Gardening / Flowers Books

Inspired by a short, bizarre newspaper article, journalist Susan Orlean embarks on an amusing two-year journey to understand a passionate, yet somehow principled crook and one of his ephemeral obsessions--wild orchids. Her profile of John Laroche was the basis for the critically acclaimed film, ADAPTATION (2003), directed by Spike Jonze, and starring Nicholas Cage and (as Susan Orlean) Meryl Streep. A New York Times Notable Book for 1999.

Louise Beebe Wilder, one of America's great classic garden writers, published this useful and entertaining book in the early 20th century. In this book--one of her most famous and beloved--she gives instructions for growing 300 kinds of hardy bulbs.

The authors of THE VEGETABLE GARDENER'S BIBLE turn to flowers in this capacious volume, which provides easy instructions for planting a flower garden and keeping it going, including specific information on 261 species of annuals, perennials, bulbs, flowering shrubs, and more.

A professional horticulturist provides tips for maintaining a healthy, happy perennial garden, including how to prepare the soil, control pests and diseases, and choose plants, plus sage directions for dead-heading, pinching back, and pruning. An encyclopedia of perennials is also included, along with a calendar showing when to do what. Illustrated with line drawings and color photos.