Dirr's Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates: An Illustrated Encyclopedia
by Michael A. Dirr
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Book Summary Information
Author: Michael A. DirrEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Format: Illustrated
Published: 2002-01-01
ISBN: 088192525X
Number of pages: 448
Publisher: Timber Press, Incorporated
Book Reviews of Dirr's Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates: An Illustrated Encyclopedia
Book Review: Not as thorough as I expected
Summary: 3 Stars
I was impressed with Dirr's Manuel of Woody Landscape book and really looked forward to this one. I live in Zone 8/B in south Georgia and so many plants labeled to grow in this area do not. Since Dirr is from Georgia I thought this book would be just what the doctor ordered. Well, not exactly.
I loved having the color photos but was not impressed with the number of plants he excluded or included for that matter. I was hoping for the same format as his previous book, listing all the qualities and pros and cons. What I got was some pics with a paragraph or two (some without pictures at all) describing a few things about it. Some of the plants listed are common, even weedy. My main beef is that it is sometimes hard to tell exactly where they should grow because of the way it is written. Example: Zones (8)9 to 10. New Zealand,Australia, Tazmania. I assume the countries are where the plant originated but I can't tell if it grow in Zone 8 or not. There are also problems when he describes a plant that grows on the west coast. Example:Zones 6 to 8, 9 to 10 on the west coast. Does this mean 6 to 8 anywhere and also in 9 and 10 on the west coast or all the zones on the west coast only? I think my biggest problem occured in thinking since he was from Georgia he would be talking about the warm, humid climate in the southeast. It seems like a majority of the plants are for the Pacific Coast region. Like I said, my mistake. I got some good ideas but having decided on a holly that I want, have not been able to find it anywhere, even online. I am not sorry I spent the money but if I had had an actual copy in hand, say at the library or in Barnes and Noble, I would have just copied down the names of what interested me and jumped on the computer at home.
Summary of Dirr's Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates: An Illustrated Encyclopedia
Following the phenomenal success of Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs, written for gardeners in the climates of USDA zones 3-6, this companion volume is a photographic encyclopedia of trees, shrubs, and vines for "warm temperate" zones. In North America, these areas (zones 7-11) stretch from the Mid-Atlantic states to the South, include most of Texas and the Southwest, and encompass the entire West Coast up to western Canada. Any gardener who lives in an area where average winter temperatures do not fall below 0? Fahrenheit (-18? Celsius) will want this book, and curious gardeners in colder zones may well want to test these select plants in their local microclimates. This remarkable volume shows both the habit and details-flower, fruit, bark, fall color-of more than 400 species and describes hundreds more cultivars and varieties. Certain genera offer myriad hybrids and selections, and photographs of many of the best of these are included as well-nearly 40 named crapemyrtles, a dozen teaolives, and 11 loropetalums. In all, more than 1400 photographs join with the authoritative text to bring the plants to life. From Abelia to Ziziphus, gardeners will encounter many new and unfamiliar plants that thrive in warmer climates. The book also reflects the author's inimitable personality, which holds nothing back when a plant deserves outright acclaim ("If prescriptions could be written for perfect garden plants, this species would come close to filling the order"), backhanded praise ("Use for accent, for novelty, or to drive visitors loony"), or frank condemnation ("Splays to the point of no redemption with time"). The book concludes with useful lists for selecting plants for a variety of conditions or for ornamental characteristics, such as flower color and fragrance, fruit, and fall color.Temperate Books
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