Iris: The Classic Bearded Varieties [Hardcover]

Claire Austin (Author), Clay Perry (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 10, 2002

From the myths and medicine of ancient Greece to the fleur-de-lys emblem of medieval and Renaissance France, irises occupy a timeless niche in our imagination. The endless diversity and color combinations of the bearded varieties, above all, have made them a gardener's dream.

Iris offers detailed information on seventy of today's best varieties of bearded iris, and on their planting and care. White, yellow, purple, crimson-the blooms in this gloriously photographed book capture the extraordinary elegance and allure of a plant prized throughout the centuries as the personification of the rainbow. Iris makes a wonderful gift for the gardener planning the planting season or for the well-furnished coffee table.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Whether blending effortlessly in traditional cottage gardens or adding drama to contemporary plantings, bearded irises are the new stars of the garden. And thanks to modern breeding techniques, it is now possible to enjoy their sensational blooms for three consecutive months or more. This book, graced with Clay Perry’s glorious color photos, features 70 of today’s best varieties as well as a wealth of practical guidance on how to plant and grow irises successfully. Enchanting and informative, Iris is an ideal book for specialists, new enthusiasts, and the well–appointed coffee table. Claire Austin, author of 1001 Perennials, runs a successful nursery specializing in irises and hardy plants. Clay Perry is an internationally renowned garden photographer, whose books include Clay Perry’s Fantastic Flowers and David Austin’s English Roses. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Claire Austin has been a professional breeder of irises for seventeen years.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 104 pages
• Publisher: Studio; First Edition edition (January 10, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670030341
• ISBN-13: 978-0670030347
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,485,404 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Iris lovers...save your money!!, October 26, 2002

By 

Linda J. Doffek (West Bend, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Iris: The Classic Bearded Varieties (Hardcover)

Wow, how disappointing. I am a grower/lover of bearded irises and automatically purchase any newly published book on the subject. This book is just set up poorly to read, the varieties depicted are from the author's garden(I assume) are bland, boring, and non representative of some of the finest varieties of bearded irises out there. I really didn't appreciate most of the photography either...a lot of that artsy "looking into the center of the flower" stuff. The only reason it got even two stars is that I appreciate the author's text in some areas and that she's endeavored to create a book to showcase and promote the iris. Unfortunately, the overall effort seems to fall short.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly superb, very informative., January 8, 2004

By 

J. Beckman "Nightcat" (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Iris: The Classic Bearded Varieties (Hardcover)

This book was a lot more than I expected, and I loved the thoughtful cross-reference guide included with each photo. The photography itself is superb, and it is wonderful to see the spots, stripes, and colors on these garden queens. It was nice to see some of the more common irises included and that even though a grower, the author didn't turn this gem of a book into a mere catalog. Bravo!