I am very new to gardening and found this book very helpful. It is cut and dry! The plants are listed in alphabetical order explaining where to plant them and how to care for them. It also describes when and if to trim them back and if dead heading is needed. I also enjoyed how one section of the book organized plants based on color.

I have many helpful gardening books but this one is the one I always come back to. It's best for identitifying plants or finding the perfect plant for certain conditions. Great photos and lots of them!

This book is arranged like a bird-identifier book-- color plates in the front arranged by flower color with plant details referenced in the back of the book. The color plates are clear, good color quality, and provide close-ups of the flowers. Pen and ink drawings of plant profiles, leaf structures, and distinguishing features enhance the books ability to help the reader identify "what plant is this?" If you're looking for detailed growing conditions or a "how to", get another book. But if you're looking for a thorough, easy-to-carry-to- the-localgarden-nursery book, to identify plants and the flowers they will yield then this book is for you! I have tons of books on periennals, but this is the one that never fails me when I need to ID a plant or flower.

With the literally thousands of different types and varieties of houseplants available on the market, it's no surprise that there are some that are missing from this book. However, most (all?) of the main ones are here, and so too is a wealth of information on how to grow them. I bought this book 10 or 15 years ago, and it helped me go from perennial plant killer (it was the killing that was perennial, not just perennials that were killed), to a reasonably green thumb. I'm not a super gardener or anything. I just like houseplants and needed some basic info on how to care for them. It's all here.

I just love this book. I can't imagine having houseplants without it. I have it all marked with the Post-it flags so I can find my plants quickly. I'm going to get a little wordy here, but this is a great book with a lot of great features. I use it more that any of the other plant books I own.

The book has 4 sections: Introduction, The Color Plates, Encyclopedia of Houseplants and Appendices. The introduction runs you through the basics. It gives you a botany lesson that is neither too detailed nor too short. It gives the basics of the book. It tells you how to care for your plants (from water to reviving to saying good-bye to repotting when your plants out grow their current container) and how to propagate and have MORE plants. The Introduction also has a Plant Chart that shows you all the things you need to have healthy happy plants in one convenient easy to read chart. The only catch to using the Plant Chart is knowing the scientific names of your plants.

Don't know the name of your plant (let ALONE the scientific name!)? No problem, just look at The Color Plates. These pictures are wonderful. I have identified MANY of my plants with these pictures. Sorted into sections by type (Hanging Plants, Small Foliage Plants, Orchids, Bromeliads & Flowers, Showy Foliage Plants, Lacy Leaves, and Succulent & Other, you are sure to be able to find your plant quickly. The pictures show something that you would see in someone's house. If the plant flowers they will show it with the flowers (just so you can see it). The scientific name, the common name, plant height, light, temperature, how easy the plant is to grow, and the Encyclopedia section page reference.

The Encyclopedia of Houseplants has a short biography of the plant, How to Grow and Species information. I wish this section was combined with the pictures, but since many plants have many species - one encyclopedia reference may have several pictures. This section gives good information on how to grow your plant. It tells you if you plant likes to have a lot or little sun, a lot or little water, when to water, what kind of soil to use, and when and what kind of fertilizer to use. It also gives you a description (average size, flowering potential, foliage coloration, etc.) of the most popular species and a small black and white drawing.

The Appendices include sections on Orchids, Decorating with Plants, Buying Plants, Pest and Problems, Glossary and Index. The Orchid section tells you all about orchids and how to get more information on them (I haven't read this part). The Decorating with Plants give you tips on where to place your plants, how to use your plants, and give you tips and ideas on using a group of plants together. The Buying Plants section tells you what to look for when you shop for your plants. Pest and Problems is a handy section that gives you a background on pest and plants diseases. It tells you how to control the problems and how to recognized signs of plant distress. It has a handy chart with black and white drawings. The chart tells you the pest/disease name, a description of the pest or disease, the damage the pest can do and how to control the pest or disease. This is a very handy section (hopefully you won't ever have to use it) and I suggest reading it. The Glossary is a handy list of terms used through out the book. Last but not least is the index of both common and scientific names of the plants.

An excellent & concise houseplant reference. It will show you what is commonly done wrong with plants and what you can to to promote growth/flowering. Also included is a cross reference for temperatures and other environmental variables that you may wish to choose plants for. There are also many good quality pictures that can help you immediately identify 'that plant you've killed over & over' and a reference to the instructions that can make the difference. Good book.

I was given a copy of Taylor's Encyclopedia of Gardening by my mother in law about 12 years ago. She bought it for me at a library book sale. A professional garden designer by trade and a complete plant nerd by avocation, it continues to be a treasured possession and the most valuble resource of all my reference books, (I have many). When I am stuck for I.D. , or general information regarding a heretofore unknown plant, Taylor's always comes through. Suffice to say I love this book. The only draw back; mine is a third edition 1956 - it's old and falling apart...I need to order a "backup" copy.

This book is an excellent reference for anyone who would like to identfy a flower but does not know where to start. Coupled with its companion book on perennials, it is a most useful tool for the homeowner who desires a pleasant landscape. The clear vivid pictures are one of its best features. Grouping these pictures by color allows anyone who knows nothing about a flower except how it looks to be able to identify a flower according to appearance only. Once the flower is identified by its picture, a brief concise description and name are given then the reader is referred to another page for more information. The reader then finds on this other page another well written brief description along with essential growth and propagation facts about the plant. All the information is kept to the point so the reader is not bogged down with a lot of nonrelevant material. The book is directed to both the amateur gardener who just wants the facts, like the flowers common name, and also to the horticulturalist who demands the scientific name. The illustrations, charts and color guides make the book easy to understand and follow. It includes such helpful hints as how to get a garden started, different garden designs, ways to propogate plants, plus pest and disease control. The University of Missouri in Columbia recomended this book along with its companion book for one of the horticulture classes I took. Having had my degree in horticulture several years now, I still use these two books quite frequently. I have leant them to friends and neighbors several times. In fact, I am ordering a replacement since one book has not been returned to me, and I find I rely it more than I realized. Another feature that makes it enjoyable is its actual size. The book is thick with its plethera of information yet small and easy to carry around and flip through quickly. In summary, it is well written, well designed, and well illustrated. The true-to-color vivid pictures make it easy for just about anyone to identify any common flower in the United States of North America. It is a must for any plant lovers library.

I have four of Taylors Guides (Bulbs, Annuals, Perennials, Roses). All these books are an indispensable resource for identifying every species of flowers imaginable. The care and growing information is brief and often doesn't address every question you may have, but it's certainly enough to get you started. There's an excellent section on pests, mulching and fertilizing as well as a glossary of nurseries. I LOVE THESE BOOKS.

I just purchased a new home and have busily been planning the landscaping. I've been looking for inexpensive references to learn more about some of the shrubs I have chosen and how best to care for them. Taylor's Guide to Shrubs gives an excellent overview of various shrubs, their hardiness, even how to take care of pests! Best of all, it is an easy to use reference!

I was able to identify many of the shrubs I've picked out and how they will look when flowering in a matter of moments. I recommend this for anyone who likes landscaping and needs a reference for their home.

This is an excellent history of the railroad chapel cars used in the United States in the latter 1800's & early 1900's. It is a good review of how the gospel was brought into newly developed railroad towns that had no established churches and in many cases wild & wooly towns. There are many wonderful old historic pictures and bibilical quotations. You will find out how the Episcopalians, Catholics, and Baptists had these chapel cars built. Anyone who likes trains, actively involved with the church, or has lived in towns where the local railroad brought in chapel cars will really enjoy reading this book!

If you are a history buff, a railroad buff, a Baptist, an Episcopalian, or a Roman Catholic, you will find interesting information in this book. From 1890 until the middle of the 20th century a unique form of ministry for several denominations brought religious services to the most out-of-the way areas in the country. Chapel cars were outfitted and dispatched to bring their message to people who otherwise would have had no access to churches. One of the chaapel cars had elegant and exquisite fittings and brought the beauty of a cathedral to the frontier; others were simpler. Both the opposition to the chapel cars, and their widespread and grateful acceptance are told, with countless letters, editorials, and other news clippings. The details and dimensions of outfitting the chapel cars willl enable railroad buffs to create accurate models. A fascinating bit of Americana is captured forever between the covers of this attractive coffee table-size book.

I am a member of Emmanuel First Baptist Church in Sparks, Nevada. My church was one of those founded by Chapel Car Emmanuel mentioned in this book. I am, at present, researching material for a historical novel based on the chapel car ministries. This book, with its photos and descriptions, has been extremely valuable in helping me to write a story of a little known part of American history. I highly recommend this to all railroad buffs and to others who may also be members of churches founded by these cars and the dedicated men and women who made such great sacrifices in the growth of our nation. Diana Dilcher Emmanuel First Baptist Church Sparks, Nevada.

This is a thorough, clear, concise reference guide to vines and ground covers. Very complete, excellent photos, well organized. I checked it out of the library with several similar books and liked it so much I decided to buy it.

Twelve Miles From a Lemon (Selected writings and sayings of author Sydney Smith) gives real meaning to the phrase "rapier wit". Smith adds a gentle touch to wit. I purchased this book in the name of my two year old grand-daughter, Sydney Smith who is herself a little "wit". My insights as to the similarities of the Sydneys proved to be both true and delightful. Reverend Sydney Smith was a walking wit. His spontaneous sayings are treasures. The one that led me to him via Amazon was printed on a teabag: "I am glad I was not born before tea." A true Englishman! Last June my daughter and I took our Sydney to London and then to Bath. This book described Reverend Smith's life and moves to various parts of England and France. His vacation spot was Bath! His close friend was Earl Grey (for you tea-drinkers). The book is delightful, even though it plods in parts. Reverend Smith was a visionary, compassionate and intelligent. This selection of writings portrays a true feeling of his times (early 1800s), as well as insights of humor within the church. It will definitely make any Anglophile chuckle!

While the Taylor guide provides some useful information, such as how tall a tree may be at various ages, unless you know the latin name for the tree in question, it is nearly impossible to find anything!! Unless you're a botonist, don't buy it!