Customer Reviews

Forcing, Etc.: The Indoor Gardener's Guide to Bringing Bulbs, Branches & Houseplants into Bloom

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

 

 

It's a nice coffee table book. Something you look at once, then never touch again. Clearly not a reference book.

The first 85 pages discuss forcing hardy and tender bulbs. The remaining 68 pages talk about house plants, twigs, and cuttings. About half of the book is pictures, and much of the text from the other half is double spaced. There is not alot of information about forcing in this book.

Another problem, the book has no index. So when you wish to find information on forcing Amaryllis, you must page through it manually. No appendix in the back, no tables, no charts, and no reference section at all (except for a meager list of two dozen garden catalog companies).

There are pockets of detailed and interesting facts. But the poorly organized format makes it a chore to find this info.

On the plus side, the plant photography is great. It is the most worthwhile part of the book. Hundreds of photos of interesting, clear, crisp, and properly identified plants populate this book (unfortunately, since there is no index, you'll never find the picture you want - when you want it).

Nice coffee table book, but not much more.

I absolutely agree with the review given by Tom Krischan on 1/28/2000. This book is beautiful to look at, with lots of photographs that are well-taken and gorgeously displayed. That's the good part.... Unfortunately there isn't a lot of information in here that even the most basic gardener wouldn't already know from other sources. Bulbs are the primary area of discussion, with houseplants and cuttings from trees and shrubs also being discussed sparingly. It's not the best book for in-depth answers to your other forcing needs. It is nice to look at, though. A definite fixture for aesthetics on my coffee table at home, if nothing else.

Expert gardening advice blends with floral styling techniques as Katherine Whtieside offers an introduction to the finer art of forcing bulbs, branches, and other flowers in Forcing, Etc. Plant features include the most common flowers which are grown through forcing, offering tips for plant pairing and arranging. With Richard Felber's lush photos throughout, Forcing, Etc. makes an exceptional visual display in addition to a practical guide.

Katherine Whiteside makes forcing look really fun and easy, and it turns out it is! This book inspired me to try all sorts of things I've only seen in pictures. Her ideas are simple and wonderful and the way she writes is so down to earth that you feel confident that you can do it!
Get it, try it. You'll really enjoy it.
(It makes a really nice coffee table book too!)

I was put off by the book's lack of an index and its casual, meandering approach. The photographs are pleasing, but not awesome. If one is to own only one book on the subject, this would not be the best choice.