Customer Reviews

Christopher Lloyd's Garden Flowers: Perennials, Bulbs, Grasses, Ferns

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

 

 

Lloyd's normal rambling, storytelling style doesn't suffer at all from being organized into this alphabetical presentation of his favorite plants. In fact, I like him this way. Some plants get a quick brush off. Some get rich detail. Even the ones I'll never grow are fun and interesting to read about.

He includes names of favored varieties. Unlike with many "Euro-gardening" books, I have been pleased to find those varieties available by mail and even locally (from a good nursery specializing in perennials). There are exceptions. I liked the Dr. Seuss look of Helianthus Salicifolius in one of Lloyd's photos. Most sites I found by searching for it on web were in foreign languages. There's hope, however, as it's apparently known as "willow-leaved sunflower and rock sunflower" in Kansas. If it doesn't get to Ohio from Europe, maybe it will get here from Kansas.

I can't give five stars to a book that commits my pet peeve: photos, although lovely and colorful, are printed in sections. They are cleary labeled and referenced to the text and text descriptions have photo number references in the margin, where they are easy to find. It works, but I have four other books by Timberland Press, each intermixing great content with great photos. Go figure.

Following a short but informative introduction the main body of the book is arranged alphabetically by plant genus, wherein there is a general description followed by an assessment of each species or variety of that genus. The book concludes with a glossary and an index to plants and photographs. The book is beautifully illustrated with in excess of eighty full and half page colour photographs depicting plants singly and in stunning combination - but however fine the photographs are the stands on its writing.

Unlike any other gardening "encyclopaedia" Christopher Lloyd's Garden Flowers is a personal account. Yes it is full of information about the plants, size, colour and so forth, but it is honest and forthright in its descriptions. It is typical of his work; in discussing plants he takes no prisoners, and he is not afraid to express his opinions; one might not always agree with him, but such was the stature of the man that I am sure he would not expect one to.

This is a book full of delightful phrases and expressions, brimming with powerful observation and wit. Christopher Lloyd is always a delight to read such that I am sure even a non-gardener would fine his writings pleasurable. It is his combination of informed authority, open mindedness, fearlessness, adventurousness, his passion for plants and gardening and his wit which make his writings such a joy. Christopher Lloyd was one of our greatest plantsmen and garden writers, and this is perhaps the book we've always wanted from him, how fortunate we are now to be able to enjoy it.

You don't even have to be a gardener to enjoy this book; if you appreciate use of language, humor and good writing you will enjoy this book. Of course, if you are a gardener, it's a must.

The late Christopher Lloyd was one of the great garden writers, and my hands down favorite. He was a prolific writer and this plant encyclopedia is considered by some to be his best book, in a tie with his "The Well Tempered Garden".

His definition of a perennial is a non-woody plant that survives year to year, and most often goes dormant at some point. Thus, he includes bulbs like tulips and daffodils as perennials, whereas most American writers would give them their own category. But since hardy bulbs are used in the garden in the same manner that herbaceous perennials are, his inclusion of them here make sense.

The first few pages of the book are devoted not just to what perennials are, but why one would use them; what their weak spots are; how to use them with other plants (taking advantage of the spaces they create after blooming if they are summer dormant etc); how to properly plant a, er, plant; and maintenance such as division, support and deadheading.
Then the book launches into the encyclopedia section, arranged alphabetically by genus.

This is where we find what makes this book different from so many other plant encyclopedias. Like all the others, he gives us the size and growth habits of the various species within the genus. But then we get to learn how this particular plant performed for him, where exactly he tried it, if he ended up getting rid of it or treasures it, which popular plants he detests, how to get the best performance from the plant. He tells us all this in an informal, chatty style that makes one feel that they are walking through his garden with him, talking plants. And there are a lot of plants here, 375 pages of them, a lot of which I hadn't heard of.

The weaknesses of the book? Because it's from England, there are no USA hardiness zones given. And because England has a milder clime than we do, a lot of the plants will not survive our winters- he lists petunias as perennials, which they are, but not anywhere north of Los Angeles or so. But while the book might be more suitable for the coastal northwest than our inland northwest, it's still full of treasures for us to try and it's just plain enjoyable reading if you like plants.