Book Description
The popularity of native North American plants has soared in recent years, for many good reasons. Whatever draws you to native plants, you'll find no better or more authoritative guide than Allan Armitage. Widely acknowledged as one of the world's foremost horticulturists, Armitage describes more than 630 species and cultivars of perennials, biennials, and annuals that are native to the United States, bringing to each plant a wealth of practical knowledge and the full weight of his experience and expertise. Each entry includes a general description of the plant plus essential data you need to grow it successfully, including habitat, hardiness, correct garden site, maintenance, and propagation — all in a clear, easy-to-use format. Whether you are a native plant enthusiast or simply wish to use plants that work in the landscape, you'll find everything you are looking for in this readable, information-packed volume.
Customer Reviews:
Armitage's Native Plants for North American Garderns.......2007-08-01
Really great book. I got it from the library and just couldn't get enough of it. ...so I bought it and am glad I did. Great conversational writing makes it a joy to read. Really helps you figure out what plants will work best for you.
Great Book on Gardening with Natives.......2007-03-10
I gave this book as a gift and have heard wonderful things about it. This book is very useful for help planning for choosing native plants and for figuring out where to plant natives in a garden.
Armitage's Native Plants.......2007-01-16
Good presentation of native plants, but could have more photos of some of the more obscure species. The book is slanted more toward the southeast and east U.S. Representation of western species is not as strong as it could be, but overall a very interesting book.
Excellent reference.......2007-01-15
I found this book an excellent reference to have for studying native plants. It should be in your personal library.
Armitage's Native Plants for North American Gardens.......2007-01-10
Very enjoyable and informative book. The enjoyment comes from the author's inclusion of personal perspectives of the native plants and the informative comes from the basic and beyond scientific information. Included is identification of the plant, habitat and propagation. Also mentioned are the cultivars of various plants. Good information for the beginning native plant gardener.
Book Description
The sheer number of choices among Hydrangea species, hybrids, and cultivated varieties can be overwhelming even for the most advanced gardeners. How to choose from among the hundreds of mopheads, climbers, lacecaps, and oakleafs, to name just a few? And how to care for hydrangeas in American gardens, when nearly all the books offering advice about them come from England and Europe? Respected plantsman Michael A. Dirr comes to the rescue in this refreshingly forthright and practical guide to these distinctive shrubs and climbers.
Customer Reviews:
Best of Best.......2007-03-21
I think it's the best book I ever saw on the subject. It will be useful to amateurs and specialists. It is critical, complete, and honest. It is exact, practical, and technical, but with personal notes here and there that I find touching, amusing, and endearing. Did you know that Hydrangea anomala subsp petiolaris'flowers stare at the passerby? Now you know. If you love Hydrangeas do buy this book.
Extremely Informative.......2006-06-27
This guy knows his posies. Everything I've seen that he has written has been well done and most informative. I'm using his hydrangea book as my bible for beginning to raise these gorgeous things and am finding that he knows varieties, tactics, and possible problems (and solutions)I'd never heard of.
Master gardener .......2005-09-30
Beautiful photos but disappointed that the name wasn't on the picture- was cumbersome to go between the list of names and the photos
Incredible!.......2005-08-09
We live in the same zone as the author... his writing and the unbelievable information has really helped us move our collection of hydrangea forward! It is a great read, and written for those of us who don't have a horticultural degree.
An Excellent Book for Hydrangea Lovers.......2004-12-10
Hydrangeas have been a favorite of mine ever since I moved to an old farmhouse in the middle of Baltimore City and saw an old fashioned Mop Head Hydrangea in full, glorious bloom in the back yard. The plant was probably fifty years old and incredibly big and vigorous. This one plant sparked a passion that is still going strong over twenty years later.
Hydrangeas for American Gardens by Michael Dirr is the most comprehensive book available on Hydrangeas. This is not just another pretty coffee table book. If you are interested in Hydrangeas, you will probably frequently refer to the book's in depth information on Hydrangeas.
The book gives extensive information on many of the cultivars available, but neglects to give extensive zone hardiness information. This oversight is particularly unfortunate, since the book is written for gardens here in the USA, where Texas gardens are in an extremely different climate from Maine gardens. However, the book does note some hardiness information in the descriptions of various cultivars and it also has several lists of plants that are hardy and aren't hardy below zone 7.
The book begins with the standard information that any good book on a single plant species covers. It discusses taxonomy and nomenclature. However, don't let this scientific information put you off or make you feel the book will be too difficult to read. You can always move straight to chapter two.
I was pleased to see that chapter two of the book covers the usually neglected climbing hydrangea. I have a special fondness for these quiet, lush vines. Chapters three to ten continue to discuss hydrangea species, with chapter eleven covering some less common varieties. Chapter seven, Hydrangea macrophylla, includes an excellent cultivar chart that allows you to compare cultivars of these popular hydrangeas. A wonderful bonus in this book is the lovely colored pencil drawings scattered throughout these chapters.
Chapter twelve, Garden Care and Culture, discusses the best growing conditions for these plants. The section on flower color is particularly useful for those people longing for blue flowers on their pink bushes.
If you are interested in growing your own hydrangeas, don't neglect the propagation advice in chapter thirteen. The information is simple enough for even a beginner to understand.
Chapter fourteen discusses pests and diseases, while fifteen covers a variety of additional information, such as how to cut blossoms. The final chapter covers the future of the hydrangea.
The book ends with a useful appendix of resources for anyone interested in tracking down some of the rarer cultivars.
I thoroughly enjoyed this exceptional book. It is a definitive guide for anyone interested in hydrangeas. I give Hydrangeas for American Gardens five out of five sunflowers.
Average customer rating:
- Great for "regular people" despite a couple of goofs!
- Mostly good for garden formation ideas, but needs help.
- It genuinely does make a few mistakes
- A Real Keeper and Invaluable Source
- Engaging, well written reference... with a few gaps
|
Easy Care Native Plants: A Guide to Selecting and Using Beautiful American Flowers, Shrubs, and Trees in Gardens and Landscapes
Patricia A. Taylor
Manufacturer: Henry Holt and Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Landscape
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Regional
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
| Canada
| Middle Atlantic
| Midwest
| New England
| Pacific Northwest
| South
| Southwest
| West
General
| Techniques
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
100 Easy-to-Grow Native Plants: For American Gardens in Temperate Zones
-
Native Plant Primer, The: Trees, Shrubs, and Wildflowers for Natural Gardens
-
Native Plants of the Northeast: A Guide for Gardening and Conservation
-
Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines: A Guide to Using, Growing, and Propagating North American Woody Plants
ASIN: 0805038612 |
Book Description
North America's magnificent plant life has a peculiar history in that it is generally regarded as weedy material in its native meadows and woodlands and viewed as a horticultural treasure trove abroad. In Easy Care Native Plants, Patricia A. Taylor seeks to change this situation by emphasizing the elegant beauty, rather than the common naturalness, of American flora and by urging gardeners to capture the exquisite essence of its blossoms and foliage in artistic compositions.The book is divided into three sections, each filled with color photographs and containing special lists of plant recommendations from horticultural experits in the United States, Canada, and Europe. These suggestions include natives for city patios and decks, shrubs for winter interest, colorful flowers for drought situations, and prairie plants for a formal front yard display.The first section reviews the history and current use of native American plants and includes a brief primer on garden design. The second presents profiles of eighteen public and private gardens in Canada and the United States and highlights the crucial role of horticultural organizations and garden clubs in spreading the good news about native flora.The last section is devoted to detailed descriptions of over 500 plants, chosen not only for their handsone appearance but also for their ability to flourish without the use of pesticides or fertilizers. With them, gardeners everywhere will have yearlong beauty requiring minimal maintenance.While many of the plants cited in the book are little known, all are commercially propagated and available. The Appendix lists sources for each plant category and describes a select number of mail-order firms, including ordering information.Easy Care Native Plants has been written and designed to be a usable, definitive resource for the full specturm of those who love and appreciate beautiful plants, from weekend gardeners to landscape designers and architects.
Customer Reviews:
Great for "regular people" despite a couple of goofs! .......2006-08-24
The outstanding characteristic of this book is that it is USABLE by regular, non-professional busy people who love gardening and nature and especially want to respect native plant communities and plant with sensitivity to their own region.
The Bittersweet confusion is terrible, but it is offset by good organization, good photos, and short descriptions on the outside of pages.
Another outstanding feature is that the author includes trees, shrubs, and vines, as well as flowers. This increases the value of this book significantly.
Flowers are wonderful, but people need to get a bit beyond flowers--flowers--flowers. For example, many butterfly species depend upon TREES as host plants and then use flowers for nectar. The distinctive Red Admiral uses trees at all stages of life and leaves the flowers for others.
Thanks to the author for a good down-to-earth reference that answers practical "ordinary" questions. I have recommended this book to a number of people in "wildlife/habitat gardening" classes and have given several as gifts . . . inserting a note about the Bittersweet :-)!
P.S. Yeah, I really should change that ridiculous name. I was under the influence of busy visiting grandchildren when I first reviewed a book here. . . and we do have a great goofy time!
Mostly good for garden formation ideas, but needs help........2005-04-03
I bought this older used book (1996) and find it remains quite relevant. One of the reasons we gardeners end up planting invasive species is because they are easy to grow. In EASY CARE NATIVE PLANTS Patricia Taylor addresses one of the biggest issues for gardeners... "I would grow native species, but I don't have time."
Well, Taylor suggests low maintenance creatures that will be no more work than the invasive plants you intended to install. With Taylor, we visit public and private gardens where individuals are making a difference one plant at a time. From these gardeners, we learn how to construct various gardens including a woodlands garden, a drought tolerant native garden, and a front yard native garden. Taylor provides lists of plants for each of these gardens. For a complementary book, you might consider buying both Taylor's book and 100 EASY-TO-GROW NATIVE PLANTS by Lorraine Johnson which is a kind of annotated plant directory (although it focuses mainly on non-woody plants, whereas Taylor includes trees, shrubs and plants). Alternatively, you can contact the US Fish and Wildlife Service for a free monograph on plant invaders and substitutes at www.nfwf.org. Do that and you are sure to find 'Celastrus orbiculatus' or Oriental Bittersweet on the "No-no" list. Also the latter monograph suggests several native alternatives to bittersweet, such as 'Campsis radicans' (trumpet vine) and 'Passiflora incarnata' or Passion Vine.
It genuinely does make a few mistakes.......2001-06-26
Not to belabor a nitpicker's criticism, but this book does include a few gaffes that compromise its use as a reference. I do very much enjoy the book, and my review below reflects that. But it just gets some things wrong.
For example, the species of Bittersweet southern gardeners have trouble with is Celastrus Orbiculatus -- oriental bittersweet. Yep, it's highly invasive, and yes, it can "consume entire forests" as this author says "bittersweet" does. The native American Species is Celastrus Scandens. The two differ in the position of the berries on the vine, partly... and they also differ in that the native one isn't swallowing entire forests. They're hard for an intelligent amateur to tell apart when looking at an individual plant... which is exactly the problem that this book has, too.
There's a HUGE difference between American chestnuts -- enormous trees now nearly gone from their native range due to blight -- and the shrubby asiatic Chestnuts that were brought in by nurseries and that carried the blight into this country in the first place. That's exactly the sort of distinction a gardener interested in native plants wants to know about, and it's basically the one this book misses with the two Bittersweets. In a lot of cases it's that sort of thing that got us into native gardening in the first place. So, see, it's bad to make this kind of error in a book on native plants.
Again, this is a decent book that just slips up in a few spots.
A Real Keeper and Invaluable Source.......2001-03-05
This is a top-notch gardening book, one that all gardeners can use to enrich their properties. While some may find recommendations by plant experts to be a disadvantage, I like knowing that top horticulturists have carefully selected the plants in this book (southern gardeners tell me that Taylor is right on the mark in describing the American bittersweet). The garden profiles, particularly, for me, the California one, are not only good reads but also packed with useful information. The book is designed to be useful - very easy to look for a yellow flower that blooms all summer or a small shrub with white spring flowers. I turn to it again and again to learn about and find beautiful, interesting and low maintenance plants. I have bought and given 14 of these books as gifts to friends and have received unanimous 5 star reviews from the recipients!
Engaging, well written reference... with a few gaps.......2000-02-26
This is a good choice for the beginning native gardener who needs a sense of the range of native plants available. It's a pleasant browse, and provides a representative sample of the choices you might make with natives. I appreciated the straightforward tone of the writer, who studiously avoided the pretensions of some of the more unctious coffeetable books. Let's just say she's gardening in urban New Jersey, not in northern California, and leave it at that.
On the other hand, there are some gaps in Ms. Taylor's knowledge that make this a less than definitive reference. The short version is that she's often recommending a plant based on the sendup of an arboretum or public garden with which she's corresponded, and that sometimes she hasn't done the research to back that recommendation up. For an egregious example, she describes the American form of Bittersweet (Celastrus Scandens) in a way that clearly demonstrates that she doesn't know the difference between it and the invasive asian form. That sort of slip is a real problem, both philosophically and practically, for someone who's into native plants. Oops.
All in all, I'd say this is a useful book that gets you interested in the plants, but that you should do a healthy amount of leg work elsewhere before you plant. The research is half the fun anyway...
For another native plant reference, with less species but more reliable context and detail, try C. Colston Burrell's A Gardener's Encyclopedia of Wildflowers.
Book Description
Few gardens can transport visitors to wild and rugged landscapes as well as rock gardens. Eye-catching rock gardens are among the most challenging — and satisfying — expressions of the gardener's craft. A true rock garden is a specialized habitat that allows the gardener to grow plants that do not flourish anywhere else. This book offers the first comprehensive treatment of building rock gardens in all parts of North America. Topics covered include rock placement, materials, and planting and maintenance. Variations on the rock garden theme, from planting troughs to creating water features are also discussed. The book presents regional styles and techniques and profiles a dozen public rock gardens from Oregon to Newfoundland. More than 100 inspiring photos accompany the lively text.
Customer Reviews:
Great Guide for Making a Alpine Rock Garden.......2007-01-09
This is the authoritive book on making your own alpine rock garden. I looked all over the web for references for constuction of alpine rock gardens, and this book was the only reference of value I could find. I built my own garden as the General Contractor using about 30 ton of quarried basalt rock. We visited 3 quarries locally, and hired a small landscaping firm to place the rock. The book provided valueable information to the novice on preparing the garden bed, particularly making the "scree", the sandly soil for the garden bed. The final scree formula was obtained from the book, 10 parts pea gravel, 10 parts builder's sand, and 3 parts peat moss. The landscaper mixed the materials with his track hoe in a pile, and followed my instructions from the book on placing the rock. The project turned out great and I had never done this before.
Great Book.......2006-04-26
I am building a rock garden in my yard and found this book to be a tremendous source of information. I bought a copy for everyone in my dojo, as well as for several members of my motorcycle club.
Comprehensive.......2004-02-06
This is a well-planned book that addresses all the major aspects of rock gardening and has ideas to offer gardeners from all parts of North America. One of its strengths is that the writers understand, through experience, the differences in soil and climate that influence rock gardening in different parts of the continent. Because of this personal experience the dissimilarities are addressed fully and not just mentioned briefly.
With contributions from over 40 leading rock gardeners from all parts of North America this is a truly comprehensive book. The section I found most interesting and relevant was the generous chapter on "Soils" by Louise Parsons. A geologist and rock gardener, she looks at all types of soils, soil components and she offers guidelines for handling soils.
The four sections of the book deal with design principles and materials, types of rock gardens, structures and containers, and regional styles and techniques. The book concludes with an overview of ten public rock gardens, from Alaska to Kansas City, where you'll find fine examples of rock gardening. There is an appendix describing ingredients for rock garden soils and an excellent annotated bibliography.
I learned a great deal from this book - for one thing I had no idea there were so many types of rock gardens (who knew you could make a rock garden on a downtown balcony?). The writing is of uniformly high quality and each of the writers shares with the reader not just knowledge and experience but their passion for rock gardening.
Book Description
At the heart of every garden are the plants, which enhance our land and engage our souls. For gardeners, no matter how new or how advanced, whether we cultivate for ourselves or for landscaping clients, plants are the sine qua non. They intrigue us and inspire us. And the more we learn about them, the more they add to our pleasure in gardening. For all of these reasons, every gardener needs a good plant encyclopedia. And, as the only plant encyclopedia written exclusively for North American gardeners, Taylor's Encyclopedia of Garden Plants will be as useful twenty years from now as it is today. If a plant can't be grown on this continent, you won't find it here. Readers will use this book in a number of ways: as a resource for identifying plants, as a guide to purchasing the best species and cultivars for particular gardening locations and growing conditions, and as an important way to save the cost and disappointment of buying plants that won't thrive or will overwhelm a garden. Choosing just the right tree or shrub can add the crowning touch to your landscape plan. Here you'll find expert information about more than a thousand species of trees, shrubs, roses, bulbs, perennials, annuals, and ground covers. Illustrated with 1,200 color photos and hundreds of line drawings, the encyclopedia includes instructions on how to grow the plants and even on how to propagate many of them. An extensive glossary and a common name index make this book accessible to beginners as well as longtime gardeners. Like gardening itself, Taylor's Encyclopedia of Garden Plants will bring its readers immediate pleasure as well as long-term rewards.
Customer Reviews:
Taylor's Encyclopedia of Garden Plants: The Most Authoritative Guide to the Best Flowers, Trees, and Shrubs ..........2007-01-03
Excellent! No gardener should be without it. I have yet to have a plant not listed in this book. It is a large book, but worth it. Beautiful photos. Money well spent!
This is a great book -- but not a quick reference.......2005-04-07
You must read well into the description of a plant to find out if it's shade or sun lover. It's not something you can quickly discern.
Also missing is the distance needed between plants which is so helpful when developing a bed and purchasing more than one of each kind.
GREAT.......2004-07-01
I use this book to look up plants, all the time. It tells you about anything you want to know about flowers, trees, shrubs, etc.
Plants,WOW!!!!.......2003-11-27
This encyclopedia of plants tells you about any plant you ever heard of. If you read this whole book you will know everything and I mean everything about every kind of plant. Every plant will be in your head like white on rice. This is the book you want to read for any kind of plant project. I prefer this book to ANYONE.
Average customer rating:
- The old version is better
- Flower Children: The LIttle Cousins of the Field and Garden
- Fantastic Flower Children
|
Flower Children
Elizabeth Gordon
Manufacturer: Derrydale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Basic Concepts
| Baby-3
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 4-8
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Bird Children
-
Wild Flower Children
-
Mother Earth's Children
ASIN: 0517163578
Release Date: 2001-03-20 |
Book Description
Facsimile editions of classic children's books from the beginning of the 20th century, featuring four-color paintings and poetry that teaches children about nature.
Customer Reviews:
The old version is better.......2005-05-04
I saw an copy of the 1912 edition (my grandmother's) and wanted to get a copy for my children. I was so happy to find that it was in print again, but so disappointed when the book arrived: the colors in the modern version are off, sometimes entirely wrong, and the quality of the pictures is not as good. The original cover was better, and I wonder how the publisher could make so many mistakes with the colors. A real disappointment, but I hope that another publisher takes it up and reissues it with true colors.
The text is still charming and the basic drawings are fine.
Flower Children: The LIttle Cousins of the Field and Garden.......2001-05-23
This is a very sweet book with wonderful artwork. I purchased the book because of the beautiful cover -- I was looking for ideas on how to decorate my new daughters bedroom. I was delighted when the book came and I read the sweet poetry which describes all the different flowers.
Fantastic Flower Children.......2001-03-23
This is a beautiful little book for any parent or grandparent. First published in 1912 and out of print for a very long time, it is wonderful to see this book again. The illustrations are of flowers with childrens faces and a short verse about each flower. Charming pictures and poetry. I loved this book as a child and love sharing them with my kids.
Book Description
Easy-to-use and very accessible to the average gardener, Garden Plants and Flowers is a plant by plant guide that shows you what to grow and how to grow it. Including more than 2,500 common garden plants and arranged alphabetically within each plant type, such as trees and shrubs, this is one of the most practical guides on the market.
The American Horticultural Society's mission is to open the eyes of all Americans to the vital connection between people and plants, to inspire all Americans to become responsible caretakers of the Earth, to celebrate America's diversity through the arts and sciences of horticulture, and to lead this effort by sharing the Society's unique national resources with all Americans.
Book Description
Sometimes you get a second chance... Remarriage isn't the happily-ever-after Mibby McManus hoped for. Between conflicting work schedules, a rebellious teenage son, a mother-in-law who can't get enough of the Food Channel, and a cat-in-law bent on destruction, Mibby and her new husband, Larry, never seem to find enough time for each other. Then there's the part Mibby really didn't expect: the constant intrusion of memories. Just when she thinks she's gotten back on track, a phone call from California unsettles everything. It's time for Mibby to face her past or risk losing everything.
Customer Reviews:
Can't wait to read another one!.......2007-04-10
As I've said before about this author, she is so good! I loved this book and couldn't put it down. I have a teenage son and I related to so much of what she was saying, just about how a mother feels about her boy. This is just a wonderful book. I love how she links scripture into the story and remains so real with her characters. Every woman can relate to Mibby in some way. It was just inspirational!
WONDERFUL! WONDERFUL!.......2007-03-20
This book is the continuing story of Mibby. She finds that marriage to Larry, after her first husband died, (book one) is not coming up roses!
This book, and the first two are for the romantic at heart, and lovers of flowers. Definitely a female series. You must buy the first two. Start at the beginning! I would hope that she comes out with the continuing story now that she and Larry have bought the local garden center!
A Better Read than Happily Ever After.......2006-11-18
Mibby and her new husband, Larry, return home from their honeymoon to begin life together, only to encounter Larry's meddlesome mother, Mibby's rebellious teenage son and dysfunctional sister, and more memories of her deceased husband than she expected. Happily-ever-after is not going to be easy. In the third and last of the Garden Gates series, author Hill continues to mature Mibby's faith, outlook, and behavior. Mibby's friend and mentor Louise bakes up a storm and offers good counsel, and Mibby learns to look to God, her husband, and her own heart in making decisions.
Wonderful!!.......2006-10-12
Another book by Patti Hill that I just loved. I found myself staying way past my bedtime reading. Very realistic and touching. Patti gives us a character we can relate to, not a perfect Christian, but a working-at-it every day type of believer. This seriese is definitely one of the best Christian fiction reads out there---highly recommend it!!
PLEASE give us more excellent books Patti!!!!
terrific realistic look at second marriages .......2006-10-04
Several years have passed since her spouse died in a biking accident. Mibby Garrett, owner of Perennially Yours Garden Design and mother to fifteen years old Kyle, feels it is time to move on. She accepts the proposal of Larry, who is kind to her teenage son, after they discuss what marriage means to one another. Both feel ready as they know what to expect. After the ceremony, they go off on their honeymoon leaving Kyle with Larry's mother Connie.
However, when they return home to set up housekeeping, neither had anticipated the impact of their marriage on their extended family. Connie not only redid the kitchen, but she is over every moment offering unsolicited advice and being hurt when that advice is ignored. Kyle struggles with no longer being the man of the house as much as having a new father. Others are almost as intrusive leaving the newlyweds to wonder if it was worth it. Mibby asks God to help her by guiding her through the chaotic loving interference of others.
Book three in the Garden gates tales (see LIKE A WATERED GARDEN and ALWAYS GREEN) is a terrific realistic look at second marriages mostly from the perspective of an intelligent, deeply devout caring person. Indirectly by how they behave to the beleaguered Mibby, the audience also sees how Larry, Ky and Connie react. Still this is Mibby's tale (and trilogy) as she feels so overwhelmed by the actions and reactions of others she wonders whether living in sin would have been a better option before turning to the Lord for guidance. This is a solid character study miniseries that deeply follows a woman from mourning to re-dawning of her life.
Harriet Klausner
Book Description
A rose is a rose is a rose, but every rose garden -- and every rose gardener -- is unique. In Beautiful American Rose Gardens, Mary Tonetti Dorra, author of Beautiful American Vegetable Gardens, captures the special beauty of twenty-four rose gardens devoted exclusively, or nearly exclusively, to America's most beloved flower. Traveling from Maine to the Pacific Northwest, from Florida to California, Dorra not only discovered a variety of rose garden designs, but also a myriad of approaches to cultivation, depending on climate, garden size, location, and, of course, the gardener's favorite roses.
Roses, long considered to be impossible to incorporate into the landscape, here prove themselves to be durable rather than delicate, versatile rather than difficult, and in every case absolutely dazzling in their splendor. Working out the logistics of successive bloom and meeting the challenges of too much heat, too much cold, too much moisture, or too poor soil, each gardener has developed his or her own cultivation plan -- and a selection of their secrets is presented in Growing Tips from the Gardeners.
What is most striking about this celebration of the rose is the shrub's potential variety -- endless combinations of colors, from the purest whites to the brightest reds and oranges; of forms, from tiny Miniatures to towering, tree-engulfing Ramblers; and of uses, from military rows to sinuous free-form borders to startling accents in the middle of the woods. Every featured garden is a gem that will inspire: New England old garden roses, some descended from those the Puritans carried across the Atlantic; a Colefax and Fowler-designed Palm Beach garden; the butterfly-shaped garden at Boone Hall plantation in South Carolina; the French-inspired garden of Maison Chenal in Louisiana; the astounding 350 varieties of roses grown in a garden in Spokane, Washington; and Dolores and Bob Hope's high-profile Hollywood garden.
With more than 250 color illustrations,
Beautiful American Rose Gardens offers both intimate views of individual roses as well as bird's-eye views of overall garden designs. Tips from the owners, caretakers, and designers bring to life the fun, challenge, and joy that these gardens inspire. The garden plans and a thorough source list are a great starting point for new garden planners and an excellent reference for veterans. In all,
Beautiful American Rose Gardens is an invaluable resource as well as a stunning tribute to America's favorite flower.
Customer Reviews:
More for the rich than the poor.......2000-06-25
Beautiful American Rose Gardens is a good but not a great book because too many of the rose gardens discussed in this book are too large (acres and acres). The pictures are wonderful and descriptions are well written and I recommend that rose lovers read this book. However, the book doesn't give enough detail into how a reader can create their own rose gardens, especially if they are not professional rosarians or wealthy enough to afford professional gardners. Most of the gardens in this book are owned by rose retailers or rich or famous people like Bob Hope.
INFORMATIVE, COMPREHENSIVE--A GREAT GIFT!.......1999-11-03
I was drawn to this book by the stunning pictures of roses and rose gardens. However, it is the wealth of valuable information on EVERY aspect of roses that make this one of my all-time favorite gardening books.
This book would make an excellent present for the neophyte and expert gardener alike. The author's passion is contagious. A great read and highly recommended
Amazon.com
While gardeners often start out with hybrid tea roses, they most often end up growing the healthier and supremely fragrant old roses. Who can resist their crumpled petals in soft watercolor shades and their penetrating fragrance of baby powder and cold cream, let alone their lengthy and flamboyant histories? 100 Old Roses for the American Garden has pulled together a selected hundred of the best, with stunning color photographs and cultural information.
And the names--who could resist 'Alister Stella Gray' (a golden rambler), or 'Enfant de France' (a rose-pink hybrid perpetual dating from 1860)? You might want to track down 'Sydonie,' a shell-pink damask described as having deep, pervasive perfume and generous rebloom. This task will be made easier by the appendices at the back of the book listing mail-order sources for old roses, and public gardens that display them.
One reason so many gardeners end up enamored with old roses is that they don't need to be grown in a "rose ghetto" as do hybrid teas, but rather enjoy being mixed into borders with other plants. A chapter on companion plantings suggests perennials that work well as skirting for old roses, enabling the gardener to mix roses seamlessly into the garden picture. --Valerie Easton
Book Description
Grow a rose once praised by Virgil, known today as 'Autumn Damask.' Or the ancient 'Apothecary's Rose,' which Count Thibaut brought back from the Crusades. Or 'Empress Josephine,' enjoyed by the lady herself.
Treasured for their mixture of toughness and charm, versatility in the garden, and glorious scent, Old Roses are a revelation to gardeners accustomed to fussy modern hybrids. Suddenly roses don't come in one shape but in a dozen, and don't require a scientific approach but thrive with the basics of sun, water, and soil. Clair Martin, who has over 2,000 different roses under his care, offers enthusiasts a perfect introduction to growing Old Roses, followed by a focused list of 100 cultivars ideal for gardens across America.
From 'Alba Semi-plena' an excellent cold-climate survivor and one of the oldest forms of the white rose, to the popular 'Zephrine Drouhin,' with her deep, rich cerise tones--each rose is photographed in sumptuous color and accompanied by history, parentage, culture, and at-a-glance information on availability, stature and habit, hardiness, and time of bloom.
Customer Reviews:
100 Old Roses For the American Garden.......2003-07-10
This book is fabulous. I am a beginner and it covers each rose in depth. At the front of the book is fascinating history on roses. Especially how roses were such a commodity in the 1600-1700 & 1800's. They even stopped a ship blockade to let the roses in.
I keep grabbing this book.......2003-04-25
Although this book isn't all-inclusive (after all, the title is 100 old roses), this is the book I reach for first. It's great when I'm trying to find out more information on a rose in a catalog, or looking for an old rose for a specific spot. First of all, I can't resist the pictures (but they may be slightly misleading as in the case of Blanc Double de Coubert which I've never seen growing with the great cutting stem as shown). Second, the text makes for amusing reading. It's oppinionated, and I like that. Third, there's the handy Index of Old Garden Roses by Color in the back. It's actually a little summary: flower style, plant type, and class e.g. Madame Isaac Pereire: cupped, tall, Bourbon. Very handy. The only thing that would make this better is if it had scratch and sniff (unfortunately not realistic)...since scent is such a subjective thing (I was so hot for Louise Odier until I smelled her and was surprised to find that I didn't like the fragrance).
Excellent resource for gardeners.......2002-06-27
If you are interested in growing roses and want to try some that are not just your basic Hybrid Teas, this is a wonderful book to get. You will drool over the pictures and the text is excellent. The pictures take one page and are a gorgeous shots of the bloom with a long stem and leaves. On the opposite page is text which goes into great detail about the rose characteristics, growth patterns, habits, vigor, etc. It is an invaluable book when trying to decide what old garden roses to introduce to your garden.
This format is so beautful and so useful, that I have purchased all of the gardening books in this "series" by this publisher. It is rare to get such excellent photos in combination with such useful text.
I started growing roses about five years ago and became frustrated with Hybrid Teas because of blackspot and their generally fussy behavior and stiff, formal flowers. This book and Liz Druitt's book were instrumental in getting me to try old garden roses, and am I glad I did! I would highly recommend this to both beginning gardeners and experienced, alike.
There is a fine line between hobby and obsession.............2001-07-11
As others have previously mentioned, this is by no means the "authority" on the old roses, but what a wonderful little book it is! You don't have to work out twice a week in order to lift it and thumb through it, and it will fit in the back pocket of your overalls. The field guide is the area of the book I use most- the pictures are of a rose branch, often including buds, partly opened flowers and plenty of leaves, so you get a good idea of what the flowers, leaves and cane colors look like together, and that is not something many books offer. The pictures are taken on a clean white background and show the true form of the rose bloom. I like the author's style of writing and the fact that he often gives his opinion of the rose and the nature of it's scent, as well as the facts of it's growth habit. He also lists the roses by color in the back of the book, and that is a nice reference touch.
This is is a great reference book to take to the nurseries or on garden expeditions because it is so portable and offers so much information on each rose. We all know how vague some of those nursery tags can be, and if you don't have a photographic memory the easily found details quickly let you know if the rose you are considering will grow 4X4 or 10X10 in your area and whether or not it *really is* the rose that you want to plant beside the steps going to the back door! (I know- it would be just lovely there, wouldn't it....)
I have this book as well as the "100 English Roses" by the same author. They are not the books I reach for on a rainy day when I am looking for design inspiration, but they *are* the ones that I constantly reach for when I am doing the actual planning and planting and need the facts, and also the ones that my friends love to borrow. These are not expensive books, and it will be money well spent.
With details on the rose's growing needs.......2001-02-21
Saxon Holt's color photos embellish nearly every page of this gardener's guide to old rose varieties. Unlike many rose books which assume prior knowledge, this advises a range of gardeners with details on the rose's growing needs and methods accompanying the full-page color photo of its flower. Highly recommended: 'the' pick if only one or two rose books were to be included in a home gardening collection.
Books:
- AUTUMN LEAVES. A GUIDE TO THE FALL COLORS OF THE NORTHWOODS.
- Bacterial Conjugation
- Bacterial Growth And Division: BIOCHEMISTRY AND REGUALTION OF PROKARYOTIC AND EUKARYOTIC CYCLES
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plant-Pathogen Interactions (Proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe)
- Central Park, An American Masterpiece: A Comprehensive History of the Nation's First Urban Park
- Chemical Ecology of Phytophagous Insects
- Coccolithophores: From Molecular Processes to Global Impact
- Common trees of southern Africa (ZPH safari guide)
- Cuban Cigar Tobacco: Why Cuban Cigars Are the World's Best
- Desert Giant: The World of the Saguaro Cactus (Tree Tales)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Make Money Teaching Online: How to Land Your First Academic Job, Build Credibility, and Earn a Six-F
- Heat: An Amateur's Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Qu
- Chuck Jones: A Flurry of Drawings, Portraits of American Genius
- Domenico Cimarosa: His Life and His Operas
- Elle Decor: The Grand Book of French Style
- History: Fiction or Science
- Fieldiana Volume 30 Orchids of Peru 4 Volumes
- Standard & Poor's Guide to Energy Stocks
- Confidence Games: Money and Markets in a World without Redemption
- OSHA Regulatory Documents: A Reference of Federal Documents Pertaining to OSHA Workplace Safety Regu
The Truth about Garden Remedies: What Works, What Doesn't and Why
Armitage's Garden Perennials: A Color Encyclopedia
Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (Brooklyn Botanic Garden All-Region Guide)
