From Publishers Weekly
This lushly illustrated and exhaustive gardening reference, an update to the 1989 original, is sure to gratify greenthumbs all around the U.S.: comprising three main sections (the plant selector, the plant catalogue and the plant dictionary), it's an excellent resource for anyone looking to fashion a beautiful and environmentally sustainable garden. The plant selector points gardeners toward flora appropriate to their environmental or aesthetic needs (e.g., plants that do well in sandy or alkaline soil, make good windbreaks or have aromatic leaves), while the plant catalogue, organized into sections by type (perennials, shrubs, bulbs, water plants) and boasting thousands of photographs, delves into greater detail about the characteristics of individual species. Each section is helpfully organized by seasons of "interest" and plant size or color: the yellow asphodel is a medium yellow perennial that looks its best in spring, for instance, while Gentiana septemfida is a large blue rock plant whose best months are autumnal. The dictionary lists more than 8,000 plants, from abelia to creeping zinnia. For the garden enthusiast, this volume will likely prove as indispensable as a good trowel. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
If only one gardening resource is purchased this year, let it be this book, a revision of The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Garden Plants (1989). Tightly packed into a single volume is nearly everything that amateur landscapers and gardeners need to consider for outlining, designing, and planting their outdoor growing areas.Two indispensable tools, the 2002 USDA plant hardiness zone map, upgraded to 15 zones, and the 1997 American Horticultural Society plant heat zone map, appear on the front and back endpapers. Of utmost importance is the "How to Use This Book" section, which explains how best to navigate through the charts, symbols, color codes, abbreviations, and special features of the text. Following this, the arrangement of information resembles the organized subconscious thought process associated with the planning and preplanting seasons. "Creating a Garden" takes the reader step-by-step through the entire process of creating an appropriate landscape and garden design. Everything is to be considered--plot size, style, structure, proportion, texture, colors, plant selection, and the year-round maintenance, appearance, and growth factor. Basically, this is how the professionals do it. "The Plant Selector" offers advice and recommendations for particular sites or uses. The main portion of the encyclopedia, "The Plant Catalog," is divided into 10 sections (for trees, shrubs, roses, perennials, rock plants, cacti, and more). Within each section, plants are arranged by size, season of interest, and color. Each description includes botanical and common names, portrait, plant size (height and spread), shape, cultivation and hardiness zones, color range, and toxicity.Whether one is planning a full-scale garden, a postage-stamp garden, or simply a container garden, the plant catalog has the appropriate selection. The book's final section, "The Plant Dictionary," compiles more than 8,000 readily obtainable plants for temperate zones, with full descriptions for 4,000 of these not already covered in the catalog. A glossary completes the text. Authoritative, beautifully designed, and lavishly illustrated (but not to the point of overshadowing the text), this hefty practical gardening encyclopedia deserves far more than a mere glance. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
From Book News, Inc.
This reference provides a wealth of detailed information for finding the right plant for the right garden location. Topics include how to plan and structure design, group plants for impact, exploit the plants' individual characteristics, find the right plant for a particular purpose or location. The plant dictionary lists 8,000-plus plants that can be easily obtained and offers advice on cultivation and propagation. Extensively illustrated with color photographs. Oversize: 9.25x11.75.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Book Description
Combining the authority of the AHS with the visual expertise of DK, this full-color gardening reference is the definitive guide for gardeners. Simply the definitive full-color reference to the horticulture of North America, AHS Encyclopedia of Plants & Flowers contains more than 8,000 plant profiles, over 4,250 photographs, and practical advice on everything from cultivation, pests, and diseases, to plant selection and identification
About the Author
The American Horticultural Society educates and inspires people of all ages to become successful and environmentally responsible gardeners by advancing the art and science of horticulture. The former director of the Royal Horticultural Society, Christopher Brickell is the editor-in-chief of DK's The AHS Encyclopedia of Gardening and co-author of AHS Society Pruning and Training.
The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers FROM THE PUBLISHER
Combining the authority of the AHS with the visual expertise of DK, this full-color gardening reference is the definitive guide for gardeners.
Simply the definitive full-color reference to the horticulture of North America, AHS Encyclopedia of Plants & Flowers contains more than 8,000 plant profiles, over 4,250 photographs, and practical advice on everything from cultivation, pests, and diseases, to plant selection and identification
Author Biography: The American Horticultural Society educates and inspires people of all ages to become successful and environmentally responsible gardeners by advancing the art and science of horticulture. The former director of the Royal Horticultural Society, Christopher Brickell is the editor-in-chief of DK's The AHS Encyclopedia of Gardening and co-author of AHS Society Pruning and Training.
SYNOPSIS
This reference provides a wealth of detailed information for finding the right plant for the right garden location. Topics include how to plan and structure design, group plants for impact, exploit the plants' individual characteristics, find the right plant for a particular purpose or location. The plant dictionary lists 8,000-plus plants that can be easily obtained and offers advice on cultivation and propagation. Extensively illustrated with color photographs. Oversize: 9.25x11.75". Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
This lushly illustrated and exhaustive gardening reference, an update to the 1989 original, is sure to gratify greenthumbs all around the U.S.: comprising three main sections (the plant selector, the plant catalogue and the plant dictionary), it's an excellent resource for anyone looking to fashion a beautiful and environmentally sustainable garden. The plant selector points gardeners toward flora appropriate to their environmental or aesthetic needs (e.g., plants that do well in sandy or alkaline soil, make good windbreaks or have aromatic leaves), while the plant catalogue, organized into sections by type (perennials, shrubs, bulbs, water plants) and boasting thousands of photographs, delves into greater detail about the characteristics of individual species. Each section is helpfully organized by seasons of "interest" and plant size or color: the yellow asphodel is a medium yellow perennial that looks its best in spring, for instance, while Gentiana septemfida is a large blue rock plant whose best months are autumnal. The dictionary lists more than 8,000 plants, from abelia to creeping zinnia. For the garden enthusiast, this volume will likely prove as indispensable as a good trowel. (Nov.) Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.
Library Journal
Although the editors are British and Canadian, respectively, this revised and expanded volume focuses on American plants rather than on the British plants featured in the 1989 version (The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Garden Plants). Beginning with advice on creating a garden in harmony with nearby buildings and landscape, the book is chockfull of information to guide and to inspire all gardeners. The "Plant Selector" section lists plants appropriate for a wide variety of environments, from plants for clay soil to deer-resistant plants to plants for windbreaks. The "Plant Catalog" organizes 4000 plants by category (trees, shrubs, perennials, climbers, etc.), then by size, season of interest, and color. A "Plant Dictionary" lists more than 8000 plants with advice on their cultivation and propagation. Along with color photographs, which make identification easy and aid in the selection of plants for an environmentally sustainable garden, little diagrams show the height, spread, and shape of each adult plant. Warning symbols indicate toxic plants. Also included are an updated USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (with 15 zones) and the AHS Plant Heat Zone Map. An "Index of Common Names" and a glossary round out this comprehensive guide to plant selection and identification. Indispensable to both the professional horticulturist and the amateur gardener, this reference belongs in all libraries.-Nancy Myers, Univ. of South Dakota Lib., Vermillion Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Art & Photography
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