1 comments about Encyclopedia of Planting Combinations: Over 4000 Color and Planting Schemes.

1. As an award-winning author, photographer, horticultural consultant, and an adviser on gardens to Britain's National Trust, Tony Lord combines his talents with the exceptional photos taken by Andrew Lawson, an award-winning photographer in "Encyclopedia of Planting Combinations: Over 4000 Color and Planting Schemes."
   
   "Every gardener wants to create the perfect garden. We all have a favorite plant - but it is not always easy to know what to plant beside it, or how to display it to its best advantage..." "Encyclopedia of Planting Combinations: Over 4000 Color and Planting Schemes" can help you solve the problem: it features over 1,000 individual plants and more than 4,000 combinations. It includes 8 chapters: The Art of Combining Plants, Great Planting Styles, Shrubs and Small Trees, Climbers, Roses, Perennials, Bulbs, and Annuals. It covers practical and useful information such as assessing the sites, choosing plants, scale and size, plant habit, form and texture, color in the garden, timing the season, planting beds and borders, woodland planting, meadow planting, naturalistic gardens, country style, cottage gardens, grasses, Mediterranean style, Minimalist styles, and great planting designer case studies.
   
   "Encyclopedia of Planting Combinations: Over 4000 Color and Planting Schemes" has 464 pages and many beautiful interior color photos. It is a valuable addition to your garden library.

1 comments about Arthur Harry Church:The Anatomy of Flowers.

1. Arthur Harry Church, scientist, painter, and teacher, left an incomparable legacy of botanical illustrations. His work, which has often been compared to that of Georgia O'Keeffe, is to this writer just as visually and emotionally compelling.

   The vibrancy of Church's work may be due, in part, to his disciplines - he saw his subject with a scientist's mind and an artist's eye whether it was an abundant flower from the Oxfordshire country or a rare specimen from South Africa. His cross-sections and diagrams leave no doubt as to his teachery thought processes or his artistic vision.

   This rare volume holds much previously unpublished material from the archives of London's Natural History Museum as well as 100 illustrations, each imbued with a rhythmic vitality.

   Undoubtedly, "The Anatomy Of Flowers" will be appreciated by those with an interest in botanical prints and those who enjoy the striking clarity of the art nouveau.

5 comments about The Secret Life of Plants.

1. I first read this book in the mid-70s. I've got a brother-in-law who's a vegetarian and I will pick this up for him. I actually eat vegetarian most of the time (beef cattle and elk are classified as vegetarians aren't they?).
   I believe that if Vegetarians are really serious about the pain and suffering that is inflicted on animals at slaughter, maybe they need to look at their argument from another perspective. The elk and deer that I hunt live a wonderful and free existence (until it gets to be -40 F and deep snow). I generally lose the battle with them and come home empty handed. Most of them probably die of old age or starvation.
   Now, on the other hand, if you think of the brief life in the sun that a stalk of broccoli leads . . . they live their life with their most tender parts buried alive. Can you imagine the terror that goes through their mind (?) as they see the harvester approaching and they are unable to flee for their lives? At least I give the wild animals a chance to run and escape (they mostly win!). Also, by harvesting my own wild game, I don't rely on a paid asassin (aka gardener, grower, migrant laborer, ) to do my dirty work. When I am a successful hunter, it is important to me to be able to give thanks to my prey for giving their life so that I may continue to live.



2. "Calcium (Ca) can come from potassium (K) with the interaction of hydrogen (H) according to the formula* 1H plus 19K equals 20Ca, or from magnesium with the interaction of oxygen in 12Mg plus 8O equals 20Ca."
   ("The Secret Life of Plants", NewYork:HarperCollins, 1973, p.285)
   
   * My sincere apologies: imagine the numbers on the left as the atomic number on the lower left. I don't know how to assign it correctly in this review box).
   
   
   Tompkins and Bird looked at the periodic table of the elements and properly transcribed the correct atomic nomenclature for each element. But then they confused chemical reactions with nuclear reactions in nonsensical equations that, however, seem perfectly reasonable to the vast majority of even college-educated nonscientists.
   Their equations actually describe nuclear reactions that are impossible. But in any case, real nuclear reactions are carried out in nuclear bombs and nuclear reactors (and stars), not in plants. Their entire book is filled with pseudoscientific nonsense.
   (Excerpt from "Challenging Nature" by Lee Silver, Paperback ed. 2007, p.229)
   
   
   
   Sums it up pretty well. If you don't get the point, please take time to read essentials of chemistry, you won't regret it.
   Instead I would like to recommend to you "The Private Life of Plants" by David Attenborough, which accompanied the BBC TV series of the same name.
   I gobbled it up as a kid, and it sparked a passion for cultivating orchids and carnivorous plants for a while.



3. Along with Secrets of the Soil by the same authors, a ground-breaking work that will make you rethink your entire view of the universe. Decades ahead of the scientific establishment (and I should know; I'm part of it).



4. This book should be part of every Biology class in school nowadays. Quantum Physics has proven that every particle has consciousness, so why should it be so hard to believe that plants are capable of feelings and thought? Even close to 20 years after it was published, the book is still in a class by itself. I especially liked the section on how plants responded to different music genres, although mine seem to grow better to reggae than classical music.



5. i ordered this book and a dvd at the same time elsewhere, and im already halfway through the book and the dvd has yet to be opened. thanks!

No comments about Improving Your Soil: Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin A-202 (Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin, a-202).

4 comments about Infinite Spaces: The Art and Wisdom of the Japanese Garden.

1. The photos are so luscious--I can't think of a more appropriate term--that it's as if you're in these gardens. I believe all of the photos are of the ancient gardens in Kyoto, and if not, they're definately all from Japan. This book is truly one that was inspired by the Sakuteki, not an illustrated edition of the Sakuteki. You'll want it for dreamy page turning, not as an instruction book for your own gardens.



2. This is a better than average coffee-table book about Japanese Gardens. The photos are for the most part excellent (a few are too dark). Many of the gardens shown are located outside of the Kyoto area and have seldom if ever been shown in other such (English language) books on this subject; this is a nice touch because it means that there is little overlap between this book and others. I had high hopes that the book would include a substantial (if not complete) translation of the Sakuteiki but despite the introduction which implies that this might be the case, it is not true. I would guess that less than 25% of the text of Sakuteiki is included, and the authors have rearranged the material into thematic sections to fit their own taste. This is a terrible pity becuase the 11th century gardening manual known by the name "Sakuteiki" is a very important point of reference in understanding the historical developement of Japanese gardens - sections from it are quoted by almost every book written on the subject, yet there is no generally available English translation of it. The 1976 translation by Shigemaru Shimoyama (publ. by Town & City Planners,Inc. Tokyo) was printed in a tiny edition of only 300 copies so the only way to read it is by borrowing a copy thru the academic inter-library loan program at your local public library. The way the authors of this book have rearranged the text into disjointed quotations (with widely varying typographic style & presentation) really does not do justice to the orginal material and is in considerable danger of reinforcing the old western stereotype of "pearls of wisdom from the inscrutable orient". I would suggest that you buy this book for the pictures alone and not pay too much attention to the text as currently presented. If the book is popular enough to merit a 2nd edition I hope the authors will reconsider the current format.



3. If your one of those people that can learn from basic truths and visual stimulous that book is great. Its a simple book with translations from the "bible" of Japanese gardening. And photos to show you examples.



4. This is such a beautiful book. I look forward to using some of the ideas to build my Japanese garden.

5 comments about Gardening in the Desert: A Guide to Plant Selection and Care.

1. An excellent book that should be in every desert gardener's library. Not only does she offer sound advice she is occasionally, and refreshingly, very candid in her opinions. I have just ordered my second copy as I made the mistake of lending my first copy.



2. Excellent beginner's guide to desert gardening. Not surprising, bias is to low desert where she lives. An expanded version to include intermediate and high desert would be welcome, but the priciples as laid out hold throughout the Southwest. Reads well.



3. I read this book cover-to-cover, which wasn't what I expected to do; I expected to use it more as a reference. However, it's written so well and contains so much helpful advice that I found it easy to read straight through. I'm new at gardening, but I'm already making good use of the information in my own yard.



4. This is a very good reference book for selecting the type of plants I will need to landscape a desert setting.



5. Great info for the desert gardener, but if you want to know what the plants and cacti actually look like, the small black and white pictures just don't cut it. Gardening is a visual discipline, pictures do speak a thousand words.

1 comments about The Garden Lover's Guide to France (Garden Lover's Guides to).

1. I have been looking at a number of books about gardens in France, and this is the only one that I could use to plan a trip. The coverage is very good, though the vast majority are in the Paris region (Ile de France).
   Unlike, say, "the Secret Gardens of France", the gardens listed here are open to the public.

   The notes on each garden are concise. You will need another book if you want to learn about the history of landscape architecture. But the author does provide an assessment of the gardens described: state of repair, relation to original design, beauty, etc. The photo illustrations are very good.

   My only criticism is that I wish the book was twice as big.

1 comments about Organic Vegetable Production: A Complete Guide.

1. This is a fantastic book for the established, commercial organic farmer. It however, may confuse or scare the first time explorer. I myself am looking to begin an organic farm, here in Missouri, and would highly reccomend a thorough, but more intimately-set book by Eliot Coleman. "the new organic grower" .
   
   Organic Vegetable Production is a greatly valuable book once established, or furthur informed on the subject...
   
   I highly reccomend it... In a few years it could be worth it's weight in gold!!! Happy readings...

5 comments about 1001 Hints & Tips for Your Garden : An Indispensable Guide to Easier and More Effective Gardening.

1. A gorgeous book! It doesn't go into depth. (Hey, it's "Reader's Digest" -- what do you expect?) If you want science, biology, botany, or anything terribly detailed, look elsewhere. If you want light, readable, helpful information inside a book that's beautiful to behold, this is a worthwhile purchase.



2. This book is a wonderful resource for gardening. You will find all the answers to your questions and more. There are great ideas on setting up gardens, container planting, lawn care and general information of all types of plants. I have pulled it out several times already this spring. The set-up lets you find what you are looking for from A to Z.



3. 416 pages of information you need to know to help you with your garden. In the Contents is a wondeful pages index. It's from A to Z. Whatever you are planting, buying or building or need information on good benefical bugs or the bad pests, it is all here. Climate, Architectural Plants, Colors, Fragrance, Herbs, Inside the House, Nature, Period Gardens, Projects & Crafts, Heirloom Roses, Tools, Vintage Vegetables and Wildflower Gardens. Any questions you may have about gardening and any fruit or vegetable, bush or tree, Reader's Digest will have the answer for you in this book.



4. This book answered every single question that I threw at it, and gave me so much more! The best money I've spent in a while! Short to the point answers, not complicated biology lessons. I will enjoy it thoroughly, and am fighting off my sister-in-law for reading time!



5. book seemed to have water damage
   I was expecting a new book
   overall good service

4 comments about Guide to Southern Trees (Dover,).

1. This 700 page book neatly fits into your rucksack and that's where it should be (not on the shelf in your study). It is an old book, originally pubished in 1946, which means that there are no photographs. But who would miss them seeing all the beautifully drawn plates which illustrate a lot of the species? There is always at least one illustration per genus. The introductory keys are excellent as are the keys to the genera and species. The text provides information on habit, leaves, flowers, fruit, twigs, bark, habitat, distribution and importance. On average there is one page of description per species.

   I thoroughly enjoyed using this book and all the information it gives about these exotic plant families (entirely fascinating for me who comes from an area poor in tree species: the central European Alps). I am looking forward to using it again on my next trip to Florida.




2. This book by its size is obviously meant as a pocket guide, but at over 700 pages will be a snug fit in most pockets. A quick glance shows that its illustrations consist of full-page line-drawings. These drawings show the general appearance of a flowering or fruiting twig and some highlighted relevant details: flowers, fruits, leaf scars, etc. Considering the overall size the drawings would seem to be of decent quality.



3. most complete coverage of material in my collection of tree books. sent copy as gift.



4. This book has been around a long time. That is because it is excellent. Don't worry that there are no glossy photographs. The superb line drawings are a much better aid to identification. A tremendous value when you consider the price. If you are a forestry student in the South, this is absolutely indispensable.