A Book of Blue Flowers [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Robert Geneve (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2006

Perhaps the most uncommon hue in the plant kingdom, the color blue strikes a distinctive note in any garden. In this fascinating book, now available in paperback, Robert Geneve provides a wide selection of blue flowers that will help readers expand the range of colors in their gardening palettes — from powder blue and turquoise to navy and violet. A well-traveled garden visitor and gifted photographer, the author has included more than 150 stunning photos of blue flowers from gardens around the world. A Book of Blue Flowers is an ideal handbook for gardeners of all skill levels and in any climate.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gather together a group of eager gardeners, and a voluble discussion about the color blue has been known to follow. Geneve's handbook addresses the types of color issues that interest garden planners and curious gardeners alike; from systems used to classify colors, to relationships within plant families and the technical aspects of the color blue as manifested in flowers. On an aesthetic level, Geneve looks at the ornamental value of blue porcelain berry, hosta foliage, and the needles on blue-hued conifers to exemplify the flora that can enhance our gardens. An alphabetical listing--by genus--makes up the greater part of the book. Entries encompass a wealth of easy-to-obtain plants, along with less-common selections. Beautiful color photographs illustrate Geneve's handsome, highly accessible resource, offering valuable guidance and lots of ideas for gardeners of all levels. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"By including plants from the USA, Australia, Asia, and Europe the author has ensured that this book's appeal is wide-ranging."—Christine Shaw, Gardens Illustrated, September 2001 (Christine Shaw Gardens Illustrated )

"If blue is the color you seek in garden flowers, this book has plenty of ideas for you."—American Gardener, July/August 2001 (American Gardener )

"Every gardener can use this book to get the most blue flower color into beds and borders."—Barbara Blossom Ashmun, Fine Gardening, May/June 2001 (Barbara Blossom Ashmun Fine Gardening )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press (February 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881927694
• ISBN-13: 978-0881927696
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #591,715 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Packed with details gardeners will appreciate, January 16, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Book of Blue Flowers (Hardcover)

Blue is a rare, sought after color in the gardening world and this provides a review of those hybridized species which provide blue flower. Robert Geneve's Book of Blue Flowers presents over 150 genera whose flowers cover all types of blue hues: while many would be better described as 'purple', some ' as menconopsis horridula - are pure blue. Packed with details gardeners will appreciate.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars a book of 'blue' flowers? I think not..., September 1, 2010

By 

Asimov Fan (Tiburon, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Book of Blue Flowers (Paperback)

Let me first say that I have the hard-back edition of this book, so if it has been amended in this paperback edition, please disregard this.
To be fair, the content of this book is not bad per se. It does have useful & relavant information about all of the species it covers. However, I must give it a poor review based soley on its title: Practically every photograph in this book is of a purple flower. There are only a handful that I would even generously call blue. What's worse is that several of the species, such as Delphinium where I know there are pure blue varieties, are depicted with purple varieties. I can think of several pure blue flowers in the world that are not even mentioned in this book. So, if you purchase this book, prepare to be disappointed.