Reviews (6)

Great handbook
Very good book for the beginning botonist.This book covers all over the major points that my college botony classes covered.

Educational and interesting
Anyone who has been reading gardening books for a while is bound to start wondering about the underlying science. This is the perfect introductory book. It's rigorous, but there's still room to toss out the occasional interesting fact, such as grasses evolved their unique ability to regrow leaves in response to grazing animals. Or tropical trees have no rings. Worth a dozen ordinary gardening books.

I didn't know how much I didn't know
Make no mistake, this is a science book. The reason: Botany is a science. Brian Capon begins at the plant cellular level and progresses outward in a manner and pace that is conducive to understanding the fascinating life of things botannical. He presents information that can be understood by the average adult who desires more depth on what is going on within the plant. As a gardener I have learned what works and what doesn't work in my particular region with my individual greenish thumb but it is a long time between growing seasons. Armed with solid scientific knowledge I can observe my plants and trees far better with a newly educated eye. Maybe those past planting mistakes were not the fault of the region but my own lack of knowledge and insight. It's the case of I didn't know what I didn't know about plants. As a result of my winter study this year I will plant my garden with deepest reverence for my plants inside and out. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Botany    2. Gardening    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Life Sciences - Botany    5. Reference    6. Science    7. Botany & plant sciences    8. Gardening / Reference   

Reviews (3)

Review from someone who's not known as a handyman
I bought this book to build a 6' privacy fence.I didn't know the first thing about building a fence but this book takes you by the hand and walks you through each step.The author does a great job of keeping things simple for the reader/beginner and includes illustrations and photos to help you envision the process.I keep referring back to sections of this book as I continure to build.Highly reccomend this book to all beginners.

Fences:In thought, word, and deed.
"The Fence Bible: ..." by Jeff Beneke is an excellent, comprehensive guide. The title says it all, and the author delivers.Whether you want to build your own fence, or contract the project out this book can help you get it done right.

Fully lives up to its name
Jeff Beneke is an expert woodworker, house renovator, gardener, and author of more than a dozen highly commended home-improvement books designed specifically for the non-specialist general reader wanting to renovate, remodel, or otherwise improve their home and property values. The Fence Bible: How To Plan, Install, And Build Fences And Gates To Meet Every Home Style And Property Need, No Matter What Size Your Yard is Beneke's latest (and in many ways) his best "how to" title to date. This 272 page instruction manual is superbly illustrated with full color photographs and exemplary illustrations from cover to cover. If you want any kind of fencing on any kind of property, then The Fence Bible is the complete reference on how to build one whether you choose wood, stone, brick, concrete, mesh, wrought iron, living hedges, or anything else. Also available in a hardcover format (1580175864, $34.95), The Fence Bible is one reference that fully lives up to its name! Also very highly recommended from Storey Publishing is Peter Jeswald's How To Build Paths, Steps & Footbridges: The Fundamentals Of Planning, Designing, And Constructing Creative Walkways In Your Home Landscape (1580174876, $19.95, paperback; 158017-5759, $29.95, hardcover)
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Subjects:  1. Design and construction    2. Fences    3. Garden Furnishings    4. Gardening    5. Gardening/Plants    6. History    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    9. DIY    10. Garden design & planning    11. Gardening / Garden Furnishings   

Reviews (2)

Great Book!!!
I used this book for a site design class for architects. I found it very informative and well written. It's worth the money!

Why was this book written?
If there was a "no star" rating, I would use it for this book.I tried using it for a school research paper, and all I got from it was frustration.It is horribly written: a majority of the topics are are not dealt with in depth (very vague) and the index is miss-keyed.For a 4th edition it also might be time to use current photos that are color, and not from the 1960's.My advise is to spend your money on Kevin Lynch's books instad of this one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Building Sites    3. Environmental Engineering (Specific Aspects)    4. Landscape    5. Methods & Materials    6. Planning    7. Architecture / Methods & Materials    8. Garden design & planning    9. Landscape art & architecture   

Reviews (13)

A lovely book
I first checked this book out at the library before I bought it. I don't have a lot of spare cash and quite honestly, I don't have a lot of space, either.
It's okay, but not great.
I was a little disappointed in this book.I was interested based on all of the positive reviews, and especially wanted a book with pesticide-free information.Some of the ideas in the book aren't practical, and some don't work.If you are looking for an answer to a specific question, there might be only one suggestion, and this was not helpful to me.It is enjoyable to read, but not as useful as I had hoped.

A Wonderful Book for "Gardeners"
This book is full of advice, tricks, tips, etc. for the maniacal gardener's soul.I found it insightful, down to earth, and quite thought provoking. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Miscellanea    5. Reference    6. Techniques    7. Gardening / Techniques   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (155)

It's Almost Embarrassing How Much I Love This Book
I mean it...I read it several years ago, and I still keep it nearby. I can open it to any page and fall in. Yes, I love Florida, yes, I love flowers of all kind, but it's more than that. Orlean is very Annie Dillard (that's about the highest compliment I could pay to another writer) in her approach of the subject--weaving her life, her longings, the "study" of obsession, the plot of how all this will turn out in deft prose that in places, takes my breath away.

Unique hobby, unique people
An interesting story about the lure of a segment of the population that has become enchanted by orchids.The author follows one of these eccentrics, John Laroche an orchid collector all the while portraying other characters that are hooked on orchids explained with side stories. Most of these collectors seem to exhibit some type of fatal character flaw brought on by their infatuation for orchids.Fast,light educational reading that sheds some light on a unique hobby that attracts its share of unique people.
Mired down in the swamp of bad writing
A slice of life sketch of various people who collect orchids, this book gives accounts of those afflicted with the orchid obsession.While at times engrossing, the writer jumps around constantly, offers opinions as unsubstantiated facts, and leaves the reader wondering why some people are mentioned in the book at all.I was disappointed in this book and definitely did not catch the fever. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve    5. Florida    6. Flowers - Orchids    7. Gardening    8. Gardening/Plants    9. General    10. Hollywood    11. Nursery growers    12. Plant collectors    13. Polyradicion lindenii    14. Scientists - General    15. Fiction / General    16. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (1)

DISAPPOINTED!!!
I love gardens. So, I was excited about receiving this book. The photos weren't as beautiful as I thought they would be. I wanted to return the book. I wish I had. I'm glad Amazon did not charge the list price of $60.00. I would have returned it for sure. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening/Plants    3. Gardens    4. General    5. Photoessays & Documentaries    6. Photography    7. Subjects & Themes - Plants & Animals    8. Gardening / General    9. Gardens (descriptions, history etc)    10. Photographs: collections   

Reviews (4)

An excellent choice for building your shed
This book takes you through the steps of constructing an attractive, functional and well-built shed.The sheds are designed for New England snow loads, so they should stand up anywhere you build it, for a long, long time.Anyone with basic carpentry skills should be able to build most of the sheds shown in the book.The gambrel shed in the book is the most complex style mentioned.The shed styles explained are aa Lean-To Locker, a Saltbox Potting shed, Colonial style (shown on cover) and the Gambrel shed.
THIS BOOK IS MOSTLY FOR THE EAST COAST BUILDER
I purchased this book and read many parts of it. I was most interested in pouring a concrete slab foundation. This book covered every foundation but concrete slab, so I was disappointed in that. The sheds that are covered are very elaborate and built to last. I thought a better job could have been done in covering things like roof slope, and altering it from the sheds built in the book. Giving other options in different phases of construction. The pictures are good but there sure could be more of them(this book is nicely printed and color pictures are expensive). I am a picture kind of guy; a picture is worth a thousand words to me. The "pro tips" highlights are good and provide very usefull info at different stages of construction.
Shed Building In a Nutshell
what separates this book from the other riff raff shed building books is its title, its author, and publishing date. shed building is an american pasttime as long as building barns. In fact Truini delineates a nice history between the shed and the barn, two architectural cousins, who, having some rough times in the past, have reconciled. Shed Building cannot be seen as anything other than the construction of a shed with four walls, a roof, an at least one entrance.Shed building is also an activity that boils down to one thing, building a shed. Truini examines the etymology of the word shed, from its incorporation into Indo-European languages by Finno-Urgic nomads in the 6th century b.c., with the word schiiedde, which meant miniature house that looks like a house. Its interesting how in chinese, the word for shed is quang xi, which interestingly enough has a pictogram that looks like a shed, interestingly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Construction - General    3. Design and construction    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. Do-It-Yourself - General    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    9. Outdoor Structure Construction    10. Sheds    11. Building construction & materials    12. DIY    13. House & Home / Design & Construction   

Reviews (1)

STRIKING!
Photographic journal that will definitely spur some new ideas. Most are more modern, but reminiscent of the Frank Lloyd Wright style of architecture with very strong lines. Multiple settings and unique media usage. Every structural artist who plans an endeavor in the garden should have this! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Domestic    3. History - Specific Styles    4. Landscape    5. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    6. Architectural structure & design    7. Interior design    8. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (31)

"A Most Helpful Tree House Guide"
David Stiles seems to know exactly what aspects of building give us would-be owners of tree houses our cold feet.He has organized this book so that our every little fright is answered before it occurs.Every potential problem has, if not a clear answer, at least a path for readers to "whomp up" an answer themselves.I was wonderfully impressed!Come fall, one or two trees in my backyard may be wearing houses themselves!

Tree Houses You Can Actually Build
There's a lot of info in this book that would have been hard to scramble up on my own.And, is presented in such a way that even a beginning carpenter can put together one of these or just use the info to design one's own. I especially liked the info on the "extras" such as rope ladders and other tree house accessories. It's a real "how-to" book and I can't wait to get started!

Critical resource for the first-time builder
I used this book to build a great tree house. I found the line drawings to be much more useful than the photographs in the other 3 tree house books I bought. The drawings offer advice for beginners (including don't saw the branch you are sitting on) that seem frivolous till you start working in the tree. The book gives a few plans, and though none would quite work in my tree, I was able to combine ideas from all of them. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Construction - Carpentry    3. Design and construction    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    8. Tree houses    9. Woodwork - General    10. Building construction & materials    11. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork    12. Woodworking   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Building sites    3. Earth Sciences - Geography    4. Environmental aspects    5. Landscape    6. Methods & Materials    7. Planning    8. Architecture / Landscape    9. Landscape art & architecture    10. Surveying   

Reviews (8)

Breathtaking Floral Designs- Thank you David Stark!!
David Stark has done a wonderful job of giving us fabulous ideas and inspiration for couture floral. I appreciate this book because many times brides can't afford full-blown high-style floral designs, but she still appreciates the very best. This presents the very best to everyone. Thanks, David!

a-m-a-z-i-n-g
THIS WAS A TRULY AMAZING AND HELPFUL BOOK THAT GUIDED ME TO MAKE THE BEST FLORAL DECISIONS FOR THE WEDDING THAT I ALWAYS DREAMED FOR.

FABULOUS BOOK
"WOW!"Is all I can say.Finally a truly inspiring and helpful road map through the sea of floral choices.It was the perfect resource to show my florist what I truly love and want for my wedding.Thank you! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bridal bouquets    2. Flower Arranging    3. Flower arrangement    4. Photography Of Specific Subjects    5. Reference    6. Subjects & Themes - Plants & Animals    7. Wedding decorations    8. Weddings    9. Floral crafts    10. PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / General    11. Reference / Weddings   

Reviews (13)

a great reference
This book has somehow dissapeared from my collection in the last few months.Before that I couldn't understand why some of my friends had so much trouble understanding some simple gardening basics.Now that I no longer have this reference, my garden is failing miserably and I feel quite confused where I used to feel quite clear.

Great Quick Reference
This is a great overview book. No, it doesn't go into great depth, but it's always my first stop when I'm either curious, troubleshooting or just can't remember when to do what. Lot's of other books offer deeper info on the subject, it's not a handbook on organic technique (I recommend Eliot Coleman for that), but for quick checks and enough info to go squish that bug or leave it be, this helps.

Bitterly disappointed
I thought I was getting a 700 page book on organic concepts. Instead, this is a manual which briefly deals with anything garden related. Hundreds of pages are devoted to minimal information about specific plants (I had already purchased much better documention for this purpose) and also topics such as making potpourri, designing a landscape, and making a path. Read more

Subjects:  1. Dictionaries    2. Encyclopedias    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Organic gardening    6. Organiculture    7. Techniques   

Reviews (2)

I bought two.Can I give 6 stars?
I'm a garden designer and a big fan of exceptionally executed work.It is sometimes surprisingly hard to find good design work in design books, I often see one or two new ideas but almost never a whole book of inspiration like I found here.
It can change the way you see
IMHO, this is the best book on home or garden design I've ever seen.
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Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Japanese Gardens - General   

Reviews (34)

Good content if you can get past the presentation
This book does have lots of good information, but the author could have at least used spellcheck.There are spelling errors on almost every page, as well as a few missing words spread around the book.There are even a few places that the author copy and pasted an entire paragraph.All of this left me thinking of this book as being cheap and I had to question the validity of the information if the author doesn't even bother to check for errors in his own book.

Excellente!!
If you are considering going into a business requiring a greenhouse...READ THIS BOOK FIRST. There is just SO much valuable info here.
Spelling Bee
Hey Caraphor, "Appendicies" is SPELLED: a-p-p-e-n-d-i-c-e-s.
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Subjects:  1. Business/Economics    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. General    4. Greenhouse Horticulture    5. Greenhouse management    6. Home-based businesses    7. Nurseries (Horticulture)    8. Small Business - General    9. Small Business    10. Gardening   

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - Agronomy    2. Agriculture - Crop Science    3. Athletic fields    4. Design and construction    5. Gardening    6. Gardening/Plants    7. Landscape    8. Life Sciences - Horticulture    9. Maintenance and repair    10. Sports facilities    11. Technology & Industrial Arts    12. United States    13. Architecture / Landscape    14. Sport & leisure industries   

Reviews (2)

Creating Memories with your Children
My daughter has always been interested in fairy houses since we first watched Kristen's Fairy House.They are delightful little creations that she would spend hours making in the back yard, or we would go on walks and find natural things for her to use in her designs.She is now 8, and still very much into creating unique homes for the fairies.I feel so lucky to see her whimiscal artistic side bloom.She is even creating seasonal fairy house centerpieces for us to decorate our home with.I will always treasure these times with her, and the magical memories that we are making.Sorry if I am long winded.Getting to the point, this book has GORGEOUS photographs of all kinds of fairy houses, in all seasons.It is an inspiration to behold.My daughter and I love to look at the pictures over and over.The authors brought up a really nice fundraiser that they started by having everyone they knew in their neighborhood make fairy houses.What an interesting and unusual idea!Next house tour to raise money for school, can be fairy houses!This book offers the person that would like to get started making houses, lots of ideas, or is a sweet read for the person that just wants to appreciate little bits of beauty.A nice addition to Kristen's Fairy House Video/DVD, and sweet memories for family times together.

Explores the fantasy world of fairies as a fun task with an appeal to readers of all ages
Fairy Houses... Everywhere!, is a compilation of photographs and writings assembled by Barry & Tracy Kane, into an eccentric collection of brief, illustrated descriptions of wild and intricate fairy homes, mansions, cabins, marinas, gardens created by the artistic imagination of the authors. Providing readers with a complete and timeless anthology of a hobby-turned-profession, Fairy Houses... Everywhere! explores the fantasy world of fairies as a fun task with an appeal to readers of all ages. Fairy Houses... Everywhere! is highly recommended for its undeniably entertaining, wonderfully fun, innovative ideals and explorative concepts.
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Subjects:  1. Activities    2. Garden Furnishings    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. General    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    8. Wildlife   

Reviews (3)

Fascinating picto-history timeline perspective of Cleveland!
I've been in Cleveland now for about 10 years, having moved here permanently to be with my wife.I'm always learning new things about this interesting and often vexing area.Even though I don't especially like living in the Cleveland/NE Ohio area today (this area has been hit hard economically, and it shows), this book has enabled me to learn much more about the glory, grit, and history of this interesting American city, in words and pictures.Cleveland proper was once the 5th largest American city, and the grandiosity and urban landscape and feel has been captured perfectly with the many turn of the century black & white classic photos of the downtown area, or 'Millionaires Row', just to name 2 geographical areas cited in this book!The 'side by side' juxtaposition of many of the classic 'then' pictures to the 'now' pictures, with many structures and/or buildings still standing, is eerily fascinating to say the least.If you live in NE Ohio, or go there often, this book is a MUST.You won't be able to put it down, and you will be mesmerized by Cleveland's humble industrial beginnings that helped mold NE Ohio into what it has become today!Also, looking at all the photos of people that existed 100 years ago makes you feel your own mortality as well.What is considered 'modern' today will be 'classic' or 'retro' tomorrow!

Really opened my eyes!
After seeing this book sitting on a coffee table at the local Crate&Barrel in Cleveland, I was absolutely drawn into the pictures of what Cleveland, my hometown, used to look like. I never realized the transformation the "Comeback City" had made over the years. Seeing the early construction of Terminal Tower and pictures including Millionaire's Row, Public Square, The Gateway, The Mall and the Lakefront changed my opinion of what our downtown actually contains. Seeing the age of what some remaining buildings in downtown showed how historic Cleveland is, and made me want to go downtown and explore. After doing that, I saw so many new things that I never knew were in Cleveland. I strongly suggest this book to anyone who loves Cleveland or would like to find out more about the history of the "Comeback City." One of the best coffee table books you will ever find! The other six books in the series (New York, Chicago, Boston, Seattle, St. Louis and Los Angeles) are just as amazing and I strongly encourage everyone to read them all!

My How Things Change........
I have been a Cleveland history buff for years and have taken plenty of "Then and Now" pictures on my own. I have been waiting for a book like this to come out for a long time. I have other then-and-now books for other cities and I'm glad one had finally come out for cleveland.Read more

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

Reviews (6)

Super book
Great reference book!Gives you all the information you need to propagate--nurserymen to laymen.

A book by a pro for the professional propagator
I propagated woody plants as a sideline business for a number of years and considered this book THE source.For many species, specific concentrations for rooting hormones are specified.This is invaluable information since for many plants there is an optimal concentration and using a higher or lower concentration of reduces rooting success rates as well as root development.

MichaelDirris the Absolute Expert in Plant Propagation
Dirr has done all the research and you reap all the rewards. Hisconclusions are backed up by many scientific studies by various individualsand groups.The first part gives a summary of the diferentpropagation methods and the second part has very detailed data on specificspecies.I save hundreds of dollars each year by propagating by ownsouthern magnolias, red tip photinas, and navel oranges.This is, byfar, the best book on propagation out there!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening / Horticulture    2. Handbooks, manuals, etc    3. Horticultural Crops    4. Plants - General    5. Propagation    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Techniques    8. Trees    9. Woody plants    10. Agriculture & Farming   

Reviews (21)

Everything you need!
I LOVE this book! It shows you how to grow, cook and use herbs in arrangements. It tells you what the history of the herb is and what other cultures have used them for. I'm not the best at writing reviews and I never do... but I would buy this one!!! It's a great price for a great book!

Great book to have on our shelf
Will serve as a reference for years to come. Good visuals of different herbs with complete index.

new to herbs
being new to herbs this is one book i think every beginner should have. the info in this book is great tells you what herbs for crafts, cooking, med's, and growing. this is the 2nd book of Lesley's that i have and i will be looking out for more of her books. she makes it so you can read and learn not go to sleep.
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Subjects:  1. Gardening / Horticulture    2. Gardening/Plants    3. Herbs    4. Gardening / Herbs   

Reviews (1)

For BIG rooms and budgets only
If you are planning to entertain a cast of thousands (or at least a few hundred), own at least ten acres of land, and have unlimited funds (including hefty fees for architects and engineers), then this book offers a few good ideas. Unfortunately, I was looking for something more down to earth, such as ideas for a modest gazebo or shelter that would blend nicely into the back of my modest half acre piece of land - a place for thinking or reading or conversing with a few god friends, a place to escape the rain, or a place for star gazing. This book didn't even come close to my expectations. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Design & Construction    3. Domestic    4. Interior Design - General    5. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    6. Architecture / General    7. Houses, apartments, flats, etc