Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
For a decade renowned event designers David Stark and Avi Adler have been creating the art and fashion world's most talked-about parties, with flower arrangements that completely break the mold.Their easy-to-follow formulas show how a rummage through a hardware store, the attic, or even the refrigerator can transform everyday ingredients—colored gravel, feather boas, office supplies, and more—into glamorous, one-of-a-kind floral designs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

It's fun, it's easy - It's Fun and Easy!
Mr. Stark takes all the guesswork out of those wonderful arrangements you see in magazines and on television and shows you how you can create marvelous displays for yourself.A must have for those who entertain as well as those who just love to be creative and enjoy surrounding themselves with beauty.

Fun and full of inspiration
This is a book that is fun to read and to look at.There are beautiful and amazing pictures of what you can do with everyday items around your house, or, with things you can purchase for very little money.At the same time, the book is full of great ideas to copy or get you started creating your own wild decorations next time you entertain.I can't wait to put water tubes with fresh flowers in my lawn this summer !!

Perfect for spicing up a party
Great ideas for innovative party giving.Everything here can be done easily to create a true impact.A definite MUST HAVE for your next event.

Take that Martha!
It seems as though Mr. Stark has a lot of experience in hosting creative parties at economical prices.His style is fun, not flashy. While flipping through the pages of this most interesting book it is obvious that the author has a talent for turning everyday household items into something that can be used to entertain.The vase idea especially was ingenious!! With the publication of this book, Mr. Stark and his associates will definitely give Martha Stewart a run for her money.

A must have for party throwers
I can honestly say I have never read a book more informative, helpfull, and fun to read as Wild Flowers. After reading the book, my mind was filled with great ideas for my next special occasion. In my opinion this book is more helpful and creative then any "do it yourself" book or video I've ever had and believe me I've had a lot of them. Mr. Stark has an ingenious way of being creative and economical at the same time. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is the fruit of Marjorie Blamey's lifelong absorption with wild flowers and their accurate illustration. Covering all species, both native and introduced, widespread or local, north of the Alps and the Mediterranean region, except for grasses, sedges, rushes and horsetails, CASSELL'S WILD FLOWERS OF BRITAIN AND NORTHERN EUROPE is the most complete and detailed colour-illustrated guide yet for any comparable area of the globe. Majorie Blamey's flower paintings appear on the right-hand pages of the book and are minutely accurate and precise with many small details. Illustrated on the book's left-hand pages are details of flower, leaf, stem, fruit or seed, and variations in colour or form. These are keyed by numbers to the text, where asterisks indicate fuller portraits on the facing page. The descriptive text, by Christopher Grey-Wilson, perfectly complements the illustrations, and provides clear details of the size, habitat and distribution of the flowers. ... Read more

Product Description
This directory is aimed at being a quick reference on all aspects of planting and maintaining a garden, including advice on habitats and soil types, and co-ordinating colour and foliage, identifying and dealing with pests. There are practical tips and instructions presented in topic-based spreads. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review
Take Hal Bruce's advice and get a little wild in your garden. In How to Grow Wildflowers and Wild Shrubs and Trees in Your Own Garden, he describes where to find and how to grow wild things, both for their beauty and for the good of the planet. Bruce, who is definitely not a purist, reconciles the use of exotics and store-bought plants with native plants. He gives expert (and rare) instruction on how to cultivate uncommon native plants and what to plant in resistant or unusual areas, such as aquatic gardens or sandy spots. The appendix of sources for wild plants and the chart of planting zones will prove especially handy in your gardening adventures. One might question, though, Bruce's recommendations for propagating something called "Sneezeweed." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

'Wildflowers' and 'Natives' are not synonymous
I have not read this entire book, but perused enough to have concerns - beginning with the cover.The flower pictured is Nigella damascena and it is NOT a North American native.Many people are confused about Wildflowers/Natives.They are not interchangeable words. Although the author does not use the term "native" in his title I see that other people reviewing this book are - adding to the confusion.Just my thoughts :)

Less "how to..." than "how to appreciate and use..."
First point:This is a reprint of an excellent, early book (originally published in 1976) that should be read by all lovers of wild plants (in the field and in the garden).Second point:The title is somewhat misleading. This is NOT a primer on how to collect, propogate, cultivate and designwith native plants in the garden.While it is filled with interesting anduseful information on the plants it describes, those looking for pictorial,step-by-step, truly "how-to" information should consult otherreference books.It also focuses on plants found in the mid-Atlanticregions of the U.S., so readers in other areas may find even less usefulinformation for their own gardens.

All hint of misleading titles aside,however, this is a great book to read for one man's perspective onenvironmental destruction and salvation.Written by Mr. Bruce during atransition period in our environmentalist evolution - between theecology/flower child movements of the 1960s and early 70s (remember theclosed, green "E"?) and the rise of the prairie restoration,Nature Conservancy, rainforest protection, and other highly-organized,politically-correct movements of the 1980s and 90s - it is a plea forpeople to open their eyes to the beauty and potential loss of theenvironments that surround them.Using the changing seasons as hisbackdrop, Mr. Bruce takes us with him on a year-long, three-times-per-week,90-mile commute through the Delaware, Maryland and Virginia countrysidethat he refers to as "Delmarva".He tells us about the flora andfauna he sees on these drives, and then goes into great description oftheir attributes, their relationship to the environment, and the history oftheir development and distribution.He then shares idea for how theseplant materials can not only be preserved from destruction, but how theycan be best used in our own gardens, large and small.

Throughout, theauthor writes with a passionate, personal, engaging perspective on theseplants and the people that protect them, never hesitating to criticizeplant features he dislikes, but glowing in praise of their attributes andvalue.It is an enjoyable read, a four-season visit to a beautiful place,with an excellent traveling companion.

Best Book About Native Plants for the Mid-Atlantic States
By far the best advice about growing wild trees, shrubs and flowers native to the eastern United States.For anyone who wants to naturalize woodland borders or ponds, streamsides and meadows, or who simply wants to growbeautiful native plants that are available from specialty nurseries but notoften found in neighborhood garden centers. The description of wild,fragrant native azaleas is unsurpassed.Because Hal Bruce's personalexperience was in gardens of the Mid-Atlantic states, his understanding ofplants and habitats is particularly useful for gardeners in the Atlanticcoastal plain. ... Read more

Product Description
Scott Calhoun "tells his story with wit and a delightful earthiness."—The American Gardener.What can possess a man to drive across state lines, mountain ranges, and international borders with little more than a ragged guide book, an old map, and a wild look in his eyes? Wild women? No, wildflowers!

Author Scott Calhoun invites you to join him on a rollicking adventure through Utah, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and into Sonora, Mexico. Along the way, learn how red chile on a white T-shirt can look like a gunshot wound, and how a man driving a VW Jetta with 100,000 miles on it can feel "richer than a Hollywood divorce lawyer" while he searches for the elusive beauty of blooming wildflowers. Why? Because "there are some temptations that are too great for a renegade gardener to resist." 36 full-color photographs ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

I love this book!
I moved to Tucson because of this book, well almost. Scott makes you feel like you are traveling along with him, he tells you all about the wildflowers, cacti & trees he sees on his travels and what music he is listening to while adventuring. I love this book and this guy! Wish I could tag along & chase wildflowers with him!

Chasing Wildflowers
Another great title by this same author is Yard Full of Sun: The Story of a Gardener's Obsession That Got a Little Out of Hand. Just as entertaining as Chasing Wildflowers!Yard Full of Sun: The Story of a Gardener's Obsession That Got a Little Out of Hand

Unique, unusual, and superbly written
In "Chasing Wildflowers: A Mad Search For Wild Gardens", author and horticulture enthusiast Scott Calhoun celebrates the beauty of wildflowers in natural settings that range from Utah, Colorado, Texas, and New Mexico, to Arizona, California, and Sonora, Mexico. Profusely illustrated throughout with 69 color photographs, "Chasing Wildflowers" is part travelogue and part nature study, all presented with the author heading each chapter with the date of that particular trip, its destination, the total trip time, the vehicle use, the round-trip distance from his home-base of Tucson, his traveling companion, and even the music enjoyed along the way. Unique, unusual, and superbly written, "Chasing Wildflowers" is highly entertaining, informative, and recommended for personal and community library collections -- and the next best thing to traveling to these various destinations in person!

crazy plant lover/stand up commedian
I haven't laughed so much in a long time...perhaps I am easily amused.
I also have been to all the places Calhoun writes about and it's great to know there are other people enjoying the plants as much as I. I would love to show this guy some of my favorite plant places and see his take.
A lovely (and funny) book. ... Read more

Product Description
This guide illustrates virtually all the wild flower species of Britain, Ireland and north-west Europe, and arranges them by their colour groups. Each flower is shown life-size, with its English name, flowering months, height group, some characteristics useful for identification, and where in Britain or Ireland it grows. The regions where non-British species grow are also noted. ... Read more

Product Description
Detailed descriptions of more than one hundred species of wildflowers, native grasses, and ferns are accompanied by helpful advice on cultivation, propagation, winter care, and tips on designing a ""natural landscape"" garden. ... Read more

Product Description
From the East Texas swamps and forests to the Edwards Plateau canyons and the Trans-Pecos mountains, Texas hosts a surprising number of native orchids. Their exquisite beauty endears them to everyone from wildflower lovers to professional botanists and conservationists. This beautifully illustrated book presents all 54 wild orchids of Texas. The species descriptions that accompany Joe Liggio's lovely color photos discuss the plant's flowers, blooming season, pollinators, typical habitats, and range (also shown by map), including its distribution within and beyond Texas. The species are grouped by genus and also listed by color, county, and habitat for easy reference. In addition to the species accounts, the authors offer a general natural history of Texas orchids that discusses such topics as pollination and reproduction, special growing requirements, and threats to orchids from loss of habitats and careless collecting. They also describe the many orchid habitats in Texas and the species that grow in each. This wide variety of information, which has never before been collected in one volume for a general readership, makes this book the essential guide to Texas' wild orchids. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Wild Orchids of Texas
This is a wonderful book - a beautiful reference for the wild orchids in Texas.Its arrangement makes identifying and searching for orchids as easy as possible.I particularly like the descriptions of habitats and the attention to locations.It has small maps with county designations and there is an index in the back to allow searching by county.The photographs are beautiful and are taken in their natural settings and that makes it easier to look for these orchids.Anyone with an interest in wild orchids in Texas should have this book.I highly recommend it!

You don't have to be a Biologist to use and love this book!
These authors really know their stuff!Lots of information to help your chances of actually observing these native beauties in the wild.Conservation is a repeated theme throughout.Texans will be blown away by the incredible photos!I love mine.

Wild Orchids of Texas by Joe Liggio & Ann Orto Liggio
This book is clearly a labor of love on the part of the authors, and is one that should be very useful to nature lovers in general, and both amateur and professional orchidologists.The photography is excellent,giving a feel for both the habitat and individual plants and flowers. There is only one very rare species that is not pictured.The index iswell done and quite useable.The authors have done a superb job ofpromoting the cause of orchid conservation -- including such things as"How to Save Our Native Orchids: What You Can Do" on page 5. They have a good general discussion of orchid life cycles, their habitats,mycorhizal associations and pollenators.For those not familiar with Texasthe inclusion of a vegetation map and a short description of each majorvegetation type is very useful.Orchids are listed by: 1) flower colour,2) by vegetation/habitat types, and finally species distributions by countyare given.One orchid Habenaria quinqueseta does not have a distributionmap, but since it was collected over 150 years ago, we shouldn't be tooconcerned.The only real lack that I have found is that there is no key tothe genera and species given.This is an excellent book that every seriousorchid species enthusiast should have in their book collection -- if onlyfor the wonderful photography.

Brings the wild orchids of Texas to you
The authors, a husband-wife team, combine their specialties to create an exciting experience for the reader. Joe is a biologist and photographer, and Ann is a writer. They have crafted a beautifully executed book. The writing is excellent; the photography is exquisite; the organization is wonderful; and the information is easily digestible for the lay person. The authors have spent years chasing down these delightful and beautiful orchids and now bring their beauty to you. The University of Texas Press has created a book of high quality and beauty with great color photographs. Fifty-four types of orchids are discussed and described in their natural habitats. Each of the regional sections are described and orchids living in each listed. Orchids are listed by flower color, genus and species, and scientific names. One appendix lists species distribution by county. The list of references and index add great value to the book. ... Read more

Product Description
A complete guide to growing, identifying, conserving, and landscaping with the wildflowers found in the eastern half of the United States and Canada includes a full-color, photographic portfolio of the most popular eastern wildflowers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

OK
The book is a nice addition to your wild flower library, but definitly not one to take with you for identification purposes.

The Incomplete Guide
Perhaps the publisher has changed the subtitle since its initial publication in 1992.My book is subtitled "The Complete Guide to Growing and Identifying Wildflowers."Unlike their excellent FieldGuide to Birds, this book is neither complete nor especially helpful forthe identification of eastern wildflowers. There are two excellent chapterson Trilliums and Lady Slippers.Following these is a "gallery"of 87 plants with photographs, Some helpful for identification, some notclose enough to be useful, (e.g.Hawkweed). It would be helpful to see theplant's leaves, yet they are frequently omitted from the photograph,(e.g.Yarrow and Queen Anne's Lace which are often confused). The growing tipsare quite welcome.Most guides omit these.The fact that the authors havechosen their favorite plants and omitted the rest is this book's severestlimitation. I took a drive today and wondered, "What is that gorgeousblue plant dotting the roadside?Could I grow it?What is that pinkysplash of daisylike plants?Is that some kind of wild phlox growing bythat stream bank?" The Stokes book did not help.I found theanswers elsewhere. ... Read more

Product Description
This most complete and authoritative guide to North American wildflowers offers clear and detailed information on growing and propagating 200 genera and 1,000 species of these precious plants. No matter what your level of interest -- whether it is to introduce a few plants into your garden or to learn how to propagate them for yourself or for sales, this book will inspire as well as inform you.
With Cullina's guidance, you'll learn in which parts of the continent the plants are found in the wild, and -- even more helpful -- where and how to succeed with them in your own garden wherever you live.
As open land disappears, so too do many of the native plants that once flourished on this continent. Gardeners may be their last resort. It is the author's philosophy that a garden is not just an extension of our houses but a habitat we share with plants and the animals that depend on them for food and shelter. He writes:
"There is value in preserving wilderness, but there is equal value in restoring the suburbs and cities where most of us live to something closer to balance -- for our children's sake and the sake of all the other species around us. Growing wildflowers is not only fun and easy, it fosters a genuine connection with the region you live in."
William Cullina is the nursery manager and propagator for the New England Wild Flower Society, the oldest and one of the most widely known plant conservation organizations in North America. In 2000, the Society celebrated its 100th birthday. In spite of its regional name, their commitment is to the study and protection of all temperate North American native flowers. The Garden in the Woods, in Framingham, Massachusetts, is the popular showcase for the NEWFS. It features naturalistic displays of native plants organized by habitat and includes woodland, bog, meadow, pine barren, western/alpine, and pond side plantings.Amazon.com Review
The New England Wild Flower Society is the oldest plant conservation organization in North America. It celebrated its 100th birthday by publishing this beautiful and useful guide to identifying, growing, and propagating native wildflowers.

Cultivating and appreciating native flora is a first step towards ecological gardening, a concept whose time has come. By choosing to grow the plants that thrive naturally in the conditions your garden offers, you are working with rather than against nature, resulting in easier maintenance and a reduced need of water and chemicals. A great many of the very loveliest flowers are available as natives, such as columbines, iris, trout lilies, violets, trillium, and even orchids. The delicacy of the native species, their simple forms and unadorned beauty, make many of the cultivars we see in the nursery appear overdone and blowzy, like a girl who has overdressed for a party. Horticulturists have worked for years to make new colors, double forms, and larger, brighter flowers, but these small natives have all the appeal of the original, plus they naturally thrive in appropriate conditions.

More than a thousand species of flowers are discussed and pictured, with thorough information on native habitat, cultural requirements, propagation, and design considerations. At the back of the book are lists of plants ideal for specific situations and with certain characteristics; look here to find what species have large leaves or attract butterflies, as well as which do best in dry shade, rocky areas, bogs, and, perhaps most useful of all, which wildflowers are deer-resistant. --Valerie Easton ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

A superior resource for landscaping with North American wildflowers
Although this is not a book you'd find helpful in identifying wildflowers (get a field guide for that), what it absolutely excels in is providing information about the cultural requirements and propagation of North American wildflowers, almost all of them hardy to zone 5. The species it concentrates on are those with the most aesthetic value in the landscape. Look through this book and you'll ask yourself why you're still planting daylilies and peonies.

The wildflower bible
If you want an encyclopedia on wildflowers of the U.S. and Canada, you can't beat this one. It has an excellent introductory section on how to use the book and a succinct discussion of the effect of environmental factors such as light, soils, fertility, and temperature on native plants. He describes the floristic provinces of North America describing how the climate, soils and rainfall affect the vegetation of each region. The heart of the book is the encyclopedia of species listed in alphabetical order by genus with a plant description, hardiness zone, light requirements, soil, size, color, propagation and culture headings. Unique to this book is a section on time of seed ripening and germination requirements. Appendices list wildflowers for various sites, sources of plants and seeds, native plant societies, hardiness zone map, a bibliography, glossary and index.

While there are may be better sources on how to grow wildflowers in your garden, I find this book demonstrates Cullina's experience and expertise in understanding the wildflower world and putting his knowledge to work. Gardeners, as well as professional plants people, should have this book.

Norman Pellett, author of Gardener's Quiz Book

A Guide To Wildflowers By A True Expert
If you happen to be visiting The Garden in the Woods in Framingham, MA, you will probably notice a man puttering in the gardens or working in the nursery. More than likely he will instinctively know that you have a question about the wildflowers you are examining and he will be more than happy to share his knowledge. This amiable person is William Cullina of the New England Wildflower Society. For those who are unable to visit the garden, or have a question about wildflowers, Cullina's book GROWING AND PROPAGATING WILDFLOWERS is the next best thing. This coffee table style book is filled with lavish photographs and wonderful commentary about many wildflowers found in North America. The book not only assists the reader in identifying various wildflowers, but helps the reader who wishes to incorporate wildflowers in a home garden. Cullina mentions in the introduction that horticulture has been a life long passion. This is evident in his writing style. The information in the book is informative and while it is presented in a formal manner, it is non-threatening for the novice gardener. This work is not helpful just for gardeners. Photographers will appreciate the wonderful shots of the flowers, many of which were photographed by Cullina himself.

Disappointing if you want to cultivate these plants
I was under the impression that this book would provide the information I needed to cultivate these plants on some scale.I was very disappointed.There is no way that you could reliably produce these plants with the information provided in this book.There are much better books out there for that purpose.If you are a novice, homegardener wanting to learn about wildflowers and grow a few in your backyard, this book would be okay for you.But if you are knowledgeable on the topic already, I think you will be disappointed.

Great Information, Weak IIlustration
This is a wonderful book about the culture and propagation of North American native flowers.The author clearly knows his stuff and communicates it well.

The only weakness is the limited and low quality photography (lots of depth of field problems) which, I gather is not the author's work, but came from a wildflower society. There really are far too few pictures considering the wide variety of plants. Don't plan on being able to tell which of the diverse Eupatoriums or Asters you want to plant by looking at their pictures.

HOWEVER, this book would be worth it without pictures, just for the information.Go buy the book and then write the pubisher a note saying the illustration is beneath the writing....just like I just did. ... Read more

Product Description
Here is a classic American wildflower book, now in paperback, as useful and entertaining today as when it was published almost 100 years ago. All the botanical information has been updated, and the original line drawings have been reprinted, plus twenty-five new color plates from the gift edition published last year. ... Read more