Reviews (22)

burnt out on hash
I bought this today and i am quite stoked on the reviews. 5 stars on the reviewsbeeeyotch

Marijuana Horticulture The indoor/outdoor Medical growers Bible
This a a must read book even for the pro it has so much information that is updated if you read Jorges last book it even blows it away so much useful info great pictures everyone should read this book!

I bought it...
I bought this when it just got out, and i started my grow just a while after. This book got me working better and the last grow is my most successful grow ever, by far.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening / Reference    2. Gardening / Techniques    3. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    4. Popular Culture - Counter Culture    5. Reference    6. Cannabis    7. Greenhouses    8. Horticulture    9. Hydroponics    10. Indoor gardening    11. Marijuana (Pharmacological Aspects)    12. Therapeutic use   

Editorial Review

Collecting contributions from 100 distinguishedhorticulturists, the handsome and lavishly illustrated Read more

Reviews (58)

The absolute must-have plant bible
I've been coveting this book at a gardening friend's house for several months and just received my own copy as a gift.It's got everything: Every plant and variety imaginable, color photos, tips and techniques, heat and temperature maps... The latter are specific to the U.S., but international buyers would likely still find the plant and tree information exhaustive and very useful.This is the ultimate reference book, with the added bonus of being glossy and beautiful enough to leave out on the coffee table.

I prefer Sunset's Western Garden Book for SoCal gardening
I've had this book for almost 3 yrs, and used it as reference while planting a large from-scratch, drought tolerant garden in Southern California.
Gardening info by Committee

Read more

Subjects:  1. Encyclopedias    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Ornamental Plants    6. Plants, Ornamental    7. Reference    8. Gardening / Reference   

Reviews (79)

There was never any old school, but if there will be then this will be it
A great book based around debunking everything preached before about growing grass and then shows the results of some good growing. It is no longer just about producing a one in a hundred photograph magazine quality plant, but having lots of them and with the potency to back it up.
Well worth getting if you are thinking about growing
This book does not remind me of anything I have read before. It looks a way more professional than most for these types of books. It has a very workable plan to produce the best results in the smallest of spaces to big basement grows if you want. The strategies are clearly laid out and explained in sufficient detail.Readers can find plenty of pictures, diagrams and illustrations with instructions. It is very motivational. The clear and easy writing style should appeal to anybody. Good luck.

A great reference.
Bravo! Finally a book that not only tells gardeners how to avoid wasting your time chasing bugs but also how to end up with a fine canopy of thick buds.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - Crop Science    2. Field Crops    3. Marijuana (Pharmacological Aspects)    4. Pharmacology    5. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    6. Popular Culture - Counter Culture    7. Reference    8. Sociology    9. Technology    10. Gardening: plants   

Reviews (15)

Amazing book!
I bought this book many years ago and still find myself going back and re-reading it over and over.If you're new to the Permaculture thought process you will be knocked off your horse with the common-sense, integrated approach to gardening and farming systems.I attribute this book and the thoughts provoked by it as the catalyst in seeking integrations and aggregation on many different fronts.This will always be one of the books I will treasure.I wore off the cover and have punched holes in all the pages and keep it in a three-ring binder.

Ignore the Cost
The information presented in this book is worth a semester of agriculture, chemistry, and geography classes.
The Most Important Textbook in the World...
...and probably one of the most fun to read. I read the first 8 chapters while working on a permaculture site on Isla Ometepe in Nicaragua, and ordered it immediately upon returning home.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - Agronomy    2. Gardening    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Permaculture    6. Reference    7. Technology & Industrial Arts    8. Agricultural science    9. Agriculture & related industries   

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 (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   

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.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking / Wine    2. Gardening    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Home economics    6. Reference   

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   

Editorial Review

Much has changed in the role and use of ornamental grasses over the past 100 years. Whereas turn-of-the-century gardeners had perhaps a dozen perennial grasses to choose from, today's gardeners have hundreds. Ornamental grasses now embody a huge array of textures, forms, sizes, colors, flowering times, and cultural adaptations. Read more

Reviews (5)

Masterful, Encyclopedic Guide Full of Helpful Photos
Rick Darke's book is typical of his work. It is extremely well written, a detailed, very thorough guide to ornamental grasses, full of helpful pictures as well as information on growing and maintaining grasses. This book should be a classic for decades to come.

Absolutely Fantastic
This is such a wonderful informational book... AND ... a gorgeous coffee table book. It is terrific from beginning to end! If you like or are interested in, or even thinking about Ornamental Grasses ... then THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU! I can't imagine anyone who has an interest in Ornamental Grasses NOT LOVING THIS BOOK, and would be delighted they purchased it. My only concern is that it is going to look dog-earred from my reading it over and over and over again ... which frankly takes away from its beauty on our coffee table.

Buy 2 copies...
This book is structured, written, photographed and edited with parallel purpose and effect: communication of the author's respect and regard for the book's subject and for its readers. Mr. Darke sets out to inform and does so with enconomy but in full course; when he instructs, he teaches the novice and gives pause to the critic; when he photographs he shows his passion and inspires with the nature and wonder of his subjects. The book is encyclopedic, yet its prose is always to the point with the agreeable dryness of a good, well-bodied wine. Credible, trustworthy, enlightening. This is the best gardening book I have ever read. Negatives? Only one: Mr. Darke's standards are unimpeachable; those of the book's typographer and designer, however, are not. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Encyclopedias    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. General    6. Grasses    7. Ornamental Plants    8. Ornamental grasses    9. Pictorial works    10. Plants - Grasses    11. Reference    12. Gardening / Flowers / Perennials    13. Gardening: plants   

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Horticulture (General)    5. Reference    6. Regional - General    7. Garden design & planning    8. Gardening / General   

Reviews (7)

Nothing compares
I own and operate a nursery using both of these books as a primary resource when purchasing conifers from growers.When customers refer to these books at our library, they comment on how beautiful the many conifers are available.My only wish the book had w/b zone hardiness and growth habit.Buy it.ProGardens, Inc.East Amherst, New York.

Conifers : The Illustrated Encyclopedia (Two Volume Set)
Two world authorities compiled this outstanding conifer book featuring 2347 excellent, sharp photos reproduced beautifully on high quality paper.Each picture was taken at the proper distance to show the tree's outstanding detail.Captions are a sentence or two with location oftenincluded.For detail use a good companion book such as the Manual ofCultivated Conifers by Krussmann.Imperative for landscapers and a joy fortree lovers -- a bargain at the cover price.A quality bookclearly at the top of my list of favorites.

great book to figure out what you have growing in your yard.
pictures are great !!butlacks the necessary info on growing,care,climate zones&changes of sasons on the plants.but i love it for all it'svisual contents ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Conifers    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Ornamental conifers    6. Pictorial works    7. Reference    8. Trees    9. Botany & plant sciences    10. Gardening / Trees    11. Horticulture    12. Reference works    13. Shrubs & trees   

Reviews (7)

Boy! I miss California so much!
Native California plants have their own way of showing natutual beauty. This book catches the spirit of these plants. Would like to see more closeup pictures so that I can learn to identify them.

Great reference book supplement
Easy to read, concentrates on native plants so can narrow search, good addition to the library.

Wonderful book!
This book distinguishes itself by offering wonderful color photgraphs of most of the plants it discusses.This is a significant advantage for neophyte native plant gardeners.Other valuable and well-respected books on the same topic, such as Growing California Native Plants by Marjorie G. Schmidt, don't offer even close to the same pictorial experience.
Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Native plant gardening    6. Native plants for cultivation    7. Reference    8. Regional - General    9. Regional - West (AK, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, UT, WY)   

Reviews (4)

A "go to" book . . .
If you are interested in collecting and growing "fat plants" this book is an absolute must. I find myself just flipping through the book and looking back over the amazing pictures from time to time. The book also offers good general information on purchasing and growing pachyforms.

A must have book
A must have book for everyone who's into this kind of plants. A great guide for beginners and pro's. Can't wait for the next one coming out.

Un très bon livre
Un livre qui devrait faire partie de la biblioth�que de tout amateur de plantes � caudex! Beaucoup de photos tr�s repr�sentatives de ces plantes cultiv�es en pots ou conteneurs, des conseils de culture bien choisis. Au Jardin Naturel nous connaissons bien ce type de plantes et ce livre est un excellent outil pour que nous progressions dans le domaine.
Read more

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

Editorial Review

Is your garden troubled by cutworms or aphids? Need to know the best method for preventing the spread of viruses among your houseplants? Look no further than Read more

Reviews (5)

NOT QUITE
This book does not really give concrete and detailed pest and desease control methods.It does not give any information about chemicals and insecticides for specific problems. It is actually really useless.

Great reference book
This book was purchased for a plant pathology and entomolgy class I am taking.This has been completely invaluable as a reference book for any sort of disease or insect identification.

A Good Supplemental Guide for Gardeners
The organizational structure of this guide to identifying and treating plant problems makes navigating the many causes of damage easy.The first section contains thumbnail photographs of specific problems, arranged by plant parts affected:leaf problems; stem and bud problems; flower problems; fruit, berry, nut, and vegetable problems; soil, root, tuber, and bulb problems; and lawn problems.The book then follows the problems with a brief photographic section of beneficial insects so gardeners do not kill off the bugs that help maintain environmental balance.Good gardening habits, including soil and nutrient analysis and pest/disease control, are given adequate space. The bulk of the book, however, is the A to Z guide which describes symptoms, cause, and control of just about every garden problem.Readers are expected to first identify the problem using the photographs in the beginning section and then turn to more information in the A to Z guide.The problem is, different plants with the same disease may not appear anything like the chosen (and small) photograph. Diagnosis is sometimes difficult.The index to individual plant problems is somewhat of a help to rule out similar problems that don't affect the plant in question, but I found myself wishing that this guide were a little more complete.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Control    2. Garden pests    3. Gardening    4. Gardening / Horticulture    5. Gardening/Plants    6. Insect pests    7. Insects    8. Life Sciences - Horticulture    9. Plant diseases    10. Reference    11. Gardening / Reference   

Reviews (1)

Big book, big gardens, big budgets
This coffee table book features private gardens and estates of the wealthy who have the funds to hire the most talented garden designers in the world to realize their visions. Most of the gardens featured are in the U.S. although a few are in England and Japan. Chapters are divided by varying styles, such as classicism, traditionalism, naturalism, cottage garden, modernism, etc. It is an eclectic collection, from minimalist elegance to lush romantic woodlands. Sculptures, art work, water features and stone work are a feature in many.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Garden Design    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Gardens    6. Landscape    7. Landscape Design And Planting    8. Reference    9. Gardening / General    10. Gardens (descriptions, history etc)   

Reviews (5)

Herbs
I am taking a medicinal botany class and was not satisfied with the information the text book gave me and wanted to know more I saw this book and ordered it.I love it.It is a must have for someone interested in herbs even my instructor found it helpful.

Best of it's kind
I have an older edition that my sister bought for me for christmas several years back.It's one of the few books i'll have for the rest of my life because of its incredible value as a comprehensive herb and plant info resource.The edition I have has pictures, names, references in the front with longer descriptions in the back in the same style as an audubon society field guide book.It's great for picking up and reading random stuff or to lookup the medicinal uses of a specific herb.The book never ceases to amaze me.Of all the herb books i've read, this one is time and again the most useful.

Superb Comprehensive Book
This book is very comprehensive.It is fairly easy to use with both Latin and English names.There are many photographs to support herb descriptions.The book doesn't does not have a botanical key to support identification of more unusual specimens (I don't miss this, others may).
Read more

Subjects:  1. Encyclopedias    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Health & Fitness    4. Health/Fitness    5. Herb gardening    6. Herbal Medications    7. Herbs    8. Pictorial works    9. Reference    10. Gardening / Herbs    11. Gardening   

Reviews (11)

Pretty good ...
... if you like your herbs from the herb store, that is. And if you like the TCM view of things. Excellent but not the most recent version....
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MEDICINAL PLANTS by Andrew Chevallier is a relatively comprehensive source of information about herbal uses for healing.This is not the most recent volume by this author, however.The 2000 version is more comprehensive and includes the most current information about research associated with herbal medicinal uses. Best Source there is for medicinal plant information!!
From its detailed descriptions of almost all medicinal plants, to its step by step instructions for different preparations, this bookhas it all!!It tells you where the plant is from even the history behind todays uses.If your interested in healing with plants... this book is for you! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dictionaries    2. Diet / Health / Fitness    3. Encyclopedias    4. Health/Fitness    5. Herbal Medications    6. Materia Medica    7. Materia medica, Vegetable    8. Medical    9. Medicinal plants    10. Pharmacology    11. Complementary Medicine    12. Gardening / Reference    13. Reference works   

Reviews (14)

A Wealth of Knowledge
I picked this book up based on an exhaustive search for a guide that met a few simple items of criteria:
Many Topics, Little Detail
This book had many topics but only provided very basic information on the topics.

Storey's Basic Country Skills
Good book to put the subject on the map for the beginner. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country life    2. Home Improvement / Construction    3. Home economics    4. Home economics, Rural    5. House & Home    6. Personal & Practical Guides    7. Reference    8. Self-Help    9. GARDENING / Reference    10. Home & House Maintenance    11. House & Home / Reference    12. REFERENCE / Personal & Practical Guides    13. Reference works    14. Self-Help & Practical Interests   

Reviews (4)

Very Good
Dont own previous books by Paul Stamets, but have read through a bunch. THis book is a really fine addition to the library. Lots of information, lots of color photos, and an enjoyable read. Get it.

this is an incredibly interesting + informative book
This is a well written, interesting book. And mycelium running has more relevance than I ever imagined (if I thought about it at all). In general, I'd ditch science books for literature in 2 seconds. But I just can't put this book down. It's definitely worth your $$$.

The most comprehensive mushroom/fungi book out there
Paul Stamets truly knows the material and has some great insights into the world of growing mushrooms. He succinctly describes how the science of the relatively unknown 5th kingdom (fungi) can be applied to mycoremediation to help unpollute the planet.Even though this sounds like a heavy subject, the material is understandable for people with little scientific or fungal knowledge and helps anybody understand hwo they too can get closer to mushrooms. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ecology    2. Environmental Science    3. Fungi    4. Gardening    5. Gardening / Horticulture    6. Gardening/Plants    7. Life Sciences - Ecology    8. Medical Botany    9. Mushroom culture    10. Mycelium    11. Organic    12. Pharmacy    13. Reference    14. Specific Ingredients - Vegetables    15. Applied ecology   

Reviews (1)

An excellent reference on native perennials
This A-Z encyclopedia features over 600 species of native plants for the American gardener. All of the plants included here are perennials which are available to purchase in nurseries and mail-order catalogs. This was the author's major criteria for inclusion and some popular plants were omitted because they are not easily obtainable in the trade.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Flowering Plants (Angiospermae)    2. Flowers - Annuals    3. Flowers - Perennials    4. Gardening    5. Gardening / Horticulture    6. Gardening/Plants    7. Home Gardening    8. Native plant gardening    9. Native plants for cultivation    10. North America    11. Ornamental Plants    12. Plants - General    13. Reference    14. Botany & plant sciences    15. Gardening / Flowers / Perennials    16. Gardening: plants