- Book Shop -
These are some of the books which we have found to be
particularly interesting, useful and informative. You can buy any of
these books now by clicking its link or the cover photograph. These books
are sold in association with Amazon.co.uk. When you click a link, you
will be taken to that book's page (in a separate window) on the Amazon
site. The information provided on this page is provided for guidance
only. The Amazon page may provide you with more up-to-date information.
Some books may go out of print from time to time and prices may change
(often for the better since Amazon frequently offers a discount!)
Cycads of the World
by David L. Jones
(rrp. £29.99)
Hardback, 312 pages
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...This book is by the same author as 'Palms
Throughout The World' (see below). It is an essential book
for all cycad lovers. The first part of the book gives an
account of the biology and the pre-history of these ancient
plants. There is lots of sound advice on growing, watering,
feeding and mulching and there is also a summary of the main
cycad diseases and pests. The bulk of the book is taken up
with a species by species guide to the various types of cycad.
Information is given on growing requirements such as the
amount of light, heart and moisture needed by each cycad.
There are lots of wonderful colour pictures of cycads in
nature and there are numerous maps showing the native habitats.
In short, a great value book that every cycad fanatic should
have.
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Betrocks
Guide to Landscape Palms
by Alan Meerow
(rrp. $29.95)
Hardback |
...this is an American book, written in Florida,
and its idea of what makes a 'landscape palm' might be a little
different from the idea of someone living in Leeds or Luton.
All the same, it is a sound and informative guide to many cold
or cool hardy palms, some of which are suitable for UK gardens,
many of which would be fine in a conservatory. It has sections
on fertilization, planting and care, including a useful guide
to palm pests. If you are getting just one book on palms, get 'Palms
Throughout The World' by David L. Jones (see below). If
you want to extend your knowledge of palms, the Betrock Guide
is a worthwhile addition to your library.
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The
Gardener's Guide to Growing Temperate Bamboos
by Michael Bell
(rrp. £29.95)
Hardback (160 pages) |
Bamboos can help to provide an instant tropical
feel to the garden. They can also be used to create Japanese
style gardens. Beautiful in their own right, bamboos also
form valuable wind-breaks to provide shelter for tender palms
and subtropical specimen plants. This book, written by the
President of the UK Bamboo Society, provides an in-depth
guide to growing and caring for cold-hardy bamboos suitable
for the garden. There are chapters on the botany and cultivation
of bamboos and a detailed A to Z guide to bamboo species.
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Palms
Throughout the World
by David L. Jones
(rrp. £24.99)
Hardback |
...Of all the many books on palms that we have
in our own library, this is the one that we come back to again
and again. The bulk of the book comprises an alphabetical directory
to palms from Acanthophoenix to Zombia. Each entry provides
a short description of the palm, its native habitat and its
cultivation requirements (when known). While not every palm
species is accompanied by a picture, the book is pretty lavishly
illustrated with photographs - mostly in full colour. In addition
to the palm directory there are chapters on the biology and
cultivation of palms, plus a terrifying chapter on some of
the diseases that can damage or kill palms.
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Pachypodium and Adenium
by Gordon Rowley
(rrp. £23.50)
Hardback, 80 pages
(Amazon UK incorrectly lists this book as ' Pschypodium and Adenium').
Note: In the UK it may be both faster and
cheaper to buy this book diect from the publisher.
Buy
From The Publisher
Buy
from Amazon
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...But wait a minute… almost £24
for a book of just 80 pages? It certainly sounds like a high
price, so why are we recommending it? The reason is simple.
If you have any interest in truly exotic plants for the conservatory,
you are sure to find Gordon Rowley's book a treasure. Brief
it may be, but it crams in a great deal of valuable information
- not to mention some fabulous pictures of these stunning
plants in their native habitats of Africa and Madagascar.
Each species and subspecies of Pachypodium is described in
detail, with notes on their ultimate size, flower shapes
and distinguishing features. There is a section on propagation
and cultivation of Adeniums and Pachypodiums in the home
or greenhouse. Prepare to be seduced!
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"Gardener's
World" Practical Gardening Course
by Geoff Hamilton
381 pages
(rrp. £12.99) |
...yes, yes, we know there are newer guides to
gardening by numerous other popular TV gardeners. But if you
want a really good, down-to-earth, immensely practical guide
to the craft of gardening, you just can't beat this course
by the late and much missed Geoff Hamilton. A long-time presenter
of BBC's Gardener's World, Hamilton was a tremendously enthusiastic
and knowledgeable gardener. No 'instant makeovers' for him!
Instead, this book expects you to get your hands dirty in order
to transform your own personal mud patch into a productive
vegetable garden, wildlife meadow, orchard, flowerbed or whatever
other variety of garden you've always dreamed of. Hamilton
really was the gardener's gardener. Everyone who loves gardens
and plants should have a copy of this book.
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The Island of the Colourblind - and Cycad Island
by Oliver Sacks
(rrp. £7.99)
Paperback, 336 pages |
...Probably most people know Dr. Sacks as the
author of the book 'Awakenings', which inspired the film starring
Robert de Niro. What you may not know is that he is also an
enthusiastic cycad grower. In 'The Island of The Colour-blind
- and Cycad Island' recounts his visit to two tropical islands.
In part one, he sets up a clinic on the Pacific atoll of Pingelap
where he examines a community of colourblind islanders. In
the second book he travels to Guam, where he investigates a
curious neurodegenerative paralysis - and discovers a link
to the island's cycads! The books are fascinating in their
own right, but doubly so for cycad growers.
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RHS
A-Z Encyclopaedia of Garden Plants (rrp £40.00)
Hardback, 1080 pages |
...No matter which plants you grow, the RHS Encyclopaedia
is a vital reference work. It gives descriptions of plants,
genus by genus and species by species. Cultivation details
are provided (do they like sun, shade, moist or dry conditions
and so forth). The books is generously illustrated with hundreds
of colour photographs. Our only reservation is that the Encyclopaedia
greatly underestimates the cold-hardiness of several palm species.
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"Gardeners'
World" Grow Something Different
by Nick Wray (rrp £9.99)
Paperback, 128 pages
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...If you are looking for inspiration to help
you turn your garden into a replica of a Mediterranean courtyard,
an American desert or a subtropical jungle you'll find lots
of ideas in this informative and practical book. It is divided
into sections on plants for sunny places and shady places with
sections on moisture-loving and desert plants, woodland plants
and tender plants. There can be very few gardeners who won't
make some interesting discoveries in this excellent little
book.
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Balinese Gardens
by Luca Invernizzi Tettoni and William Warren (rrp £26.95)
Hardback, 176 pages
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...Every keen exoticist needs at least one book
for pure inspiration - and this is ours! The photographer,
Luca Invernizzi Tettoni, has captured some of the most gorgeous
gardens of the Indonesian island of Bali in some truly wonderful
colour photographs. There are imposing banyan trees, frangipani
and flame trees and, of course, thousands of palms. The text
by William Warren provides a background on the history, culture
and gardening on Bali. Not a practical 'gardening book' - but
one that may inspire you to try for the (almost) impossible!
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Succulent
and Xerophytic Plants of Madagascar Vol. 1
Succulent
and Xerophytic Plants of Madagascar Vol. 2
both books by Werner Rauh
Hardback |
...Professor Rauh's two volumes on the remarkable
flora of Madagascar combine real scholarship and artistry.
The photographs of extraordinary-looking swollen-trunked Pachypodiums,
Adansonias, Euphorbias and others are almost surreal. They
are perfectly complemented by Professor Rauh's descriptions
of the ecology of Madagascar. The books are hard bound on tick,
high-quality glossy paper. Be warned, however, they are expensive.
Volume 1 (this is probably the essential one) costs about £100.
Volume 2 costs even more. If you have a rich aunty who's looking
for a present to buy for you, suggest these! |
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