3 comments about Spanish for the Green Industry.

1. I just received this book, have not gotten into it yet, but noticed that the Flashcards and Audio Cassette Tape mentioned in the description, are NOT INCLUDED in the shipment.

   Once I get over my resentment I expect I will get a lot out of the workbook, the layout is clear and there are useful topics I did not expect.




2. This is an entertaining workbook with lots of pictures, matching exericises, crossword puzzles, multiple choice quizes, and worksheets. The vocabularly is very useful for gardening work. Each chapter has a very good description of some cultural differences between Anglos and Hispanics they might employ as gardeners. It seems like a lot of money to pay for a workbook, but then the subject is quite specialized, and the book is fun to work through. It would be great to have the flashcards advertized with the book, but another reviewer says that neither they nor the advertized audio tapes come with it.



3. I needed a book that could quickly help me communicate with hispanic workers. I do speak some spanish, but didn't have the vocabulary necessary for greenhouse workers.
   
   This book didn't help me a lot, but it did make me realize that I am not as dumb as I thought I was. It also made me laugh, with some of the "dialogues" and picto-grams (check out the mierde de gonzo).
   
   Unfortunately, I also thought it was a tad on the racist, or perhaps culturally biased, side. For example, the dialogue about teaching the hispanic worker how to use a riding mower. At the end, the hispanic is screaming for help on the runaway mower. Funny? yes. Appropriate? I think not.
   In case you think I'm being hypersensitive, remember that I work with hispanics 6 days a week, in triple digit heat in SC. I have discovered that most Americans I come in contact with through my work are intolerant, if not downright angry, at Hispanics, legal or not. Every day I remind other people that these men and women traveled here, away from their own towns, churches, friends, families, spouses, and sometimes their young children, just to work hard, at a barely living wage in most cases, so they can send money home to support not just their immediate family, but their extended family as well (aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, grandparents & in-laws) Their family is getting better food and a better education because of their sacrifice.
   
   How many of you would do that?
   
   How many of you would spend a year, or more, on a farm in Russia, or China, or Pakistan, so that your children could have better food and a better school? That's right, on a farm where no one speaks your language, treats you like c**p, laughs at you, pays you a LOT less than "their own kind", and are sure your going to steal. No cell phone, no nice house, no cable tv; and you get to share an apt. with your brother, 2 sisters, and a cousin. Oh, yeah, and you have to pay that country $1500 dollars for the privelege.
   
   On the other hand, there are wonderful inserts in this book that spell out how to be more understanding at work with Hispanics, and explain their culture and society and how it affects their work here - either the book was written by a split personality, or their is more than one hand in it.
   
   Buy it used.

No comments about Creating Central Park (Metropolitan Museum of Art).

4 comments about Northeast Home Landscaping: Including Southeast Canada (Home Landscaping).

1. I live in the Northeast and am a novice gardener. This book is great because it gives you a lot of different garden plans, and let's you see what plants look good together and work well together in similar conditions. I also like that it shows a lot of the garden plans in different seasons, and in some cases shows you what your garden will look like when you plant it, then in five years, or ten years down the road.
   
   The book has a great index so you can cross reference and see the same plant in different gardens, and there's a great reference section at the end that tells you all about each plant. It also has one of the best sections I've seen on preparing your garden for planting.



2. I poured over my mom's copy of this book for several weeks, and after returning it to her, decided it was time to buy my own. I'm a new homeowner who would love to beautify the yard with low maintenance plants that will thrive in my climate. This book is filled with lots of sample plans, pictures of plants, descriptions, and tips on how to care for / prune plants. I love it!!! I've developed my own plan for the front of the house based on ideas from the book, and I feel like I now have a decent idea of what plants to buy and how to group them to make a beautiful front yard. I highly recommend this book.



3. I am currently in the midst of a major home landscaping project (the installation of terraces, shrubs, flowers, tall trees and irrigation combined with masonry and outdoor lighting) and had no idea what my landscape architect was talking about until I purchased this book. It's a simple and easy reference guide that really gives a novice a thorough education of home landscaping. This book will tell you "what" to have planted "where" and "why". The garden design layouts are also very helpful for anyone seeking site design guidance. My landscape architect was very impressed with my newfound knowledge of plantings and it's completely due to this book. This is a must purchase if you're looking to do any type of landscaping in the Northeast!



4. I enjoyed this book because it is specific to the northeast. I am a very amateur gardener who needs things spelled out for me.

5 comments about 1,000 Garden Ideas: The Best of Everything in a Visual Sourcebook.

1. I checked this book out from the library, and was thoroughly impressed! I have since put it on my wish list. Tons of ideas for every aspect of your garden--WOW!



2. The photos are beautiful. But it is just a series of photos, almost like inventory from a catalog. Containers without plant material, seating without any a setting, ancient stone statues that cannot be purchased, it has no application to a new garden. I would stick to a standard Sunset book, you would get a much bigger picture, application and complete ideas.



3. This book contains maybe 1000 pictures... all relatively small. This in no way gave me any ideas whatsoever. If you are looking for ideas for a backyard, patio, garden shed, flowers, pergolas. etc.. I suggest Lee Ann White's "Backyard Ideas".



4. I bought this book on a whim and surely regret it. I do a lot of gardening and have visited a great many gardens in our country, some famous & some not. I am currently building new gardens, again, and this book was recommended. This is a picture book w/no details regarding the gardens and/or plantings. Put it on your coffee table for friends to see. Or if like me you don't subscribe to the coffee table/coffee table book idea I will probably try to pass this off as a gift for someone who aspires to garden but doesn't. Do not buy this book. Look at the pictures at the library or bookstore. It just takes a few minutes.



5. I love the quantity of photo's in the book. It's not a 'how-to-do' book. It is a book that provides you with a variety of options for a specific part of a garden. Enough to get our creative juices flowing.

No comments about Introductory Horticulture (Agriculture).

4 comments about Zen Flowers: Designs to Soothe the Senses and Nourish the Soul.

1. This book is an absolute work of art. I highly reccommend it to anyone who can appreciate magnificent flowers in all of their natural glory. I applaud the two authors & plan on giving this book as a giftt to all of my friends for Xmas!



2. Incredible photographs of elegant simplicity. Anulka and Brenda have imparted grace and ease in an un-easy world. My guests have all looked through the book with oooh's and ahhhhh's.
   I have already been inspired to evolve my own flower arrangements.
   I LOVE this book!



3. I was enchanted to have received such a lovely, beautiful book as a gift.
   I loved it so much that I, in turn, sent it to many friends and relatives who also really enjoyed the serenity of the photographs and the inspirational prose by the two authors.
   It's a great gift to buy... and to enjoy !!!!!!



4. This book is absolutely beautiful. The quality of the book is truly impressive with it's gorgeous, unique photographs and insightful writing. The book goes into detail about the how and why of Zen design. The attention placed in the layout of the book is rare, and perfectly unites the text with the photography.
   
   Truly refreshing to see a book that leads us into the mysteries that lie within the universe of flower arrangement.
   
   Allan McCormick

1 comments about Best Perennials for the Rocky Mountains and High Plains.

1. This is a most excellant gardening book for those of us on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. It is a very good source of information a good complement to Xeriscape Gardening.

4 comments about Simplified Irrigation Design, 2nd Edition (Landscape Architecture).

1. I was very disappointed with this book. The author places emphasis on the use of one brand of irrigation equipment, seldom mentioning other options that may better fit the application. I also found several errors in the enclosed calculations... not simply a typo, but in the methodology of the formulas. I would not recommend this book...



2. I read this book to get ready to take my Texas Irrigation License exam. It explained how to properly install a professional quality sprinkler system in an easy to read and understand format. This book goes into detail about how to layout the sprinkler heads, how to pipe it all together, and how all the parts work together. I have read many irrigation books...This was the best book to get a good understanding of sprinkler systems without becoming an expert in the field of irrigation. Perfect for the do it yourself homeowner or individual wanting to get into the irrigation industry. I now have my license and highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn to install a good sprinkler system without having to read an irrigation reference manual.



3. This resource is excellent. Extreme detail, great illustrations, and information that is not provided by other typical irrigation books you'll find at Home Depot. I'm a landscape designer and highly recommend this resource.



4. I have some basic knowledge of irrigation and right off the bat I was irritated with the way the chapters where laid out. He starts right in with sprinkler head performance and layout before going into the explanation of irrigation, and the basic principles of hydraulics that I believe should be the foundation what you learn first before anything else. The other thing that was that for the money I don't believe it was worth it maybe more like $20-25. Most of the information you can find on the internet searches. But, all in all it was a very easy reading book that did help me fill some holes in my irrigation knowledge.

3 comments about Natural Landscaping: Designing with Native Plant Communities.

1. I have the 1982 edition of this book - I stumbled across it and have been amazed ever since that such a book was written in 1982 before this approach to gardening/landscaping was popular.
   It is tailored to the midwest, but the technical solidity and sound design concepts should apply anywhere.



2. Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Natural Landscaping: Designing With Native Plant Communities by licensed architect and landscaping authority John Diekelmann and natural plan restoration expert Robert Schuster is a fascinating, "user friendly" instructional guide on basic landscaping principles, as well as cogent, authoritative advice on how to restore wetlands and introduce native plant species for wetlands, grasslands, forests, and more. Black-and-white photographs as well as an inset section of color plates wonderfully illustrate this meticulous, fact-filled, professional quality, highly recommended "how-to" guide for anyone aspiring to enhance or restore native plant communities.



3. Natural Landscaping is an essential resource for anyone interested in landscaping with native plants. The importance of learning to use native plants is so important as we face continuing droughts in various parts of the country, including here in Williamsburg, VA. The book is so full of information that I find myself going back to it often. Many thanks to the authors for this fine volume.

5 comments about Citrus.

1. This book has informatiom for the professional as well as the village farmer in Africa , its teachings are simple and clear for all those interested in the subject to follow , the illustrations and instructions are simple even for those with a basic knowledge of subtropical fruit growing. Africa is not covered in the distribution map never the less the fruits are for example the mango tree is synonymous with Africa , it gives food, and shelter from the elements and fuel what more can you want from a tree. Every African school would benefit from a book like this , and i know one that will.



2. The book is attractive and does contain a lot of information about different citrus varieties. My main criticism is that the Planting and Care section could have been much more substantial. Specifically, since the descriptions of various citrus ailments (poor nutrition, inappropriate watering, infection with pests) are not accompanied by photos of the symptoms, it makes it harder for the reader to figure out what these problems might actually look like. The black-and-white pen-and-ink drawings of pests are somewhat informative, but they're very limited compared to what might be conveyed by a photo.

   Also, a few diagrams to help illustrate "good pruning" would have been great.

   I'm not suggesting that this book should have been a definitive technical treatise on citrus, but I think it would have been more useful if more attention had been paid to what goes wrong when you're trying to grow citrus.




3. The nursery where I bought my citrus tress recommended this book. I think it provides a very comprehensive coverage of growing citrus in AZ. This is a must for your reference library.



4. a very useful and short guide for citrus amateurs growers. Very imortant and good information about citrus USDA zones and many citrus varietes carefully described. I think there is a essentail book for amateur citrus growers in temperate zones (atlantic europe coast)



5. It is a good book just not as in depth as I would have preferred.