Reviews (1)

Hard-core Taxonomy
Plants of Pennsylvania is an exhaustive taxonomy of the fauna of the keystone state. Both native and introduced species are included. It is not light reading, but as a reference it is excellent.

The cover artwork is not representative of the text, which contains only line drawings of good quality. The book is well indexed, by both scientific and common names, and probably is the best entrance point for most readers. I found the glossary particularly helpful. It has illustrations and definitions of hundreds of mostly obscure botanical terms that a few of us forgot and most of us never learned. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Not enough tables of contents are enhanced by drawings of nuts, herbs, and root vegetables, but the table of contents in The New Oxford Book of Food Plants is, setting the tone for a book that clearly delights in the glories of the world's bounty. Each chapter, including grain crops and fruits, spices and seaweed, legumes and mushrooms among its 19 topics, is a cornucopia of information and beautiful, educational illustrations. Take the chapter on oil crops, for example. Covering olives, sesame, peanuts, soy beans, sunflowers, and the rape plant, the prose describes where they grow and what the fruits look like, what kind of oil is produced and what it's used for, how it's made and how else the fruits may be used. Color drawings of the plants and their fruits are on the facing page. Put together by writers who respect each plant and give them the attention and detail that spell quality, this is a beautiful book and a charming resource. --Stephanie Gold ... Read more

Reviews (2)

great gift, reference, and coffee table book
The original edition of this book was out of print for some years and it is delightful to see it out again, and expanded no less. It combines 2 great virtues: highly readable and informative text with illustrations of a quality that are "suitable for framing." It is a great book for anyone who takes an interest in botany, cooking, or gardening and you couldn't go wrong giving it as a gift to one of these types. It's also great for reference. If you're getting it as a gift I suggest ordering 2, because you'll want one for yourself when you see it.

Excellent for learning about food plants from all over.
This book is great for learning to identify food plants from all over the world. The illustrations are realistic and each plant is described. I use it to help my 4-H horticulture judging team prepare for the national judging contest. The plants and illustrations in this new edition are the same as in the original book, however the 1998 edition has an excellent section on phytonutrients. ... Read more

Book Description

Magnificent compendium of the finely detailed plant images from the Victorian era—all identified with Latin and common names and arranged alphabetically by family. Hundreds of plant species—from lilies, lichens, poppies and palms to mushrooms, mosses, marigolds and maples—supplemented by specialized appendices on edible foods, medicinal herbs, plants used in decoration and in graphic design. Indispensable source of inspiration and copyright-free graphics for designers and artists; a captivating compendium for botanists, gardeners, and collectors of old engravings.
... Read more

Book Description

Written in clear, easy-to-understand language for the novice grower, Closet Cultivator is the ultimate secret growing guide. The author discusses lighting, nutrients, water systems, potency, and more, and he shows how to establish a high-yield garden in a limited space -- and on a limited budget. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Debugging the lies
I've read this book several times and found it very useful. Though decievingly complicated, a little extra attention can help you make a cheap and effective system. The top three reviewers are obiously all the same person(they have similar comments and come from the same place; no coincidence). The reviewer didnt even read the book, saying that there is no information on making system. There is plenty of info on making cheap to expensive systems, organic or hydroponic. He then pats himself on the back to sell his own book, whos title i was too disgusted to read. Ignore the above three commments and buy this book, it will change your life.

Read the book and learn
I disagree with the disparaging reviews. I felt like it was very practical and really gave important information for growing in a small area (4x4 ft- hence "closet cultivator").

Do you want to Learn Closet Growing... or Growing?
Five Star Reviews. One Star Reviews. Obviously the One Star Reviews have been written by growers who are fed up with Ed Rosenthal's cryptic way of releasing his encyclopedia of cannabis growing one hundred pages at a time and the Five Star Review is from Ed himself.

The truth is that this book is only really worth about Three Stars at best and the main problem with this book and his more recent ones is exactly the same reason I listed above for the One Star Reviewers. Ed Rosenthal has not authored a good marijuana book in years and this book is probably the start of all the troubles. Ed built up his reputation with Mel Franks when they wrote "Indoor/Outdoor Highest Quality Marijuana Grower's Guide" in 1974. After this the two writers split. Mel Frank made his highly successful, but very dated, "Marijuana Growers Guide". Ed followed that work up by writing, "Marijuana Growers Handbook". Since then Ed has had a string of very small titles like "Marijuana Beer", "Marijuana, The Law and You", "What to do when you get busted", "Marijuana Growing Tips" and other 100 paged quickie books that cost abot the same price of a full sized grow manual. Let's face it, these books are quick money spinners designed to fill the back pages of some "High Times" ad space. I guess this was the book that finally did him in for most growers. Running in at 115 pages on its second run, the 1st edition was 160 pages but smaller in design, this is like an "add-on" or an "expansion pack" for his "Marijuana Growers Handbook". It certainly is not the best marijuana book you can start with as some may expect. What the reader really needs first is a good solid grow book.

Ed and Mel have accomplished this some time back with their original titles but now these books are too old to be considered much use. Jorge Cervantes had produced something that at least growers can rely on. Jason King has done his famous picture book. Greg Green has brought us probably the most realistic and factual grow book of our times. Robert Clarke has created a hashish book and a marijuana botany book that is used by breeders, growers and hash makers and Michael Starks has the definitive chemical/cannabinoid book - but Ed still seems to want us to buy a string of his books to make up some sort of a complete volume of works, sort of like paying for an twenty volume encyclopedia over a period of ten years in six monthly installments of about 100 pages. That is why Ed has recently churned out so many little books like "Marijuana Success Indoors", "Big Book of Buds" and "Closet Cultivator". So the choice is up to you. Do you or don't you want to start an Ed collection?

If you buy this book as a grow book, then forget it. You will only be disappointed. If you have a good recent grow book and don't mind spending the cash on this then you will probably be happy with it. It will certainly teach you how to grow cannabis in your cabinet but it won't teach you how to grow. So maybe grow first - cabinet later?... That makes a little more sense doesn't it?... Take it from me... it does.

Totally Misleading Title
When I bought this book I thought it looked great and would give me the information needed to set up a small grow system. But, there was absolutely no information about setting up systems of any kind, instead it was all basic info, like plants need water to survive! I just wish that there was an option for negative stars. I would recommend Sea of Green by Hans, Marijuana Grower's Guide by Mel Frank, or Indoor Marijuana Horticulture each of these books, in contrast to this one, give clear and relevant information thatwould help anyone set up a basic grow system.

Very little practical information.
I agree with the other reviewers that this is a very basic book. It really seems to just cover the basic theory of marijuana and cultivation without ever getting into the specifics. There was absolutely no guidance on how to set up a closet system, why you should, what the benefits or problems would be. The illustrations were all of large scale gardens and didn't explain how to set the room up. The color pictures were ok but not anything I haven't seen before. ... Read more

Book Description

First compact dictionary to combine definitions of botanical names in general usage with information on their derivation and guides to pronunciation. A monumental index provides a cross-reference from some 1,800 common plant names to corresponding botanical ones. Indispensable reference combines thoroughness, botanical rigor and interesting facts and lore—all leavened with touches of humor.
... Read more

Reviews (3)

Vintage etymological dictionary
This is reprint of A.W.Smith's classic, which since then has been revised by William T. Stearn as "A Gardener's Dictionary of Plant Names" (1972) and "Stearn's Dictionary of Plant Names for Gardeners" (1992). Comparing it with the latter it is obvious at once that there still is a great similarity, with many entries a 100% identical. The major differences are that the latter has a more modern layout, is updated and contains more information.

This reprint of the original has as bonus points that it is cheaper and includes directions at pronounciation. In some cases it also contains bits of information which were edited out of its modern descendant.

Review of "A Gardener's Book of Plant Names"
I needed a book to use to give me the derivation of the scientific names for plants found in the wild throughout California. I looked at fifteen books at the University of California Davis Library and checked out five. I found this book to be the most useful of the bunch. It had the name of almost every plant I looked up, whereas most of the others had far fewer. I recommend this book if you want to know the derivation of plant names, whether in the garden or in the wild.

I am Happy
I am Min Hye Young. I am living in Seoul, Korea ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Professional's Must Have
This book and it companion, the Dicotyledons, is THE professional's wetland plant identification book for the southeast.It is not a field guide but rather an office plant identification reference.It is not for the hobby naturalist unless they are prepared for the technical languageand presentation.If you make your living identifying wetland plants inthe southeast, you must have this book.Buy the Dicotyledons as well. ... Read more

Book Description

Learn how interesting and delicious the wild harvest of Alaska, western Canada, and the Northwest can be in this significant illustrated volume on 147 wild plants. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An excellent resource with high-quality photos.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly, from it's interesting tidbits on historic uses of plants, to the explanations of known toxic principles within plants. The cautions about harvest, use, and overuse are well-stated. Thedescriptions enhance the line-drawings, and each plant description comeswith an excellent photograph, making this a terrific guide foridentification of wild edibles!

Wow, what a field guide, and check out all those recipes!
I just got this book (fourth printing, 1998) in my mail, and I can testifythat it's well worth the money. It's a really good field guide to plants ofThe Far North, be it Alaska or Finland.

In addition to excellentpictures (which really show you clearly how to tell this plant apart fromothers) you'll frequently run across a sentence that goes something like"So-and-so says in his/her book that it's edible after it's been dried/boiled /whatever, but my taste tests implied ...".

Trulyoutstanding research and practical information, both on medicinal andculinary uses of these plants, make this an invaluable addition to thelibrary of anybody interested in plants in the Far North.

Great work,Janice! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A Good Beginner's Reference
This is a good, inexpensive book with basic information on how to set up a planted aquarium. I'd recommend this book in conjunction with Barry James' A Fishkeeper's Guide to Aquarium Plants. Although there are a few mistakes (photos of Riccia fluitan and Java moss have been switched), you can't beat the amount of info you get for the price.

Well worth the price 4++ stars
This little book is a very good value. It covers more than 40 different plants in its encylopedia section in addition to its glossary and several different info sections, including info on lighting, nutrients, selection and care. It gives more info about plants than can be obtained in the more general information books and is very inexpensive. It could be organized a little better but it is still very useful and very much worth the price.

Where Are The Fish Supposed To Go?
There are books out there that are sensitive to the interaction of fish and plants. This is not one of them. Please invest a little more money and purchase one of those other books. The sample layouts are incredibly overcrowded. Even some of the photographs reflect the overcrowding!

Best planted aquarium book [for this amount]
Please excuse me, I'm about to gush. If you are just going to buy one book, and you have [little] to spend, buy this one. (If you have unlimited funds, buy this one plus Aquarium Plants by Christel Kasselmann).

As the planted aquarium chairman at our aquarium club, I get a lot of questions. The answers to most of them are in this book. It is a great beginner reference, but be sure to go back and reread it after you've been in the hobby for six months, because you'll learn a lot more about pruning, aquascaping, trimming, etc.

Just buy it!

great for the beginner
I started my aquarium hooby when i was 8 and i'm now 32 so i think my opinion counts for something. this book is well priced and gives a significant amount of information in a small package. the more advanced enthusiasts may find it lacking in detailed information and setups using plants. My rating is based on audience targeted and price. Great value for around $5-$10! ... Read more

Book Description

Over 675 species of trees, shrubs, wildflowers, grasses, ferns, mosses and lichens commonly found in the region from the crest of the Rockies to the Coast Mountains, including the interior of Washington and Idaho. Detailed species descriptions are combined with concise drawings and color photographs to make plant identification easy. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

What a Gem.
I bought this book 3 years ago and totally love it.The plant info and the photographs are beautiful. A lot of the info comes from Natives and give the readers information on what the plants can be used for like remedies for toothaches etc. The photographs, over 1000 of them, are all done in colour and are absolutely beautiful. I would have paid 3 times the amount for this book. A must for the outdoorsman. ... Read more

Book Description

60 Full-color photos, 5 1/2" by 8 1/2"

Contains the most current up-to-date source of information on outdoor marijuana growing. available. Novice & experienced will learn how today's growers are achieving record harvests. Cervantes travelled troughout North America, Europe, Great Britain & Australia to learn how growers harvested the best bud in the world.

Swiss, Italian, French, Canadian and Dutch gardens shown in detail with complete instructions and examples.The most valuable outdoor grower guide. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

[aweful]
This is probably the most ill-formed book in general I have ever read, not to mention the worst grow book, period. The illustrations are CHEESY.
The photographs are of poor quality, you can barely discern them. The information is general, contradictory, unorganized... I wouln't trust a thing in it, which is strange because Jorge Cervantes is a genius, and his previous publications prove his skill. But this book is a no-no. Go for another, and don't be afraid to spend the bucks. You want climate matched with plant variety with specific feeding instructions, and plenty of do's and dont's. If your info is poor then your fruit will suffer.

A GREAT BOOK FOR IDIOC GROWERS
THIS BOOK IS THE PERFECT WAY TO START OFF. IF YOU HAVE NEVER CULTURED YOUR OWN MARIJUANA BEFORE

Guerilla Growing!
What a great book, easy to understand and I am a person who has to have it for my health. I found this book to be very helpful and I have been very successful in my growing because of his help. Jorge Cervantes is very smart and I hope more people with major health problems will concider buying this helpful manual. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A GREAT Key to Wild Plant Identification
I highly recommend this book, no get two because if you are like me-dragging one into the field-you are going to need a second copy for your reference shelf. With 1300 references to flowering plant life of Eastern North Amercia this author leaves almost nothing to doubt. This book has made all the difference to me in identifying native plants. That's because the author gives clear identifing features and details in his short descriptions, including bloom time, habitat, range and distinguishing plant characteristics. I found the book very easy to navigate because of the illustrations. It is well organized by GENERA and thumbing through the book will help you navigate to the correct species and type of plant. I can't recommend this book highly enough, especially for the advanced plantsman!!! You do need to have familarity with the difference between a daisy and a trillium, botanically speaking, to put this reference to work for you.
This is an outstanding guide to plant identification, not a gardening book. However you can use the habitat information and the bloom time for use in planning.
I am a member of the Georgia Native Plant society. I go out to rescue native plants from development sites and reestablish them in my home garden. I am very pleased with being to rapidly identify anything I come across thanks to this excellent reference.

Very good book, with limitations
This volume is similar to the authors earlier work, "The Illustrated Book of Trees," which was (and is) a valuable resource for many people (including me). The books even look the same, in terms of binding, fonts, and form of illustrations. A large number of flowering plants and shrubs are presented with a short description of each one together with a black and white drawing of the critical features needed for identification (there are no color illustrations in this book). This is not a professional field guide, and there is no provision for "keying out" a specimen for positive identification. As far as I could tell, there is no attempt to provide a systematic approach to identify a specimen. As with the popular field guides for birds, species are listed in groups that share superficial properties that make them seem similar to a person encountering them in the field. Furthermore, the brief descriptions and illustrations are very good, and interesting. Additional positve features include a glossary and several other ancillary tables of information. The index is not exhaustive, but has almost everything I looked for. I only had access to this book for about one hour, but I can see spending lots of time with it and I am about to make the purchase. If you spend much time in the out of doors, and wonder about the identity of plants you encounter, this book belongs on your shelf (its a little heavy for the backpack). ... Read more

Book Description

This introductory, one quarter/one-semester text takes a multidisciplinary approach to studying the relationship between plants and people. The authors strive to stimulate interest in plant science and encourage students to further their studies in botany. Also, by exposing students to society's historical connection to plants, Levetin and McMahon hope to instill a greater appreciation for the botanical world.

Plants and Society covers basic principles of botany with strong emphasis on the economic aspects and social implications of plants and fungi. ... Read more

Book Description

There has always been interest in how animals live their lives --- it is easy for us to identify with them. But there are many remarkable stories about plants that deserve to be told. The Nature of Plants tells how plants adapt to the challenges of their habitats. Plants may live in places that provide too little rainfall, yet they thrive, either by evading drought, like the animals that live in deserts, or by tolerating the scarcity. There are plants that use other plants, climbing on them, strangling some, living in their leafy canopies, or parasitizing them. And The Nature of Plants explores the love-hate relationships that plants have with animals, some feeding on plants but others drawn into serving plants by pollinating them, scattering their fruits and seeds, or being eaten themselves. The mostly hidden associations that plants have with bacteria and fungi are also revealed. Illustrated throughout with superb color photographs, it is written in a way that is clear to anyone who wishes to understand the life of plants. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A superb slipper orchid reference book
The book contains about 308 pages composed of: 54 pages on Vietnam flora and habitat, 34 pages on the anatomy, ecology, and distribution of orchids, 178 pages about individual slipper orchid species found in Vietnam (22 species), 20 pages on the conservation, 9 pages on literature referenced, and a 14 page index.

The text is far more extensive than just "slipper orchids" or "Vietnam". Rather it also introduces the flora, habitat, and physical geography of Vietnam, and it covers all slipper orchids of southeast Asia in very complete detail.

The last 2/3rds of the book is a treasure of information about the individual species of Vietnam slippers. It contains lots of field pictures, closeups of the flowers, flower diagrams, and distribution maps. I was impressed with the completeness of the treatment for each orchid. This is a superb slipper orchid reference book.

If you are a Paphiopedilum orchid book enthusiast - times are very good. There are presently three absolutely outstanding slipper orchid books in press: "The Genus Paphiopedilum" by Braem, Baker & Baker, "The Slipper Orchids" by Catherine Cash, and "Slipper Orchids of Vietnam" by Leonid Averyanov, Phillip Cribb, Phan Ke Loc & Nguyen Tien Hiep. Each book sets the highest standard of excellence. We slipper orchid hobbyists are truly blessed to have such talented and passionate writers on this subject. I reference each of these books several times each month. They are great additions to my orchid library.

There is total concensus over 2/3rds of the species in all of the books. But there are major disagreements over much of the rest. Discussions in the text are filled with little daggers about what the other book authors had missed or misinterpreted - it is facinating! Since Slipper Orchids of Vietnam was written after the other two books, Averyanov & Cribb have the last word in the arguement. But I suspect that new books from Braem and Cash are already in the making.

It's a great time to be a slipper orchid enthusiast. You gotta buy this book! ... Read more

Book Description

Valuable hints from a veteran botanist and weaver on dyeing fibers and fabrics, what soap plants to use for cleaning textiles, advice on fragrant plants to scent and protect fabrics, plant materials to use as tools, suggestions for planning and creating a garden featuring cotton, flax, indigo, and much more. Includes glossary, pronunciation guide and an abundance of illustrations. An informative and inspiring volume for weavers, gardeners, textile artists, and craftspeople.
... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great book!
I am a fanatic when it comes to dyeing and weaving my own yarn. I really enjoyed this book's dyeing techniques and the methods of extracting natural dyes from their sources. This book is great when it comes to teahing other people about hoow to make their own dyes. I even got my son into dyeing whit natural methods, my son is 14 and usually hates to take any of my advice. This showshow great this book really is!! ... Read more

Book Description

Training plants into fanciful shapes is a popular hobby among today's gardeners. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good book for beginners
This is a great beginner's book on how to create topiaries & espaliers. The book is in full color with lots of photos. Instructions are clear and easy to follow. In each section appropriate plant types are discussed.

First, frameless topiaries are described. Designs included are lollipop, poodle, spiral, & corkscrew trees. The book then shows how to make empty frame topiaries. Included are circles, hoops and spirals.

Then it shows you how to make a moss-filled bunny. Following this method you can make almost any shape imaginable. Several kinds of espalier shapes, and how to make them are then show.

Finally, knots, mazes, pleaching, pollarding & coppicing are covered. Proper tools and shaping hedges are explained as well. Be aware that most plants used are for warmer climates (zone 6 or above).

Disappointing--skimpy, very basic info.
This is the first negative review I've written, and I feel badly about it. I was so anticipating the arrival of this book.

The instructions, which I was eager to get, were only the most general, basic things I already knew even though I'm a raw beginner. I was particularly interested in espalier and pleached allee directions and was hoping for a book with lot of focus on these. A couple of short articles available on the Net were much more informative and illustrated each step very clearly.

The list of recommended plant materials was limited. With a little research on the Internet, I obtained a much more extensive list suited to my area.

The photos were the best part, although they could have been improved, too.

The most positive statement I can make is that the price was most reasonable, and perhaps that is why this book was so lightweight, more for browsing than using for instruction.

I'm ordering another book from Amazon, hoping for better instructions--and hopefully, I'll be able to write a glowing review! ... Read more

Book Description

This magnificent field guide is the latest addition to the exciting series that is revolutionizing the way we look at butterflies. Greatly expanding on Butterflies Through Binoculars: The Boston-New York-Washington Region--identified by Defenders of Wildlife Magazine as "the first to focus on netless butterflying" and called " a clear winner" by the Audubon Naturalist--Glassberg here shows us how to find, identify, and enjoy all of the butterflies native to the eastern half of the United States and southeastern Canada. This guide:

*Combines the immediacy and vividness of actual photographs of living butterflies with the traditional field guide format

*Emphasizes conservation over collection

*Includes 630 color photographs, arranged on 72 color plates, of butterflies in the wild

*Provides adjacent color maps that show where each species occurs in a given locality and for how much of the year

*Supplies entirely new field marks for butterfly identification

*Demonstrates how to identify subjects by way of the key characteristics butterflies are likely to display in their natural settings

*Shows how species can be recognized both from above and below

*Explains how to differentiate between males and females.

For butterfly enthusiasts, for bird watchers who want to add a new dimension to their hobby, for anyone who is simply interested in exploring the wilds of their own back yard, this new field guide offers hours of delightful help and instruction. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Best Butterfly id book!
Without comparison, this is the best butterfly id book around. It is really easy to navigate and find specific butterflies quickly, even for the novice. It has maps as well as larval foods for the different butterflies. Quite complete. I keep it sitting right here on my desk so that when I see a butterfly flitter by I can run outside and id it. Its also has tips on identifying butterflies that may look similar which is helpful. I'd buy it again for sure!

Best book out there right now.
If you are interested in butterflies on any scale, you must have this book! The pictures are really good for comparison in the field. A must have for anyone who participates in butterfly counts. This book will make you addicted to watching butterflies like it did me! Be careful! :-)

Solid primer, somewhat awkward field guide
This book provides perhaps the best available set of basic instructions for butterfly watching. As some of the other reviews mention, it's not just a field guide; it's also a very thorough and pleasing introduction to how to go about the hobby. What type of binocs to choose (close focus please) is, for example, the sort of basic thing it covers well.

That being said, Butterflies through Binoculars shares a lot of the same traits I find mildly frustrating in the current set of Audubon's bird guides. It uses photographs, which I've always found less useful than thoughtful artist's drawings in my bird books. All the plates, moreover, are stacked together in front of the book. Maybe others find it handy to flip through pictures only, but I'd much rather see things like the better bird guides do it: color plates on one side, succinct species description with range map on the other. Whenever I use a guide like this in the field I end up flipping back and forth in my field guide like I can't make up my mind.

For that reason, I'd recommend this as an introductory title, but I'd say we're still waiting for a really wonderful field guide.

One of the Best Field Guides!
An absolute must have! Glassberg, who is president of the North American Butterfly Association, shares his knowledge of these delicate creatures and makes identifcation easy and fun. Includes 625 color photos (most by Glassberg) of free-flying butterflies. The first butterfly guide to use plates showing correct size relationships among species. Also features sections on binoculars, photography, biology, conservation, and gardening. You won't be sorry you purchased this fine book!

I Agree-- This One Makes it Easy and Fun
Yes, this is a superior field guide, whether one is collecting or watching. And, the texts are also pithy and contain some great and timely information on the butterflies and especially conservations situations. The butterfly enthusiast crowd is lucky to have had such an upsurge in interest in its subject, and Glassberg is to be credited with kindling much of this. Speaking of Butterflies through Binoculars-- a wonderful narrative about same, through the binoculars of history, is the recent Nabokov's Blues by Kurt Johnson, another prominent lepidopterist. Its time to look at butterflies, appreciate them, and increase our knowledge as well. Get out with Glassberg's book and then go home and read some "sit-down" informative entomology. Enjoy. ... Read more