This specialized gardening guide provides a set of full-color photos of different varieties of amaryllis, and represents the author's world journey in an effort to acquire as many varieties as amaryllis as she could. She grew each plant herself, documenting its growth pattern, blooms, and demise: Amaryllis is thus far more than a picturebook, providing gardeners with invaluable, practical growing tips.

I am an avid grower of amaryllis and have been collecting every article and tip I could find on this lovely bulb for over 10 years. There has been no book exclusively on the amaryllis available. I was skeptical that a book just 95 pages long, including the extensive bibliography, could fill the gap. Starr Ockenga's book will not need another to supplement it. The photographs are extrordinary. Her instructions for planting are thorough. For culture of the bulb she presents prevailing wisdom and states what she herself did, allowing the reader to choose their own course. I was impressed that a beautiful garden book included a pests and diseases page. One minor quibble is that the Glossary of Hippeastrum Hybrids has closely cropped photos. This gives wonderful color depiction but very little info as to how the overall shape and size of the flower as it relates to the plant. I have purchased a second copy of the book to donate to my local library.

What a terrific book! It's so much more than the gorgeous photographs for which the author is well-known -- it has lots of information on cultivation and propagation plus there is a glossary with pictures of 96 different hybrids complete with growing information (type, height/flower size and time from planting until flowering). The author also includes a history of the cultivation of amaryllis which is very interesting -- she documents descriptions and instructions for growing beginning with Milton in 1637 through the Victorian and Edwardian periods to today. She describes the three main sources of bulbs (African, Dutch and South American) and discusses both older varieties and newer cultivars including the miniatures and those with double flowers.

Amaryllis come in a large variety of patterns within a color range consisting of red, white, pink and, more recently, peach, pale green, yellow and orange. Ockenga provides beautiful, lyrical descriptions: "'Cinderella' boasts kitten whiskers drawn on an upturned face, 'Charisma' is speckled with cranberry dots that fade to a creamy background, while 'Elvas' and 'Allure' seem splashed with the juice of sweet cherries."

The book concludes with a list of suppliers (with web addresses) and an extensive bibliography. This is a great book for anyone interested in growing amaryllis, particularily given that there is nothing else like it on the market today. Note, however, that Ockenga grows her amaryllis in pots in her greenhouse in New York; she includes information on growing amaryllis in the ground but the bulk of the growing information is with regard to pot-grown bulbs. Much of this is generic to both kinds of cultivation, however, as is the information on pests and diseases, feeding and watering schedules, etc. This is, quite simply, a wonderful book.

I have never read a more comprehensive book about the subject of friendship. It covers every aspect, with pictures, and documents from the past. I keep it close at hand, for inspiration. Helps you forget your everyday stress and transcends you into the quiet and peaceful world of yesterday. I am not sure if this book is being published any longer, because it is not available. If not, please, "Dear Publisher", publish it again, for future "FRIENDS" to enjoy. Thank you Starr, for this beautiful work of art. Absolutely DELIGHTFUL!

For needlepoint lovers, this book combines highly imaginative designs based on the theme of hands holding objects, hence "A Show of Hands". An introductory chapter regarding materials and the author's inspiration is followed by the projects themselves. A hand holding a rose against a blue-checked background. Hands balancing birds on fingers or squirrels on branches. Releasing a butterfly from an outstretched grasp. Several are food related. Serving a peach on a platter against a theatrical curtain backdrop. Companion motifs highlight the pear and the apple. Strawberries and cherries are also offered on outstretched hands with a berry colored background. Children's hands offer up various wooden toy motifs. Another companion piece illustrates a female hand writing with a quill pen, while the male version uses a feather. There are also designs to welcome baby, and several other floral motifs. The color usage is clear, crisp and vibrant. The designs will have stong appeal to comtemporary and folk art enthusiasts. The designs are well graphed in color and appear to be full size. If you love needlpoint projects or simply like to collect fiber craft books, this is one book your collection should not be without.

This is a wonderful book. The comentary by the author was greatly enjoyed and very informative. I currently am borrowing this book but I plan to buy it.

Another fabulous Clarkson Potter Publishers book, Earth on Her Hands is a series of short biographies of 18 women who are non-professional, private gardeners and who have spent a lifetime growing and creating outstanding gardens. Each biography includes stunning color photos of the gardens and lovely sepia toned photos of the gardeners themselves as well as garden diagram sketches and individual gardener plant or project recommendations from their personal experiences. Ideas, inspiration and knowledge abound from these women (use flower arrangements IN the garden for areas where color is needed; 'Jersey Knight' asparagus is male and will not seed making it more productive) and their lifelong committment to their land, spaces, and plants gives every gardener something to aspire to. Any gardener worth her soil will find this an inspirational gift to give and receive, and a delightful off-season read.

This is definately one of the most beautifully photographed books I have seen. Eighteen women gardeners from across the U.S. and their stunning gardens are profiled. Most of the women gardeners here are older and have been working on their gardens for decades. Some of them are also active in their local communities in garden clubs, parks and botanical gardens. If you enjoy looking at other people's gardens, you will love this. The photos are mouth watering. Each profile (about 10 pages in length) is wrapped up with a list of the gardener's recommended plants. This would be a good companion to Rosemary Verey's excellent book "The American Man's Garden".

Starr Ockenga's luminary profiles of some of North America's most dedicated women gardeners are inspirational for anyone who gardens. This book is a wonderfully designed blend of fine photography and eloquent writing. A must for the avid gardener.

This is a very charming book with lots of historical facts as well as beautiful pictures and drawings. The history of the talking bouquet is quite interesting, being influenced from several different countries. Lots of specific bouquets are pictured and labeled, including bouquet examples for "Admiring a Creative Talent", "Embarking on a New Adventure", "First Day in a New School/Job/City", and "Support During a Difficult Divorce" to name a few. There are several dozen more. The step-by-step guide to making these bouquets were easy to follow. A wonderful gift book.

In Victorian times a combination of herbs and flowers was used to send a special mini message from the heart. This book is a guide which will show you how to talk to others with the gift of flowers.

Each flower is symbolic and there are instructions for choosing flowers and greens. Some flowers might actually have several meanings.

Delphinium means the return of a friend is desired. Juniper means: "Welcome to Our Home." Gerbera Daisies are symbolic of friendship Agapanthus means love letter. Pink Spray Roses are symbolic of grace and beauty. Aster is symbolic of sentimental recollections. Camellia means contentment. Carnations mean unfading beauty. (They last longer than roses) Daffodils show you respect your friend. Hydrangea means you are devoted. A Pansy is a lovely way to say you are thinking loving thoughts. A sunflower is a welcoming flower. The Tulip is symbolic of fame, charity and happy years. (That is by the way my favorite flower :)

There is a glossary and index of sentiments and color pictures and diagrams help you to put together one of the 60 tussie-mussies.

These small bouquets can be small enough to put in a tiny vase or can just be small enough to hold in your hand. You could use the same ideas and create larger arrangements if you wish.

You will need a scissors, wire cutter, florist's tape, florist's wire and a beautiful ribbon. The tussie-mussie (I LOVE the way that sounds) is made up of a arrangement of the flowers you select and then is wrapped in the florist's wire. The tape is used to camouflage the wire and then you tie on a bow.

If a friend was thoughtful enough to make me one of these, I could bet they would be a friend forever!

This book is chock full of photographs not only of the gorgeous tussies it teaches you how to make, but of the actual process of making them. Very clear and concise directions that are easy to follow for the beginner and give the experienced flower lover something to build on.

I hope this book brings back a bit of the romance of tussies from bygone days - every man who has a woman in his life should surprise her with flowers with meaning and not more insipid scentless hothouse roses. This is a great guide.

Starr Ockenga's newest book is called "Eden On Their Minds," a playful reference to the title of her recent companion volume, "Earth On Her Hands." Any gardener (or wanna-be) glancing through "Eden On Their Minds" will soon be transfixed...and transported.

I don't have a garden of my own - I have to rely on New York City's parks and mid-highway "malls" for my greenery. Somehow, though, Ockenga's gorgeous book takes me from concrete-bound trees to a world of sweet-smelling, dewy expanses of Iowa grass; the world of moss-hung live oaks lining a centuries-old Louisiana lane; the world of a sage-and-lavender-smelling "gravel garden" in New York State; the world of the proud almost haughty precision of Neville Bryan's Chicago flower garden. Magical.

This is the gift book I gave my mother for Christmas, knowing she would eat up every photograph. This is just the book for those frosty mid-winter nights when you lounge in your favorite armchair, surrounded by garish, boasting seed catalogs, planning your spring. "Eden On Their Minds" is a book that invokes new life, encourages those of us with less than a green thumb, and reminds us that the Earth is struggling to amaze our humble human species, even as we pollute and destroy and ravage.

A helpful addition at the end of every chapter is a list of the plants grown in that chapter's featured garden; both common and botanical names are given, along with a brief description of the plant. An excellent index completes the book.

Starr Ockenga's latest book does amaze us. If you are not already a gardener, after reading this book you will want to be one when you grow up.

As we await the arrival of the first of the spring catalogues,three of my gardening friends and I have been purusing the contents of Starr Ockenga's wonderful new book, Eden on Their Minds, marvelling that the author has come up with a gem equal to its companion book, Earth on Her Hands. Whether we are consulting the wealth of information contained in the detailed plant lists; being transported from the cold and dark of winter by the breathtaking images of Eden that fill the book; daring through the inspiration of these visions to be more adventurous in our own gardens; or imagining a conversation with any one of the gardeners who are introduced to us so engagingly in striking black & white photographs, we agree that this book--a bargain at its retail price, not to mention the [Amazon.com] price--deserves its honored place on our horticultural library's shelves and on our laps as we meet, talk about gardening, and look forward to spring!

I just bought this book for my wife, an avid gardener, for her birthday. I had no idea if she would like it, but based on the publisher's write-up and the contents I thought she might enjoy it. Well I hit a home run! Not only did my wife love the book, but apparently she has another book by this same author. Now we are all happy, my wife loves this book and I scored some brownie points for "paying attention" to my wife's likes and needs!

I have read this book and use it as a ref guide in our work shop. We manufacture tussies. The only wrong thing about this book is it does not have a glossery of where one can purchase the things they would need to make these wonderful tussies. As in WHERE could you purchase the holders? or who makes holders like this? Also where can you purchase special ribbons. and so on. We make these as our job, but for the home garden person who perhaps would like to dabble into this as a gift making idea will not find much in the way of suppliers. Anyone can use lace and doilies, but the real EYECATCHERS are the hand casted resin containers! Too bad they didnt say or give a list of suppliers. Other Than that.... it is a well photographed book.

My friend and I used this book as a source for a program for my garden club. We did this in January when our gardens were bare, or so we thought. After looking, we were able to find lots of things that were useful as well as meaningful. With a few dollars worth of flowers from the grocery store we made several examples from the book (with a few substitutions). We were delighted at how beautifully they turned out. I talked about the language of flowers and then showed everybody our samples. We had assembled a variety of ingredients and then each of our 15 members created her own Tussie Mussie. Each one turned out differently and each was charming. I cannot wait for a reason to make another one. We had a hoot of a time. My only complaint with the book was that there were not enough sources of materials such as holders, etc. Thank you for such a beautiful book.

I have used this delightful book for reference and inspiration countless times since buying it several years ago. It's paid for itself and then some! Tussie-mussies never fail to provide a gracious touch to the giving of flowers. Anyone can merely present flowers, but to customize the bouquet to the recipient or occasion? Truly impressive and touching! I once attended a luncheon honoring a well-known philanthropist. The hostess spent a fortune on catering for the event and decorated the banquet table with an enormous [$] floral arrangement of spring flowers. The well-traveled multimillionairess was cordial but a trifle bored (been there/done that)until I presented my tussie-mussie, assembled just for her, with a hand-lettered scroll listing the flowers and their definitions. She was astonished and fascinated. That's all she talked about afterwards--the table arrangement could have been dandilions and crab grass. Even if you don't actually make up a tussie-mussie from real flowers, Laufer's book has other terrific uses. I used it to design a bouquet in watercolors for my aunt's memorial service program. You will relish this book!