Reviews (29)

More than you ever wanted to know...
I'm currently in a Woody Ornamentals class and this is the textbook we were required to buy for the class. I've found this to be not only useful within the class, but outside the class as well, especially while helping my parents to plan their yard. This book has an incredible wealth of knowledge in it's pages, the author clearly has extensive knowledge of the subject. I'm actually looking into buying his interactive DVD. While I don't know how useful the memorization of botanic names will be to me as a landscape architect, I believe the ability to show my clients pictures of specific plants would be immensely useful.

Bang for the buck
For anyone dealing with woody landscape plants this is the bible. Unlike books written by writers, this book is written by a plantsmen and teacher and researcher. Personal experience growing or visiting every species in the book gives it believability beyond all others in its class. The book covers the things that need to be covered - transplant success, pest issues, landscape uses (gosh if this section were read you'd see less houses overwhelmed by giant trees and more living street trees than dead ones). Dirr has his opinions and not everyone will agree with all of them. But at least his come from experience not "reading". If you are upset about the lack of images you can get those elsewhere. This text was never intended to be a key to botanical identification but as the title states it is a manual of woody LANDSCAPE plants. Every landscape architect should be mandated to pass an exam based on this book. They would then be able to use a repetoire of more than 10 trees and perhaps for a change the survival rate of their landscapes over time would rise. I can't say enough about how much this book has meant to me as I restore and plant a college landscape designed by Olmsted. There is nothing better than knowing you've planted the right tree in the right spot and that it will outlive you and your children because of the wise choice.

A must for landscapers!
I love this book! It has every woody plant listed along with other varieties. The extent of information is incredible. A must if you are a designer, landscaper or garden center and nursery owner. It's a book you can't run your business without! A great resource. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Landscape    6. Landscape plants    7. Ornamental woody plants    8. Reference    9. Shrubs    10. United States    11. Landscape gardening    12. Ornamental trees    13. Ornamental shrubs    14. Trees   

Reviews (3)

G R E A T
First of all the book is beautifully presented. The ideas are chic and easy to make. AWSOME floral design book with lots of explanation and beautiful pictures. I LOVE IT! It is an excellent buy for new designers.

Paula Pryke's Flower School: Mastering the Art of Floral Design
I bought the book as a present for my wife who has an interest and talent in floral arranging, but no formal training.She loves the book.It has numerous wonderful color photos and discusses colors and texture in floral arranging.The book covers design ideas for shape and form; balance; harmony; scale and proportion; texture and contrast; movement; dominance; rhythm; repetition; massing flowers; grouping; bunching and bundling; carpeting; layering; manipulating plant material; structural designing; and season.It also has an excellent and informative section on color concepts.A key feature of the book is the step by step instructions for making decorative arrangements, along with photos of the arrangement as described in the steps.I cannot speak for what professional florists would like, but for my wife it was a perfect book.It would have been worth it just to see the beautiful pictures of floral arrangements, but the lessons really make the book what it is.

Very Informative
The step-by-step instructions in the book are extrememly helpful -- but she still allows for the reader to think creatively in their review of her information.It is a beautiful book with many, many photos, including step-by-step photos for the instructions. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Cut flowers    3. Flower Arranging    4. Flower arrangement    5. Flowers    6. Flowers - General    7. Gardening    8. Gardening/Plants    9. Gardening / Flower Arranging   

Reviews (6)

A Gardener's Must-have
If you just want to indulge yourself in fabulous photos of every flowering plant imaginable, this book is for you.If you have problem garden spots, this book has special sections to take the guesswork out of planting.If your creativity needs a little nudge in designing a particular type of garden, again, this book contains marvelous options and suggestions, all zone-specific.It's an absolute must for gardeners and beauty-lovers alike!

Incredible reference
Some other reviewers that own this book are right when giving this book high marks. I am a landscape contractor and can attest to the rich information and pictures inside. Although, I wouldn't recomend this bk for the beginning gardener. It has a 'common names' index by which to cross ref backwards with but, if common names are all you are familiar with, this bk may be a bit much to find what you want.However, this bk will tell you if thie plant is evergreen,semievergreen, deciduous, its habit, bloom time, hardiness zones,Hight & Spread, Light & some moisture requirements, etc.The bk is alphabetized with the genus/ Latin names for a reason. These Latin names are how all plants are traced from their origin and habit, regardless of hybridizing or crossing.A Plant may have several common names regionally or for marketing purposes, but will always have the Latin name to trace its' origin. This is why you will see alot of bks with Latin names intead of common names. This bk is a must for landscapers and horticulturists.This is one of the best reference sources I've seen.

Okay Reference
I bought this book primarily because of the review by: W. Oliver "scudder" which mentions the "Plant Selector" feature. It would be a great help if it were accurate. I was particularly interested in being able to cross-reference plants by acid-loving and deer-resistant features. I know that deer will eat anything if hungry; however, many sources from garden centers to university bulletins (and my own experience) note that hostas and tulips are deer candy. Both of these plants are listed deer resistant. Additionally, hollies are also listed as deer resistant. This fall, deer turned my new 8' holly into a topiary! Other than the "Plant Selector" feature, I'm not sure why I need this book along with the A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. To anyone else considering buying the package, I would recommend you don't do it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Encyclopedias    2. Flowers - General    3. Gardening    4. Gardening / Horticulture    5. Gardening/Plants    6. Ornamental Plants    7. Pictorial works    8. Plants, Ornamental    9. Reference    10. Gardening / Flowers / General   

Reviews (8)

Remarkable... both a pragmatic AND scientific treatment
I have to admit, I did not know Paul Stamets was this generation's premier mycologist.After reading this volume, there is no doubt of it.He is objective, a true mycologist of the highest order, and a down-to-earth pragmatic steward of the environment.I have learned a lifetime of valuable information...both scientific as well as practical know-how from this book, (a rare feat).Not only does Stamets enthuse the reader with the miracle of possibilities in cultivating mushrooms for the environment, nutrition, (yes nutrition), and health benefits of Reishi and other mushrooms, he details how it is to be done, (by individual cultivators and/or commercial operations alike).
Wonderful Book - Mainly Steered Toward Growing With A Business Perspective
Wonderful Book - Mainly Steered Toward Growing With A Business Perspective.
A definite how-to encyclopedia for all backround readers
THis book will take from start to finish on the following subjects: Growing methods for each mushroom, growing media preparation, nutritional information, consumption information, purchasing sources, club sources, etc.A definite must read.Highly recomend it. Black and white pictures. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. General    5. Mushroom culture    6. Techniques    7. Cookery by ingredient    8. Mycology, fungi (non-medical)    9. Specialized gardening methods   

Reviews (1)

Wonderful photographs of USA
This book really gives the magnificent views of travel places. With the nice pictures from David Muench, you will enjoy the landscape of America as you be there. This book can be your travel guide and photograph book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening/Plants    2. Subjects & Themes - Travel - U.S./General    3. Travel - United States    4. United States - General    5. BG-JUVENILE PROP - BG-JUVY PRESCHOOL    6. Photography & Photographs    7. Photography / Subjects & Themes / Landscapes    8. USA    9. Sale Books   

Reviews (8)

The most comprehensive book on fruit out there
I thougherly reccomend this book to anyone interested in fruit. It is so great it has heaps on cool info on all your favorite fruits (including the elusive Jack Fruit and the fantastical Banana rescently voted the worlds number one fruit by readers of fruit monthly, a subsidery of Fruit.com) Get this NOW!

Best single source on 100+ tropical fruits
Everything one needs to know before investing in tropical fruits.All cultural and horticultal issuses are covered as well as other uses of the plants.Morton even covers related species and major nutritional values. Good but expensive
This book is a real wonder book for any fruit lover who wants to do more than just plant fruit trees.Read more

Subjects:  1. Fruit    2. Fruit Crops    3. Fruit-culture    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Tropical fruit   

Editorial Review

The American Horticultural Society's Read more

Reviews (17)

Best book on Propagation
I run a specialist herb nursery and this book is my right hand man. It has 100's of plants and their best propagation methods. Easy to follow diagrams and examples. Well laid out and as well as being informative is an exceptionally interesting read. Suitable for novices and experts. In fact this book is so good that whoever borrowed it two months ago has not returned it and I am about to purchase another copy

Best plant book ever.
This is the most awesome plant book ever. Great Illustrations, very high quality photos, and great explanation of every detail. I bought this book for myself, but an now back to purchase it for my mother. It's not her birthday, it's not mothers, day... she just needs a book like this. It compliments a greenthumb, yet remains easy to understand even for an amateur.
A Thorough Book
I suppose there are many qualities of a good "how to" book, but to me the most important one is its thoroughness: does it cover all aspects of the subject, and does it do so completely? There is nothing more frustrating than to buy one of these books only to later realize that the subject has only been partially covered and you need to buy an additional book . . . or books. "The American Horticultural Society: Plant Propagation", edited by Mr. Alan Toogood, is, indeed, a thorough book -- a "too good" of a book. (Oh, I couldn't resist.)
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Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Horticultural Plant Propagation    5. Plant propagation    6. Regional - General    7. Techniques    8. Gardening / Techniques   

Reviews (20)

GREAT GIFT BOOK
This was a great gift book for a co-worker!All I knew was this person was a big time gardener and that his 2 acres were lovely.So I purchased this book as a gift...he still is raving about the book and how well it is put together...and other gardening stuff I did not grasp.So if you want to give a great gardening book...get ready to be loved for the purchase.

Some Gardning!!!
Since I purchased the book and began using it, I have found so many people who have done so too and are delighted with their results both in flowers and in produce they are getting for their families.

Great Book
This is a great book filled with pictures and very informative information for Square Foot Gardening. I highly recommend it to anyone who is considering Square Foot Gardening, you will not be disappointed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Container    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Square foot gardening    6. Vegetable gardening    7. Vegetables    8. Gardening / Vegetables   

Reviews (16)

Just What I was looking for!
I've been working for several years to become more self-sufficient, at least in growing my own food, but I have a very small lot, and growing for long-term subsistence (for canning and freezing) would be difficult on such a small piece of land.Mr. Coleman's book is just what I needed, and the fact that he's also in Maine is definitely a PLUS!
GeosminMom
After joining a farmer's market, this book/author was mentioned several times in conversation with other growers. Since we had recently "retired" to upstate NY, I thought it might be a good thing to see how someone else turned a negative to a positive(such as our frozen north).The result- with the help of my 81 year old friend we are building a hoop house (or 2)instead of the green house I originally desired. Simple and useful-sums the book up best!

Grow vegetables year 'round!
Coleman is an experienced organic gardener and has written previous books on organic gardening.Whether you are looking for new organic gardening techniques or ways to improve a self-sustaining lifestyle, Coleman's book will be a valuable resource.He explains how to grow delicious, organically-grown vegetables from your home garden year 'round. Organically-grown vegetables can be harvested throughout the coldest months in all climate zones in the Lower 48 without much extra effort or time. He shows how to design inexpensive, simple cold frames and unheated mobile greenhouses.He explains how to use them along with a root cellar to grow a variety of organic vegetables each suited to their season.Success depends on growing a large variety of vegetables each suited to their season, and in cold frames, mobile greenhouses, and root cellars.Coleman's book will surely guide the grower to extend the growing season! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Organic    5. Organic Gardening    6. Vegetable Crops    7. Vegetable gardening    8. Vegetables    9. Fruit & vegetables   

Editorial Review

For twenty years people have relied on these hundreds of recipes,instructions, and morsels of invaluable practical advice on all aspects of growingand preparing food. This definitive classic on food, gardening, andself-sufficient living is a complete resource for living off the landwith over 800 pages of collected wisdom from country maven, CarlaEmery--how to cultivate a garden, buy land, bake bread, raise farmanimals, make sausage, milk a goat, grow herbs, churn butter, catch apig, make soap, work with bees and more. Read more

Reviews (83)

Tribute to Carla Emery and Country Living
The Encycopedia of Country Living is a wonderful reference guide written over the course of Carla Emery's lifetime.It is packed full of information for the person dreaming of living in the country or for the experienced homesteader.Carla Emery writes in a personal, down to earth way and it is never boring.It is a must-have for those even thinking about a county lifestyle. Carla Emery passed away recently but her book will continue to live on and be a reference guide to all those people that have hopes and dreams of living off the land.

An Absolute Treasure! Thank you Carla!
This book is a rich treasury of simple living. Reading it is not only incredibly informative, but also almost like having a close friend or grandmother at your side. Excellent for reference, full of useful facts, critical insights, and a personal touch that rings of the warmth of a country home.
Can't live without book
Long ago I had an earlier version that was punched hole pages with wire rings holding it together.
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Subjects:  1. Cooking / Wine    2. Gardening    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Home economics    6. Reference   

Editorial Review

Betty Crocker is on the health bandwagon. Not one for fads, Betty sensibly bases this 175-recipe cookbook on the Food Guide Pyramid guidelines recommended by the American Heart Association and many other medical and nutrition professional organizations. You learn tips for cutting down on fat and cholesterol, understanding the different kinds of fat, and making smart food choices for heart health. The idea is to reduce fat by making ingredient substitutions and small alterations, but not making drastic changes. The recipes are varied and creative and don't resemble "diet food": Ginger Shrimp Kabobs, Vegetable Potstickers, Stuffed Veal Chops with Cider Sauce, Vegetable and Ham Jambalaya, Curried Chicken and Nectarines, Caribbean Fish Salad, and Thai Shrimp and Rice Noodle Nests. The desserts include Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake with Raspberry Topping (only 20 percent fat!), Blueberry-Lime Torte (about 15 percent fat), and Double Chocolate-Date Cake (about 25 percent fat). Recipes are labeled with symbols indicating "low-calorie," "low-fat," "moderate-fat," "low-cholesterol," and "moderate-cholesterol," so you can choose how far you want to go. Each recipe has a hefty amount of nutritional information: calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, carbohydrate, fiber, protein, vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, and diet exchanges. Cooks who love knowing what the dishes should look like will enjoy the 45 mouth-watering color photos. Read more

Reviews (13)

Cookbook
I didn't find very many recipes that I would want to make. I was a little disappointed being from Betty Crocker.

Life Resource
Only a month ago was my huband, who is also diabetic, sent home from the Dr. and told me he had to lower his fats and cholesterol. Now I being a starch fanatic had no idea where to stsrt to change our diet. This cook book has given the basis on which to make healthier choices that are easy and tasty as well.
Disappointing
The recipes in this book would not convert anyone to low fat, low cholesterol cooking. A more creative and tasteful collection can be found in the American Heart AssociationLow Fat, Low Cholesterol Cookbook. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Gardening    4. Health & Healing - Low Cholesterol    5. Health & Healing - Low Fat    6. Health & Healing - Weight Control    7. Herb Gardening    8. Herbs    9. Low-cholesterol diet    10. Low-fat diet    11. Recipes    12. Cooking / Low Cholesterol    13. Health & wholefood cookery    14. Horticulture   

Reviews (15)

They Work!!!!!
So far everything I've tried has worked.Especialy the amonia for skunks and lemon juice for fleas.

Run Screaming...
...from this book.
Good book.
Lots of useful secrets.Not worth the original $40 for the paperback though. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening / Horticulture    2. Organic    3. Pest Control    4. Reference    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Technology   

Reviews (5)

Awesome!
Just bought this book about 2 hours ago, and put it down only to write this review. This guy is one heck of an artist. Taking Your Grass Care a Cut Above Where It Is Today!
Summary:Picture Perfect is the ultimate resource for those who want to add even more beauty and interest to their grass by growing and maintaining healthier turf and cutting it in original and beautiful patterns. WHAT AN AMAZING BOOK!
One of the first things I notice about people's homes is the way the lawn is cut. Some might say, "get a life," but to me the landscape design and lawn say a lot.From a psychological point of view, it says something about the people who live there, too!We have all seen lawns cut straight and perfect, every blade of grass precise, row after row - not much creativity there.We have also seen lawns cut haphazardly in every conceivable direction and length, a clump here and a clump there, as if the ride-on mower and its near-sighted rider short-circuited, jumped the fence and rode off into the sunset! Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Landscape    5. Lawns    6. Plants - Grasses    7. Turf management    8. Turfgrasses    9. Architecture    10. Architecture / Landscape   

Reviews (2)

Teaming with Microbes
This book is superb. I read it in 2 days.From my own christain prospective, It clearly explains why and how God's way (Organic) is best. Best tasting, biggest, most healthy, most pest and disease resistant, and so on.Best in every way.A must have, for all serious gardener's! (Except those who think they are wiser than GOD.)Mr. Alan Terry

Garden Science that's fun to read!
Who knew anthropods, fungi and slime mold could be so facinating?This book brought the dirt in my garden and in my yard into view in a way that's easy to understand.Reads more like a great gardening artilce than a science bookBut science it is and its changed the way I think about feeding, weeds and pest control.I always knew that what was going on down there affected my plants and now I know why. A must read for gardners at all levels. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Organic    5. Organic Gardening    6. Soil ecology    7. Soil microbiology    8. Soils    9. Techniques    10. Gardening / Organic    11. Gardening: plants    12. Soil science, sedimentology   

Reviews (2)

Beautiful and a good read too!
Of all the Carolyne Roehm books, this set is my favorite.It had some practical gardening tips as well as the flower arrangements and recipes.If you are expecting a gardening "how to" book, this is not the one.However, the books are beautiful and I enjoyed each one.It gave me many ideas for my own home.I will never have a budget that allows me to purchase 12 dozen roses for one display, however, many of her ideas can be implemented on a smaller scale with less expensive florals.The color combinations were inspiring as well as the examples of matching floral displays to the surroundings.If you love flowers and beautiful table scapes, you will love this book.

overpriced cookbook
A seasonal cookbook with a lot of flowers.Not much design help whatsoever.Not what I wanted ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Decorating    4. Flowers - General    5. Gardening / Horticulture    6. General    7. Home Gardening    8. Residential Interior Design   

Reviews (8)

Best Gardening problem solver you will every get.
From amateur to pro, this text of gardening problems, from the most delicate plant and flowers to the most complicated forms of trees and shrubs, this book covers all.Also as a hardbound, it is an excellent additon to any library.
Great reference book
I have a chemical lawn/tree & shrub business, and I use it.The only negative I can see is that the Home Gardener's Problem Solver covers most of this book for $30. That said, I gave my techs the home gardener's version and kept this one for myself.

Comprehensive except for lack of Organiccontrol methods
"The Ortho Problem Solver" is a wonderful reference book on pests, fungus', etc and controlling them with inorganic methods.Of course, Ortho is not known for organic pest control, but I still feel that maybe they should include this information considering that many that wish to control certain pests also live in wildlife areas--such as areas where there are birds, or are environmentalists or oriented towards this area when it comes to certain issues such as vegetables and fruit.Read more

Subjects:  1. Agricultural Chemistry    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Life Sciences - Horticulture    6. Pest Control In Horticultural Crops    7. Reference    8. Gardening / Reference    9. Gardening: plants    10. problem   

Reviews (20)

Great beginners book!
If you don't know what you're doing, start by reading this book.
Not a "Bible", thankfully...
Some of the other books consider themselves the grower's bible.This book doesn't make that claim, instead it's more of a How-To book that holds your hand through all the things you need to do in order to grow marijuana.From picking the room, buying the equipment, to the actual grow, it's mean to teach newbies all the basics, plus a few advanced techniques like SoG and ScrOG.The bibles are great if you just want to look up something, but if you want to actually learn from beginning to end how to grow and harvest, this is your book.

Best Beginners Books
Get this one and the Indoor/Outdoor Marijuna Horticulture book and you should all the information you need on how to choose you grow spot, buy equipment, and grow/harvest your buds.I can't stress how simple this book makes things seems compared to to others that make it seem like rocket science.It's just a plant, it shouldn't be hard to explain how to grow it, but somehow the older books made it seem complicated.
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Subjects:  1. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    2. Popular Culture - General    3. Social Science    4. Sociology    5. Gardening    6. General   

Reviews (14)

A must-have
I am a landscape architecture student in new zealand, this is basically the text book we use for a couple of our design studios. The graphics in the book are so helpful to my projects and it sure helped me improve my graphic skills. I reckon it is a definitely must-have for all landscape students or landscape architects:) highly recommand!

Landscape Graphics Plan, Section, and Perspective Drawing of Landscape Spaces
Excellent resource for learning how to draw trees, vegetation and other elements for architectural presentation drawings.Many of the drawings can be photocopied and pasted on your own drawings and the author encourages you to do so if you are sketch-ability-deficient.Very good value.

Great For Beginners!
I am a beginning landscape architecture student, and I found this book to be extremely helpful, as I am beginning to learn how to design proper plans. This book breaks down the basic tools to use for drafting, basic concept diagram info, great info on plan views, sections and section elevations. There is also a really helpful library of symbols (both plan and section) that I use all the time! Highly recommended for beginners! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Designs and plans    3. Landscape    4. Landscape architectural drawin    5. Landscape architectural drawing    6. Landscape architecture    7. Drawing & drawings    8. Landscape art & architecture   

Reviews (5)

Miami Then and Now
Having grown up in Miami, I found the book particularly interesting. The pictures were excellent. I thought the captions could have been a bit more informative.

Miami preconstruction boom and Investment
Execellent book - highly recommended, but get down here and see for yourself - what's happening to the Miami is magical and really a golden opportunity for all. Over the next few years Miami's Skyline will be transformed as builders and investors seek billions in pre-construction investments to turn the city into a the epicenter of the region.
Captiving Photo Book
If you have lived in Miami or have an affinity toward Miami, this is a must-have book.Few people in Miami like Arva Moore Parks have taken the time to document the City's rich history as the fastest-growing metropolis in the United States over the last 100 years.The "then and now" photos offer splendid matches, with interesting and informative historical notes in the caption.Great coffee-table book too! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architectural & Industrial    2. History    3. History - U.S.    4. Landscape    5. Miami (Fla.)    6. Photo Essays    7. Photoessays & Documentaries    8. Photography    9. Pictorial works    10. Subjects & Themes - Travel - U.S/South    11. United States - State & Local - General    12. Sale Books   

Reviews (7)

United States to Great Britain: Shared Style
This book takes the reader from the style of America in the early years of the 20th century to the life she created in Britain.Many aspects of style were shared in the two countries, but many are unique to each.It is interesting how Nancy Lancaster blended the two worlds into a grand country style that was appreciated by both.Her childhood home in Virginia was her inspiration throughout her life and helped set the style she was so well known for.

Adrift in the Cozy, Comfortable, Tasteful English Tradition!
Martin Wood is an excellent biographer and chronicler of style and in this richly illustrated monograph on Nancy Lancaster he makes use of his own credentials as a garden designer and interior designer to praise the virtues of a lady few of us know.
A true pleasure
One of the most beautifull and funny books I've read in recent years. A must have for any interior decoration fan. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Garden Design    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Home furnishing & decoration    6. Interior design