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Reader’s Digest A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants

by Christopher Bricknell, Trevor Cole, Judith D. Zuk, eds.

At 1,092 pages and about 4 kilograms, the A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants is an ambitious volume that’s packed with essential ABCs for North American gardeners – and all sorts of extras not available in similar books.

First, the reader receives a crash course in botany. Next, hardiness, the garden environment, outdoor and indoor cultivation, pruning, propagation, plant problems, organic concerns, and native plants are comprehensively discussed (shrub pruning alone comprises instructions and illustrations for 12 groups of woody plants). Interplanted throughout are sidebars on such topics as regional challenges, frost, safe chemical use, and compost. A chapter detailing plant categories follows: as well as the expected annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs, rather more exotic and unexpected flora such as orchids, bromeliads, cacti, and palms appear. Here, too, are fascinating sidebars (eight special rock-garden soil mixes are included, for example).

The A-Z listing of more than 15,000 plants opens next. Unlike many other plant encyclopedias in which trees or greenhouse plants are given short shrift, this one embraces all ornamental plants – traditional garden plants, wild varieties, shrubs, trees, climbers, herbs, and house plants. Each genus is described with its scientific, common and family name, characteristics, cultivation, and propagation. Less usual in such a volume, notes are added on geographical origin, plant-specific pests and diseases, and suggestions for suitable planting sites (instead of a typical “shade and well-drained soil” comment, the garden planner will find a useful phrase such as “grow at the base of a sheltered wall or train into a tree”). Popular stars, such as clematis and roses are given sufficient space and full-colour treatment (with more than 50 diagrams and 300 photographs). Lesser lights such as asters and zinnias are accorded more-than-adequate attention (29 and 6 photographs, respectively). Turning to trees, readers will appreciate the combination of close-up and longer shots given for most entries.

A glossary of terms and index of common names finish up. Canadian gardeners searching out native species will be delighted to discover old friends such as Bloodroot, Dutchman’s Breeches, and Wild Ginger in the index, but will find that other familiars such as Blue-eyed Grass, Moccasin Flower, or Indian Pipe are not listed under these common names or are missing entirely from the entries.

Aside from such omissions, a chapter on the more esthetic considerations – the fundamentals of garden design, perhaps, would have complemented the technical information. And a binding that allowed the book to open flat would have been welcome. Overall, there is an astonishing amount of information presented in an easy-to-read format, accompanied by abundant true-colour photographs and clear diagrams. Colour plates and their related text are juxtaposed for one-stop reading. For speedy reference, the endpapers show the symbol key, a visual glossary of flowers and leaves, and a zone map.

Not a volume to be taken lightly – or destined to become a favourite portable field guide – this pleasing book deserves a permanent place in any gardener’s library.

 

Reviewer: Jo Calvert

Publisher: Reader’s Digest Canada

DETAILS

Price: $79.95

Page Count: 1092 pp

Format: Cloth

ISBN: 0-88850-603-1

Issue Date: 1998-6

Categories: Science, Technology & Environment

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