Plants and Trees Books

In 1977, this book transformed a scientific field. In the 1990s, its reprinting is mainly of historic interest. Not much of the biogeochemistry data from Hubbard Brook in the intervening 20 years have been integrated into this "2nd edition."

If you ever interest how a citrus plant develops, and how it is related into the familie of Rutaceae, you might find all here. Also you find informations about water use, photosynthesis nad all other plant related information you right and in one book. No sharp colorphoto is present, but the informations you find writen here, is a compression of the 5 volumes 'Citrus Industy' by the University of Florida. Just a book you need and you should read if you realy have any buissness with citrus trees...

The Biology of The Cycads represents a compendium of data on all aspects of cycad biology, summarising very concisely a vast repertoire of widely scattered and very diverse research information. Despite this extensive coverage, the book is clearly written and well organised into readily digestible sections. Topics covered include morphology, anatomy, reproductive processes (especially pollination and insect associations - a special interest of Norstog's), population dynamics, toxicity, cytology, cytogenetics, cycad fossils and species descriptions of cycads grouped into Old World and New World taxa.

As a novice in the field of cycad colelction/conservation, I found the book very handy and usefull. Some of the content may be a little to scientific for the general person out there, but otherwise this is an excellent book.

John Peyton was 87 years old when this book came out in 1994. It reflects 87 years of wisdom, appreciation of birches, and experiences among traditional "Birch Indians" that nobody will ever have again. Full of facts, devoid of rhetoric and arm-waving, yet infused with soul, this is good, biological natural history writing at its best. Mr. Peyton simply cannot write a bad sentence. Don't wait until you are an octogenarian to read this fine ode to a beautiful tribe of trees.

This is a really good book for beginners altought it can be used for more expertise bonsai makers. It has most comun techniques used to make and mantain a bonsai. Is also have beautiful ilustrations. It holds many examples to make it simpler.
I think that this book is a realy good choice for some one that whant to begin or know more about Bonsai.

I have the 1985 hard back edition of this book. It is one of the mainstays in my library. I have been doing bonsai for about 15 years and refer to this book often. The apendices are extremely helpful. They list a large number of trees and shrubs and tell when each should be repotted, wired, fed, pruned, etc. This is a must for anyone who has a variety of different specimens. You just can't remember it all. The pictures are beautiful and helpful for ideas on how to do your bonsai. I'm ordering this copy for my son-in-law who wants to begin the art of bonsai.

"The Book of Tree Peonies," is full of information on tree peonies, starting from the history of tree peonies in China and how they are now grown in Europe and the United States. Author Osti has certainly done his research on tree peonies. He also takes you on his two trips to China searching for tree peonies with Chinese Professor Hong Tao. The Chinese were so impressed with Osti to the point of naming a tree peony species after him. The book features excellent color photography of the beautiful tree peonies by photographers Josh Westrich and Emanuele Coppola who both traveled with Osti to China. There is excellent reading on how to grow tree peonies and how they are cultivated. One section has amazing photography showing how a tree peony starts from a seed. I would have liked to have seen more information in some areas of the book. Sir Peter Smithers was able to bring many tree peonies from China to plant successfully without losing a plant, but the book does not say how or what techniques he used to transport the tree peonies successfully. There are many references about how the Chinese raise the tree peony and use the roots for medicine. The book does not address what medicines are made from the tree peony, what they are used for and if they work. I think many us in the rest of the would want to know and be interested in this information. Such medicines might benefit us too? For some the book may get a bit boring in parts because of the science of naming the tree peony species, but that may add to it's appeal because there is definitley something here for everyone from the botanist to the tree peony grower. "The Book of Tree Peonies," is an excellent book with many wonderful color pictues, fine layout and is well printed. Anyone interested in studying or raising tree peonies needs this book.

I've always been interested in trees and history so this book has been a real treat. I thought I knew quite a bit about the uses of wood but many of the possibilities described in this book have been fascinating and mind-boggling. The current uses which could be expanded in the future have been food for thought too and show just how important our natural resources are. The section on burning wood in the home was great - I've always been pretty good at building fires but I'm even better now - the one-match-fire really works - and not a firelighter in sight!

The newest title in the "Royal Horticultural Society Plant Collector Guide" series, Buddlejas by David D. Stuart (an independent horticultural consultant and former curator of Longstock Park Gardens) is an extraordinary introduction and guide offering gardeners an in-depth knowledge of every known species of the Buddleja plant. Providing even the most novice gardening enthusiasts with a plethora of information for each of the many featured Buddleja species, Stuart draws upon his more than fourteen years of experience with the plants to share his invaluable wisdom for what is the most accommodating and rewarding type of garden plants covering such issues as a variety of climates, resistance of animals, as well as highs in heat and lows in cold. Profusely illustrated in full color throughout, Buddlejas is very strongly recommended as a complete and thorough reference guide to successfully growing and treating the multitude of featured Buddleja plants and the various dangers generally encountered when planting and caring for such plants.

The North American Rock Garden Society is an organization of amateur botanists and gardeners drawn from around the world who are devoted to all aspects of the plant species grown in rock gardens. This unique horticultural society commissioned Jane McGary to compile a wealth of contributions from expert contributors to present a comprehensive reference on North American bulbous plants that would be suited to the geographical ranges, soil varieties, and moisture regimes found throughout North America. In addition to descriptive information identifying the various species, practical information is provided for growing these plants from seed, as well as tips for viewing them in the wild. Superbly enhanced with more than one hundred full color photographs, Bulbs Of North America is a core addition to any personal, professional, academic, or community library horticultural and gardening reference collection.