Timber Press.

Timber Press

133 SW 2nd Ave.#450, Portland, OR 97204-3527

1-800-327-5680 www.timberpress.com

There are plenty of gardening guides always adding to a rich market of books, but if your special gardener seeks the depth lacking in most, turn to Timber Press: its guides hold all the detail a gardener could want, making them as important for college-level botany and horticultural collections as for the avid home gardener. They're packed with color, but the heart of each book is its horticultural detail, providing plenty of important insights. L. Clarence Towe's American Azaleas (088-1926450, $29.95) provides an outstanding coverage of fifteen species of American azaleas suitable for garden environments. A centerfold of color photos accompanies the meat of the discussion: azalea varieties, propagation, and how nurseries are working to improve azaleas to regional gardening conditions. Chapters cover all the basics of collecting, landscaping with and improving upon azaleas. Peter Goldblatt, John Manning and Gary Dunlop's Crocosmia And Chasmanthe (0881926-515, $29.95) tells of a cultivar first flowered in Paris in 1633--which has received surprisingly little attention since. This is one of the only in-depth focuses available on the Chasmanthe, native to South Africa, and the Crocosmia, from tropical Africa: chapters discuss species and cultivars, garden applicability , history, and an important horticultural account of the genera in general. Watercolors by botanist Auriol Batten accompany excellent description. Jurgen Dahl's The Curious Gardener (0881926574, $24.95) appears for the first time in English to discuss connections between gardening and mental health. From why gardeners should grow bad-smelling plants to what really makes a garden work on many levels, Dahl probes the psychological and physical attributes of a garden's design and contents which enjoy seasonal transitions, sensual associations, and practical usage. Trevor Bath and Joy Jones' Hardy Geraniums (0881926701, $19.95) will appeal to a wide range of gardeners, from beginners and newcomers to the geranium family to associated plantings and specis and cultivars to choose from. Bright color photos throughout accompany easy and practical discussions of geranium growing. C.J. and D.M. Van Gelderen's Encyclopedia Of Hydrangeas (0881926221, $49.95) is particularly notable for its pages packed with color photos of the hydrangea's many species, subspecies and varieties. Other more casual coverages have appeared on the hydrangea, but any gardener who wants in-depth detail must have this reference: the latest horticultural and botanical introductions are included, recommendations are specific to the authors' background running a family nursery, and gardeners receive all the tools needed to successfully cultivate the hydrangea under a variety of garden settings. Allan Armitage's Armitage's Garden Annuals (0881926175, $49.95) is another specialty item recommended for the avid, neo-professional gardener who seeks more than casual coverages of plants. Alan M. Armitage gathers proven specimens from over 200 genera of plants and evaluates why they are recommended above all others. Over a thousand color photos provide an excellent set of references to the annuals, biennials, and perennials within, but it's the authority of Armitage, already well known for his technical manuals on gardening, which earns this top rating. Hanneke Van Dijk's impressive Agapanthus For Gardeners (0881926-566, $24.95) packs in hundreds of color photos in a rich discussion of the species and subspecies of the agapantha. Descriptions of all species accompany a recommendation of 80 particular cultivars which have proven as particularly hardy for garden and container growing, while chapters on choosing plants, cultivation and using agapanthus as a cut flower provide specific growing and usage tips. Bobby Ward's The Plant Hunter's Garden : The New Explorers And Their Discoveries (0881926-965, $39.95) is one of the best leisure choices a gift-giver can make for that gardener who already has a healthy plant library, but loves to read more about plant history. This profiles over thirty modern plant huters, telling of private explorers collecting plants for horticultural introduction. Chapters explore these modern plant seekers' lives and careers as well as the plants themselves: Ward asked each hunter to choose the best from their years of collecting experience, and many of the plants are rare gems the avid gardener will want to learn about. Bill McClaren's Encyclopedia Of Dahlias (0881926582, $39.95) provides a fine focus on a very popular plant known for bright colors. There's a wide range of choices in the dahlia family, making McClaren's encyclopedic coverage particularly important in exploring the hundreds of new selections available in the dahlia family. From specific recommendations of hardy cultivars appropriate for the general garden to discussions of cultural peculiarities and specialty dahlias, Encyclopedia Of Dahlias is a lovely, eye-catching volume packed with practical insights.