What gardening book do you go back to...over & over

16 years ago

Every winter I return to the pages of my books. I pour over the pictures and plan and dream of what I will do in the spring.

What book is it that you come back to over and over again???

I have one that I just pick up and can spend hours in it...and I have had it for years. It is:

Landscape with Roses: Gardens, Walkways, Arbors, Containers

by Jeff Cox, Jerry Pavia (Photographer)

{{gwi:215889}}

What's yours??!!

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Comments (23)

teka2rjleffel
16 years ago
I like that one too Ronda. It has such great pictures of the actual bushes, not just a bloom. I have gotten some great ideas from it.
Nancy
karenforroses
16 years ago
David Austins most recent book "The English Roses" and Nancy Lindley's "Roses for Michigan". Couldn't get through the winter without those two!
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anntn6b
16 years ago
Recently, I've been using the paper books less and less and google books more and more.
An example would be to want to know what was written about the rose Jaune Desprez when it was first introduced.
I go to google, book search, advanced and then enter the phrase Jaune Desprez and limit my search to before 1920.
(Downing's book from 1856 about cottage residences, ora series of designs for rural cottaes and cottage gardens and how to use Jauane Desprez there might be interesting.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Jaune Desprez way back when, mostly for free
dimitrig
16 years ago
"Sunset Western Garden Book" without a doubt.
mendocino_rose
16 years ago
I'm constantly refering to Botanica's Roses and the Vintage catalog. My favorite landscaping book is Designing With Roses by Tony Lord.
ronda_in_carolina
16 years ago
Thanks everyone who posted so far...Designing With Roses by Tony Lord is now on my wish list!!

I am still looking for more books that I can pour over this spring...

I love the rose books that show roses in the full landscape.

Any more ideas for me??

Thanks!!
sherryocala
16 years ago
I love "Roses in the Southern Garden" by Michael Shoup for just the reason you mention - full landscape photos.

I also like his other (earlier) book, "Landscaping With Antique Roses" (co-written with Liz Druitt.)

And I like "The Organic Rose Garden" by Liz Druitt.

Sherry
gnabonnand
16 years ago
What Sherry said.

Randy
lsignal
16 years ago
Classic Roses by Peter Beales

It emphasises classic, old garden and species roses. I don't grow them, but I am fascinated by them.
Linda
http://www.rosesrfun.blogspot.com/

Here is a link that might be useful: Amazon link to Classic Roses
jon_in_wessex
16 years ago
I go along with the Tony Lord's book.

Two more of his have been influential in thinking about my garden, and are open on my table most of the time: 'The Encyclopedia of Planting Combinations' and 'Gardening at Sissinghurst'.

Though few of us have a Sissinghurst to work on, the insights into 'how it's done' are really enlightening. Sometimes it is a good idea to understand processes and techniques that work at the highest level of gardening, rather than re-inventing the wheel each time.

Best wishes
Jon
jbcarr
16 years ago
I have the same favorites as Sherry. Liz Druit is a great writer. It opened my eyes to using roses as landscape bushes, instead of the formal gardens that we so often see (but are also incredible). The same applies to no spray. About the only exception I make is spider mite infestation, which once killed my Lamarque specimen. Finally, The Southern Heirloom Garden by Welch and Grant (2 familiar rose people also) outlines the development of many gardening styles in the South including plants.
debnfla8b
16 years ago
My favorite is also "The Organic Rose Garden" by Liz Druitt. I absolutely love this book. And for just pure rose porn, I love "Bontanica's Roses". The book that is the HUGE one...just right for a coffee table book!

I haven't met a rose book yet that I didn't love though.

Deb
mendocino_rose
16 years ago
Beautiful American Rose Gardens Tonetti
R is For Rose Carolyn Parker
A Passion for Roses Beales
Roses for English Gardens Gertrude Jeykell
Impressionist's Roses Derek Fell
anntn6b
16 years ago
A book I just borrowed from the libray is "Best Rose Guide" by Phillips and Rix. These men can't make a bad bood. Their photographs are professional; their descriptions right on.
Their beginning pages have "Visual Key" that talks about the different kinds of roses with photos of blooms and leaves. But wait. You're not going to see the bloom on a black background in this book. You're always going to see blooms buds and leaves and many photos of bushes. This isn't for garden design; this is one book I can use to see what plants will look like.

I wish I had a walled garden. We tried to make a twenty foot high privet jungle (our next door neighbor's idea of bird habitat) do the green background thing. But the privet trees move into and over our property and out competed roses planted on our side of the fence to go up and into the privet.
ronda_in_carolina
16 years ago
Jon,

It looks like they may be republishing one of your favorites.

Gardening at Sissinghurst
by Tony Lord, Tony Lord (Photographer)

Available for Pre-Order
This item will be available on January 28.
(Hardcover)

Publisher: Lincoln, Frances Limited
Pub. Date: January 28, 2008
ISBN-13: 9780711209916
160pp

I think I will get it!
ronda_in_carolina
16 years ago
This book looks like a monster. Anyone have it or know about the author??

Ultimate Rose Book
{{gwi:215890}}

by Stirling Macoboy,
BUY IT NEW $75.00
Barnes and Noble Online price $60.00

Publisher: Abrams,Harry N Inc
Pub. Date: October 2007
ISBN-13: 9780810994102
Sales Rank: 67,438
488pp
Edition Description: ENL
wanttogarden
16 years ago
I use the "Sunset's Western Garden Book". I keep borrowing it from the library. But I really need to buy one. It actually breaks down the USDA zones to micro climates. You will find out although some flowers may not be suited for you USDA area, they grow perfectly well in your micro climate.

LOVE IT. However, it is not a rose book.

FJ
kittymoonbeam
16 years ago
I've got the older copy of Stirling's book and it has just about every rose you can think of in it. Certainly any I ever grew. Great rose trivia too. His camellia book is the same way. Makes you want to search out older roses. I got a Blush Boursault from Vintage after seeing it in his book. I also like the Rose Bible by R. Reddell. I don't mind the strong opinions by these authors. When you feel passionate about roses, you should speak up!
Gardening with Old Roses got me pruning my antiques and climbers properly so that they are nice and full and not awkward looking anymore.

The Sunset Western Garden book is the one I use the most.
artemis_pa
16 years ago
Great thread. I've requested ALL these at my local library.
angelwings35
16 years ago
Sunset has wonderful books aimed at southern gardens and gardeners. I have one that must be 30 years old. What I like about it is that it has older varieties listed that you seldom see anymore but that you might encounter from time to time. I think everyone should have a book like that to look up impartial information. That is how I came across my Brandy which is an amazing bloomer in cool or even the hottest weather. It out-performs all our other flowers and is about the size of a small woman's hand. A good 4-6" I would say.
Jackson Perkins also has a great book with the more modern varieties, but they seem to imply that all the varieties featured are fantastic performers, and I couldnt disagree more. Many a bush has come to my house only to go back, because it didn't tolerate the heat or wasn't the color they described. We live in zone 8a which might be the same as where you are.
ronda_in_carolina
16 years ago
Artemis,

You are lucky. My library doesn't seem to have many of these.

Soooooo...My Amazon bill has been high for the last few months.

:oD

Ronda
len511
16 years ago
I'm with linda. classic roses by pb is the bible.
rainbow_2007
16 years ago
I have the "Ultimate Rose book", it does have A LOT of roses listed but the one I use most is "Roses for Dummies".

What gardening book do you go back to...over & over

Comments (23)

teka2rjleffel

karenforroses

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