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11-29-2005, 11:13 AM
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Dirr's Manual of Woody Landscape Plants - are there comparable references?
I'm wanting to do a bit more digging into individual plants, and am wondering if there are references out there that go into (dare I say) greater depth than Dirr, particularly about the history of cultivation/use of a plant?
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11-29-2005, 12:09 PM
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Gold Oak Member
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Join Date: Feb 2005
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Jeff-
I haven't seen a single reference that would work like you suggest. Dirr is so comprehensive that it limits the amount of information he can present.
There are some really good reference texts dealing with specific genera or species, like Vertrees' "Japanese Maples", but nothing with as much as Dirr in one place.
Let me do some digging here... okay here are a few others...
Other good references:
* The Complete Plant Selection Guide for Landscape Design by Marc Stoecklein
* Herbaceous Perennial Plants by Allan Armitage
* Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses by Rick Darke
* Hollies: the Genus Ilex by Fred Galle
I'm sure there are others, but none that I can think of right now or can get my hands on easily.
Hope that helps...
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Jesse
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11-29-2005, 07:27 PM
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Have you tried checking out old "Landscape Your Home" manuals at the local library? Round here, there is still stuff from the 1950's sitting on the shelves. It's fun to browse these dusty guidebooks and see how styles and plant choices have changed.
Otherwise, the only author I know who regularly revisits earlier planting styles is Rick Darke.
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11-30-2005, 03:20 PM
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Ranger
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Northern VA
USDA Zone 7
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I use Dirr as my standard reference. As others have mentioned, specialty books for further research can be helpful. I am including a link to The American Society bookstore: Horticuhttps://www.ahs.org/awards/book_awards/75_great_books.htmlture
It has quite a range of books and book reviews. You might want to look at Hortus Third by Liberty H. Bailey
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12-01-2005, 08:17 PM
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Gold Oak Network Member
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If you can find The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Gardening at an old book store you will not be disappointed. It is a set of encyclopedias published by Greystone Press in 1960. There has not been a horticultural question that I have had that has not been answered by this set of books. Of course it dosn't have the newest cultivars of plants but it has just about every obscure plant with a good description, where in the world it originated and cultural info. It will always give you a good starting base for further research. It also includes pests, diseases, weeds and older horticultural practices including propagation, greenhousing, natural rock work, fence building and just about anything else to do with gardens. This set was given to me by my father and I still use it as a base for any research or questions I have. (Especially POTW  )
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Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Beer in one hand - Nacho's in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming : Woo Hoo, what a ride!
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12-01-2005, 08:39 PM
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Gold Oak Member
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There are several sets available on E-bay; I just picked one up.  |
12-01-2005, 09:34 PM
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Gold Oak Network Member
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Voodoo
I think you will enjoy this set of books. I even pick them up just to browse and read even after having them all these years
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Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Beer in one hand - Nacho's in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming : Woo Hoo, what a ride!
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12-01-2005, 10:34 PM
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Administrator
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Hey Voodoo - I said dibs!
Did I forget to type it?
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12-01-2005, 11:36 PM
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Administrator
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I wanted to wait until I also made the purchase - thanks for the head's up re: eBay Voodoo, and thanks Dan D for the reference. $25 and change and the 14 volume set will be shipped to my door. Not a bad day's work!
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12-04-2005, 08:45 PM
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Acorn
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Missouri Ozarks
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I guess you are referring to ornamental plants but sometimes I refer to my old The Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening. copyright 1978 by Rodale Press. In Missouri, we have the Steyermark Flora of Missouri. An excellent for native and non-native professional id. Our Edgar Denison's Missouri WildFlowers is an excellent source for old uses of herbaceous natives.
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12-05-2005, 09:37 PM
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Cool - thanks for the reference.  |
12-13-2005, 12:11 AM
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Dan - I just got my encyclopedias today. Look like they'll be just the kind of thing I'm after. A very nice set of references.
Thanks for the tip.
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12-13-2005, 12:08 PM
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Gold Oak Member
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My seller on E-bay couldn't find the set in his warehouse...guess you got dibs afterall Stone!
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12-13-2005, 12:17 PM
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Administrator
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D'oh!
How do you try to sell something you don't even have? I guess that could be a good money-maker. 
There were a few other sets, so I'd imagine it'd still be easy to find them. Though I was unsure as to whether the full set had only 4 books or 14 - many of the sellers were only selling a "set" of 4 - pretty sure now that anything less than 14 is not a full set. |
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