5 comments about The Random House Book of Shrubs (Random House Book of ... (Garden Plants)).

1. This volume is the most gorgeous and comprehensive overview of shrubs I have seen to date. The information contained, although not exhaustive, is concise and useful. The breadth of plants covered is truly amazing and the photography excellent. The only disappointment is lack of information on how to obtain these plants. I reach for this book so often, it seems to live on my desktop (Along with the other Random House Plant Books), not the reference shelf!



2. I found that it had a lot of information and great colored photos to help with identification. Glad I got the book.



3. This is a beautifully produced reference book with extensive color photos. Its size gives it the illusion of being comprehensive. However, it only includes plants that will grow "somewhere in the British Isles". It omits a number of species which are U.S. natives (e.g., no Rhododendron catawbiensis, although the author offers a whole section on Asian rhododendrons). It also misses species cultivated in the Southern US (e.g., no gardenias). List of cultivars circa 1989 is getting dated. I would also hope that the next edition would alphabetize the order in which species are presented within the sections. If you don't mind its limitations, it's a bargain; buy it for the photos.



4. I love this series! The photos are awesome, and anyone serious about gardening should have the books!



5. Perhaps this is aimed at a novice landscaper or plant enthusiast, but as I botanist....I LOVE it. The photos are great and unrivaled. There are photos for identifying plants in any season (leaves, bark, flower, fruit). There is also a companion in my collection for TREES. I recommend them both for the same reasons. Some times a botanical key is not enough to jog my memory.

5 comments about Flowering Trees of Florida.

1. This book is an excellent reference book for Florida trees. The photography is absolutely beautiful. It allows the reader to easily identify a tree and then read about it as a layman or a more advanced horticulturist.

   I believe it is a must buy for newcomers to Florida as well as anyone interested in flowering trees in the south.

   A must for your Florida flora collection.




2. This is a great reference book for flowering trees. The photos are outstanding. Includes a view of the whole tree and then a close-up of the flowers. Also good info about each tree.

   I live in Southern California and most (if not all) can also be grown here. I want them all!

   I highly recommend this book!




3. Planning on a move to Florida from Michigan, I was lost as to what kind of trees to landscape my large yard with. This book is wonderful! Especially helpful are the clear, color photos of both the flowers close-up, and then the entire tree in its flowered state. These pictures show the trees "shape" when full grown also. I'm so glad I got this, it will definitely help with my decisions on what trees to buy!!



4. This is really neat little book, well-printed and with top quality color pictures. The pictures are supported by brief and informative texts. The book gives a good overview of trees that blossom profusely with showy flowers and that are suitable for planting in the tropics. Beyond an emphasis on (C-& S-) American species and the use of Florida common names there is nothing in the book that ties it to Florida in particular.



5. Like so many of us, Mark obviously loves tropical trees with gorgeous flowers. He has gathered together the best of the best and his photos are exceptional. Most of the trees covered are not just restricted to Florida but can be grown in other tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world.

No comments about Pecans: The Story in a Nutshell (Grover E. Murray Studies in the American Southwest) (Grover E. Murray Studies in the American Southwest).

No comments about 50 Great Trees for Tennessee (50 Great Plants for Tennessee Gardens).

1 comments about Hollies: The Genus Ilex.

1. A must read for the Genux llex lover! This work covers, in a beautifully detailed manner, all aspects of working with and growing Hollies. A wonderful reference that will be read again and again.

5 comments about Tropical and Subtropical Trees: An Encyclopedia.

1. It is not easy to say something sensible about this book. It is just too overwhelming. As can be expected these days of the Timber Press this is a lavishly illustrated, gorgeously printed and handsomely bound volume. Lay-out is immaculate. All pictures (full color) are of a beautiful quality, or better. An immense amount of information is given for each species (usually one page is devoted to each species). In view of the wealth of information provided, there is a huge potential for error, but the book appears to be remarkably error-free. A curious error is that of using "cv." before a cultivar epithet. The one error-prone category here is that of the author abbreviations in the botanical names: these do not consistently follow the recommended standard and, from time to time, are in something of a mess. Obviously, this is unlikely to trouble those who belong to the book's target audience. The other thing that can be questioned is its aim to cram so many trees into one book. However, for someone wanting a handy (if big) one-volume work on (sub)tropical trees this cannot be recommended enough. It will also make a lovely gift to just about anybody.



2. I had this book on my wish list and got it for Christmas 05. I can't say anything bad about it. Very clear pictures not the line drawings. Very clearly explained and well layed out. I would recomend this book to anybody interested in learning about tropical tree's. It even had a tree that you don't find in a lot of books



3. I have bought several copies for my book store customers here in Panama, and all are delighted with this book. Though a bit cumbersome, it is certainly thorough, and a valuable research tool for anyone interested in the flora of the tropics. It's beautifully illustrated, a book to display as well as study, typical of Timber Press' fine volumes.



4. although general good, I'd like it to be more cautious about the frost hardiness of each species(The reason I bought it).There are trees that are described as being more tender than they are and other that are more hardy to frosts than in reallity. I mean that USDA zones are sometimes not so accurate for some species described
   
   But beyond this there is a great amount of information inside it and many pictures also



5. An imprescinble issue for all lovers of tropical trees. Very good colour pictures and excellent and short information. The USDA zones assigned to trees sometimes are not accuracy in my experience.

2 comments about The Random House Book of Trees of North America and Europe: A Photographic Guide to More Than 500 Trees (Random House Book of ... (Garden Plants)).

1. I really looked forward to getting a copy of this book. I'm a big fan of the Random House series of plant books authored by Phillips and Rix and I was expecting something of the quality of their books on perennials and bulbs. Now the book is glossy, the photographs excellent and each tree listed is given a concise desciption of its habit and range. Particularly useful is the leaf identification guide, which is arranged in such a way that you don't have to know the meaning of "subacuminate" to discover the name of that tree you've been coveting in the neighbour's yard down the street. Unfortunately the book has several flaws. With a few exceptions, cultivars and varieties of the trees listed are not shown, so the book's usefulness, horticulturally speaking, is limited. Hardiness limits are not given. There are also some odd lapses in coverage. For example, _Cercis siliquastrum_ , Judas Tree, a European tree, is shown, while _Cercis canadensis_ , Redbud, the common North American native is not. That stalwart of the American south, the Live Oak (_Quercus virginiana_) is absent as well. For a book that purports to list "500 of the most common and important trees" this is very strange indeed. At the end of the day, the basic problem with this book is that it can't decide if it's aimed for the naturalist is the field or the horticultural enthusiast. Unfortunately, it will satisfy neither, as it is not a comprehensive guide. The beginning (and serious) gardener will want to consult instead one of Michael Dirr's excellent books; more sophisticated should see this book as a supplement, but not a replacement, for Dirr.



2. To fill my information needs to provide the service of a Designer and Arborist, I've found that no single book is perfect, nor teaches every aspect:
   
   Considering that, this book about Trees of North America is one of the better books for for illustrating plant parts like leaves, for plant Identification - for the money. It helps me help others.
   
   Some books contain more tree species and cultivars - but be ready to spend 3 to 5 times more money too. And, many more expensive books, although the photos are nice, don't have the same side-by-side comparisons that this Trees of North America book has.
   
   The photos of leaves, twigs, flowers and bark, are all enlarged sufficiently to see the details without "straining" or guessing.
   
   If I need to take one book in-the-field with me, this is the one. The weight is appropriate for transport, and it gets the job done.
   
   This is not what I'd call a cultural care book. It is a good plant ID and plant selection book. You will know if cones are too big, or the tree will be too small - or large.
   
   Since tree care and selection requires several books - this will be one to include in that landscape library assortment. I own several other much more expensive books, but I still have this one, and it's not leaving my library.

2 comments about A Field Guide to Texas Trees (Gulf Publishing Field Guide Series).

1. Simpson's field guide is a comprehensive encyclopedic guide to trees "naturally" occuring in Texas. For each species, it provides a shaded map of its counties of occurrence, as well as one page summary of the tree's characteristics and habitats. The color plates (one for each species)are helpful but small. My only complaint is that the omitted general illustrations of the leaf, silhouette, flowers, and fruits of the various trees would have been of great usefullness to the amateur naturalist. Thus, this book must be paired with another to be of maximum utility in the field.



2. I am having losing 5 large Post Oaks Trees.I have had local Horticultist come by and look at my trees at our residence lot. I was told that construction around my 3 yr old house and fungus and may some hot dry summers may contribute.I know that I do not apply posion,lack of water or to much.I wish science to really what killed my large tall 60-75 ft.trees.

3 comments about Maples for Gardens: A Color Encyclopedia.

1. I was looking for a good reference book on maples and Japanese maples, and was seriously considering both this one and Vertrees' book on Japanese maples. However, since this book included both types of maples, I considered it to be the better value. Also, this book has 683 color photos, and one third of the book is dedicated to Japanese maples, while Vertrees has 250 color photos and is dedicated only to Japanese maples. I still may buy Vertrees book as well, but if you are trying to choose between them, I'd go with this one. I spent many pleasurable hours just thumbing through the descriptions and gorgeous photos of maples.



2. What a refief. After perusing at least twenty books on maple trees, I came across this gem. It is hands-down the most extensively researched book on the subject I've ever come across. There are hundreds of pictures which are extremely useful; many books will give only 4 or 5 pictures for an entire species. It contains an exhausting amount of information that proved invaluable in making my decision about which acer to plant. Once I discovered this book, my research days were over.



3. Color choices, complete growth patterns and more information than the casual gardener can cope with make this an excellent reference.

3 comments about An Introduction to Tree-Ring Dating.

1. This is one of the most cited references in dendrochronology for good reasons. The book is well illistrated, providing great information on the basics of dendrochronology, from mounting core to creating skeleton plots.



2. A classic introduction to field of dendrochronology. While we have become more technologically sophisticated, the basic principles of dendrochronology have remained relatively unchanged since the first publication of this book. It is a definite "must read" for anyone interested in tree-ring analysis.



3. This book has a lot of very good information and the writing is really excellent. The explanations are very good, easy to understand and never leave the reader confused. However, the book is way too short. It is listed as having 73 pages which is already a short book, but even that is a stretch since there are many pictures, blank pages and other content free areas. I haven't done a count, but I would guess there are no more than 45 pages of actual written content.