This is the first book devoted solely to bulbophyllums, a very diverse group of orchids comprising the largest genus in the orchid family; it is an introductory guide for amateur and advanced orchid growers. The author focuses on those species likely to be cultivated, including 375 "Bulbophyllum" species and 170 related species and hybrids; she gives practical suggestions on how best to grow each plant in cultivation.

This is a perfect bedside book for the literate gardener and makes a terrific gardener's gift book. It is an entertaining survey of 80 plant genera, with a multitude of references to, and extracts from, myth and literature from Shakespeare to the Victorian language of flowers. Based on prodigious research, it includes much literature that has fallen into undeserved obscurity, as well as selections from the great poets. It is a delightful study of the influence of the world's flora on humanity, from the mundane to the mystical.

Now in paper. The orchid is the most evocative of flowers, inspiring in some of its admirers a fanaticism akin to madness, as demonstrated in Susan Orlean's popular novel The Orchid Thief. This elegant survey of the orchid treats its place in legend and suggests the impact that these exotic plants had on the temperate European mind. Berliocchi chronicles the adventurers and scientists who introduced these marvels, discusses their place in the arts from literature and magic to cuisine, and concludes with accounts of the most important genera and their cultivation. Splendidly illustrated with period engravings and botanical paintings, it is literate and delightful.

Over 500 annuals suitable to MN & WI climate. How & when to start your plants. Tips on planting, growing, recommended varities, problems & pests.

Once upon a time--before the 1860s--people loved old roses like "Pearl of Gold," "Marchionesse of Lorne," or "Autumn Damask." Then along came the hybrid tea roses, which were easier to arrange, more dramatic, and longer-blooming, and the old roses were all but forgotten. Now the lovely, subtle-hued, richly perfumed old roses are making a comeback, thanks to the efforts of a stubborn band of eccentric characters who rescued them from back alleys, ramshackle cottages, and overgrown graveyards across the country. Thomas Christopher tells us the fascinating stories of the old roses--how they were created and made their way to America--and the unforgettable people who "rustle" them from abandoned lots and secret gardens today, revelling in the mystery of an "unknown yellow."

Walk into any nursery, florist, or supermarket, and you'll encounter displays of dozens of gorgeous flowers, from chrysanthemums to orchids. At one time these fanciful blooms were the rare trophies of the rich and influential-even the carnation, today thought of as one of the humblest cut flowers. Every blossom we take for granted now is the product of painstaking and imaginative planning, breeding, horticultural ingenuity, and sometimes chance. The personalities of the breeders, from an Indiana farmer to Admiral Lord Gambier's gardener, were as various and compelling as the beauty they conjured from skilled hybridization. In Visions of Loveliness: Great Flower Breeders of the Past, Judith Taylor wrote engagingly about the vivid history and characters behind eighteen types of popular flowers. In this companion volume she uncovers information about another eight familiar flowers: poinsettias, chrysanthemums, gladioli, pansies, carnations, water lilies, clematis, and penstemons. Taylor has tapped into an enormous trove of stories about extraordinary people with vision and skill who added to our enjoyment piece by piece, starting about 150 years ago. This beautifully illustrated book will please flower enthusiasts, gardeners, and history buffs alike.

144 roses suited to Michigan's unique climate and conditions. Over 300 brilliant full-color photographs

Easy-to-follow advice with tips on buying roses, planting in beds and containers, rose care, pruning and insect control. Also includes recipes for jam, rose brandy and potpourri, how to handle cut flowers, overwintering and more.

This is an illustrated guide to varieties, cultivation and care, with step-by-step instructions and over 150 beautiful photographs. It is a fascinating introduction to these flamboyant plants, with information on their origins in the wild, their place in garden history, and how best to display them. It includes a full photographic directory of more than 60 orchids, including Cattleya, Epidendrum, Laeliocattleya, Miltoniopsis, Phalaenopsis and Wilsonara. It provides practical advice on how to grow orchids, from repotting, staking and propagating to planting in containers, hanging baskets and glass tanks, and on bark. Orchids make up one of the largest plant families in the world, and they have captivated gardeners for centuries. Whether you wish to start an extensive collection or simply to grow a few bright flowers in pots on a windowsill, there is a vast and affordable range to choose from. This beautiful handbook provides instructions for buying, growing and caring for orchids, as well as advice on propagating from seed and dividing established plants.It contains an illustrated directory of epiphytes and terrestrial varieties, with botanical descriptions and cultivation hints and tips. This stunning book shows how to bring a touch of the exotic into your home.

This is an illustrated guide to varieties, cultivation and care, with step-by-step instructions and over 175 inspiring photographs. It offers expert advice on selecting and buying alpines, and how to use them in the open garden, in beds and containers. It includes a photographic directory of over 60 varieties, including Armeria, Campanula, Erigeron, Gentiana, Penstemon, Phlox, Saxifraga and Sempervivum. It offers step-by-step photographic guidance on propagating and growing alpines, with ideas for constructing rock gardens and planting alpines in troughs and pots. The beauty and hardiness of alpines makes them a popular and rewarding choice for any garden. Whether you use them to provide low-maintenance ground cover, or to bring delicate touches of light to a rock garden, alpines are an important resource. This beautiful handbook provides practical advice on choosing and caring for alpines, from selecting the right stones for your rock garden to deciding which dwarf shrubs to plant with your alpines. An plant directory illustrates 60 of the best varieties, from Achillea to Viola.With their ability to flourish in the most unlikely of flower beds and climates, alpines are plants that all gardeners should try.