Synopses & Reviews
Armitage's Garden Perennials is the most comprehensive single-volume photographic resource on perennial plants. It describes and illustrates the choice of perennials in 136 genera from
Acanthus to
Zauschneria.
The book's greatest strengths are the quality of its more than 1400 photographs, all taken by the author, and the exhaustive information on the most interesting, important, or overlooked perennial plants. Based on his own extensive experience — he has gardened in climates as dissimilar as Quebec and Georgia and studied plants on three continents — Armitage makes a discerning selection of the best cultivars, from classics to cutting-edge recent introductions.
The text is concise and delightful, like a private tutorial with a master teacher. The reader will have no doubt about which plants the author most admires ("What else do you know that is big, bold, and beautiful and wants to be planted in a bog?") and which fall short ("Variegated coral bells like 'Snowstorm' ought to be trashed. I am constantly told how wonderful they are. I don't listen. To each his own.")
The encyclopedia is rounded out by more than a dozen extensive lists of plants suitable for particular situations or uses, including plants for wet places, for drought tolerance, and for fragrance or color. It is a noteworthy addition to Timber Press's acclaimed series of pictorial encyclopedias that includes Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs and Rick Darke's Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses.
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andquot;Has beautiful color photos with descriptions.andquot;and#8212;Joel M. Lerner, Washington Post, May 3, 2003
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"Sleek 'pictorial encyclopedia' ... A delight is the light-hearted humor that bubbles throughout."—Carol Bishop Miller, Horticulture, April 2001 The Washington Post
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"Armitage loves to spin a story. He tells the truth about perennials from his own rich experiences ... With his humorous asides, you will quickly recognize a kindred spirit who wants to grow every plant yet confesses that he has killed his fair share, just like the rest of us."—Barbara Blossom Ashmun, Fine Gardening, March/April 2001 Carol Bishop Miller - Horticulture
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"Has beautiful color photos with descriptions."—Joel M. Lerner, Washington Post, May 3, 2003 Joel M. Lerner
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“A Terrific Resource…” Barbara Blossom Ashmun - Fine Gardening
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"A reader can open this book to any page and be ensured of both pleasure and enlightenment."
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"This gorgeous resource will find a home in the library of every gardener who wants current, authoritative information as well as public and academic libraries with gardening enthusiasts."
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"This is a terrific resource for gardeners, with 300 new plants added to the 2000 1st edition, bringing the total to 1250.” Choice
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Engaging descriptions and personal experiences. Reference and Research Book News
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“A Terrific Resource…” Krys Stefansky - Virginian-Pilot
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“Its real charm is the descriptions that accompany each plant, written in Armitages characteristic engaging, conversational tone … highly recommended.” Country Gardens
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“Theres no shortage of endorsements in horticulturalist Allan Armitages revised collection of 1,250 perennials.” Country Gardens
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"-offering solid information backed by years of experience, along with personal opinions, anecdotes, and a welcome sense of humor."
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Engaging descriptions and personal experiences. Houston Chronicle
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“A Terrific Resource…” Better Homes and Gardens Country Gardens
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"A reader can open this book to any page and be ensured of both pleasure and enlightenment." American Reference Books Annual
Synopsis
"Armitage's Garden Perennials does for perennials what "Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs (see page 25) does for woody plants: it provides gardeners, landscapers, and nurserymen with a comprehensive photographic encyclopedia of the best and most interesting plants available. The concise and delightful text is like a private tutorial with a master teacher, describing and commenting on choice species and cultivars from 136 genera, from "Acanthus to "Zauschneria. Besides its more than 1400 color photos, it includes more than a dozen lists of plants suitable for particular situations or uses.
Synopsis
Originally published in 2000, Armitages Garden Perennials quickly became a garden-shelf classic. Beloved for its well-edited plant selection and Armitages trusted advice on choosing and caring for the best plants, Booklist named it “an essential addition to gardening collections.”
Now its back and better than ever in this new revised and updated second edition. Renowned horticulturist Allan M. Armitage once again features his discerning selection of more than 1250 of the best perennials, over 300 of which are new to this edition. Old favorites like phlox and rudbeckia remain, but gardeners will delight in new introductions like the popular Baptisia ‘Carolina Moonlight and Echinacea ‘Tangerine Dream. Each plant entry includes scientific and common names, hardiness zone information, tips on growth and cultivation, and Armitages unique and beloved humor. Supported by more than 1300 color photos, 400 of which are new, and rounded out with useful lists of plants for specific situations, this outstanding reference belongs on the shelf of every gardener who values first-rate, authoritative information.
About the Author
Widely regarded as one of the world's foremost horticulturists, Allan M. Armitage is a professor at the University of Georgia, Athens, where he teaches, conducts research on new garden plants, and runs the University of Georgia Horticulture Gardens. He travels widely as a lecturer and consultant, and is the recipient of numerous awards from nursery trade groups and horticultural organizations, including the Medal of Honor from the Garden Club of America and the National Educator Award from the American Horticultural Society. He is the author of nine other books, as well as six CDs and two Internet courses for gardeners. Armitage was honored with a Quill and Trowel award from the Garden Writers Association of America, and Greenhouse Grower magazine named him one of the ten most influential people or organizations — ever — in the floriculture industry for "encouraging growers to expand their markets with new annuals, cut flowers, and perennials."