Books on Gardening

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While visiting my daughter at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (central Massachusetts) we headed north to the little town of Montague (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montague,_Massachusetts) to an interesting destination; a funky used book store (with restaurant and bar) called the Montague Bookmill. It is situated alongside the scenic Sawmill River in a wooded setting.
http://www.montaguebookmill.com/

One has to be amused by their slogan:

On this particularly fine autumn day, they were setting up for a catered wedding party, so access to the falls that flow over widening gradually descending bedrock could only be viewed from afar.

There is an eclectic variety of books, lots of interesting items, and I was pleasantly surprised by the gardening section, some real goodies and at bargain basement prices! I was tempted by so many books, but was trying to watch my wallet in these lean times, so had to pass on good books on the genus Impatiens, Buddleia, some rock gardening books, and more. The best find was Malcolm McGregor's "Saxifrages, a Definitive Guide to the 2000 Species, Hybrids & Cultivars".

Maybe some of you have this excellent book already; if you don't, you really should get a copy, it is an essential addition to any rock gardener's library. There were two copies there, marked down from $50 to $20, a great buy, I now own one of those two copies :). I haven't had enough time to read through the book in detail, mostly I've been skimming and thumbing the pages, and ogling the superb quality photos... I had no idea about the full scope of this fascinating genus. During these busy days, with work required to close out the fall season, I might have to reserve this book for quality winter reading. The book is rich in information and color photos, here's a miscellaneous selection.

Back cover, and back cover liner showing our illustrious NARGS Rock Garden Quarterly Editor, Malcolm McGregor.

Have you picked up a good gardening book lately?

Comments

Cliff Booker's picture

Cliff Booker

Tue, 02/14/2012 - 12:12pm

Many thanks David ... the Grey-Wilson & Blamey book has been the 'bible' for visitors to the Alps for so many years (including us) and our new book is intended to act as a photographic reference guide for less botanically experienced travellers.  We hope the images will entrance, educate and entertain in equal measures.  Feedback will be greatly appreciated please.

Tim Ingram's picture

Tim Ingram (not verified)

Fri, 06/08/2012 - 8:50am

Hasn't been anything on this topic for a while and obviously many gardeners pretty well love books nearly as much as their gardens. These are some hand coloured plates from 'The Floricultural Cabinet' which was published from the 1830's on, and show what an amazing range of plants were being cultivated (I suppose not surprising because it was the height of introductions to the UK from all over the world). With the ease of photographic reproduction these days it is quite hard to sense how very striking these plates must have been ...except that they are really just as striking today for anyone who knows the plants, and they were painted with great sensitivity.

Cliff Booker's picture

Cliff Booker

Thu, 02/07/2013 - 12:28pm

Just arrived from New Zealand (many thanks Steve), a copy of the WONDERFUL 'Above the Treeline' (A nature guide to alpine New Zealand) by Alan F. Mark.

This magnificent field guide to New Zealand's rich and diverse alpine environment features 472 pages, more than 1150 colour photographs, two maps and includes detailed descriptions of more than 675 species of flowering plants.

The ISBN is 978-1-877517-76-1 and it is published by Craig Potton Publishing.  The superb images include contributions by forum members, Steve Newall, David Lyttle, Dave Logan, Dave Toole and many others.

Thoroughly recommended (even if the recommendation happens to come from a New Zealand plant devotee).

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