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Summary
Summary
The AHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants is the most comprehensive, detailed, and lavishly illustrated guide to garden plants ever published. With authoritative coverage of more than 15,000 ornamental plants, accompanied by nearly 6,000 full-color photographs, it is destined to become the essential reference work for all gardeners, from novice to expert. Plants are arranged alphabetically by their botanical names for fast, straightforward access. All names are completely up to date, and previous names (synonyms) appear as cross-references throughout. Any plant can be located quickly, even if the current botanical name is unfamiliar or not known. Detailed plant profiles, prepared by an international team of more than 40 expert contributors, describe growth habit, leaf and flower anatomy, plant height and spread, geographical origin, and hardiness. A concise introduction to each genus provides essential details of botanical family, native habitat, number of species, and the ornamental qualities for which the plants are grown, together with succinct advice on cultivation, propagation, and pests and diseases. Specially commissioned photographs closely integrated with the plant descriptions, capture the beauty of nearly 6,000 plants. The full diversity of growth habits within a genus is shown wherever possible, and special close-up panels illustrate the range of flower colors and shapes. A comprehensive introduction and glossary guide beginners and experienced gardeners alike to a greater knowledge and understanding of the key elements of plant classification, anatomy, and cultivation.
Reviews (1)
Library Journal Review
Under the imprimatur of the American Horticultural Society and the Royal Horticultural Society, this substantial one-volume encyclopedia invites superlatives by covering over 15,000 plants in 1000 pages and 6000 photographs. (The British edition, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, was published in 1996; the previous edition was The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, LJ 2/1/90.) Editors-in-chief Brickell & Zuk are the former director general of the Royal Horticultural Society and the president of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, respectively. They have assembled an international team of over 40 expert contributors to produce the most comprehensive, detailed, and lavishly illustrated guide to garden plants ever published. After an introduction to gardening comprising three concise sections on botany, cultivation, and types of ornamental plants, an alphabetical listing by current botanical name, with references to older names, forms the heart of the work. The extensive coverage includes trees, aquatic plants, orchids, and bulbs as well as annuals and perennials. Some sections, such as the 26 pages on roses, form mini-reference works in themselves. The entry for each genus includes an overview of the entire genus and its salient features as well as guides to cultivation, propagation, and pests and diseases. Entries for individual plants within the genus follow. The four-column pages are well laid out and provide the maximum amount of information without resorting to obscure symbols. The excellent photographs often include a shot of the entire plant as well as of individual flowers. The book concludes with a glossary and a detailed index to common names. Beyond the sheer increase in size, the alphabetical arrangement is a major change from the previous edition, which covers 8000 plants, and from other major one-volume reference works, such as Taylor's Master Guide to Gardening (LJ 9/1/94), which covers 3000 plants. The latter two works are organized by plant category. The only flaw here is that if this volume gets the use it deserves its unwieldy weight may soon break its binding. Recommended for all gardening collections.Daniel Starr, Museum of Modern Art, New York (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.