Customer Reviews

Northeast (SmartGarden Regional Guides)

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

 

 

SmartGarden's Northeast guide is a beautifully presented book with large photos of plants and brief write-ups on characteristics, as well as an easy-to-follow guide to sunlight needs, drought resistance, temperature, and height. The two main sections are divided into Woody Plants and Herbaceous Plants, with each of those subdivided into various helpful planting categories like: Trees with purple foliage; perennials for dry, sunny sites; genuses; aquatic perennials for floral interest.

I like the planting categories and have found them helpful, but I wish the write-ups were longer with more information about that plant. Sometimes the categories are frustrating, as you might wish to look up a plant by family, but you can always cross-reference in the back. One of my favorite plant books is Pojar and Mackinnon's Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast and it contains incredible information on all the plants, as well as an excellent navigation guide. However, SmartGarden's Northeast is geared towards gardeners vs. botanists and is full of practical hands-on information. The beginning and end of the book contain general notes on planting, soil testing, and wildlife encouragement or discouragement. In terms of northeast plant guides, I would say this has been one of the best that I've found. I love the full color photo spreads and the size of the book. It's great to find something that makes gardening in certain growing conditions easier. A good addition to the gardening library.

A good resource...lot's of good information on the plants named.

If one already owns several plant encycolpedias such as A. Armitage's Perennial source or Dirr's Manual of Woody Landscape plants...this may only add in respect with it's value of the wonderful photos.

That said...photos are often worth their price even though we've seen that plant in a pot at the nursery....seeing plants situated in a landscape often helps us envision it's possibilities of use in the garden.

For that alone...this book is a complimentary companion perhaps to the more well researched & thorough volumes available.

Check it out at the book store first...to get an idea at how nice the photos are if you're still not convinced.

I bought a couple of guides to help me redo a large garden at a house we'd bought - the garden had fallen into neglect.

No guide is perfect, and I've found that it may be simpler to experiment and talk to neighbors. I've found that all guides are fallible in the way they describe plant hardiness, sun requirements, and so on. Helpful, but visit a local garden center and get some direct advice first.

My title bout sums it up. This is a great book, in that it is an encyclopedia of plants, with good photos and descriptions for a specific region (finding regional plan books is difficult). I found it very useful as a landscape design student, and have found nothing else like it. Most of the books in this series are also very useful. Do not buy this if your seeking design ideas, or a beautiful photo book of landscape designs, this is for reference, and is the best I found.

This is a wonderful book for anyone who wants to learn more about gardening in the NE part of the country. All the information that you need, in one volume. :)