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Title: Flora: A Gardener's Encyclopedia by Sean Hogan ISBN: 0-88192-538-1 Publisher: Timber Press Pub. Date: September, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 2 List Price(USD): $99.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4 (4 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Disconnect from the American Garden
Comment: Flora, A Gardener's Encyclopedia, had exciting possibilities. It has a well respected publishing house, fabulous photography, and 20,000 plants listed. Unfortunately, I am not generally looking for tropical African trees.
Missing in this text is any reference to the genus Cimicifuga, the genus Wulfenia, and many other plants popular in current horticulture. If a genus is reclassified, some indexing should be included. When a genus is included in Flora, some of the most popular species are omitted, such as Convolvulus compactus. The Z8 species of Convolvulus are listed, but if one looks for the hardy species--not there.
In fact, I pick up my references when I want to find information or photography on a given plant. As a rock garden enthusiast and hardy plant enthusiast, I find a "hit" only about 15% of the time. Time after time the plant I look for is unlisted. I still go to the Index of Garden Plants by Mark Griffiths to find a description. Flora has included so few relevant plants that it will soon go on the rarely used shelf.
I have experience with the genus Hosta (chaired a National Convention). This section must have been compiled quite some time prior to publication. Hosta fluctuans 'Variegated' was changed to Hosta 'Sagae' over 10 years ago, and anyone knowledgeable about hosta would know that change, since 'Sagae' has been distinguished as a Hosta of the Year. Hosta is the number one selling perennial in the USA.
Shrubs are no more impressive. Berberis 'Helmond's Pillar' or 'Velvet Cloak'--missing.
I am still waiting for anyone to publish a text that includes the majority of plants seen at major public gardens (Denver Botanic, Missouri Botanic, New York Botanic, etc.) and the plants listed in major seed exchanges (North American Rock Garden Society, etc.), and major nurseries (Wayside, Heronswood, Plant Delights, Arrowhead, etc.) Such a text would be invaluable. Even with only 10,000 hardy plants from these sources, the text would be unequaled.
Flora is beautiful. It is well crafted. It is extensive. It reads well. Too bad it isn't more useful for the USA gardener.
Let's hope for Flora 2: The Hardy Plant Encyclopedia.
Rating: 5
Summary: A 2-volume set nearly five years in the making
Comment: The plant 'bible' Flora is a 2-volume set nearly five years in the making, with contributions from over sixty writers lending to glossy photos and a reference which covers everything from weeds to the best plants for a garden. This isn't just a listing of plants alone - it covers the largest, best plants and offers color photos taking in pristine national parks around the world. A CD-ROM provides links to gardening web sites; but the meat of this reference lies in its extensive coverage of over 20,000 plants. A top pick.
Rating: 5
Summary: A benchmark work - a serious gardener's treasure trove
Comment: Since receiving "Flora: A Gardener's Encyclopedia" for Christmas, my wife has spent many many hours researching plants which would be ideal for our particular location. The various entries are arranged alphabetically by their scientific genus and species names, but the index is very comprehensive, containing both scientific and common name cross-references. The color photography is magnificent, entry data is concise and packed with information needed to successfully grow the species, and the breadth of coverage of this volume is breathtaking. This magnificent work is not your average "garden variety" (pardon the pun) encyclopedia --- it is an authoritative reference for professional and experienced gardeners, as well as a thorough text and research tool for the novice gardener. It is bound to become the benchmark by which future works of this genre are judged.
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Title: Flora's Plant Names by Global Book Publishing ISBN: 0881926051 Publisher: Timber Press Pub. Date: September, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Tropical Flowering Plants: A Guide to Identification and Cultivation by Kirsten Albrecht Llamas ISBN: 0881925853 Publisher: Timber Press Pub. Date: October, 2003 List Price(USD): $69.95 |
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Title: The Well-Designed Mixed Garden: Building Beds and Borders with Trees, Shrubs, Perennials, Annuals, and Bulbs by Tracy Disabato-Aust, Martin Knapp, Stacey Renee Peters, C. Colston Burrell ISBN: 0881925594 Publisher: Timber Press Pub. Date: February, 2003 List Price(USD): $39.95 |
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Title: So You Want to Start a Nursery by Tony Avent ISBN: 0881925845 Publisher: Timber Press Pub. Date: August, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Bromeliads for the Contemporary Garden by Andrew Steens, Yvonne Cave ISBN: 0881926043 Publisher: Timber Press Pub. Date: October, 2003 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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