5 comments about The American Woodland Garden: Capturing the Spirit of the Deciduous Forest.

1. I am a novice gardener but this book gives great advice and great choices from groundcover to shrubs and trees for the woodsy landscape. I refer to this book all the time.



2. This man is the best photographer of the woodlands and a great speaker. Would purchase any book by him.



3. If you live near the edge of woodlands as we do, you'll find this book to be a valuable source of information. It's a challenge to landscape the transition from woodland to home, but this book provides the knowledge needed to make that happen. And if you love to live in or near woodland areas as much as we do, you'll appreciate the wonderful photographs.



4. Whether you are planning a woodland garden, look out on a woodland garden, or just dream of woodland gardens, this book is a must have. It is the most beautiful, awe-inspiring garden book I've ever encountered.
   
   The photos are the first layer of beauty. The descriptions of the plants are the second layer of beauty. The suggested arrangements of trees, shrubs and flowers are the third layer of beauty. You could spend weeks reading this book and not get through the layers. Mr. Darke has produced a true gift for those of us who treasure woodlands.



5. Loved this book - a keeper for sure. Rick Darke does a great job of writing - I found his prose to be both instructive and inspiring-one really gets a sense from his writing that he knows his plants in intimate and fond detail. Photography is stunning as he captures the spirit of the woodlands and plants he shows in the book. I especially love how he depicts the changing beauty & contrast throughout the seasons of a local scene as he drove by on his way to and from work. What a treat it is to be a gardener and have gems like this one to read and enjoy.

5 comments about Conifers for Gardens: An Illustrated Encyclopedia.

1. At last a conifer book that gives us the courage and knowledge to grow conifers in our home gardens. That's the problem with conifers--people dislike them or fear them because they don't know them and understand them. It's hard to love conifers and buy them and grow them if one doesn't see their attraction and potential. If we understand them, conifers can have a meaningful relationship with our gardens. Bitner's book helps us see the beauty of conifers and it encourages people to love conifers. When you read this book you'll want to introduce some conifers to your prized plants at home and make conifers part of your garden structure and personality.
   
   Bitner's photographs are fantastic. They show the overall habit as well as beautiful close-up shots of the needles, cones and bark. The book is a very user friendly reference as it is organized alphabetically by generic names; beginning with an interesting overview of the genus followed by details of species and cultivated varieties within the genus. His plant descriptions are thorough and informative. He also tells us how to and where to grow conifers. Bitner's crisp and descriptive writing style is refreshingly filled with tidbits and stories about conifers--conifers that provide food or shelter for wildlife, some that are not so tasty to "hoofed browsers", those that are used for their wood and other commercial products, selections for "holiday trees", and he often includes many conifers' historical ties to native Americans and early settlers.
   
   This book should be by every gardener's bedside for fun and interesting reading and it is a "must have" for the any serious gardener's reference shelf. I don't know how we survived so long without it.



2. Very informative for most of the information. Also very helpful in choosing conifers for my area. Could give a little more info on zones and size of trees. Sometimes that info is mentioned and sometimes not. Overall a good book with good information.



3. I have never read a very good book about conifers, with nice photos, like this.



4. I was somewhat disappointed that many significant conifers had been left out of this "encyclopedia", making it difficult to do the research I need.
   The photographs are of higher quality than an older 2-volume Conifers: The Illustrated Encyclopedia by van Gelderen and van Hoey Smith.



5. I am a professional gardener. This book is very helpful and useful and it has lots of pictures. The only thing that I might say is missing is that not every variety shown has mature height and width, and it doesn't always say what the light requirements are. But, it still gives me varieties that look like what I might need for a given property, and if it doesn't give all the information I need, I just look up the variety from another source. Overall, it is a good "idea" book.

5 comments about Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines: A Guide to Using, Growing, and Propagating North American Woody Plants.

1. Even though a hard cover reference book isn't usual bedtime reading for me-I couldn't put this down. Each plant is described so personally yet so expertly. Gardening with woody plants is a commitment, and this book provided the insight and knowledge I needed to make choices confidently. The language of the book is wonderful-it is as if the author is chatting with his latest native plant buddy-you. The lists and organization of information is very helpful.



2. This book is a valuable guide to native woody plants. The habits, landscape value, propagation and culture of most( a few are missing) of the important plants are described in a very readable manner. Cullina clearly draws from a deep well, I had the impression that he had much more that he could have included, but what is here is great.

   There are a couple of criticisms. The photos are relativly sparse compared to the recent books by Dirr or Darke and are not at all well-reproduced. One picture per genus just ain't enough when there is such wonderful variation within genera. Also, the pronunciation guide for Latin plant names is occasionally bizarre...since when does "Aesculus" have four syllables? (But maybe he is right I couldn't find any native Latin speakers to ask) Finally, the book has a clear East coast bias. Although there are many Western US plants that are mentioned, I suspect that many are missing.

   Buy this book for the prose.




3. William Cullina, of the New England Wild Flower society, is a highly regarded expert in Native plants. This book is the woody counterpart to his Wildflower book. Included are tips on using, growing and propagating these native wonders in North America. The photography and information provided are a source like none other. This is a must have for anyone interested in restoring the ecology of the landscape through the use of natives - beginners and experts alike - an excellent reference.



4. William Cullina has struck a great balance in this book. Every time I pick it up I'm amazed at how it is both an informative reference and a very enjoyable read.
   
   Bill (can I call him that?) understands there are just as many amateur gardeners as there horticulturalist. In this book, he struck a balance with both audiences. For instance, I'm not a big fan of Latin plant names: I prefer to know the background of a plant, what it needs to thrive, its purpose, etc... When I look up a plant in this book, I get so much more. This makes the informative process extremely enjoyable as well as educational. Bill also gives phonetic spelling of the plants. It helps when you go to the nursery you'll feel less intimated by those who seem to speak Latin.
   
   For instance, I just bought 5 Artemisia plants to go with purple coneflower, Salvia, Russian Sage, etc... Looking Artemisia up in Native Trees Shrubs and Vines, I found out it is actually sagebrush (tumbleweed) from the wild west as well as the extreme hardiness of the plant, its background, how to cultivate it, use it, etc... The style of the writing made the process extraordinarily enjoyable.
   
   PS: I've been meaning to write a review of this book for 2 years now. When I read about Artemisia a few minutes ago, it compelled me to leave the garden to write this review. I can't say enough about this book other then it's one of my top 3 favorites on gardening. I actually took 10 minutes out of a beautiful Sunday morning to write this review. Now, it's back to the garden & Bill's book for me :-)



5. This is the 'bible' of native plant info when it comes to the woody species. His native wildflower guide is equally impressive for that category of plants. This book is stuffed cover to cover with detailed info about each plant. If you want to know how to plant it, where to put it (light and soil needs), what kinds of wildlife you can expect it to feed or draw in, etc. this is the book for you.

5 comments about Niwaki: Pruning, Training and Shaping Japanese Garden Trees.

1. My husband wanted this book because we have started a large oriental garden. It explains turning plants into Japanese artisist sculpture. It enlightens you to whats going on and why. This is a very good "how to" book.



2. well,put simply: if you whant to know how to do it and what to do , this is it.



3. This is an ok book - not great wich I wish it had been but good. I will definitly try some of the Japanese pruning technicques.



4. Having visited a few of the Japanese gardens mentioned in this book..I couldn't wait to start on my own garden here in Sydney but I really didn't know where to begin. My passion is for sculptured matsu (pines) and also for bamboo. This book has lifted my confidence immeasurably and the information and format shown will give me sure-footing on my journey.
   Wonderful photos and diagrams (not to mention background). I will use native pines and conifers as well as the Japonicas and even try sculpting my Diosmas. I hope that only a few people will buy this book as I don't wish that these beautiful gardens become too ubiquitous in the west (hehe).



5. A truly delightful book with lots of information which is helpful in setting our a Japanese style garden within the Western culture.

5 comments about Tree Identification Book : A New Method for the Practical Identification and Recognition of Trees.

1. I wanted to see an excerpt of this book, but when I clicked on "Excerpt" I got a blank page with only the words, "Part I Pictorial Keys." So then I clicked on "Surprise Me!" and got a totally blank page. How are we to decide if this book is what we're looking for if there is no sample to examine?
   
   Shame on you, Amazon.



2. This is a great book for the novice of tree research. I use it very frequently and find it very accurate.



3. The photos in this book make it easy to compare what you have in your hand with what's in the book. They are large enough for real comparison, and there is a wide variety of trees described in different ways. It's a useful companion to a more wordy tree encyclopedia.



4. Excellent resource book for anyone seeking to identify trees by their leaves, bark, flowers, fruit, twigs, buds or thorns. Even though the photos are in black and white, their 3-dimensional appearance helps very much in identifying a tree.



5. Mixed review. For identification of wholly unknown trees it can narrow searches down quickly and give an idea of the family of trees. For a beginner this is an excellent book. However for more experienced tree identifiers, this book is entirely unhelpful for identifying the differences between, for instance, scarlet oak, southern red oak, northern red oak, shumard oak, georgia oak, bear oak, turkey oak, cherrybark oak, pin oak, northern red oak, and black oak. This book would only provide four oaks to choose from in the above list and not give as detailed of a handling of those trees. For a much more detailed handling of tree identification in the Southeast I would recommend Native Trees of the Southeast by Kirkman, Brown and Leopold.

5 comments about The Shrub Identification Book: The Visual Method for the Practical Identification of Shrubs, Including Woody Vines and Ground Covers.

1. This book is the best manual for the identification of shrubs and shrubby plants. The photographs are in black & white. There are a set of master pages and then sets of pages with flowers, leaves and fruits. All are very descriptive and enable one to identify with only parts of the plant.
   We just were able to identify low alpine plants that look herbaceous using this manual.
   I have had this book for a long time and like it so much that I just purchased another for a friend. I am pleased to know that it is still available.



2. While it is nearly a half century old, it is still quite relevent, as well as being easy to use. It is, unfortunely, all b/w photographs (no clumsy line art), but they are very sharp & clear, and the colors are printed next to the pictures. No matter what part of the plant you have available, there is a pictoral key you can use to identify the plant.
   
   Identify, however, is the operative word. The only other information given about the plants is the scientific name, approximate flowering date, range, and height. Once you have identified the plant, you will need to look elsewhere for more info, but it is the most comprehensive book of it's type I have found. There are numerous books on what you can do with any given plant, but first you need to know what plant you have. That's where this book really shines.



3. I GOT THIS BOOK FOR MY SON WHO HAS 40 ACRES WITH LOTS OF UNKNOWN TREES AND SHRUBS ON IT, AND HE TELLS ME THAT IT IS VERY HELPFUL AND CLEAR TO READ AND UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU.



4. This book is an identification guidebook for shrubs and woody vines of the Eastern United States. It is organized according to Symonds' visual key. The first part of the book has tab-indexed sections featuring details of plants, including thorns, leaves, flowers, fruits, twigs, and bark. Following this are the main pages, which include entries for individual plants or closely related groups of plants. The entries in the main pages include common and Latin names, notes on range and flowering season, and other notes useful for identification. The book is illustrated throughout with high-quality black-and-white photographs cropped to bring out the important identification details.
   
   This book follows a different methodology than many other identification guides. Instead of following a descriptive key, which forces you to guess on features that may not be observable in your sample, with this book, you first examine your sample to decide which features are most prominent. Then you consult the relevant section of the details guide, whether it is leaves, flowers, thorns, or twigs. When you find a photo that matches what you have in hand, you are then referred to the main pages where you can find more details of the plant to confirm whether you have a match, or if you need to give more weight to other features for identification. Although this system takes a bit of getting used to, especially for those accustomed to picking through descriptive keys, once you get the hang of it, it's simple, fast, and very effective for plant identification. However, given the large size of the book, it's not one you are likely to want to carry into the field with you. It makes a better shelf reference for consulting once you return home with your samples.



5. I received the book promptly and have found it to be very helpful for identifying plants.

5 comments about The Treehouse Book.

1. This book is just as good as the front cover picture suggests: pie-in-the-sky treehouses. The kind that you dreamed about as a kid? Its obvious from this book that some adults still think about and make their dreams become beautiful structures in reality. If you ever wanted a pictoral book of treehouses representing your wildest imaginations, this is the book for you!



2. This book along with Treehouses of the World are inspirational page after page. If you are a fan of treehouses, this book is a must in your collection.



3. This book has the best pictures and if your looking for ideas
   and inspiration, this is the book to buy.



4. This is the third book from Peter Nelson of Treehouse Workshop. His previous two delved in depth into treehouse construction. This work is more a survey of the many wonderful treehouses to be found throughout the world. It is crammed with quality color photographs and, unlike a previously reviewed work, has a unifying narrative throughout.
   
   Peter starts you off with a very useful section entitled "Choice of Tree". There he briefly touches upon suitability of various tree species to treehouse construction and provides a mini sketch of each tree species with a treehouse. Immediately after comes some very accurate arboriculture advice from Jonathan Fairoaks. It's nice to find a treehouse book that gets this part right for a change.
   
   For me, the real value of this book is in the tour it takes you on of many notable treehouse. I bring this book to meetings with clients so they can see the many incredible things possible. And for those who've never considered it possible that a treehouse could be any more than a small, roughly built box, this book will blow their minds.
   
   What this book lacks is building advice. It's not a "how-to" book. There really is no great "how-to" book out there. Even so, highly recommended.



5. I really liked the whole book, but I especially liked the part about kids treehouses. Some of them were homemade, and some of them were built by an artist. Before I read the book, I was wondering what different treehouses look like. I thought the treehouses with a loft and a ladder would be lots of fun to explore. Some of the treehouses were hotels. One of the treehouses was built by a robber! He had used it as a place to store his disguises. I thought it was a very good book.

5 comments about Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia.

1. This is a valuable book to see what trees and shrubs are like when they are mature. It will sort of help in identification, but it is not a book for identification. I enjoyed viewing it over again and again.



2. I bought this book to gain more knowledge about trees and shrubs so I make informed decisions on what to grow in my yard. This book helped me tremendously. I wouldn't have been able to select the trees and shrubs that surround and beautify my entire yard without the help of this book. I used to take it with me to nurseries and when seeing a tree I like, I opened the page that discusses it and got the ins and outs about it. I also have asked specialty nurseries for a specific tree I found in this book that they don't display, but can get as a special order. It was worth it. It is true that no book can contain all the information you need to know about trees and shrubs in your area, however, this book comes quite close!



3. I have already used this reference to choose and buy a hedge. Lots of information and mentions common hybrids. Only CON makes it tough to use. All the trees are listed by their Latin names and so hard to find for the everyday person.



4. This book is jam packed with helpful and beautiful photographs. it's the perfect book if you want to show a client or perhaps your wife what the plant you just bought (or more like a twig in a burlap coat) will look like when it grows up a bit. It has just basic info about each plant like ultimate size and ornamental qualities. If you are looking for something more in depth for each plant, get his manual of woody landscape plants. That said, I don't think you'll be disappointed to have the handy visual reference in your library of plant books!



5. This is probably the best gardening book that I have ever seen. I use it frequently. I am on a committee in my neighborhood that encourages tree-planting by our city's residents. This book is a life saver to take with me when dealing with perspective tree purchasers. It has great pictures of the trees and gives advice as to where they should be planted, problems, et.al.
   
   I like it so much that I have purchased it for gifts.

5 comments about Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses.

1. Too bad that so many of these reviews are written by Weekend Warriors who wanted a "pretty book with pictures." ~sigh~ I'm a landscape architect who trained under Dr. Dirr when he was teaching at U of Illinois. Of course, because he was teaching the subject, this tome was part of the required course. For the professional plantsman or very serious gardner, there is nothing like it! This is my third edition of this book, the first one being thin and light and probably a two-pounder. This one weighs in at 6 pounds. I don't know of a serious nursery that does NOT have this as part of their library; it's excellent when you need to know just how Acer saccharum and Acer saccharinum differ; what diseases do Betula nigra contract; and which Ilex species to plant in your zone.
   
   The reason why he does NOT bother with roses, clematis and other pretty plants extensively is that there are far better sources than his book to refer to for information and he just can't be bothered to rewrite what better experts have already written.
   
   This book is NOT a key to identify plants. This book is NOT a coffee table book to impress anyone. This book is to be used at a store or in the field, covered with mud and spotted pages as you earn your living from working, planting and selling woody ornamentals. There are 100's of pretty books that Barnes & Noble cranks out each year for the casual gardener. If in doubt about a book, hike to a store or library and check the book out THERE, rather than ordering an unknown book and criticizing the author for what he's NOT vs. what he is. If you pay your mortgage and truck payment by working with trees and shrubs, you already have this book and know how good it is!



2. Dirr is the bible for plant information. I find that most plant people have a copy on their bookshelves with significant signs of use. (worn pages, dog earing, stains, soil etc)



3. My son began his study of horticulture this year, and Dr. Dirr's book, it seems, is the "bible" for lifetime use in horticulture. Our textbook arrived quickly, beautifully, and at about 1/2 of the price at the college bookstore. A noteworthy investment!



4. If I had but one garden book to keep, this is the one I would unquestionably choose. And I have more than 40 garden related books.
   Sure would like to see a 2008 edition!
   Robert in northern Indiana



5. Excellent resource/reference for "woodies" - I'll be using it for numerous college landscape courses & keep it for a working reference; would have liked outlines of tree/shrub shape; very good leaf drawings.

5 comments about The Backyard Orchardist: A Complete Guide to Growing Fruit Trees in the Home Garden.

1. I bought this book because I wanted to learn to care for the fruit trees and plants in my yard. This book looks like it has a lot of good information but honestly unless you are really good at gardening it is very wordy. I don't think I will sit and read it but I will probably use it as a reference book.



2. I have about 5 books on fruit trees and this is by far the best and most comprehensive. Only drawback is that they don't use real pictures.



3. The Backyard Orchardist: A Complete Guide to Growing Fruit Trees in the Home GardenI found this book very thorough and informative for someone just learning about growing fruit and nut trees at home. It answered very nearly every one of my questions.



4. Extremely helpful! Just moved to a new home and wanted to start my plants off right. This book helped me not only in the selection of my plants, but where on my property it is best to plant them, and how to properly plant them. I also learned the correct ways of pruning and fertilizing each plant. I have found this book to be an invaluable tool to a begining backyard gardener.



5. Great all around tree info. for all types of fruit trees, especially when starting out.