Reviews (2)

Best poisonous plant book to date!
Common Poisonous Plants by Dr. Nancy Turner is the top of the line field guide to deadly botanical beauties you could come across while exploring the great outdoors.
This book is top quality in information, details, poisoning symptoms, and content! It is well worth the expense, which is a good amount. The book itself contains, plants, mushrooms, and fungi that could be hazardous to humans and animals alike. The main highlight, by far, is the toxicity section on each of the poisonous plants. The symptoms of ingestion, (contamination) are well described and could easily compell the reader to shudder. The symptoms are specific to every single plant, so that an infected person's life could easily and efficiently be saved. There is also a very helpful insight on treatment of potential poisoning.
The book is so specific, it even tells you the degree of toxicity! Unfortunately, this book is very expensive and going out of print. So, any hardcore naturalist or interested botanist should purchase this online ASAP!

Plant Lore is Unequaled but Mushroom Data is Often "Lore".
Dr. Turners books are without a doubt unparalleled regarding her ability to use the trust she has cultivated with the indigenous peoples of the PNW. This gives her an entirely unique and very interesting look at hows plant were used by the native populations of this and surrounding areas. The people who would find her writing fascinating would cut across many disciplines from of course not only botany but anthropology, archaeology, paleontology; perhaps even modern "new-age" religious seekers. Having said that though, I dearly wish she would quit deviating in to the field of mycology. I'm not exactly sure where she gets her info from, but I suspect that working under the auspices of the BC Provincial Museum, that she has elected to defer to the often antiquated mycological texts from the among the ranks of those in the possesion of professors in the back rooms of the museum that are gathering as much dust as are the books that they in turn rely upon for ID'ing the fungi. ... Read more

Book Description

This standard-setting, state-of-the-art field guide to the wildflowers of Indiana (and surrounding states) includes all 1,568 herbaceous species recorded in the state. It contains 640 color photographs, along with helpful explanations and numerous drawings of the characteristics that separate each of the individual species.

This Field Guide replaces every previous guide to Indiana wildflowers. With an emphasis on completeness, strong visual presentation, and simplicity of terminology, this book will be invaluable to anyone, amateur or botanical professional, interested in Indiana's diverse wildflower population. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A much needed field guide to Indiana wildflowers
This field guide to Indiana wildflowers should be a valuable reference for both the professional and amateur botanist. The species descriptions given are adequate to distinguish similar species in most cases. The ranges given for several species appear to be inaccurate. ... Read more

Book Description

Now you can cut years off the process of learning about plants.Learn how related plants have similar features for identification.Discover how they often have similar properties and similar uses.Toms book takes you beyond the details towards a greater understanding of the patterns among plants.Most plant books cover only one or two hundred species.Botany in a Day includes more than 100 plant families and over 700 generaincluding edible and medicinal usesapplicable to many thousands of species.

With this book you will be able to recognize patterns in plants everywhere you goin the wild, in your garden, among house plants, even at the florist.Understand the magic of patterns among plants, and the world will never look the same again!

Many people recognize plants from the Mint family because they have square stalks, opposite leaves and most of them smell minty.I like to start my classes with a discussion of the the Mints because this pattern is so well known.What people dont realize is that similar patterns exist for other families of plants as well.Simply put, the study of botany is the study of patterns in plants!

Learning patterns in plants is fun, and you only need to learn about 100 broad patterns to recognize something about virtually every plant from coast to coast across the northern latitdudes.

In a two hour plant walk we typically start with the Mint Family, then progress through the Mustard, Pea, Parsley, Borage, Lily and Aster Families, so that every student can easily recognize these common families representing several thousand species.Ive had people tell me they learned more in that two hour walk than in an entire semester of botany in college. Thomas J. Elpel, Botany in a Day AUTHORBIO: Thomas J. Elpel had the rare opportunity as a child to spend hundreds of hours with his grandmother, exploring the hills and meadows of Montana.Toms grandmother helped him to learn about the native plants and their uses, igniting a passion for nature that has inspired Tom ever since.

Tom is now the director of Hollowtop Outdoor Primitive School (HOPS) in Pony, Montana where he teaches classes on stone age skills, including botany.Botany in a Day grew from Toms desire to provide an easy means for other people to discover a closer connection with the natural world.Tom is also the author of three other books inspired by nature, including: Participating in Nature, Direct Pointing to Real Wealth and Living Homes. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Tremendous help to this novice
When I started a new hobby of photographing wildflowers, I had no clue on the importance of learning plant families in order to identify them. If I couldn't tell from the picture in a field guide, I was up a creek. "Botany in a Day" was the first book I found that organized the families in a simple, clear way that I could understand and this system has become my main guide for grouping and identification. The herbal information is interesting, but not relevant to my project. I'm very grateful for the help I've received from this book

Good intention, disappointing result
This book could have been a gem for people interested in botany and healing plants, but it does not manage to fill this void. The text is not read by a professional botanist (I assume) and incorrect or dubious facts are common. Furthermore, the text is filled with typos and misspellings that could easily have been caught in a simple spell-checking program. The figures are from older literature and are not well reproduced. The aim with this book, to explain botany in a day, is highly recommendable, but I cannot recommend this book in its present shape and quality-level. A completely corrected, re-formatted, and revised edition of this book is needed. For people interested in the plant families of North America I instead recommend the high-quality work of Zomlefer: Guide to Flowering Plant Families.

A comprehensive guide to plant families
Though definitely *not* a field guide. This book is intended to be an introduction to plant families, and it does a good job at that. All the vascular plant families present in North America are briefly described and identification tips noted. Very few actual species are thoroughly described, though the "medicinal" properties of many species, mostly collected from other sources, are recounted here. This book would be better titled "Herbalism in a Day" as it's long on lists of medicinal uses and short on detailed botanical information. I'm pleased I purchased it, but it would be a inadequate substitute for an actual field guide or flora.

Covers over 100 plant families and over 700 genera
Most plant books cover a few hundred species: Botany In A Day covers over 100 plant families and over 700 genera, from edible plants to medicinal plants, providing a focus on herbal plant families which users will find easy and important. No color photos; black and white line drawings serve as the illustration for descriptions which are detailed, from the plant's appearance to the author's experiences using the plant in applications. Botany In A Day is simply packed with information and an invaluable reference for aspiring gardeners and neophyte horticulturalists.

Let the cover be your judge!
Contrary to the old axiom, this book actually delivers what it promises on the cover. By spending just one day with this book you'll get a fairly comprehensive understanding of the evolution of plants, their general classifications, and unique properties. The author writes in a very straightforward, concise, easy-to-read style that lets you absorb the information quickly and easily without being burdened with excessive detail. I also thoroughly enjoyed his Gestalt approach to Botany. I purchased this book as a supplement to my college course in Field Botany and discovered a wonderful resource. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Now I Know !
Having a passion for plants I felt I needed to take it to the next level by being able to understand what I was really purchasing at garden nurseries.Most identifying tags on plants for sale list their family names which I did not understand so I had no idea what I was really buying!This book was easy to comprehend,making it easy for me to retain and use the information.This book has made me a more knowledgeable consumer not to mention that I can impress my friends! ... Read more

Book Description

Prairies are among the most severely degraded ecosystems on the North American continent, with virtually no original prairie land extant in a pristine state. Because of the amount and severity of environmental damage visited upon them, prairies have become a proving ground for the fledgling craft of ecological restoration.

The restoration of ecosystems is a practical science, with little theoretical knowledge available to guide the work of practitioners. Information is acquired primarily through an arduous process of trial and error, and the need for sharing information is immense. The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook is thus an essential contribution to the literature.

The book is a hands-on manual that provides a detailed account of what has been learned about the art and science of prairie restoration and the application of that knowledge to restoration projects throughout the world. Chapters provide guidance on all aspects of the restoration process, from conceptualization and planning, to execution and monitoring. Specific chapters cover:

• conserving biodiversity
• restoring populations of rare plants
• plowing and seeding
• obtaining and processing seeds
• conducting burns
• controlling invasive plants
• animal populations
• monitoring vegetation and more

The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook is a state-of-the-art compendium that can serve a vital role as a sort of "parts catalog and repair manual" for the tallgrass prairies and oak openings of the Midwest. Written by those whose primary work is actually the making of prairies, it explores a myriad of restoration philosophies and techniques and is an essential resource for anyone working to nurture our once-vibrant native landscapes to a state of health. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook : For Prairies, Savannas,
Let me just say that it is nice that someone wrote more than just what plants to use. It is fairly easy to find prairie journals and books that describe everything except how to implement your prairie project. Packard had the good sense to know that seeding rates and implementation techniques are necessary information.

Amazing......
This is a top rate restoration hand book. Amazing amount of information from people who are out doing the work. It is a collection of essays/chapters written by the front-runners in the field. Everything you wanted to know from site selction to seed collection to fire management. Since it is written by actual prairie restorationists, not theorists it is practical and easy to understand. I will recomend it to everyone who is interested in the field.

The prairie restoration and management bible.
As a prairie biologist, I refer to this seminal volume frequently. It is the very best compendium of prairie restoration and management information.

Anyone who has been taken by the ecological romance of the tallgrass prairie, and hopes either to know in detail the ecology of these biomes, or to plant or manage one, needs to have this in the personal library. It's mostly technical, but wonderfully engaging for the "prairieophile." One doesn't really know the prairie until having read this book. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A lot of information in a small book.
Dianna Miller's book is brimming with information.As a novice I amsomewhat intimidated, but the more I read, the more I learn.This bookwill remain on my shelf for many years. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

My primary reference for area wildflowers
This is the first book I pick up when identifying wildflowers of Ohio. The information is complete and entertaining, as well, with interesting notations regarding the history of many of the plants. The beautiful photos make it easy to recognize most of the flowers in the field immediately. I recommend this book as a useful and enjoyable way to learn about regional wildflowers.

Use this book to get started
This book is by no means a comprehensive listing of all wildflowers and shrubs in Ohio, but it is a great resource for anyone who is just getting acquainted with plant identification. Using this guide, you should be able to identify most plants that are in flower to species and identify the rest to family or genus. The color pictures are clear and the format is easy to use. I would recommend this book to hikers, butterfly enthusiasts, and anyone else who appreciates wildflowers and wants to be able to identify more of them.

Great Book
This book is just fine! I totally disagree with the 1st reviewer. I have other books that are also helpful and need to use them all for reference. The photos are helpful and the information is totally accurate & I consider my self an expert in this area. I don't know what the 1st reviewer is talking about??? I prefer this to Perterson's Guides. I use Audobon's as my 1st choice and use this as a good everyday back up.

pathetic
i think that these books are totally inaccurate me being a flower lover figured the books would at least be half close.

Easy to use local field guide
For anyone wanting to know more about Ohio's wildflowers, Henn's field guide is a thorough and easy to use resource. Flowers are sorted by color, and information such as habitat, blooming period and scientific classification are provided. This is a very thorough guide and I have yet to see a wildflower in Ohio that is not in this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This remarkable compendium, the first (and perhaps last) of its kind, gathers current knowledge on the North American continent's store of lichens--those hard-to-classify, symbiotic composites of fungi and other organisms such as algae and cyanobacteria.

Lichens are, admittedly, easy enough to overlook. They stand out in most people's minds only as the orange, green, or grayish patches that festoon rocks and trees in mountain regions. But they are far more widespread than that, writes research scientist Irwin Brodo. Nearly every bioregion has a complement, and the continent as a whole boasts nearly 3,600 species (of about 14,000 worldwide). The first part of this book offers a near-encyclopedic survey of these lichens' form, structure, reproductive patterns, physiology, and ecological role. The second is a keyed guide to the continent's genera and major groups, including descriptions, range maps, and photographs, the last by the noted nature photographers Sylvia and Stephen Sharnoff.

Though far too hefty to serve easily in the field, this fine book deserves a place in the collections of natural historians and plant biologists doing work just about anywhere in North America. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A book that's a work of art
As a professional biologist, although with a minimal knowledge of lichens, I purchased a copy of the Bardo-Sharnoff-Sharnoff book and was blown away. The photographs are magnificent and well-integrated with the text. The book should serve to enlighten those who seek to understand the living curious and remarkable relationship between certain fungi and their resident cyanobacteria. This relationship we call lichens. Thanks especially to the Sharnoffs, we come to fully appreciate their subtle beauty. Sylvia Sharnoff must be smiling over this book.

Great Book
It is a book both for the professional and the amateur. Great photos and clear text. Wonderful reference for Lichens.

Gorgeous book
The most beatiful and informative book on lichens I've ever seen. The quality is amazing. It is a delight to read from cover to cover. And it is a true bargain at the price list.

Superlative in every way
First, this book is enormous! 800 full-size glossy pages - it must weigh 15 pounds. Not something you want to carry around in your backpack.

This book is truly a labor of love. Everything about it is of the highest quality, from the text to the photographs to the printing and binding. Not only do the authors know their subject intimately, but they delight in sharing their knowledge with the reader. A remarkable work, and a great tribute to everyone involved in its production.

Fascinating , beautiful and informative...
As an amateur naturalist and nature photographer I was intriqued by the colors, patterns and variety of lichens, but knew little about them. As my lichen photography collection grew,I wanted to identify the lichen species I had photographed, so I did some research. I returned over and over again to a website that highlighted the chapters and images in "Lichen's of North America." The book seemed an expensive investment for an amateur like myself, but, after reviewing other books on lichens at the library and in bookstores, I realized this book has no equal. Inevitably, I placed my order. When the book arrived, I was first surprised at how BIG it was. Hundreds of four color images jumped off the pages, each a work of art. Most importantly, the text is fascinating and easy to understand, even for a non-scientist. I read the first 14 chapters over the weekend. I was amazed by the important role lichens play in the biodiversity of life. It opened my eyes to an understudied and little understond life form that has a profound influence on the past and future of our planet. I recommend it to anyone who has any interest in biodiversity, natural succession, preserving the environment and nature in general. You will see Lichen in a whole new light! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A wonderful source
a treasure of information for those interested in exploring new kinds edible landscaping. I cant really add to the review previously, other than the fact the book is mostly geared to the British gardener. Americans like me will need to do a bit of research about the climate and environment of UK.

This is not really a bad thing, but it would be nice to include a little more about the author's climate with a zone map

Invaluable information on creating natural gardens
Plants For A Future: Edible & Useful Plants For A Healthier World offers invaluable information on creating natural gardens, woodlands, and farms that are in harmony with nature's ecosystems, and contain a wide variety of easily grown perennials and self-seeding annuals that are delicious and healthy food stocks for human consumption. Complete descriptions are provided for edible and other useful plants which are native to both Britain and Europe, and from temperate areas around the world (including the United States). These are edible plants suitable for an ornamental garden, lawns, shady areas, ponds, walls, hedges, agroforestry, and conservation projects. Author Ken Fern shares his experiments and successes in growing herbs, vegetables, flowers, shrubs and trees. Enhanced with b/w and color photography, Plants For A Future is an enthusiastically recommended, "reader friendly", compendium of information, personal anecdotes, and enriched for the gardener and horticulturalist with detailed appendices and indexes. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Dave's Book Review
This book is well organized. Since I'm just learning about palm trees, I found the palm identification guide especially useful - I used it to easily identify a beautiful Senegal Date Palm in my hometown. The other tables and guides are also helpful. For example, there is a scientific/common name cross reference for all the palms discussed in the book.

The chapter discussing care for your palm trees is good, but I would like to see more specific instructions for a beginner. The main reason I bought the book was that I had just planted a Canary Island Date Palm in my backyard and wanted to care for it properly, since I've killed just about every plant I've ever tried to grow by either over-watering or under-watering. I was hoping for specific information, such as, "Give the tree twenty gallons of water every three days." The instructions given in the book are more general, but if you're already an experienced gardener they're probably sufficient.

This book does provide fairly comprehensive information about the specific palms it covers (about 100), and will help you select palms for your landscape. It also provides enough basic information about palm trees in general that you will have some ability to evaluate palms not specifically covered in the book.

One weakness of the book is that some of the photographs aren't very good, even of some of the most common palm trees. For example, Pygmy Date Palms are very common and very photogenic, but if you judged them by the pictures in this book you'd never realize how spectacular they really are. Also, some of the pictures show trees that are very young, and not developed enough to be distinguishable.

Overall, a great book with lots of useful information.

a necessary guide to anyone who likes palms.
Being a Michigander, I was not familiar with palms other than by appearance. When I took a Florida vacation two years ago, I went to a farm near Miami that exhibited all sorts of tropical crops, and found this excellent book.

Anyone desiring to acquire one or more landscape palms should consult this book as a crucial first step. The first of three sections covers nearly all landscape palms in an encyclopedic fashion, complete with one or more fine color photos of each described species. Each palm is also reviewed in terms of its salt and drought tolerance, soil, nutritional, and light requirements, its appearance and size, its uses, and whether it has irritants to people. Also addressed are the pests the plant may be expected to confront, and how the plant propagates itself.

The second and third sections of the book, although a bit redundant at times, cover much of the foregoing material in general, and also offer more photos. Climate maps and nicknames are also included, as are excellent material for diagnosing illnesses or deficiencies in palms.

Although I am not presently a resident of Florida or any other tropical or subtropical area, I think anyone who lives in such a region, whether it be a professional horticulturalist or a do-it-yourself landscape architect, would be well served by having and reviewing this book frequently. I rate it highly.

Great Pictures and Culture Info.
I use this book constantly. It is full of pictures, which is great if you're trying to see what a particular palm is going to look like once grown and whether it will ultimately fit where you want to place it. It has great info. on culture, care, propagation, habit, etc. A must for every palm nut!

Excellent book for identifying all types of palms
This book was extremely helpfull in identifying the different types of palms. Great pictures, lots of information on where to plant, how to plant, how much water, different types of diseases. I would really recommend this to others.

Amazing
I was amazed at how bad this book was ... Read more

Book Description

Mints: A Family of Herbs and Ornamentals is the first book to survey the entire mint family (Lamiaceae or Labiatae), which includes a surprising variety of plants long valued for their herbal and ornamental uses, from rosemary, sage, and thyme to lavender and peppermint. Most mints are easy to grow, sometimes notoriously so, and highly resistant to pests and diseases, which adds to their garden value. Written in a friendly and accessible style, the book features chapters on history and lore, modern uses, cultivation, and distinctive characteristics and classification; a catalog of species and cultivars in 67 genera; and a glossary. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Information Rich!
The mint family is big and diverse and this book covers the whole family. Well researched and concise, it opens with a chapter on the fascinating history and lore, then concludes with a "Catalog of Mints" describing such families as: Sage (Salvias), Mentha (true mint), Monardella such as: Monardella villosa (coyote mint), Oregano, Marjorum and Thyme. Good descriptions including color plates and line drawings. Propagation, growing habits and care, culinary/medicnal attributes are well covered. This book is truly all things Mint!

Lots to know about mints
Mints: A family of Herbs and Ornamentals
Barbara Perry Lawton

I would never have believed that you could write a whole book about mint. But then, I never knew the mint family (Lamiaceae or Labiatae) was such a huge one. It includes 67 genera, of which the commonest are lavender, oregano, nettle, thyme, bugle and rosemary.

Barbara Perry Lawton is a well-known garden writer in the US whose concise, factual style helps her pack a ton of information into each page. Much of her extensive research was done at the Missouri Botanical Garden, which reminded me what a huge asset a good botanical garden is in any community. I also learned that the Missouri Botanical Garden has a world-class collection of early (pre-Linnaean) botanical books. Some of the illustrations in this book are reproduced from drawings made over 400 years ago and they are what helps to make this book unique.

The writer has organized her material well, starting with the history of the mint family and moving on to discuss herbal mints, ornamental mints, weedy mints. After short sections on pests and the botany of mints the writer moves to ?Catalogue of Mints? which takes up about half of the book. This contains useful descriptions of most of the genera and many of the species within them, nicely illustrated with line drawings.

There is a brief glossary, three pages of suggestions for durther reading and an index of plant names.

This is a professionally written and well-researched book, and deserves a place on the book shelf of anyone interested in herbs or botany. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Hmmmmm - ok I guess
Not my favourite book of its kind on the market . some photos leave a lot to be desired in particular. On the otherhand a reasonable, brief, compendium of the usual tropical plants.
Sorry I don't think this is special or a "must have"

Quality disappoints
This book relies heavily on the pix for its value. In general terms this is fine - but the quality of some of these pix and the reproduction disappoints and leaves much to be desired.
Handy - but not my most favourite tropical plant book !

Eye Candy for Gardeners
I want another copy. The first copy I bought I gave to a friend who admired it. The photos are georgous and it is well organized for reference. Worth every penny.

an indispensable resource book for my LA practice
In a Landscape Architect's office, we seem to need four or five resource books to adequately prepare a plant palette. This book comes as close to being perfect for use in South Florida and other similar temperate zones ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Crisp science with extraordinary writing!!
If you have any interest in alpine tundra this is a must read book!If you have even a general interest in natural science and ecology this book is a classic.I was amazed at how the authors were able to integrate a crisp scientific exposition with an almost poetic writing style that left me with such vivid mental images.Even if you are not going to visit the tundra, this book is an experience.If you are hiking these areas it will expand the experience.Read this book!!! ... Read more

Book Description

In this greatly expanded and revised edition of his classic treatment, Donald Schnell examines in detail the 45 species and numerous hybrids of carnivorous plants that grow in the U.S. and Canada. Information on each species includes an identifying description, the preferred habitat, the range in which it can be found, and the season for flowering and trapping, making this book a useful field guide as well as a fascinating source of leisure reading. With a full array of maps, drawings, and 200 color photos, this volume promises to enrich every enthusiast’s library with a wealth of information. Hobbyists will find cultivation tips as well. Schnell gives detailed instructions for growing these plants. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent field guide to North American carnivorous plants
The book is a nice in-depth look at the carnivorous plants that are native to the United States and Canada. The coverage is expecially thorough for Sarracenia, although still adequate (and probably more extensive than any other book available) on Drosera and Pinguicula.

The pictures included are mostly excellent, showing the plants in habitat when possible, instead of just using cultivated plants. And although the distribution maps may be a bit dated, they are helpful to understand the general areas where the plants might be found. Also, included with each section is some basic cultivation advice that I've found very helpful.

This isn't a book for a novice grower of carnivorous plants, but rather for someone who's been growing them for a while and wants more information on their native habitats and environments, as well as more technical information on each plant. An excellent book.

Lends to easy use by lay gardeners as well as researchers
This expanded second edition of Carnivorous Plants Of The U.S. And Canada is a 'must' for any reference library which specializes in botany or nature: it provides photos and comments on the natural history of a variety of carnivorous plants, from common species to rarities. It's organization and language lends to easy use by lay gardeners as well as researchers, while photos and vivid descriptions of plant biology make Carnivorous Plants Of The U.S. And Canada an excellent library reference.

Excellent
This book will surely replace Dr. Schnell's first edition as the bible for North American carnivorous plants. Excellent photos, descriptions, and distribution maps. It is a book needed by all CP'ers. ... Read more

Book Description

Gain a better understanding of the genetic and physiological bases of stress response and stress tolerance as part of crop improvement programs

Abiotic Stresses: Plant Resistance Through Breeding and Molecular Approaches explores innovative methods for breeding new varieties of major crops with resistance to environmental stresses that limit crop production worldwide. Experts provide you with basic principles and techniques of plant breeding as well as work done in relation to improving resistance in specific important world food crops. This book supplies extensive bibliographies at the end of each chapter, as well as tables and figures that illustrate the research findings.

Abiotic Stresses is divided into two sections. In the first section, you will find:

the general principles of breeding crops for stress resistance

genetic engineering and molecular biology procedures for crop improvement for stress environments

data on genome mapping and its implications for improving stress resistance in plants

information about breeding for resistance/tolerance to salinity, drought, flooding, metals, low nutrient availability, high/low temperatures

The second section of this timely resource focuses on the efforts of acknowledged specialists who concentrated their efforts on important individual crops, such as: wheat

barley

rice

maize

oilseed crops

cotton

tomato

This book fills a niche and interface in the available literature as it deals with all of the major stresses from a perspective of crop breeding, covering the latest advances in molecular breeding technology. Abiotic Stresses will help scientists and academics in botany, plant breeding, plant environmental stress studies, agriculture, and horticulture modify and improve breeding programs globally. ... Read more

Book Description

Get the solutions to your gardening problems from the American Horticultural Society's Practical Guides! Select from this ever-growing library of titles for the best gardening advice on plants and plant care, garden design, and garden construction. Climbing Plants Includes: Climbers in garden design -- matching the different habits and forms of climbing plants to your garden design and conditions -- as a feature, in containers, or over a structure. Plant care -- planting and caring for climbing plants; matching types of support to the natural habit of the plant; training the plants to shape; raising your own plants. Plant catalogue -- a wide and fully illustrated range of choice climbing plants. ... Read more

Book Description

A pictorial field guide to wildflowers, organized by season of bloom, for the Upper Great Lakes Regions, Eastern Canada and Northeastern USA. A comprehensive guide with over 340 species of native and naturalized plants, it is illustrated with more than 620 full color photos showing flowers, stems and leaves, fruits and habitat to better aid in identification. Sections on grasses and sedges, vines, flowering woody plants and ferns (plants without flowers) are included. Each species is described and identified by common and scientific names. Short guides to the naming of plants and how to use the book get the reader off to a fast start to use it efficiently. A section describing plant families along with indexes of common and scientific names and a bibliography round out the book. The Smyth-sewn binding and laminated cover give it durability. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Best single book for the serious enthusiast
Wilbur Duncan is professor emeritus of botany at the Univeristy of Georgia, and with his wife, Marion, have travelled extensively through the eastern US photographing and studying the plants. This book is essentially an update to his 1978 Wildflowers of the Southeast United States, expanded to include the area east of the Mississippi River.

Note to begninners and novices: this is a pretty heavy-duty book, no shortcuts to get to the flower by color or leaf. If you ID the "thumb-through" method, it will take time as there are 630 species with photographs. That's a lot to thumb through. The first portion of the book is descriptions of the species (631) arranged by family and genus. So a working knowledge of scientific names at the family and genus level is a very big help. All the photographs are labelled ONLY with scientific names. Trying it out on a total beginner and a novice taught me that scientific names are a hindrance to easy learning, BUT, if you really want to know what species you are looking at, it is an absolute necessity. That's why it's for the SERIOUS enthusiast.

Scott Ranger ... Read more