GIVE SOMETHING THAT GARDENERS WILL PORE OVER.Byline: Marilee Reyes Staff Writer The only thing better for a gardener than his or her own garden is a beautiful book about gardens. So consider these great books for that person on your shopping list who reveres plants, whether they be flowers, fruits or vegetables. This must be the year for tulips, and perhaps the most beautiful book this season on anything botanical is ``Tulipa: A Photographer's Botanical'' (Artisan; $65). Photographer Christopher Baker and international tulip tulip [Pers.,=turban], any plant of the large genus Tulipa, hardy, bulbous-rooted members of the family Liliaceae (lily family), indigenous to north temperate regions of the Old World from the Mediterranean to Japan and growing most abundantly on the steppes expert Willem Lemmers joined talent and knowledge in this sumptuous sump·tu·ous adj. Of a size or splendor suggesting great expense; lavish: "He likes big meals, so I cook sumptuous ones" Anaïs Nin. and big, big book. Each photograph, reminiscent of 17th- and 18th-century botanicals, is a work of art. You'll be hard pressed not to tear out to pull or draw out by violence; as, to tear out the eyes s>. See also: Tear the photographs and frame them for wall hangings. ``Window Boxes, Indoors and Out'' (Artisan; $25), by James Cramer and Dean Johnson Dean Elton Johnson (born June 24, 1947) was formerly the majority leader of the Minnesota Senate. He was first elected to the Senate in 1982 and represented the 13th Senate District. , has been out for almost a year, but it's still a great gift book for a person who wants to try small-scale gardening. Planters Planters is an American snack food company under Kraft Foods manufacturing, best known for its nuts and the Mr. Peanut icon that symbolizes them. Started by Italian immigrants Amedeo Obici and Mario Peruzzi in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in 1906, it was incorporated in 1908 have particular soil and watering requirements, which are discussed in detail. ``The New Traditional Garden,'' by Michael Weishan Michael Weishan (born 7 August 1964 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is perhaps most widely known as the host of the American public television series, The Victory Garden, a position he held from 2001 through 2007. , (Ballantine Publishing Group; $35) is a practical guide to creating or restoring authentic American gardens for all eras and scales of grandeur or simplicity. With the increased interest in heirloom garden designs and plants, Weishan's book arrives at a perfect time. It's formulated in true textbook style and covers everything from the history of American gardens to plants, soil preparation, layout, garden architecture and includes about as extensive a list of suppliers as one will find anywhere. Weishan has illustrated the book with black-and-white period engravings, garden designs and plant illustrations, which probably makes the book more accurate in mood than one with lush color photos. Still ... buy it for the knowledge therein ... not for the pictures. Aha! A book on roses that actually recognizes California gardens: ``Beautiful American Rose Gardens'' (Clarkson Potter Publishers; $40). Usually these books focus on East Coast or Southern gardens, but the author, Mary Tonetti Dorra, lives in Santa Barbara Santa Barbara (săn'tə bär`brə, –bərə), city (1990 pop. 85,571), seat of Santa Barbara co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1850. and therefore is familiar with our rose conditions. She even extols their virtues in a whole chapter titled ``Sun Blessed Gardens of California.'' The exquisite photography of Richard Felber captures both individual roses and the bounty of a garden overflowing with ramblers, climbers This list of climbers includes both mountaineers and rock climbers, since many (though not all) climbers engage in both types of activities. The list also includes boulderers and ice climbers. and beds of roses with equal attention. |
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