Customer Reviews

Armitage's Garden Perennials: A Color Encyclopedia

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an outstanding guide for selecting perennials for your garden, especially the southern gardener because the author understands our conditions here. Over 130 varieties are covered in an encyclopedic format and an entire page is devoted (sometimes two) to each plant. The text is clearly written in an engaging style and everything that you need to know (growing requirements, if the plant is easy or difficult to grow, size of the plants, etc.) is covered. The best thing about the book are the photographs - they provide the reader with a full view of how the plant grows in the garden and numerous photos are provided for each plant. He also includes lists of plants that are good for specific locations and conditions (such as good groundcovers, drought tolerant plants, plants for shade, etc.) This is a big, heavy book so it is one that you might can't carry to bed with you for nighttime reading (although you probably will want to!).

Just received Armitage's Garden Perennials. It has as many pictures as the Annuals, LOTS more text.

I've spent many hours with the Annuals and I can say that had I had this book years ago I would have saved myself money and grief. It's amazing how many plants are not suited for Philly summers and are sold here nonetheless. I have thought for years I must have a genetic flaw, some disturbing lack that prevents me from growing decent dahlias. Armitage has assured me that it is not me, it is dahlias. That alone is worth the price of the book to me.

So many people are discouraged and give up gardening entirely because they think they have black thumbs when really the problem is the sale of plant material unsuited their area.

I work part time at an upscale nursery. Perrenials cost $15 and UP, annuals $5.00 for a 4" pot. A gardener at any level cannot afford to be without these books.

Plus there are so many pretty pictures!

Armitage's Garden Perennials provides gardeners with a color encyclopedia of perennials, listing each genus, several species, and answering questions about how the plant relates to gardening and garden organization. Armitage's lists of recommendations prove especially effective guidelines for gardeners who want solid tips on how to work with perennials.

It could be a coffee table book, but there is so much great information so elequently presented with humor that you love reading this book at any time. The information is just supurb. I remember reading about hardy lobelias and being absolutely enthralled about how "the hummingbirds will come." There is no doubt that Alan Armitage is a fabulous writer, and this is a book you have to own.

Alan Armitage heads up the Perennial Department of the University of Georgia, so he is great about heat tolerant plants. He is also a truly engaging speaker and a wonderful writer for all of us.

Very disappointed. For the price I thought it would be comprehensive, but too many perennials in common usage are not included. Also, no visual distinction in writeups between description and how-to-grow, so you have to do a lot of reading to zero in on the information you want. What I like about it is that the author provides opinions as well as descriptions, the photos are very good, and the information helps you choose among perennials and among their varieties.

Good pictures and good information. Useful as a book to show clients a picture of plants in a plan. Could use a consistent, easy to find section on the plant requirements. As a reference for designing this would help in finding appropriate plants for the project at hand.

I have browsed through this collection of information. It clearly describes perennials in an informative manner with descriptions that even a novice gardener (like myself) can follow. I strongly recommend this as part of any library.

I received this book quickly and was very pleased with the condition it was in.
This is a good book for the gardener.It has interesting plants, tells where to plant,and Armitage does it in a lively manner.
This is a good book to have in ones library.

I wanted a book that had a section of height and description of the flowers and how long the blooming season is and whether it did well in sun or shade. I would like to have been able to just open to the flower and find that information all in one place, but I have to read through the entire information on that particular plant to find all of this, so the book is not as useful to me as I thought it was going to be. It takes up too much of my time to find out what I want to know. I would like a better description of the books so I know more if it is what I want before I buy it.

Another MUST HAVE in any horticulturalist's library. Even if you are just into gardening as a hobby, this book is essential for knowing the right plant for the right spot!