Specialized Books

D. J. Patterson is a Professor of Biology at the University of Sydney, and although his book was written primarily for specialists as a guide to identifying approximately 350 of the most common kinds of freshwater protozoa, it also holds much that will be of real interest to the amateur naturalist. The book falls into three parts: an Introduction, the guide or Key, and concluding supplementary materials.

The 22-page Introduction covers such topics as: What protozoa are; Distinguishing protozoa from other microbes; How to choose and care for a microscope; Contrast enhancement; Techniques of microscopical examination; Drawing and photographing protozoa; Video microscopy; Where to find and how to collect protozoa; Keeping samples; etc. A great deal of useful and practical advice will be found in this Introduction, some of which I haven't seen elsewhere.

For example, in discussing microscopes Patterson suggests that phase contrast optics will allow the protozoologist who is observing living organisms "to see more and to see it with ease," and that ideally phase contrast objectives should be used in preference to the bright-field (normal) variety (p.11). To illustrate the different kinds of visual information which different contrast enhancement techniques provide, he gives us, on pages 155-57, a fascinating series of photographs of the Paramecium bursaria as viewed under Bright-field, Phase contrast, Differential interference contrast, Dark ground, Interference contrast, Polarized light, Fluorescence microscopy, and various types of staining. The differences are striking.

I was also interested to note the author's concern for the welfare of these tiny and extremely delicate and fragile organisms while we are engaged in observing them. He warns us that "Usually, active motility is a sign of distress. Typical causes might be pressure from a coverslip, overheating, or depletion of oxygen. The cells move until they find a more favorable site." And he advises us that "The use of minimal illumination or gently blowing on a preparation as you observe it often 'calms' protozoa," thereby making them easier to observe (p.13). Other methods of limiting distress are also described, and great care should be taken not to heat the organism.

Following the Introduction we are given a 'Classification of protozoa,' line drawings of the main genera, and then the main part of the book, the step-by-step guide to identifying protozoa.

For each of the organisms covered in the book, the author gives a detailed description and bibliographical references, a color microphotograph (with the type of contrast enhancement used), line drawings which point up certain important features, and occasionally a detailed line drawing of the entire organism. The book concludes with line drawings of six Protozoan communities (Planktonic, Attached, Benthos, Organically rich benthos, Anoxic benthos, Sewage treatment plants), a 10-page Glossary of Terms, a scholarly Bibliography of over 400 items, and an index.

Dr Patterson's book is well-organized, easy to use, well-printed in double columns on 222 quarto size pages of high-quality glossy paper, stitched, bound in a waterproof wrapper, and sturdy enough to be taken into the field along with a field microscope such as the Swift FM-31-P40 LWD.

Although experts may find details to quibble about, speaking as an amateur I have only two criticisms of the book. The first is that the color microphotographs, although generally good, measure only 43mm x 70 mm and are far too small. Protozoa such as the Stentor (Fig. 216) or Tachysoma (Fig. 265) are among the most strikingly beautiful creations of Nature, and although Patterson's microphotography may not be quite up to the standards of a Werner Nachtigall, I get the feeling that he is a much better photographer than the tiny and rather average reproductions in this book would seem to suggest. All of the photographs are small, some are very dark, others not particularly clear, and few do full justice to either Nature's or, I suspect, Dr Patterson's own artistry, though together with the line drawings (most of which are are even tinier) they are adequate for purposes of identification.

My second criticism has to do with the very high price of the book, a price which one would have thought ought to have ensured a size and quality of color reproduction far superior to what we have been offered here. But despite its high price and its underwhelming reproductions of what must have been striking originals, this is a book which has much to offer any protozoa specialist or enthusiast who may be trying to pin down unidentified protozoa. It may just help you to decide whether you are looking at a Notosolenus (Fig.80) or a Petalomonas (Fig.83), or at something else! And students ought certainly to at least head for the library to read its excellent Introduction.

I have been examining the biota in activated sludge for over 15 years and have found this book to be the best reference for color micrographs of protozoa. Size of organisms, and features that are useful in identifying them are clearly indicated. The authors use both phase-contrast and DIC optical systems to very clearly present numerous organisms. There is also a short section in the back that gives the reader insight into some of the ecological roles of the various organisms. This book would be valuable to anyone microscopically examining activated sludge.

Patterson's color guide to free-living freshwater protozoa is probably the most useful of the protozoan identification guides for living protozoa, especially if you are examining the protozoa under phase contrast. Living protozoa do not necessarily look much like some of the drawings in manuals. The photos, while a bit on the small side (probably because of the cost of printing) are thus very helpful (and very beautiful). Using Kudo's old standard "Protozoology" and Jahn, Bovee and Jahn's "How to Know the Protozoa" as a back up you can identify many of the organisms you examine and be fairly certain of the result. I understand the high cost, as the market for this book is probably somewhat limited. Freshwater microscopy is not like even butterfly watching in popularity, but there are a small number of devotees worldwide. Professionals are also somewhat fewer in number than in other specialties. This does not mean that protozoology is unimportant, only that it is less popular than some other areas of natural science.

Given this, the appearance of a book of this quality is remarkable. Its utility is evident and I have now used it several times to help me identify protozoa in samples from sinkholes in New Mexico. I recommend it without reservation.

This book is great. It uses the dichotomous key format. It is a great definitive guide to the identification of protoza. It contains 230 color photographs, and 500 line drawings. Its format allows for quick and positive identification. This book is a must for biologists involoved in water, sewage treatment rivers, soils, and enviromental management. It is worth the money.

This book was long on promises...short on delivery!

I was very dissapointed...I have many Taunton books...similar in nature & was very impressed by some of their other gardening books.

What bothered me most about this book was 'most'..not all...but most of the designers seemed wrapped up in their own fascination with their own victories accomplished in their own yards.

It would seem to me that it would be obvious if a designer is approached to write a contribution for this kind of book...in this particular format...that it would be absolutely essential to convey principles, ideas & workable solutions that anybody could utilize in their 'small space'.

I expected the chosen designers to be much more attuned to the reader rather than coming across so enthralled with the great jobs they'd done in their own yards...& the plants they used etc. There was far too much information involving useless details...such as..."we built the fence ourselvles" type thing.

Much more constructive information was sorely missing from this book. As the reader I quickly tired of reading the same comment over & over from each contributor..."divide your small space up into various rooms". There was such an opportunity here for each of these obviously talented designers to really display their wares...

The same advice about dividing small garden spaces into rooms...was repeated often...with little additonal detail of color, style or scale.

As a designer myself...I found this book to be much more bones...than meat. Don't recommend it!

The terrific thing about this book is that in less than 150 pages it exposes readers to no less than 18 different approaches to creating a garden in small space. The editors never set forth a precise metric of "small space", but these seem to range from the smaller suburban lots to the truly postage stamp sizes many of us grapple with.

Since this is a Taunton publication, there are large color photos and lots of them. There are also plenty of drawings to help readers make sense of elements in various gardens.

Most of the gardeners work in temperate zones and so there is some limit to the planting ideas for a zone 5 plugger like me. Even so, the design ideas and, especially, the hardscaping open up interesting possibilities, albeit ones to explore with different materials.

The sections on design strategies and creating privacy provide a great framework before looking at the "compelling garden spaces" being made on tiny, unpromising lots. Here's a book of information as well as inspiration. I recommend it highly.

This book goes beyond eye candy for the gardener. There are plans, and good ideas, like combining different paving materials. I would have liked a little more on front yards and entry areas.

This book is a collaborative effort which allows room for different tastes. Lots of help and ideas to create an intimate courtyard garden. There are plenty of photos to get your imagination going.
I like that most of the gardens can be adapted to my sub-tropic zone, nothing is cut in stone, except the pathways.

This is such a beautiful book. I look forward to using some of the ideas to build my Japanese garden.

The photos are so luscious--I can't think of a more appropriate term--that it's as if you're in these gardens. I believe all of the photos are of the ancient gardens in Kyoto, and if not, they're definately all from Japan. This book is truly one that was inspired by the Sakuteki, not an illustrated edition of the Sakuteki. You'll want it for dreamy page turning, not as an instruction book for your own gardens.

This is a better than average coffee-table book about Japanese Gardens. The photos are for the most part excellent (a few are too dark). Many of the gardens shown are located outside of the Kyoto area and have seldom if ever been shown in other such (English language) books on this subject; this is a nice touch because it means that there is little overlap between this book and others. I had high hopes that the book would include a substantial (if not complete) translation of the Sakuteiki but despite the introduction which implies that this might be the case, it is not true. I would guess that less than 25% of the text of Sakuteiki is included, and the authors have rearranged the material into thematic sections to fit their own taste. This is a terrible pity becuase the 11th century gardening manual known by the name "Sakuteiki" is a very important point of reference in understanding the historical developement of Japanese gardens - sections from it are quoted by almost every book written on the subject, yet there is no generally available English translation of it. The 1976 translation by Shigemaru Shimoyama (publ. by Town & City Planners,Inc. Tokyo) was printed in a tiny edition of only 300 copies so the only way to read it is by borrowing a copy thru the academic inter-library loan program at your local public library. The way the authors of this book have rearranged the text into disjointed quotations (with widely varying typographic style & presentation) really does not do justice to the orginal material and is in considerable danger of reinforcing the old western stereotype of "pearls of wisdom from the inscrutable orient". I would suggest that you buy this book for the pictures alone and not pay too much attention to the text as currently presented. If the book is popular enough to merit a 2nd edition I hope the authors will reconsider the current format.

If your one of those people that can learn from basic truths and visual stimulous that book is great. Its a simple book with translations from the "bible" of Japanese gardening. And photos to show you examples.

Gildermeister primary concern, and rightly so, is the climate and environment of the mediterranean zone for panting and gardening. Water and heat, wind and salt are factors which until now, have not really been taken into account. Gildermeister does take them into account. Her book examies the unique concerns of the med and has an comprehensive and extensive seltection of plants well suited for such conditions. This book is well suite for both beginner and experts alike.

Wonderful book! Explains the unique characteristics of water-wise plants covered. Includes many plants and photographs as well as descriptions of best growing conditions. I especially liked the section that groups plants by special characteristics-pool-side, for the novice, scented,etc.

This book gives prefect information on how to grow a garden in a dry climat without going bankrupt on water cost. Invaluable, specially for beginners. Comming from a cold and wet climate I had no idea what to think about when growing a garden in a hot and dry climate, but this book deffinately put me on the right track.
The book also contains a long list of plants that will do well in a "dry" garden which is helpfull. The only thing I missed was information on how big the plants become and at what rate they grow. Rather interesting information for a newcommer like me who is not always familiar with the plants described. Many good pictures did help to choose the right types of plants though.

I live in the South of France and use this book myself. I sent a copy to my daughter in California so that she might benefit from the the expertise and experience of Hilda Gildemeister. This is a good, reliable basic introduction to gardening in a Med. climate.Easy to read, good plant suggestions, the lists of plants for particular situations is of great use. Especially useful for newcomers to dry condition gardening.

This lushly illustrated book almost doesn't require copy. Full of perfect, appropriately informal and mostly easy maintenance seaside designs, this book is a standout. One tip, don't loan it out - it'll never come back! You'll return to it again and again, always finding a charming, practical solution to the challenges of a seaside climate.

Altho this book has lovely photographcs, I never got into the text due to the fact that it focuses entirely on NorthEast Coast gardening and is of no use to coastal gardeners any where else. I should have paid attention to the pub synopsis. The pics are entirely of East Coast gardens and do not relate AT ALL to the more rustic coastal areas of the West. Just a warning that this book is only for those wanting to use it to garden in the East Coast area...I didn't know & incurred the cost to send the book back.Hence, only two stars.

A great book on seaside gardening. I strongly recommend it

Showcasing the gorgeous gardens of Long Island and the rocky coast of central Maine, the book's 120 color photographs show how experienced gardeners have created beautiful designs working with rocky or sandy terrain, harsh sun and wind, salt air and the ever-present danger of devastating storms.

The first half of the book is devoted to design, including "The Water's Edge," "Seaside Landscapes," "Seaside Color," "Pools and Ponds," "Porches, Patios and Decks," "Paths, Fences and Trellises." Informative photo captions identify the plants, giving practical and/or design reason for choices, together with some idea of what the garden will look like at other times of the year.

There are gardens that frame views, give privacy, obscure the intrusive edges of swimming pools. Borders combine perennials, annuals and grasses; windbreaks offer beauty as well as shelter.

Among the Maine gardens pictured is the Thuya garden at Asticou Terraces in Northeast Harbor, a semi-formal herbaceous perennial garden in the style of Gertrude Jekyll which today is a 200-acre park open to the public. Mrs. Thomas Hall's garden in Northeast Harbor on Mt. Desert Island features woodland paths down to the water's edge and an Asian style garden amid outcroppings of rock. There's a lily pond from Bar Harbor and a vegetable garden overlooking the sea at West Point.

The second half of the book includes advice for various seaside terrains and weather conditions, including soil augmentation, pest control, mulching and overwintering and, of course, plant choices. James offers an extensive plant encyclopedic (with some illustrations) for annuals, bulbs, perennials, groundcovers, vines, roses and trees, including concise information about soil and sun requirements.

I decided to order this book after purchasing a bonsai tree at Walmart (which I have since been told is a bad idea, but my tree is doing wonderfully in spite of its lowly beginnings). I'm a rather visual person, so the fact that the book is full of pictures is immensely helpful to me. It's a very informative little book and I would definitely recommend it to those who are looking to get into bonsai.

The first one hundred or so pages of this book are devoted to the art of Bonsai before it goes into description of the different types of Bonsai. For each listing there is a photo of the tree in Bonsai form, as well as four icons. The icons tell whether or not this is an outdoor bonsai, how much water it needs, how much sun it can get, and how hard it is too grow. The actual description under each listing is divided into five parts: a brief description, repotting information, pruning and wiring information, feeding (fertilizing) information, and additional notes. Ultimately, the descriptions could be more detailed, but provide all of the necessary information.

There are many species covered, but the list is by no means all-inclusive. Coast Redwood, Baobab and Cotoneaster are conspicuously missing from this text. The trees that are included:

Acacia;
Apricot (two kinds);
Bo Tree;
Bougainvillea;
Box;
Camellia;
Carmona;
Cedar Of Lebanon;
Chinese Ash;
Chinese Juniper;
Chinese Persimmon;
Chinese Pistachio;
Common Horse Chestnut;
Common Myrtle;
Crab Apple (two kinds);
Crape Myrtle;
Cypress: Bald, Hinoki, Italian;
Dwarf Lilac;
East Indian Satin Wood;
Elephant Bush;
Elm: Caucasian, Chinese;
European Beech;
European Larch;
European White Birch;
Fig (four kinds);
Frethorn;
Giant Sequoia;
Glossy Privet;
Golden Larch;
Gooseberry;
Hazel;
Hawthorn;
Hemlock: Eastern, Japanese;
Hornbeam: Regular, Hop, Japanese;
Italian Alder;
Jacaranda;
Japanese Blume;
Japanese Larch;
Japanese Privet;
Japanese Red Cedar;
Japanese Sago Palm;
Japanese Wisteria;
Judas Tree (red bud);
Liquidambar;
Maidenhair Tree;
Manna Ash;
Maple: Trident, Field, Montpelier, Japan;
Mastic Tree;
Milkweed;
Narihira Bamboo;
Nebrodi Silver Fur;
Needle Juniper;
Nettle Tree: Southern, Chinese;
Oak: Cork, English, Holly;
Oleaster;
Olive: Wild, Common;
Orange Jasmine;
Pine: Arolla, Black, Japanese Black, Japanese Brocade, Japanese Red, Japanese White, Mountain, Scots;
Peach;
Pink Carnation;
Pomegranate: Regular, Dwarf;
Potentilla;
Queensland Umbrella Tree;
Quince (three kinds);
Rosemary;
Saint Lucie Cherry;
Setsuke Azalea;
Smoke Tree;
Spruce: Nowway, White, Yezo;
Strawberry Tree;
Sweet Chestnut;
Sycamore;
Tamarind;
Tamarisk;
Theezan Tea;
Thyme;
White Mulberry;
White Willow;
Wild Pear;
Winged Spindle;
Winter Jasmine;
Yew: English, Japanese;
Zelkova

Simon and Schuster's book of Bonsai is a classic to use for a bonsai enthusiast. It gives details on conditions, soils, plants and care for numerous plants used for bonsai. They have information that is not available in many other bonsai texts. I have read dozens of bonsai books and have over 15 of my own including this book. I would highly recommend it for all but the novice.

More then 100 full-color photographs of 150 species of trees.

Primarily a garden design book, this offers two major oraganizational sections: plant architecture, and soft furnishings. The opening discussion about the importance of layering in the subtropical garden sets the tone for the practicalities that follow. Photos include close-up shots of intermingled plantings as well as those illustrating full-scale landscape design. The index, supplier list, and recommended reading list add substantially to the usefulness of the work, helping gardeners identify, find, and grow some of the plants so fetchingly prosented here. Further information is available in Ornamental Plants & Flowers of Tropical Mexico.

Glad I bought it! Great reading book to introduce you to all that's available. Breakdowns are by plant type -wish it had some more specifics, but with the numbers of species out there I can understand. Excellent photography.

The Subtropical Garden is just the book for those landscaping their homes, gardens, and greenhouses to achieve a tropical feel. It will give you many ideas and you will start making lists before you turn the first page. I do not agree with her advice against the running bamboos, but then I am used to handeling them. I think you will be surprized at some of the things she will teach you about these "mostly" foliage plants and their cultural needs. A big plus is the wonderful photography by Gil Hanly. Buy this today!

I went through this book cover to cover about 3 times. I also stopped in certain sections and read a few pages of text. The pictures were outstanding and definitely gave me some new ideas about landscape architecture.

However, as expected the book was a little short on detail regarding specifics. It covered a lot of plants but, it did not go into details. At most, it might have devoted about 4 or 5 lines per plant although it covered the family in greater scope. This is fine for generalities but, even indiviual species within a family have vastly different requirements which is the kind of information I was looking for. For example, type of soil, amount of watering, to use or not to use ferilizer, drought resistance, amount direct sun versus indirect sun, etc., etc.

I already have a myriad collection of books addressing the Palms. I will probably have to get books which specifically address the growing requirements of the various subtropical plants. To this degree I have also ordered the Encylopedia on Tropical Plants. Hopefully, it will add more depth regarding the characteristics and growing requirements of various tropical and subtropical plants. Living in Florida, this has evolved into a hobby since we have a year-round growing season down here.

K.C. Gass has crammed a lot of scientific information into this novella thriller. Most, if not all of the information about trilobites is accurate so far as can be known at this time. The plot is very believable and well told. I agree with two other reviewers that this book could be made into a movie. The book raises several questions in regards to the environment, its effect on our lives and our effects on it. Everything is interconnected and there are consequences (good and bad, seen and unseen) to all our actions. Most extinctions can be traced back to environmental changes of one kind or another. Are we next?

This book is awesome. I didn't know what to expect, due to the unusual way I received it. The author was signing promo copies in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. I'm an avid reader of fiction, but more in the vein of Star Trek and anything by Ray Bradbury, so I was pleasantly surprised that Trilobites! totally drew me in. Gass moves you along the refreshingly simple plot, likable characters and easy-going dialog, while somehow making those little trilobites interesting enough to suck you in the rest of the way. And all along an uneasy feeling is growing inside of you. Could this stuff really happen? The author seems to have the facts to back everything up, although I don't know squat about trilobites myself. Trilobites! is a keeper.

When you are looking at fossils of trilobites, some of them are so well-preserved, you find yourself imagining that they might get up and crawl away. With 15,000 described species, we know that their ecological niches were widespread, and that there's was a world of evolutionary possibilities. Today, some paleontologists still hold a faint hope that living trilobites might be found, perhaps at abyssal depths. Kenneth "Chris" Gass has taken that fond wish and created a made-for-movie romp that, in the tradition of Jurassic Park, goes wrong; and things quickly go bad, very bad, for the modern denizens of Earth...
Was it a fun read? Sure! Is it a 5-star classic? Maybe not, but if you enjoy trilobites and the names Encrinurus, Paraphillipsia, and Anomalocaris roll effortlessly off the tongue, then this might just be the weekend read you've been looking for!
Respecfully submitted,
Dr. Sam Gon III

It has only 110 pages, minimal violence and no adult language. Regardless, Gass was able to captivate my interest and convince me that those innocent looking extinct little bugs could still be alive, they could kill people and destroy the planet! This well-researched, unusual, no nonsense, compelling little book is an enjoyable mixture of science, romance, action and imagination. I highly recommend it and I will never look at a fossilized trilobite the same way again. Show me the movie!!

Written for Malaysia, this book skimps on very little when it comes to tropical gardening.

Writer acknowledges that Malaysia's seasons (Hot/Wet and Hot/Very Wet) are not necessarily the same as, say, Indonesia's or Hawaii's. Therefore, the section on cacti and succulents is a bit scant. And I wished for a little more variety in palms. What nearly makes up for this is the completeness of all the other categories... shrubs, flowering plants, foliage plants, water plants, so on. Amazing detail is given for each plant and, often, its variations. Holtum can always be relied upon to comment on, say, a plant's success at high altitude or near the sea.

Lots of suggestions for how a plant should be used in relation to other species or what size garden it requires. But no landscaping sketches... this is all imparted through the text and sometimes photos. With each listing, the reader will be able to learn rates of growth, most appropriate methods of propagation, etc. Photos excellent but not always inserted RIGHT next to the appropriate text, and sometimes a plant is listed/written about in more than one place (without any good note to this fact). All in all, though, it's a useful reference book without extraneous chit chat.

Bonus for Indonesia and Malaysia: along with plants' common English name and Latin name, we get the Malay name (usually same as Indonesian). Extremely useful for dealing with local suppliers.

I have been very happy with this huge and generally well organized book. None of the gorgeous looking Periplus or smaller tropical plant books come close to the usefulness of this book.

This is a rather large book specifically written for gardeners in tropical regions of the world such as Malaysia and Singapore. It contains numerous plant photos and descriptions as well as basic gardening information relevant to those in tropical climates

However, it is a valuable resource for those growing tropical plants outside of these climates as well due to the number of photos and descriptive information on each plant. The book covers such topics as tropical climates, garden planning, pests, disesases and weeds in addition to information on topics such as bonsai.

I found some of the reading to be a bit in-depth for the typical indoor grower and was hoping to find plant by plant propagation information instead of a chapter of general information on the subject but as a plant reference book, you cannot go wrong with this one.

Finally a book about tropical plants for people living in the tropics. The main focus is on ornamental plants, however there are also informative sections on fruits, vegetables and garden care. The information is detailed, practical and, as I have discovered, accurate. In my opinion the style is very easy to read. The many photographs are invaluable for selecting appropriate plants. Originally the book was written for Malaysia and Singapore. However, my experience has been that the advice is also appropriate for Caribbean conditions.

I liked this book on the old roses because Mr. Scarman gives you such detailed information regarding their habits of growth, the type and shape of bush and how to keep it looking it's best. He gives a personality to the different classes of the old roses so you can understand how they want to grow, plus their likes and dislikes pertaining to soil, location and even watering. His chapter on the pruning of the old roses is the best I have ever read .The whole book is very informative. I would definately reccommend Gardening With Old Roses for those who are looking for that little bit of extra information on the older roses.

I have several old rose gardening books. This welcomed book is hard to put down. What I have found helpful is the section on care and pruning of old roses. In the past I've had to research several of my books to find out the information that is in this one consice and beautiful book.

This is one of the best books I have on gardening with old roses, and I have many. It's small enough to carry around, has great pictures, but it's his information that is so wonderful. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in old roses, beginner or pro.