Gosh that is a big book Artie I have enough trouble with half of a phone book so don't know how I would manage that, mind you I would devour it if I had one, forget about house work and all that, well I tend to do that now just keeping up with the gardening but I must confess I cannot put a book down once I start and nothing better than gardening books..By time you have finished that book there wont be much you wont know about our Natives I could not think of nicer way to spend Easter...So Happy Reading.....Cheers..MM.

Hi MM,

I am enjoying this huge book, but I have to question the inclusion of over 50 pages of photos and detailed info on a single shrub - Rosa sp. Some of the photos are simplay spectacular, in stark contrast to some of the outdoors shots of shrubs like the humble lillypilly. To be fair, they have included over 30 pages on one of my faves, Rhododendrons, and a large section on the most delicious Camellia Japonica varieties I've ever seen. There are a couple of white varieties which leave my jaw on the ground every time I look at the photos. They have the 'Formal Double' petals that seem to mirror one another infinitely, and it is just so evocative of a courtyard in ancient Japan/China.

I dont expect that the Japonicas do very well in Rocky's hot, humid climate, but its the kind of plant that almost has me wishing I lived in Armidale :)

Cheers,

Artie

Sorry Artie I did not realise it was it was not a Australian Native book, but a trees and shrubs one, well I can just imagine the photos of all the flowers on the shrubs. When I lived in Melbourne I had lots of Rhododendrons also grew a couple of Japonica I had one planted near my front door, they are both lovely shrubs.

I sure know that feeling of wishing that you lived somewhere so you could grow something you like. Then I think about the cold winds in the Winter that went right you, and hey Queensland is not such a bad place and look at it this way we can grow lots of beautiful plants that cannot be grown down south.
Glad to hear that you are enjoying your huge book.....Cheers...MM.

Artie, I have the opposite problem with the ABC Flora book, which is split into two volumes because of its size (close to 1600 pages and hardback to boot). Invariably when using one volume, I need to refer to the other one. Generally, I find myself using the first volume more heavily (seems that most of my favourite plants occur earlier in the alphabet) but often need to refer to the index, particularly for plants whose names have changed. Often, I simply can't be bothered to return to the bookshelf for the second volume!

I use your lecturn method for another often-used book, the Macquarie Dictionary (hardback, 1600+ pages). In fact, I have it sitting open on a table by my computer, and just swivel around on my chair when I need to check something. Works a treat for me, but might not for someone else. Seems the publishers are in a bind whether they choose to publish in one or two volumes.