Customer Reviews

Florida Gardener's Guide, 2nd Edition

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I found this book to be helpful in presenting a large overview of what will grow in my state - often a tricky place for transplanted gardeners! I'm no professional, but I am trying to find plants that are supposed to do well in my area instead of using plants with which I might be more familiar. I turned to the MacCubbin/Tasker book because it offered suggestions for all the "micro-climates" in my yard in addition to telling me whether or not something was better suited to areas more to my north or south. I have been able to use this book to plan my landscape using plants I never might have considered and I know they will thrive without extra fuss.

Ok! I've been in Florida since I was 4 years old... 34 years. My Mom started me loving plants & gardening. I have never read a book on Florida gardening like this book & I've been around a lot of plant books. Everything wonderful that I want to grow in Florida is featured in this book & the pictures are the best. Each plant is featured on its own page & at the bottom of the page the author gives his opinion on his personal favorite selection. I can't believe how many new plants I have been turned on to by reading this book, like the Kaffir Lily (Clivia), which I now own 3! Absolutely beautiful plant! The book also has several references to Florida native plants & plants that are in keeping with a the old Florida look, which I'm especially fond of. Not every book on Florida plants is going to have every little thing, but if you're looking for the best of everything, an interesting yet easy read, stop right here... You just found it!

I am a new homeowner, and I have bought several books on the ins and outs of gardening. This book is the best. If offers simple to read pages on different types of plants to be used in Florida. I consider this my "garden bible." I realize that it is not in-depth, but it certainly highlights the basic information on what type of plant, where to plant, and what to feed it. I have purchased most of my plants for my landscape based on recommendations from this book. I have been more than pleased with the results.

If there is a book you need to help you design your home landscape, this is definately the place to start!

As both an avid gardener and collector of gardening books, I bought this volume the moment I saw it listed. It is co-authored by Tom MacCubbin, the respected Orange County Urban Horticulturalist (where I live), and prolific author of horticultural information in Central Florida. The book attempts to cover the breadth of Florida landscape material in a little over 400 pages; with each plant given two pages, a lot of common plants are not even included. Queen Palm (Syagrus romanzoffianum), perhaps the second most used, widely adapted palm in our state is not even mentioned! In addition, color photos, though of exceptional quality, are small and clustered on a few pages in the center of the book. As even line drawings do not accompany the individual plant descriptions, this is a less-than-ideal arrangement. Also, although plants are divided into chapters based on their landscape usage, the plants themselves are presented alphabetically by their common names. I suppose this is useful for many, if not most, people, but it seems odd in a book of this type.

The first thing I have to say about this book is that I wish it were more comprehensive. I moved to Florida from the north, and find the book an excellent reference. The pictures are wonderful, and only a few plants do not have them. I especially find the sections on "companion planting and design" and "regional advice and care" helpful. The book is well-organized into sections on trees, perennials, tropical plants, vines, etc. The drawback is that the book refers to plants that are not included, which leaves me searching for another reference to find out the appearance and habitat of that plant. Overall, an excellent place to start. Sam's Club has it at a great price.

This is absolutely the best book ever for getting plant identifications. If you garden in Florida, this is a 'must have' book for reference.

Having always loved gardening, but having only lived in Miami for a short time - I am unfamiliar with tropical gardening. It is completely different than gardening in Indiana! This book is wonderful - I have read Georgia Tasker's column in the Miami Herald with interest and now to have discovered this book! Super!

this book has some great photos but its not as comprehensive as Pamela Crawford and a few others. it leaves out some very important info on some plants so don't just rely on this one book for your garden, or you'll be digging out some dead plants that wouldn't survive or you planted the bottle bush by your sewer lines and it's not mentioned that this plants roots are destructive. nice book but theres deeper info in other books but it's worth the read and it will stay in my gardening books, it's a keeper

Bought this for my wife as she lives to garden and has had a difficult time with it since moving to Florida!! She has learned how and when to plant her veggies based on the Florida Climate and Soil and had a Very Bountiful Crop this last season!! This book was recommended by a friend and I'm glad I purchased it as it was well worth the money!! Would Highly Recommend to other Florida Gardeners, whether new to Florida or not!!

Excellent reference book with an incredible amount of information. The pictures help the new Florida resident identify the plant with the data on its growth habits and soil needs. One of the best gardening books that I have seen.