Botany for Gardeners: An Introduction and Guide [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Brian Capon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1990

A clear, nontechnical explanation of how plants work, and our bestselling book. It succeeds in explaining the complex processes of plant growth, functions, adaptation, responses, and reproduction in simple language. As the author intended, the gardener can come to understand a plant "from the plant's point of view."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A book such as this should be in every workshop, potting shed and mess room." -- The American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta Newsletter

"Capon’s writing is interesting and engaging. He makes botany sound as interesting as it really is." -- Stanley Rice, Department of Biology, Academic Library Book Review

"Those who enjoy and are fascinated by plants and gardening, would enjoy them even more with the help of this book." -- Northeastern Naturalist

"With its many color photographs, its discursive style, and its comprehensive glossary, Botany for Gardeners is a joy to read." -- HORTIDEAS

"Written for those who would like to do more than simply 'get by' with intuitive knowledge about plants." -- Northeastern Naturalist

Book Description

A clear, nontechnical explanation of how plants work, & our bestselling book. It succeeds in explaining the complex processes of plant growth, functions, adaptation, responses, & reproduction in simple language. As the author intended, the gardener can come to understand plants "from the plant's point of view."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 220 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press, Incorporated (August 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881921637
• ISBN-13: 978-0881921632
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,234,493 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars just the facts, July 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Botany for Gardeners: An Introduction and Guide (Paperback)

Capon gets down to business and explains how plants work. No more will the reader/gardener utter such pablum as "pinching forces energy down instead of up in the plant." She/he will intelligently note that pinching the apical meristem decreases the hormones that control upward growth, thus increasing the activity of hormones controlling lateral growth. Very well explained facts about how plants do what they do.

28 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars B is for botany and bad, December 8, 2000

By 

A. Richwine (Hunting Valley OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Botany for Gardeners: An Introduction and Guide (Hardcover)

In the early 90's, I had the opportunity to teach a beginning botany class to home gardeners. The class had been taught for several years and Capon's book had been choosen for the text. I read the book and was surprised by the flagrant inaccuracy on topics such as plant anatomy and photosynthesis. The chapters were poorly arranged and overly technical. Since people as whole tend to remember what they were first taught as law, it disturbed me that many gardeners may be misguided.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent botany primer for gardners!, July 31, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Botany for Gardeners: An Introduction and Guide (Paperback)

This book is easy to understand. It is interesting while technical and educational without losing you in scientific monotony. It has helped me understand my plants and make good technical based decisions for their care. I wanted to delve deeper because of this book.