Book Description
Flamboyant members of the family Zingiberaceae — including Hedychium, Curcuma, Roscoea, and Zingiber — are once again on the wanted list as people discover their intricately constructed flowers, beautiful perfumes, and lush foliage. Although the majority of gingers originate in the tropics, a substantial number come from temperate zones or high altitudes and are perfectly at home in the temperate garden. These hardy gingers are the primary subject of this book. In the wild, gingers fit a variety of ecological niches, and diversity is the key to their success in the garden. They make dramatic focal points in tropical-style plantings but can look equally impressive in traditional herbaceous borders, woodland settings, rock gardens, water gardens and containers. Branney charts the history of gingers from their 19th-century heyday through modern-day hybridization programmes to the latest introductions of new species. A comprehensive plant directory ranges wide in its coverage. Valuable cultivation advice includes techniques for breaking dormancy, maintaining soil nutrition, and understanding individual plants' hardiness requirements. Captivating photographs complement the descriptions and convey the distinctive charms of these irresistible plants. This book brims with new finds that will tempt newcomers, delight enthusiasts, and ensure hardy gingers a place in every 21st-century garden.
Customer Reviews:
Very good.......2007-03-08
Very good book and very good services of Amazon. Arrived in excellent shape!!
Book promissed a lot and it's true it's one of the best books I've read of Gingers. The information is complete and gives you an idea what to expect from a certain plant. For me it's a kind of "bible" for the plants I wish to buy.
I can recommended this book to everyone who loves gingers!!
Gr. Miranda
Not totally accurate, but the best available........2006-03-25
When I first heard about this new ginger book and saw the negative comments on GardenWeb, I was in no hurry to get it. Several people said much of it was obviously taken from my own website. But recently when ordering another book, I needed something else to bring the order to $25 for the free shipping.
I was pleasantly surprised! This is a pretty darn good job at describing hardy gingers for the temperate or sub tropical garden. Some of the cultivars had to come from my website but there was also a lot of original research and solid information from other sources. Much of it is slanted toward the UK/British climate, but also for gardeners in the southern USA.
I can now recommend this book to anyone interested in collecting and growing gingers, including Costaceae (spiral gingers) as well as Zingiberaceae (true gingers).
A unique, authoritative guide in Hardy Gingers .......2005-07-04
T.M.E. Branney is co-owner of a nursery that specializes in rare, temperate-woodland plants, and is also a garden designer: this professional background lends well to a unique, authoritative guide in Hardy Gingers Including Hedychium, Roscoea And Zingiber. Color photos of hardy gingers supplement notes on growing needs, rarity, plant origins and history, and propagation. While most may associate ginger with tropical climates, it's the more unusual temperate-zone gingers that are the focus here - and there's a wealth of them.
Product Description
The Gardeners Guide to Growing Hardy Perennial Orchids exposes the best kept secret in the gardening world by introducing the reader to many hardy perennial orchids that can be grown almost anywhere in the US including Alaska with a little care and preparation.
Many beautiful color photographs are included to tantalize the reader and peak their interest in these beautiful plants. Also, many color illustrations are used to demonstrate bed preparation, planting and other cultural practices.
The author divides the discussion into three groups of species Upland, Transition, and Wetland. Within each group, selected species are discussed in detail with a strong focus on a non-technical presentation of the necessary cultural requirements for these species to survive and thrive in most any garden setting.
Some of the principles that are emphasized include:
Hardy orchids survive and thrive in temperate and more frigid climates. In fact, some actually require temperatures at or well below freezing for several months each year to maintain proper growth, much like tulips or daffodils.
The most important requirement for growing this kind of orchid is good soil drainage, which in most cases requires excavation and the addition of premixed soil in a raised bed. Sand or Perlite are key ingredients to achieving good drainage.
Orchids in general have low nutrient requirements, and do not tolerate lots of fertilizer. In fact, the addition of a good leaf or bark compost to the soil mix usually supplies all the nutrients an orchid needs.
The author stresses that while these requirements are relatively easy for most gardeners, terrestrial orchids can not be planted just anywhere and expected to grow. To be successful, its absolutely necessary to plan ahead and prepare a site to meet the specific requirements of a species. This process is covered in depth in The Gardeners Guide to Growing Hardy Perennial Orchids.
Book Description
An essential new resource for gardeners.
"In my experience of growing and writing about plants for 45 years, the first question people intemperate climates ask about an unfamiliar plant is whether it is hardy."
-from the Introduction
What is a hardy plant? What is a hardiness zone? What conditions affect hardiness? Gardening expert Derek Fell answers these and other questions of gardeners living in a temperate climate. He challenges strict adherence to the zone system and encourages readers to explore their garden's microclimates. Doing so can add two or three zones to a plant hardiness rating.
Encyclopedia of Hardy Plants is a comprehensive reference organized by plant type. Its easy-to-use directory format provides quick retrieval of specific data on over 700 recommended plants. Along with full color photographs of favorite annuals, bulbs, herbs, perennials, shrubs, trees, vegetables, fruits and nuts, the author includes:
- Botanical and common names
- Zone ratings
- Height, width and growth habits
- Flower, fruit, vegetable and nut production
- Suggested uses
- Soil, water and sunlight requirements
- Planting tips and combinations
- Preferred species and hybrids.
Encyclopedia of Hardy Plants provides a combination of observations, expertise and master photographs. This new book is a resource that gardeners will use again and again for its thoroughness, accessibility and reliability.
Book Description
In
The Art of Perennial Garding Patrick Lima shares the secrets and strategies he has gleaned from gardening in Ontario's Burce Peninsula, bringing a seasoned, pragmatic perspective to his latest work. Beautifully illustrated, inspiring and often humorous, this book is infused with that staple of good gardening: the promise of what is possible. The author offers hundreds of solutions and options for the perennial garden, suggesting plant combinations for every phase of the growing season. Whether you're cajoling a tiny backyard plot into beauty or facing a landscape of intimidating proportions, Lima has much to teach both the novice and the seasoned gardener about the creative act of garden-making.
Customer Reviews:
one of my favorites.......2001-08-22
i originally borrowed this book from the library and wound up re-borrowing it so much that i decided to buy it (a rarity for me). since then, i keep it in my satchel which is always in reach. i am currently designing and installing a new garden, and many of the combinations i will use are from this book.
the author's comments and experiences are instructive, humorous and well written. indeed, i would not mind reading any writing he might produce.
ONE OF THE BEST GARDENING DESIGN BOOKS!.......1999-11-17
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! This book took me from color to design to planning borders so that something is in bloom all the time. The photographs provided identification of plants and I have found myself returning to them again and again to study the author's compositions. I also shared his views on gardening's place in one's life. Highly recommend.
Written with humor and clarity. EXCELLENT........1999-10-21
Patrick Lima is without question my favorite garden writer. He is knowledgable and witty, and really offers comprehensive material for gardening with perennials in a zone 4 region. I can't recommend this book highly enough. John's photos are spectacular.
An excellent gardening book!.......1999-03-16
Patrick Lima and John Scanlan once again have produced a lovely and informative book for gardeners. I am writing from zone 2, where gardening is a challenge! I found many useful ideas, and practical "how-to's". I have read it from cover to cover, and wait eagerly for the snow to melt, so I can try some of their ideas. Buy this book, it is money well spent!
Book Description
Annuals are experiencing a resurgence as today's gardeners demand a wider variety of options. No longer confined to monotone bedding plants, dozens of "unusual" annuals are now available at garden centers in colors and forms far removed from the classic annual bed of pink petunias or red geraniums.
In the tradition of his classic Herbaceous Perennial Plants, Allan M. Armitage has compiled descriptions and assessments of 245 genera of true annuals as well as plants that behave like annuals in USDA zones 1–7. Focusing on identifying the plants, successful culture, and their primary garden attributes, Armitage discusses 279 species in detail and summarizes the distinguishing features of hundreds of cultivars, many of which he has tested himself. Classics like begonias and pelargoniums are juxtaposed with newcomers from Australia, and all are subject to Armitage's critical eye. Color photos and line drawings illustrate the text, and he suggests additional reading in books, articles, and Web sites for many of the covered genera.
Armitage bases his descriptions on extensive personal experience. His frank and conversational style keeps potentially dry details fresh, and each entry is liberally sprinkled with strong and sometimes amusing opinions. Useful lists in the appendix are further evidence of his expertise, as he compiles biennials, half-hardy perennials, winter annuals, shade-tolerant plants, fragrant plants, climbing plants, and everlastings. These lists extend the volume's application beyond a necessary tool for horticulturists and nurserymen to a practical guide for the dedicated home gardener.
Customer Reviews:
Which is it? Annual, Perennial or Biennial.......2007-02-09
Excellent book in so many ways, but not every entry indicated what the plant type was--annual, biennial, or half-hardy perennial. Consequently, it was not as useful to me in doing a presentation on annuals!
Great book - lots of good information.......2007-01-03
My son used this book for his class Herbaceous Landscapes at University of Delaware. He is so turned on by the information in this book. There are great reference pictures and even though the class has ended, he refers to the book quite often. Found it to be very useful!
It doesn't get any better than a reference book by Allan Armitage.......2006-08-30
Armitage is #1 when it comes to bedding and garden plants, and this book shows it. His manual is a top-notch resource and includes his own personal insights into each plant. Unlike other references that are boring and dry, Armitage makes the material spring to life!
The line drawings in this book are spectacular as well, and the middle of the book includes several pages of full-color photographs. Very professional and highly recommended.
Average customer rating:
- adequate, but basic; limited appeal
- The "soul" of perennial gardening soars high in Graham Rice!
- The "soul" of perennial gardening soars high in Graham Rice!
|
Hardy Perennials
Graham Rice
Manufacturer: Timber Press, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Perennials
| Flowers
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
By Plant
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
| Begonias
| Berries
| Bonsai
| Cacti
| Citrus Trees
| Clematis
| Dahlias
| Ferns
| Grapes
| Grasses
| Greens
| Hostas
| Hydrangeas
| Irises
| Lavender
| Lilacs
| Lilies
| Magnolias
| Orchids
| Palm Trees
| Peppers & Chiles
| Roses
| Tomatoes
| Tulips
ASIN: 0881924016 |
Book Description
Now in paperback, this is a delightful book in which a well-known English plantsman makes a season-by-season selection of perennials, describes them evocatively, reveals their histories, and provides ideas on how to grow them successfully and use them imaginatively in the garden. A wonderful combination of entertainment and instruction.
Customer Reviews:
adequate, but basic; limited appeal.......1999-06-09
This is not the type of book that captured my interest. I found it too basic and of limited appeal, although it is a solid work and may be more useful for a beginning gardener.
The "soul" of perennial gardening soars high in Graham Rice!.......1998-01-29
This splendidly written book not only gives you how-to, but why and wherefore, interspersed generously with noted plantsman Graham Rice's wry humor and keen observations. A true pleasure to read, this is at the top of my list for perennial perusing.
Of note: the British Garden Writers Guild named this "Best book on a single subject" the year it was published, and I find it as useful here in the United States - or anywhere in the world plant lovers might live. Do yourself a favor and buy this book.
The "soul" of perennial gardening soars high in Graham Rice!.......1998-01-29
This splendidly written book not only gives you how-to, but why and wherefore, interspersed generously with noted plantsman Graham Rice's wry humor and keen observations. A true pleasure to read, this is at the top of my list for perennial perusing.
Of note: the British Garden Writers Guild named this "Best book on a single subject" the year it was published, and I find it as useful here in the United States - or anywhere in the world plant lovers might live. Do yourself a favor and buy this book.
Book Description
Hardy geraniums were the first plants to shrug off the rigours of her coastal climate and grow in Birgitte Husted Bendtsen's garden every bit as well as they did in the fertile, sheltered plots further east in Denmark. Add to this their tolerance of dogs and children, resistance to pests and diseases, interesting foliage, and delightful flowers in a wide range of colours, and it is little surprise that Birgitte developed an insatiable passion for them. In this book, she shares her knowledge of cultivating the plants and highlights the most garden worthy species and varieties. Expert cultivation advice, including comments on soil preferences and hardiness, is followed by fascinating information on pollination, and failsafe propagation secrets. Captivating colour photographs display key characteristics of hardy geraniums including their legendary range of flower colour and intricate, often highly marked, foliage. Here readers may marvel at the many cultivars of Geranium x oxonianum, enjoy favorites like Geranium 'Ann Folkard' with its striking black eye against magenta background, and covet the fine-leaved, blue-flowering Geranium himalayense. Smaller varieties ideal for growing in rockeries, containers and troughs are described along with perfect geraniums for associating with roses of all colours. Birgitte Husted Bendtsen communicates like a true enthusiast and the text is peppered with interesting anecdotes including news of an exciting variety that is prized for its blue flowers and modest stature. With over 400 species and hybrids of hardy geraniums and 450 beautiful colour photographs, this book is both rich in information and beautiful to browse. It is a long-awaited reference that will delight seasoned enthusiasts and introduce a whole new generation of gardeners to the charms of the hardy geranium.
Customer Reviews:
Wow! Incredibly informative and a good read too!.......2006-04-02
In my garden planning, I keep running across stunning and adorable hardy geraniums. I got this book on a lark, and based on previous reviews, to get a little more information such as "will these actually look as nice in MY garden" and "are they as hardy as advertised"... I have read this book cover to cover since I got it a few days ago--the author is outstanding, showing a true passion for gardening and gardening using geraniums. She is entertaining and explains each of the variations/hybrids simply and thoroughly. This is the first gardening book I have read and finally "gotten" the latin names, understanding the characteristics of each of 'these' parents produces offspring having 'those' features. I know that's not a hard concept, but sorting through garden catalogs, garden stores, etc. I guess I'd get jaded and set my planning aside for a while. Birgitte explains the features of each kind of geranium and their best uses and placement (will this one work in a rock garden or only woodland settings?), as well as having a great photo of most every flower and some of their leaves to show the many variations and combinations. Many of the plants I have seen just recently on-line are included in this book, which made me pretty happy. I learned that Geranium 'Anne Folkard' may not survive a cold, damp winter unless I take extra care and shelter it a little, and G. pratense Midnight Reiter may not grow as fast as I would have liked it too to fill in the area where I wanted to place it.
After reading "Gardening with Hardy Geraniums", I am taking this book with me to the garden stores, with my slightly revised list, so if I see something else that calls out to me, I can look it up and know a heckova lot more than on the little plant tag. I wish more plant-specific books were more like this one--really interesting and informative without being just a list of plants with the same information on the plant tags.
Superb!.......2005-08-28
I already owned the well-known books on hardy geraniums by Trevor Bath / Joy Jones and Peter Yeo when this new book was published, so at first I hesitated a little before buying yet another book about this increasingly popular garden plant. I have not regretted buying it. I would't want to be without the other two books but the newcomer has a lot to offer: You will find many new cultivars that were unknown to the other authors; it's interesting to compare the experiences of someone gardening in Denmark, where climatic conditions are tougher, to those of English gardeners; there is a fascinating chapter on a leading Dutch breeder of geraniums; you'll find excellent chapters on cultivation and propagation, illustrated with useful pictures; there are 450 brilliant photographs, among them close-ups of flowers and leaves, so you can compare them handily, but also of whole plants and borders, so you get the "micro-perspective" as well as the "macro-perspective"; and, last not least, the author shows real passion when writing, very competently and wittily, about gardening with geraniums. If you are looking for a systematic and scientific monograph about cranesbills, you are better served with Peter Yeo's standard work (2nd edition), but if you are gardening and as crazy about geraniums as I am - then you can't do without this book!
A premier publisher of books for gardening and landscaping.......2005-08-07
Plenty of gardeners associate geraniums with potted plants which have a long flowering period: Gardening With Hardy Geraniums shows there's many more varieties available - over 400 in all - which are good garden cultivars. Over 400 photos cover the characteristics which distinguish them, from color to flower shape, while accompany summaries cover height, propagation, season, and background history. Avid gardeners with a passion for geraniums will relish Gardening With Hardy Geraniums as in-depth survey of geranium varieties. Timber Press is a premier publisher of books for gardening and landscaping. Send for their free catalog for a complete listing of their superb titles.
Book Description
This humorous look at fatherhood blends important information and insights with laughs, teaching dads to think less like men and more like "mommies." Such issues as how to transform a raging temper tantrum into a soothing, sing-along duet, how to adapt to the terrible twos, how to keep from getting too pooped to be an effective pop, and more are explained. Timeless toddler tips from the likes of Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare, Dylan Thomas, and Bob Dylan are provided. Honest, wacky, and perceptive suggestions include reliance on two indispensable senses-common sense and a sense of humor.
Customer Reviews:
Humor Helps When You're Taking Care of Toddlers.......2004-03-03
My wife and I waited until our mid 30s to start a family. I read a ton of child care guides. Now I have a toddler and one more on the way, and this book is my favorite...because it's not so doggone serious. It's a very funny sequel (Keeping the Baby Alive came first), but it is not just a joke book. If you like wacky humor like David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, or a good Saturday Night Live sketch, you will love Keeping Your Toddler on Track till Mommy Gets Back. While you are laughing though, you will realize that there is substance behind the homor. That's the best part.
The Terror of Toddler Care Captured in a Book.......2003-06-17
True, the wonder of your newborn may have worn off a tad by the time he or she reaches toddlerhood. But this book puts all the agony and ecstacy of todder care into perspective... as only a father could experience it. Best of all, you get more laughs than the law allows, and more than a little bit of wisdom to ponder along with them. I liked this book as much as Keeping the Baby Alive, if not more. An excellent sequel.
For any Dad who must keep an eye on the kids.......2003-04-19
Keeping Your Toddler On Track Till Mommy Gets Back: The Toddler Survival Guide For 21st Century Dads by Walter Roark is a child-rearing guide written especially and specifically for fathers. Wry and humorous, with an emphasis on common sense approaches, Keeping Your Toddler On Track Till Mommy Gets Back is a "reader friendly" compendium of solid advice for dealing with little tyke's bodily functions, temper tantrums, precocious nature, and more. As enjoyable to read as it is practical, Keeping Your Toddler On Track Till Mommy Gets Back is highly recommended reading for any Dad who must keep an eye on the kids while Mom's away!
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- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
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- How to Stay Lovers for Life: Discover a Marriage Counselor's Tricks of the Trade
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