Botany for Gardeners [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Brian Capon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0881926558 | ISBN-13: 978-0881926552 | Publication Date: December 20, 2004 | Edition: Revised Edition

A bestseller since its debut in 1990, this indispensable and handy reference has now been expanded and updated to include an appendix on plant taxonomy and a comprehensive index. Two dozen new photos and illustrations make this new edition even richer with information. Its convenient paperback format makes it easy to carry and access, whether you are in or out of the garden. An essential overview of the science behind plants for beginning and advanced gardeners alike.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A combination of crisp, friendly writing and detailed, understandable illustrations (both line drawings and photographs) yields a great book that will be a welcome addition to the reference shelf."—Kim Long, Bloomsbury Review, March 2005 (Kim Long Bloomsbury Review )

"Gives the basics in a layperson's language, and it's not the size of a typical scientific tome, which in my book recommends it highly. [This review refers to the first edition]"—Dulcy Mahar, Oregonian, November 21, 2002 (Dulcy Mahar The Oregonian )

"In this magical little volume Capon covers the entire breadth of botanical science in concise, clear terms that anyone can understand and enjoy, but he doesn't make the mistake of talking down to the reader. [This review refers to the first edition]"—San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles, May 1991 (San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles )

“A fascinating book for the curious gardener.”
(Times Beacon Record )

"An essential reference guide for those interested in how plants grow but who don't have a background in science." (Minneapolis Star Tribune )

Book Description

A bestseller since its debut in 1990, this indispensable and handy reference has now been expanded and updated to include an appendix on plant taxonomy and a comprehensive index. Two dozen new photos and illustrations make this new edition even richer with information. Its convenient paperback format makes it easy to carry and access, whether you are in or out of the garden. An essential overview of the science behind plants for beginning and advanced gardeners alike.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press; Revised Edition edition (December 20, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881926558
• ISBN-13: 978-0881926552
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,400 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for gardeners, July 21, 2005

By 

Alan Meyer (Randallstown, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Botany for Gardeners (Paperback)

Not just for gardeners, this gentle and high level introduction to a scientific understanding of plant life will be of interest to anyone who wants to know the basics of plant development, ecology, and reproduction. Emphasizing breadth rather than depth, the book provides basic information organized under the broad headings of: Growth, Organization, Adaptation, Functions, and Reproduction.

This is a book about the science of botany. It's not a field guide to help you identify plants. It contains no advice on how to plant tulips or where to site begonias. It has nothing about gardening tools or potting soil or which brand of plant nutrients to buy. It is for gardeners only in the sense that people who keep gardens and love plants and flowers will learn something about the basic physiology and function of their plants - kinds of things they won't always get from gardening books and magazines. The book imparts information about "what" is going on in the plants, rather than "how" to plant and tend them.

Capon keeps it simple and straightforward. Cell biology, for example, is treated in only about seven pages, including illustrations. But the casual reader will get enough to at least understand that cellular functions are the basis of life and are worth exploring if one is interested in knowing more about how the basic processes work. Other topics are treated similarly. There's enough science to give you a taste of what's really going on, but you'll have to read elsewhere if you want a thorough understanding.

If you need a serious botany textbook, this isn't it. But if you want to survey the subject, it's an excellent start.

The black and white drawings and color photos are first rate. An appendix on naming gives some basic concepts of taxonomy. An excellent glossary and a thorough index make it easy to check the meaning of a term that you know the author introduced before but you can't remember where and don't remember what it means.

As a novice in the subject, I learned quite a bit from this book.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An instructional, scientific text, March 6, 2005

By 

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

This review is from: Botany for Gardeners (Paperback)

Now in a newly revised edition, Botany For Gardeners is an instructional, scientific text written specifically in everyday language for gardeners, horticulturalists, and lay people. Author Brian Capon, a former professor of botany with thirty years' experience, explains how plants are structured, how they adapt to their environment, how water is transported from soil to leaves, why minerals, air, and light are important for healthy plant growth, how plants reproduce, and much more. Black-and-white diagrams and color photographs illustrate this superb self-teaching tool for the truly dedicated gardening enthusiast.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I didn't know how much I didn't know, April 3, 2006

By 

S. A. Walsh - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Botany for Gardeners (Paperback)

Make no mistake, this is a science book. The reason: Botany is a science. Brian Capon begins at the plant cellular level and progresses outward in a manner and pace that is conducive to understanding the fascinating life of things botannical. He presents information that can be understood by the average adult who desires more depth on what is going on within the plant. As a gardener I have learned what works and what doesn't work in my particular region with my individual greenish thumb but it is a long time between growing seasons. Armed with solid scientific knowledge I can observe my plants and trees far better with a newly educated eye. Maybe those past planting mistakes were not the fault of the region but my own lack of knowledge and insight. It's the case of I didn't know what I didn't know about plants. As a result of my winter study this year I will plant my garden with deepest reverence for my plants inside and out.