Gardening in the Humid South [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Edmund N. O'Rourke (Author), Leon C. Standifer (Author), E. N. O'Rourke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2001

Two self-proclaimed "crotchety old horticulture professors," Ed O'Rourke and Leon Standifer share an immense love of gardening, a vast knowledge of all things horticultural, and a hearty sense of humor. In Gardening in the Humid South, they combine all of these traits to provide a practical and entertaining guide to gardening in the region they know best, the humid subtropics of the lower South.

In chapters with titles like "Bulbs and Things That Act Like Bulbs" and "Weeds: Telling Good Guys from Bad Guys," Ed and Leon offer friendly how-to advice on a broad array of issues, including choosing and preparing a cultivation site, raising fruit, growing in containers, using fertilizer, and preparing for cold weather.

Regardless of your gardening style, Ed and Leon can help. Are you a weekend warrior who enjoys leisurely Saturday mornings in the yard? Ed and Leon will show you ways to improve your garden while cutting back on your total effort. Is your yard large enough to keep you busy all day, every day? Ed and Leon know some short cuts that you probably haven't tried. Are you an apartment gardener with only a window sill and a few old pots to cultivate? Ed and Leon have some tips just for you. Even armchair gardeners will delight in living vicariously through the agricultural antics of these witty and wise old hands.

In Gardening in the Humid South, two old friends share their contagious enthusiasm for their avocation and show that despite the hard work, gardening is, above all, fun.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Both former holticulture professors at Louisiana State University, O'Rourke and Standifer present a lively and comprehensive treatment of gardening in the humid subtropics of the lower South. These seasoned horticulturists approach their subject with a mix of scientific pragmatism and loving reverence. The book, in fact, reads like a lively discussion sprinkled with humorous stories, old-timers' advice on diagnostics and maintenance, and "homegrown" solutions to gardening problems. Despite its casual tone, the guide is indispensable to any Southern home gardener. The authors succeed in taking the confusion out of the scientific aspects of horticulture and provide readers with a helpful monthly calendar of timely opportunities and requisite chores and hassles. This exceptional book is highly recommended for both public and academic libraries, especially in the "Sunny South." Deborah A. Broocker, Georgia Perimeter Coll., Dunwoody
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Professor emeritus of horticulture at Louisiana State University, Edmund N. O'Rourke Jr. lives in Baton Rouge. Leon C. Standifer is professor emeritus of horticulture at Louisiana State University and the author of Not in Vain and Binding Up the Wounds, memoirs of his World War II army days.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 408 pages
• Publisher: Louisiana State University Press; illustrated edition edition (February 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807126810
• ISBN-13: 978-0807126813
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,093,942 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gardening with Grumpy Old Men, April 7, 2004

By 

Breana Simmons (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gardening in the Humid South (Paperback)

As a recent transplant to the south, I found this book not only entertaining but extremely informative. Take two old men, several theories on gardening and an unlimited number of pages for arguing and you've got Gardening in the Humid South. Ed and Leon have never steered me wrong, and they're a hoot to boot!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for certain gardeners, August 24, 2008

By 

Carolina Girl (north carolina) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gardening in the Humid South (Paperback)

I bought this book as I love most books that pertain to Southern gardening. I have most of Michael Dirr's books, for example, and and love them all. This book is quite a bit different - it has a lot of chapters that pertain to garden planning, soil preparation, fertilizers, weed eradication, tools, pots and the like. There is less specific information about particular plants here than I expected - the chapter on shrubs is only 7 pages long, to give an example. There are very few photographs of plants or trees, and these are in black and white. So, it depends on what you want in a garden book to decide if this is for you.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Guide for Gardners, May 9, 2007

By 

Lanier Cordell "Author, Equinomics: The Secre... (Baton Rouge) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gardening in the Humid South (Paperback)

Living in climates where the humidity is high, is as difficult on plants as it is humans. O'Rourke provides lots of useful information on creating gardens that withstand the challenge of heavy air.