The Year in Trees: Superb Woody Plants for Four-Season Gardens [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

by Kim E. Tripp (Author), J. C. Raulston (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Now that The Year in Trees from the North Carolina State University Arboretum is available in paperback, there's no reason that every American town park designer, landscaper, home gardener, and "plantsman" (a pet term of late coauthor J.C. Raulston) shouldn't have a copy. In her extensive portraits of 150 woody plants (trees, shrubs, and vines), Kim Tripp reveals herself to be a plantsman on a mission. Whether rescuing underappreciated plants like Catalpa from undeserved weed-tree status, introducing readers to nonnative varieties like Korean lilac that have proved easy to grow in the United States, or reintroducing gardeners to "grande dames" like the southern magnolia, Tripp's goal to encourage greater diversity in landscape plantings is in passionate evidence.

The authors risk alienating readers--or at least commercial nursery owners--with their repeated case for variety. In his fine introduction, Raulston writes of gardeners "distracted and mesmerized by the many spring blockbusters" available at the local chain nurseries, whose proprietors tend to ignore less common but often more appropriate and interesting plants in pursuit of easy profit. "Azaleas, azaleas everywhere and no relief in sight!" Tripp writes with exasperation in her portrait of Fothergilla, her suggested alternative to the ubiquitous flowering shrub. Her choices are bold and sometimes antagonistic, but always reasonable and based on rigorous, wide-ranging data collection. The featured plants, arranged into spring, summer, fall, and winter sections, are all shown in one or more color photograph, making The Year in Trees an invaluable reference, not to mention a new classic, for home gardeners. --Liana Fredley --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist
The authors cite the fact that only 40 species of shrubs and trees make up 90 percent of the landscape plantings in the U.S. Dividing their book into four parts corresponding to the seasons, Tripp and Raulston offer 150 "plant portraits" of trees, shrubs, and vines. These portraits are a result of a weekly series of articles that Tripp wrote while at the North Carolina State University Arboretum in Raleigh, North Carolina, from 1990 to 1993. All 150 of the plants discussed are relatively trouble-free and reliable in a range of landscape conditions. Each entry contains information on hardiness and propagation and a detailed description of the plant. To have 206 color photographs. George Cohen

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 274 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press, Incorporated (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881923206
• ISBN-13: 978-0881923209
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,331,969 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Recommendations from two experts who really know plants!, September 2, 1998

By	R. G. Davis "treethyme" (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The world of horticulture was shocked when Dr. Raulston was killed in a car accident almost two years ago. He was known worldwide for his plant expertise and especially for the new plants he brought into the public eye. Kim Tripp honed her craft at Harvard's Arnold Arboretum, so when these two recommend a plant they know what they are talking about! The book is well written and easily to follow season by season. Particularly recommended for serious gardeners.