Fragrant Orchids: A Guide to Selecting, Growing, and Enjoying [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Steven A. Frowine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2005

Orchid lovers of all levels will delight in this unique approach to selecting new and exciting varieties of fragrant orchids. More than 100 different orchids are profiled here, with exquisite images of each, and salient details are included for another 355 enticing varieties. Profiles include cultivation information and detailed notes on each fragrance, which can range from elegant and sophisticated to downright pungent, from fruity and spicy to medicinal, from light and fresh to heavy and intoxicating. With some 20,000 fragrant orchids available today, orchid enthusiasts will appreciate this first-ever guide to choosing, growing, and showcasing orchids with the right look and most enjoyable scents, including cinnamon, chocolate, lemon, and vanilla.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Beautiful to look at and pretty to smell, fragrant orchids ... are natural alternatives to perfumed candles and room sprays. Horticulturalist Steven Frowine's recently released book Fragrant Orchids profiles 110 varieties and has helpful photographs."—Suzy Bales, Better Homes and Gardens, March 2006 (Suzy Bales Better Homes and Gardens )

Book Description

Only one experience is more breathtaking than seeing a gorgeous orchid in bloom and that is smelling a fragrant gorgeous orchid in bloom! In this first popular book on the subject, the author profiles 110 fragrant orchids including cultivation information and detailed notes on the plant's fragrance and intensity. 125 stunning color photos.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press (October 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881927392
• ISBN-13: 978-0881927399
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #442,795 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am a professional horticulturist, a consultant to the green industry, and an active garden writer and speaker. I have passionately grown 100's of orchids in my various homes throughout the US for almost 40 years and now live in Ajijic, Mexico with my wife, Sascha, and three dogs, Zoe, Tallulah, and Ben. I greatly enjoy growing orchids and other tropical plants year around outdoors in this frost-free climate.
I hold B.S. and M.S. degrees in horticulture from Ohio State University and Cornell University respectively.
More more info about me and my background go to: http://members.authorsguild.net/stevefrow/bio.htm

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very nice reference, August 30, 2006

By 

audiblemercy (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fragrant Orchids: A Guide to Selecting, Growing, and Enjoying (Hardcover)

Frowine lists a multitude of orchids within this book that have been observed to be fragrant either through first hand knowledge or word of mouth. For many of the orchids, he lists some of the basics such as fragrance (i.e. what it smells like), distribution, and some cultivation information. The cultivation information isn't very detailed, but this is a book about fragrance and cultivation information can be found in other books and on the web. For me, the most useful section of the book is the appendices. There are 6 appendices and they are all great:

A) Orchids by Ease of Culture
B) Orchids by Light Requirements
C) Orchids by Nighttime Temperature Preference
D) Orchids by Intensity of Fragrance (my favorite, also describes the fragrance)
E) Orchids by Time of Fragrance
F) Orchids by Season of Bloom

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heavenly Scent, March 25, 2008

By 

L. Cole "orchid devotee" (OHIO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fragrant Orchids: A Guide to Selecting, Growing, and Enjoying (Hardcover)

I read and enjoyed "Orchids for Dummies" another book by Steven Frowine which actually helped give me the courage to get started in the wonderful hobby of growing orchids, so when I saw the "Fragrant Orchids" book by the same author I picked it up confident that it would help me learn more about these extraordinary plants.
I was not disappointed. After a brief couple of chapters entitled "Fragrant Fact and Fancys" and "The Basics of Growing", the book is divided into informative chapters on orchid "alliances", each one profusely illustrated with life like photographs. Everything from pronunciation to recommended potting medium is covered for over 100 fragrant orchids.
I found the extensive appendices offered by the author to be very helpful. Here the species are sorted in to several useful categories that range from "Ease of Use" to "Time of Fragrance". This book has certainly help deepen my knowledge and love for the beautiful and now fragrant orchids.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Way To Track Down Fragrant Orchids, January 9, 2010

By 

John B. (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fragrant Orchids: A Guide to Selecting, Growing, and Enjoying (Hardcover)

Mr. Frowine's book is the first I've seen devoted to this topic (though there may well be others). I've grown orchids for many years; I'm happy to find a way to focus on fragrant orchids. The plant descriptions are grouped by scientific orchid families or alliances.

pros:

1) The individual entries summarize just enough basic information for me to choose plants I can grow. There are plenty of other sources of detailed information on orchids and their culture.
2) Mentions several orchids that are "stinkers". Not all scented orchids have a pleasant smell!
3) Appendix G contains a number of reputable sources for ordering orchids; I can't vouch for all of them though.

cons:

3) The other appendices sorting plants by ease of culture, light requirements, etc. are a great idea, but they would be easier to use if they included the book's page number where the plant is described. It was awkward to go from an appendix to the plant name index, and then to the plant description once I had a page number.