Bulbs in Containers [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Rod Leeds (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2005

Fantastic color photographs and excellent writing make this an inspirational and accessible guide for specialty plant collectors, alpine and rock gardeners, and city gardeners, as well as anyone gardening in small spaces. Readers will learn about the ease and practicality of growing bulbs in containers — bringing year-round color and interest to one's home. Popular classic bulbs are included, as well as a range of more unusual varieties such as the delicate-looking but surprisingly unfussy corydalis, and graceful, late-spring-flowering scillas. The book details how to plan and prepare for a year of flowering bulbs — how to store bulbs during the dormant period and get them ready for planting, how to make homemade shelters to protect plants during the growing season before they begin to flower, and how to create simple accessories that show off the final display. Detailed advice on seed propagation provides gardeners an inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and satisfying method of increasing their range of species bulbs.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Set apart by its wide-ranging approach, Leeds' guide offers irresistible ideas for enhancing the beauty of bulbs in container plantings. Highlighting how to grow and enjoy single specimens, Leeds provides additional examples of complementary effects achieved by combining, for instance, fragrant narcissus and grape hyacinths with the textural leaves of a low-growing cotoneaster. Gardeners are presented with an abundance of choice flowering species to consider as Leeds gives detailed descriptions together with practical advice on growing conditions, tips on soil mixes, and light and temperature requirements. Guidance includes instruction on propagation techniques such as growing bulbs from seed, separating tiny offsets, and the scaling method. Emphasizing year-round displays appropriate for gardens, greenhouses, and the home, Leeds points the way to designing sequential exhibitions in a guide that enlarges upon what is found in basic gardening or design manuals, and that is enhanced greatly by the photographs of Marie O'Hara. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"The trouble with this book is that it prevents you from getting your work done — unless of course your line of work involves surfing the Internet and charging bulbs to your credit card. Author Rod Leeds has filled the pages with inspiring writings on bulbous treasures to grow in pots. You will want to have all of them in your garden."—Sara Begg, Horticulture, Fall 2006 (Sara Begg Horticulture )

"Set apart by its wide-ranging approach, Leeds' guide offers irresistible ideas for enhancing the beauty of bulbs in containers plantings."—Alice Joyce, Booklist, September 1, 2005 (Alice Joyce Booklist )

"Contains photographs of dozens of intriguing lesser-known bulb plants to whet any plant lover's appetite!"—Cathy Cromell, National Gardening Association Regional Reports, July 6, 2006 (Cathy Cromell National Gardening Association Regional Reports )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press (September 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088192735X
• ISBN-13: 978-0881927351
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,134,934 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book..., December 17, 2005

By 

Dianne Foster "Di" (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Bulbs in Containers (Hardcover)

BULBS IN CONTAINERS by Rod Leeds, is a wonderful little book filled with all sorts of ideas for containing your bulb collection, and the most entrancing work on bulbs since Elizabeth Lawrence wrote her book 'The Little Bulbs'. Filled with illustrations showing a variety of containers holding relatively uncommon bulbs such as various South African Hypoxis plants, this book provided me with many ideas. Bulbs aside, the second most intriguing aspect of Leeds' bulb arrangements are the containers themselves. He includes the ubiquitous clay pot in many interesting displays, along with unique pots such as a `shallow hypertufa sink'. Leeds suggests using various pots for free-standing specimens placed on tables, rocks or in the garden, or in displays with other pots, or in larger pots as a contrasting highlight with a shrub backdrop.

Leeds includes many beautiful photos of his own collection as well as explanatory text including a section of about 80 pages of text where he discusses various bulb genera suitable for containers.

Unfortunately for some of us, Leeds is based in England and the bulb suppliers he sources in an appendix are located in his home country for the most part, however, many have an email address and/or internet site. Although I have not ordered any bulbs from these sources, I suspect at least one of them might ship to the US, however, the USDA may prohibit transport some of the more exotic items. On the other hand, I know I can find some of the less exotic bulbs such as Galanthus through US bulb suppliers like Scheepers and Herronwood. Caveats aside, Leeds' book is an excellent addition to the garden library.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes you want to buy some bulbs and get started, April 18, 2008

By 

Charlie_Concord "Charlie P." (EST USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bulbs in Containers (Hardcover)

I'm not a bulb gardener, but this is one outstanding bulb book, it doesn't mince words in advocating one species or variety over another, and I find out that some tulips don't just look like all the other tulips and reading this book could lead someone into some very interesting areas of bulb growing. Makes me want to get some bulbs and try it. Photos outstanding. British.

5.0 out of 5 stars bulbs in containers, February 2, 2011

By 

Rex F. Shields "Rex Shields" (Melbourne Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bulbs in Containers (Hardcover)

As a keen grower of the smaller bulbs I found this book to be excellent value. Apart from the many types of bulbs both illustrated and written about, the information provided on container sizes and potting mix types was most useful. I can recommend this book to all bulb growers