Customer Reviews

The Gardener's Guide to Growing Hardy Perennial Orchids

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I live in the Pacific Northwest though I grew up in Montana. My gardening interests started with bonsai, but I quickly also got lured into a fascination with the wildflowers that grow under the forest canopy.

Much to my surprise, there are 200 or more species of orchids that live in the US and Canada, many of them in snowy and colder areas -- like Glacier National Park and Mt. Rainier. More and more material has started to become availalbe through specialty nurseries. So a few years ago, I set out to learn how to grow some of the species in my garden and in pots outdoors. I was hooked.

The unfortunate problem was that, while there are a ton (literally) of books on tropical orchids, there was hardly any information anywhere about how to grow the various species of hardy orchids.

I do not review books. This is my first. William Mathis, an MS in botany and PhD in agronomy, who spent a career as a research scientist for an agricultural company, and then retired to start his own hardy orchid nursery, wrote this book. It is beautiful. Though it's self-published, it's as nicely organized, written, edited, illustrated, and detailed as any gardening book I've ever seen. The color photos, of which there are lots, are stunning. What's more, the book is designed to be practical -- truly a "Gardener's Guide."

This book came out in February 2005 and, sort of ironically, in September, a major gardening book publisher came out with a book on the same topic. I have both and I like them both for different reasons. But for plain usefulness and clearly written text, if I had to pick one, it's this one. When I talked with Mathis about his book he told me that if he'd known that other publisher's book was coming out he wouldn't have done his. I disagree. I find the other book useful. I find this one invaluable.

As for growing orchids in the back yard, I don't think there could be a better book. The real "KICK" that I got from it was that it taught me some very important principles. These concepts can be use in preparations and installations of other plants , like hostas, Japanese maples, hydrangeas and many other plants, I believe I can say that his teachings will take you well beyond that of growing hardy orchids.

The book is a very well written book, in form and composition. Being unlike many other books that are simply writing for profit and lacking in expertise, Dr. Mathis is serious about his work,his explanations, and ideas are complete. He is like the veritable chef that whispers in your ear, that he did indeed use Grand Marnier in the Madeira sauce.

I have read a few books on organic gardening, gardening in general yada yada yada, but I must say this is by far the best book on gardening I have ever read.

An excellent guide for the beginner or experienced gardener interested in growing these relatively unknown orchid species. The consistent structure of this book makes it very easy to find the information the user desires about a particular species after having read it once.

Detailed information is provided regarding the proper techniques for cultivating these orchids in the garden or in containers. What questions that can't be answered by this book can be found by emailing the author who is very approachable and willing to help.

This book is perfect for the beginner or the more experienced gardener who wants to grow terrestrial orchids. No one should grow them without purchasing this book first.