it and got some great ideas. She gave them the info. on how to order them.



4. Just like Southern Sun this book is beautiful, interesting to read and provides great advise for the non-professional. You can enjoy the read and you can use it as a great work book. Pictures are beautiful.



5. As a shade loving gardener, I found this book delightful. Not only is it very specific, but it is fun to browse through. It's always a challenge to find something new to grow in shade, but Jo does a great job of giving the details. I especially liked the "getting acquainted" part of each plant guide. It helped with overview and selection.

1 comments about Shade: Ideas and Inspiration for Shady Gardens.

1. 
   Almost every gardener in every horticultural zone must deal with the problems and possibilities of growing plants under shade or semi-shade conditions. "Shade: Ideas And Inspirations For Shady Gardens" by horticulturist and garden designer Keith Wiley provides a profusely illustrated compilation of shade tolerant plants and gardening ideas that can transform any shaded garden into a visual paradise of flourishing plant life. "Shade" covers the full spectrum of garden shade conditions from dappled to partial to full shading in every size of garden plot. All of the characteristics of shade loving plants are addressed, along with how to use them with companions to create striking designs. Also addressed are the practicalities of preparing, planting and maintaining a shade garden. Enhanced with a directory of shad-loving plants, and drawing upon his many years of experience and expertise, Keith Wiley's "Shade" is a complete and comprehensive single volume reference that is as 'user friendly' as it is innovative and inspiring. No personal, horticultural department, plant nursery, or community library Gardening Reference collection should be without a copy of Keith Wiley's "Shade"!

5 comments about Taylor's Guide to Shade Gardening: More Than 350 Trees, Shrubs, and Flowers That Thrive Under Difficult Conditions, Illustrated with Color Photographs and Detailed Drawings (Taylor's Guides).

1. Having recently purchased a condo in Houston with a north-facing porch, I eagerly awaited delivery of this book. However, I was quickly disappointed. This book should be titled "Shade Gardening in the North," since virtually all of the plants listed are for Zones 5 and lower...not much help for my Zone 9 garden. It did contain a couple of pages of information for shade gardening in the South (which they consider to be North Carolina!), but I was really looking for specific information on the types of shade plants I could plant here. This would have been a great book if I lived in Ohio, but not so good for us Texans.



2. The Taylor's Guides are very reliable sources for gardening information and great pictures, and the Shade Gardening Guide is one of the best. Shade gardening is difficult for many reasons. There are not that many very showy flowers for seasons other than Spring, and there are many types of shade. The descriptions are very specific and helpful: light shade, dappled shade, "the more shade, the less moisture is needed," and so on. The soil and shade descriptions for each plant are excellent and detailed.

   Although the plants are listed alphabetically for the cultural requirements, the pictures are listed by groups: trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, summer bulbs, ground covers, vines, grasses, and ferns. I would recommend that people using the book for plant selection read the "Encyclopedia of Plants" part as well as the brief but good descriptions with the color pictures.

   Keep in mind too that the flowering times are primarily for New England (zone 5). Furthur South you may get earlier and more flowers. For example, Ceratostigma is listed as an Autumn bloomer, while in PA, it blooms from July through October. So you get more than the book suggests. Not bad. Anyone with shade should experiment with the plants in this book. As a gardening professional, I see so many great and underused plants listed and described in this book.




3. This wonderful little book (thick, but only 4.27" wide) is an absolute necessity for anyone who wishes to do some gardening in a shady area. In fact, this book is really three books rolled into one. The first section looks at shade and shade gardening, it is straightforward and highly informative. The second section is entitled The Color Plates, and gives a long list of shade-loving plants, including a very nice color picture, and a highly informative description. The third section goes hand-in-hand with the second, and gives more in-depth information.

   This book is really great, a must have for those of us who wish to do some gardening in a shady area. I highly recommend this book to all gardeners!




4. This is a great reference for those gardening in shade. It is organized in a logical format and can be easily used. The photos are nice and the information helpful as plants are considered for a shade garden. While it may not be adequate for those gardening in the deep south, it is very well suited to zones 5,6, and 7.



5. Provides lots of interesting gardening information if you are planting only trees and shrubs. Book does not detail anything for vegetable gardeners. Title should be changed to include the word "Forestry" rather than the broad term 'gardening".

5 comments about The Complete Shade Gardener.

1. Thinking I needed full sun to grow any plants and flowers, I was prepared to cut down trees and clear land. But finding this book in the library stopped me in my tracks. I renewed it three times because I didn't want to give it back. Finally I came here for my own copy. There are incredibly beautiful flowers that grow in partial and full shade. I would've never known that without this excellent book.



2. The author spends the first part of the book discussing what to do to prepare a shady site for a garden and his informal tone and candid assessment of his own mistakes will encourage the most timid to venture into the darker regions of the garden. There are 8 pages of full color and scattered black and white photos throughout the book, so for those unfamiliar with the mentioned plants, another photo-heavy reference or two is a must. The black and white photos, however, are very useful to indicate foliage texture and form, which is often not noticeable in color pictures. Rather than using USDA hardiness zones, Schenk gives region codes to indicate the hardiness of plants. He includes trees, shrubs, groundcovers, vines, ferns, perennials, annuals, even edibles. The book was last updated in 1991 and the list of hybrids grows ever longer; still, this is a handy reference to consult before a nursery trip to see the latest and greatest. A helpful list of specialty nurseries, with notes on the specialty of each, is included, as are suggested plans for a shady retreat. A terrific book.



3. When I ordered this book, I was expecting beautiful examples like the photo on the cover, but instead got an outdated black and white books, which is of little use to me when I'm in the middle of a project looking for inspiration. While the content on this book is excellent, and it is a great primer for beginning gardeners, it is not for the designer looking for quick ideas.



4. This book was great because they have pictures that show as well describe the plants and tree's. My wife has low vision and this book was great for her. We recommend this book to all people who want to know what grows in the shade.



5. There was some good advice in this book and some original descriptions which was nice. The author certainly has an intimate knowledge of many of the shade plants he describes. However, it does seem a little dated and the pictures are uninspiring. If the pictures were in color, and the information edited for current practices, it would have been much more satisfying.

5 comments about The Color Encyclopedia of Hostas.

1. 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.



2. 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.



3. 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!



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



5. This book is a valuable asset for every Hosta collector. Moreover, it is much cheaper than if I had bought it in Europe, where the price is 50 !
   Thank you Amazon.com

5 comments about Making the Most of Shade: How to Plan, Plant, and Grow a Fabulous Garden that Lightens up the Shadows.

1. A thoroughly detailed informed book for each plant mentioned in the book. Well worth buying.
   Each feature goes into depth about the plant. The author knows his plants.Excellent purchase.



2. I'm in the middle of landscaping our very shady yard & this book has been indispensible! We have lived here nearly 7 years & have done little exterior work except add rock. We didn't know where to begin! Wanting to sell next year has spurred us into action & I'm grateful for the advice in Hodgson's book.



3. As someone who lives in an urban area I had little choice in the amount of shade in my garden. I've found Hodgson's book to be an exciting read with lots of inspiring photos, plans, and useful tidbits. I did have a few disappointments with this book but they were pretty minor.
   
   The small, close-up photos in the plant index are great for showing detail, but are not so great at giving the reader an idea of what the whole plant looks like, how it sits, whether it is compact or expansive, etc. As a beginning gardener I had to look elsewhere for more "in context" photos of the plants.
   
   A chapter on shrubs for shade would also have been helpful.
   
   These gripes aside, I've found this book to be a great help in designing my urban shade garden and would recommend to any beginner gardener looking for inspiration.



4. I purchased this as a gift for family with lots of shading in their lot. Good pictures, descriptions and explanations.



5. I have been very pleased with this book on shade gardening. It contains many good ideas for plants and layouts ... which is what I was looking for. I also found the information on soil preparation very helpful. =)

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 Pruning Made Easy: A gardener's visual guide to when and how to prune everything, from flowers to trees (Storey's Gardening Skills Illustrated).

1. This book was very helpful for the gardener with lots of trees and shrubs



2. I like this book so much - this is the third copy I have purchased this year! (I keep giving my copy away to family members who desperately need it.) The black line drawings are what keep bring me back to this one book for all of our pruning needs. We have berry bushes (some wild and some we planted ourselves), flowering shrubs, fruit trees, a bonzi tree, a dogwood, grape vines, 3 old Oaks trees and 2 young Walnut trees. This ONE BOOK has helped us to care for each of them according to their needs and age. It has helped turn my brown thumb into green.



3. An excellent guide for pruning everything in the garden. Diagrams are clear and easy to follow. After looking at more that 20 books on pruning, Pruning Made Easy was my choice and I am very satisfied.



4. I kill plants! Not on purpose just some people are green thumb challenged. My husband and I bought quite a few fruit tree last summer and we had no idea how to prune them this book has saved me it is easy to understand(for those of us who are not gifted in yard care things) and easy to follow. It also is not a pruning for dummies book it really is for anybody I think even experienced gardeners would love it. It is just clean and uncomplicated.



5. This is a beautiful writen and excellent explained book. If you have never don't prunning before you will feel like a pro when you finish reading this book. And for the price amazon offers is even better.