Plants and Trees Books

The world of horticulture was shocked when Dr. Raulston was killed in a car accident almost two years ago. He was known worldwide for his plant expertise and especially for the new plants he brought into the public eye. Kim Tripp honed her craft at Harvard's Arnold Arboretum, so when these two recommend a plant they know what they are talking about! The book is well written and easily to follow season by season. Particularly recommended for serious gardeners.

This book is loaded with facts about wood and its preservation. Also, the pictures of various woods are outstanding. It is better than four other books (similar ones) THAT I LOOKED AT

It is very useful

I was waiting for probably over one month.
But the book is fine, anyway.
Thanks.

To start, this is a very nice book, lots of nice pictures of things made from wood, location shots, and as much information as almost anyone would want to know about wood, in general. My problem is with the title word "Encyclopedia". "Thorough Introduction" would have been a better choice. As for the individual woods covered, the author selected about 150 which he expanded on nicely. Considering the thousands of woods in the world, 150 could hardly be considered encyclopedic (unless of course this was just volume one). There is a mixture of common and very obscure woods. I can only assume there was a reason behind the selection process. There was also a considerable bias toward European wood over the western hemisphere. The wood ID photos seemed a bit small at 1.25 inches square (about 3.3 centimeters for the Europeans).
So to sum up: excellent photos (except the tiny wood examples), lots of interesting information, reasonable price, wish there were more woods covered (which would have obviously impacted the price). Knowing what I know now, would I still have bought the book? Yes.

A lot of information here but not enough to truly be considered an encyclopedia. The illustrations are nice to be sure, but that's not what I was looking for in this book. On the other hand, The Encyclopedia of Wood was put together by the United States Department of Agriculture so it's as thorough as you could ever want! It covers all the same material as this book, only in more detail, and it's written specifically for people who want to learn about wood in order to work with it safely and efficiently. It's also a better bargain - more book for a smaller price!!

This book fills the need for a color reference that can quickly help in the identification of both softwoods and hardwoods. The charts showing the home range of the species greatly helps with ID. I highly recommend this book for use by the interested layman. The color photographs, while small, are a great aid to wood identification for the non-professional. It is an excellent resource.

Scotty Drye, Wood Scientist

I am still waiting for a reference book like this for Southern California. This book largely ignores us. Virtually nothing on Eucalyptus. Half our palms aren't there. NO bamboo at all. No Agapanthus even. Lots of holes. Suprising that there is still only Gordon Courtwright's books.

I was impressed with Dirr's Manuel of Woody Landscape book and really looked forward to this one. I live in Zone 8/B in south Georgia and so many plants labeled to grow in this area do not. Since Dirr is from Georgia I thought this book would be just what the doctor ordered. Well, not exactly.
I loved having the color photos but was not impressed with the number of plants he excluded or included for that matter. I was hoping for the same format as his previous book, listing all the qualities and pros and cons. What I got was some pics with a paragraph or two (some without pictures at all) describing a few things about it. Some of the plants listed are common, even weedy. My main beef is that it is sometimes hard to tell exactly where they should grow because of the way it is written. Example: Zones (8)9 to 10. New Zealand,Australia, Tazmania. I assume the countries are where the plant originated but I can't tell if it grow in Zone 8 or not. There are also problems when he describes a plant that grows on the west coast. Example:Zones 6 to 8, 9 to 10 on the west coast. Does this mean 6 to 8 anywhere and also in 9 and 10 on the west coast or all the zones on the west coast only? I think my biggest problem occured in thinking since he was from Georgia he would be talking about the warm, humid climate in the southeast. It seems like a majority of the plants are for the Pacific Coast region. Like I said, my mistake. I got some good ideas but having decided on a holly that I want, have not been able to find it anywhere, even online. I am not sorry I spent the money but if I had had an actual copy in hand, say at the library or in Barnes and Noble, I would have just copied down the names of what interested me and jumped on the computer at home.

In this book, our leading expert on woody plants gives brief descriptions and excellent photos of many of those suited for warm climates. As noted by another reviewer, the selection is more complete for the humid Southeast (of the U.S.) than it is for California and other Mediterranean climates. However, I expect that all warm-climate gardeners will find much of value.

It is important to note that this book complements Dirr's two other major efforts on woody plants: his Manual of Woody Landscape Plants and a photographic volume (similar to this one) called Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs. The Manual provides more detailed taxonomic and cultural information (including info on propagation), but has line drawings of foliage only. The two photographic books cover most woody plants suited to the U.S. There is no overlap between the photographic books, which is why redbud and dogwood aren't found in this volume, as noted by a previous reviewer. They are hardy, and they are in Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs.

This book is invaluable for seeing what mature specimens of these plants will look like and for Dirr's always interesting comments on suitable uses and culture. Highly recommended.

I don't know what the above reviewer expected...by way of clarification; bamboos are grasses, and agapanthus are herbaceous perennials NOT shrubs or trees. If you are expecting to find a comprehensive acount of all warm climate plants this is not the book for you (as the title clearly states)

If you are someone who is looking for a good primary survey of trees and shrubs for this zone this is an extremely useful book. Professional and non-professional alike. It may not have every esoteric specie but it will serve as a solid foundation of what performs best.

Well, the name pretty much says it all for this book. There are some wonderful photographs throughout the book with small descriptions beside each photo. As a reference book, this is great but I would not recommend it if you are looking for a good book to read on those long winter evenings.

Another drawback is that many trees that will thrive in warmer climates are not listed. It seems to list the more commonly known ones instead of the ones that very little information is available on.

I do feel that this book will be a great help to those who either know or suspect which plant they have and want to make a positive identification. The photos are definitely the best part of this particular book.

Have not got the chance to use it but it help me realize the difference between building with studs and live trees. It stress safety which is always good.

Please don't buy this book unless you are comfortable reading vague plans and are an experienced carpenter. For all the other "Weekenders" like me who appreciate step-by-step instruction with diagrams/pictures, detailed information on techniques for their projects, discussion regarding suitable materials and tips on finishing the project (i.e. painting, etc.) PLEASE choose a book more suited to your skill level. ... I sense impending doom if I attempt to build his cover playhouse which, by the way, seems rather small at only 6'x6'. I think I will join the ranks and order Norm Abrams plans and video as well. DONT BUY THIS BOOK

Great book if you want to build a treehouse or fort with your son (or sons) or if you just want to build one for your son (or sons) so he can have fun. Love this book and I HIGHLY recommend it.

This book is extremely awesome and has a special section on stuff to build like snowforts, catapults, and cannons. The forts are really awesome. Great buy.

As a person who lived in a treehouse for 3 years, and was looking for a basic how-to book for a friend, I was disappointed--this is how-to down to how to buy 2x4s and pull nails. Not good for a skilled (or even somewhat skilled) adult, but this book is EXACTLY the sort of thing I would have wanted as a kid: all the basics, lots of advice, and would have been great for a mom- and/or dad-and-me project.

I was not expecting such a thoughtful and open-minded look at the fight for old growth forests. I had always wondered why deep ecologists were willing to suspend critical thinking and accept the gaia world view. Chase explains that right at the beginning of the book. In other words he uses critical thinking, something not well taught today.

I recommend this book to anyone that wants to understand the Environmental left and their deceitful tactics and general disregard for science. The book also walks you through the debacle that is the Endangered Species Act. It is very well written and very well cited. Reading anything by so called 'environmentalist' authors will underscore the assertions he makes in the book. And if you don't believe what he writes, just go up to an 'environmentalist,' mention that you think topics such as global warming are myths (whether or not you believe it, it's fun), and brace yourself for the zealous fervor and demagoguery that follows.

A very well researched and well written account of the "Old Growth Forest" controversy. I strongly encourage students of enviromentalism to read it. It clearly lays out some of the seminal disagreements of forest management that stil plague our forests today.

Until reading "In a Dark Wood" I espoused "politically correct" environmentalist views -- such as "all old growth forests must be saved at any cost from evil logging" -- in a knee-jerk, emotionally charged, self-righteous way, without ever taking the trouble to study or think through what was really at stake, and what premises about reality underlay my views. Alston Chase's thinking on conservation is so clearly presented, so well backed by evidence, so carefully analysed, and so full of good will and integrity, that I find it impossible to read his book without respecting his intentions -- and his conclusions, which challenge everything I had unthinkingly assumed in the past. This is the kind of book that not only addresses concrete problems, such as the political struggle between, say Earth First and Maxxam Corporation, but also inspires the reader to think more deeply, and question his/her assumptions. This is the kind of book I think most self-labeled "environmentalists" -- especially those who come from white, middle class, college-educated backgrounds -- will dismiss prior to investigation, and will never read. If so, it is a sad loss. It's a book that can change your views and help you learn to think better -- and I believe most people would rather not do so, since thinking better might well spoil the dramatic excitement of waging a war of good against evil, nature against humanity. Still, I hope people will read this book. It's one that changed my life.

Chase's angry critique of "environmentalists" and their myths of nature has its points, but he ignores most of the substantial efforts to manage our ecosystem holistically -- e.g. including land, people, and money. He criticizes "biocentrism" but many of us recognize that human life, for example, is totally dependent on other organisms, E. coli to start. The question is not hierarchy, but interdependence.

Hundreds of pages on what's wrong in my edition, and only two pages that mention possible pathways to the future in the form of the Quincy Library Group and Applegate Partnership.

I went on the web looking for help with my weeping fig tree. I read the other reviews for this book and decided to try it (I've tried everything else!). I wasn't disappointed - it has dozens of interesting facts about fig trees, and I now use it as my 'bible' to help me. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who loves these beautiful plants and is tired of falling leaves and 'finicky' behaviour.

This booklet is a common sense book and contained nothing that I did not already know. The "problem" I am having with my ficus, is not even discussed. I'm not sure what it is, I have small growths on the trunks and bark of one of my ficus trees. This was not talked about. Watering and lighting is a joke! I had one ficus near a window and according to this book the tree was supposed to adapt to it's new home. My ficus dropped every leaf it had. I purchased this book with the hope that I could find out what was wrong with my tree; wasted money.

I was genuinely surprised to open this book and find the answer to every question I had about the forest of ficus that I have to care for daily. I put the suggestions into practice and the trees stopped shedding leaves and are now beginning to grow strongly. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who needs help with these tempermental but beautiful trees.

I was a little surprised to see this book when it arrived. For $12.00, I got a small, "checkout-isle" book. I can't question the value of the information, however the book was created on an ink-jet printer, has several grammatical errors, and has an overall "self-published at Kinko's" feel.

I found it written in a very straightforward way, which is good. It tries to be a bigger book than it is, and seems to have a lot of word-filler and awkward, unnecessary formatting.

It's a handy book, but is a little over-priced for what it is. It wouldn't be as well received as a gift because of the overall poor production quality. It wasn't the best value, but I've done much worse.

Before reading this book I had no experience with topiary. After reading this book I felt like I knew a little. I found that the text focuses on the history of the use of topiary. There were some sections on what plants to use and there was a LONG section on creating different wire forms. The illustrations are all hand drawn while I would have prefered to see actual pictures of the plants. This book is probably better for someone who knows a little about gardening basics instead of someone like me who knows nothing.

Featuring interesting historical information, this book includes many backgrounds of formal gardens and topiary, offered as sidebars and archive drawings. There is extensive information on creating forms and shaping topiary. The illustrator's drawings echo the whimical sentiment of topiary, while the authors' offering of botanical information help the hobbyist understand the science of what they are doing. I cannot imagine anyone reading this book and not bursting with ideas to make their own gardens come to life.

As difficult as it is to find information on the art of topiary, this disapointing book gives a very vague picture. Perhaps the most frustrating thing about the book is the illustrations. It seems more like a comic strip than an information resource. For instance the 3 or 4 pages given to standards shows hand drawn renderings that look like my 5 year old drew them. It is interesting that they devoted so many pages to different types of wire shapes. It seems obvious to me that vines will grow on a rack shaped like a bird, and they will grow on a rack shaped like an elephant. I just didn't "get" showing us all the different shapes, and giving them all their own page. Good book for the novice, check it out at the library however, there isn't much reason to own it.

I found this book to be absolutely delightful, insightful, and a keeper. A real treasure of information and inspiration!

This is the sort of regional gardening book that might have been marketed in 1965. The information is very basic, poorly explained, poorly illustrated, and dated. I doubt if the book was good for much when it was first published in the late 80's, but now with the revolution in Southern gardening carried on by the likes of J. C. Raulston, Tony Avent, William Welch and a host of others, the book seems stale and joyless.

Don Hastings is a true plantsman of the South. Every gardener in the region knows the Hastings name due to the huge mail-order seed business the family owned for generations. And of course, down South family name is everything! Hastings shares the wealth in his Gardening in the South series. I've read many gardening books. The difference here is that, first, it is written for my part of the country. Others are often written with a Northeast focus that just doesn't apply to our heat and humidity. Second, Hastings is not shy about expressing a definitive opinion. If your new house has a silver maple, "Prune it at the ground with a chainsaw," Don advises. There are other writers you can read twice and still not be sure if they're for it or agin it. Live down South? Got a yard? Better buy this book

I was very disappointed with this book. It carries almost no usable data, just vague language. It seems that Mr. Hastings used this book as a tax right off to travel to England and other countries for research. I do not care of the lush lawn of England, nor do I care of the beauty of an oasis in the Middle East. I especially do care to read phrases, as "there is no perfect grass for the South, just make do with what you have". I rated this book 2 stars due solely to the pictures. If you were looking for a book that offers real usable data, I'd recommend looking elsewhere.

When I moved here several years ago I was new to the South and to gardening. My husband bought me this book and it has been my constant companion. It is the first book I turn to when I need a tree or shrub for an area, and Mr. Hastings is always the final determinant of whether the choice I made was a good one. I've landscaped two properties, and the book seems to grow with me as I need it.

This book has full color photo illustrations on almost every page. It is a great companion to my favorite regional shade gardening book "Got Shade" which has relatively few photos. For the price, you are not going to find a book with more photos of plants. Although the author gardens in England, I found most of the information to be transferable. I would say that probably 70-75% of the plants she describes are native to North America.

I will say that I did find the lack of a common names index to be a weakness at first, but common names vary from region to region, and therefore sticking with the latin probably makes this book useful to a broader group of readers.

I checked this book out at the Library before purchasing it, and I have to say that I completely disagree with the earlier reviews.

This book gives an introduction to gardening with woodland plants. I can recommend it for gardeners who want to initiate on this.
I have many years of gardening with woodland plants and found the book of little use.

After examining a library copy, I decided not to purchase this title. In addition to the drawbacks noted by another reviewer (British emphasis and sparse photographs), the book lacks zone information and a common name index.

If you live in Somerset, England, this book will be an irreplaceable guide to improving your woodland . . . or creating one from scratch. Ms. Junker is from Somerset, and her perspective is heavily dependent on those growing conditions. If you live someplace that's much colder, you'll need to check on the plants that interest you to see if they survive the winters in your area. To help with that, Ms. Junker provides a list of places where you can see woodland plants in the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as nurseries that have display gardens to demonstrate woodland plant concepts. The gardens and nurseries may not be right next door, but I'm sure you'll enjoy the trip.

The book opens with Ms. Junker's concepts for a woodland garden, taking it from the perspective of not having a tree canopy through to already having one. She favors thinking of your woodland garden in three layers: the canopy of tall trees, intermediate plants (like rhododendrons), and flowering plants that will do well on the woodland floor (especially bulbs and ferns). She talks helpfully about how to deal with spaces of all sizes and degrees of being wooded.

I found the book very helpful since our property is heavily wooded with many intermediate layer flowering plants. But we haven't done much with the ground layer, so the book's ideas were intriguing to me. In addition, she drew my attention to ornamental tall and intermediate trees and plants that could provide some interesting variety in our woodland.

To me, the photographs helped the most. I could identify flowering plants by name that I've seen do well in our area. Combined with her information, I have the basis for many interesting experiments.

The book's main drawback is that plant directory (the bulk of the book) is not as fully illustrated as I would have liked. I suspect that the solution is to look up the formal botanical names on the Internet to find photographs that illustrate what's being described.

Ms. Junker has obviously forgotten more about woodland gardens than I'll ever know. It's great to be able to draw on her experience and ideas.

Nice work, Ms. Junker!

I was really excited about this card set; I'd just used up the last of the notecards I purchased during a trip to the Redwoods in CA, and I was looking for another set of notecards featuring trees/forests. When I got these cards, however, I discovered that the only decent picture is the one on the front of the box! I almost kept it, because they weren't very expensive and the return shipping is deducted from your return, and also to use the four cards with the good picture, but in the end I returned them out of principle--I felt duped because Amazon only showed the one picture, and the other three turned out to be just plain not nice to look at!

These note cards are very nice. Top quality cards that tell the recipient that you've got style. This is the second box I have ordered.The handy box looks nice as well. It allows you to leave on your desk and jot a note anytime.

I was searching for note cards for my husband to use, because mine are all too flowery for a guy to feel comfortable using! These fit the bill perfectly! The trees are majestic - awe-inspiring. The photography is beautiful. Stately strong trees, contrasted and surrounded by floating mists, evocative of smells of musk and that great good feeling you get in nature of being close to our Creator. The quality of the cards is excellent; a nice heavy card stock with a smooth finish. I will buy these again - and use them myself!