Recommended Books |
These
books and more are available for perusal and purchase
in
The Gift Shop at The Golden Gecko.
|
Water
in the Garden
A Complete Guide to the Design and Installation of Ponds, Fountains,
Streams, and Waterfalls
James Allison
Tetra Press |
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160 pages
12.1" x 8.8"
Hardcover |
| Encompassing every aspect of
water in the garden, this beautiful - but also eminently
practical - book is full of ideas for incorporating water
into a garden design. Ponds, water courses, waterfalls,
fountains and small water features from pebble fountains
to troughs are illustrated with inspiring photographs.
Construction is explained in detailed text and many step
by step diagrams. There is a section devoted to bridging
water using stepping stones, timber or islands. This is
a great gift book for anyone interested in any kind of
water gardening. |
|
Japanese
Maples
Momiji and Kaede
(Third Edition)
J. D. Vertrees
and Peter Gregory
Revised and expanded by Peter Gregory
|
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332 pages
8.5" x 11 in"
312 color photos
Hardcover |
A comprehensive
source of information on the culture, identification,
and nomenclature of Japanese maples, this classic bestseller
describes each of the 320 cultivars of Acer palmatum and
60 cultivars of other Japanese maple species, plus briefly
mentions 150 promising new plants.
This fully updated third edition has been revised
by Peter Gregory, chairman of the international
Maple Society, and is even more comprehensive
than its predecessors. Nomenclature has been
updated to conform to current standards, many
additional photographs have been included, and
descriptions have been rearranged for greater
ease of reference. |
|
Bonsai
Beginning to Advanced. Plant Selection. Step-by-Step Techniques
Susan Lang and the editors of Sunset |
|
128 pages
8 1/4" x 10 3/4"
200+ color photos
Paperback |
This is not a reprint of the
original Sunset bonsai book. Far from it. This fine new
book stands on its own. In many ways this is a beginner’s
book that is designed for bonsai enthusiasts at all levels.
The high quality trees shown throughout are a welcome relief
from the more marginal trees you find in many mass-market
bonsai books.
Without a doubt, this intelligent and affordable new offering will
nobly serve the efforts to promote and further the art of bonsai.
In addition to practical how-to instructions, a thorough-going guide
to 57 different species is included. And, as an extra bonus there is
a very useful 5 page ‘Garden Climate Zones’ section. |
|
Pocket
Bonsai
David Prescott
|
 |
192 pages
5 3/4" X 8 1/4"
all in color
Paperback |
| From its origins
as a Chinese art form some 2000 years ago through today,
the bonsai tree remains an object of fascination that embraces
both nature and art. Now, gardeners can participate in
the wonderful tradition of bonsai cultivation with the
help of this definitive, pocket-size yet extremely thorough
guide, written by an expert. It’s all here: where
and how to begin a collection, growth and feeding processes,
maintenance techniques, and a listing of the required tools
and equipment. Each page is packed with color photos and
offers valuable information on the history, anatomy, and
growing environments of these tranquil and beautiful miniature
trees. Complete with a directory of suitable species, this
is the perfect reference for owners and enthusiasts at
any level. |
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The Pond
Doctor
Helen Nash
|
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160 pages
8 1/2" X 10"
all in color
Paperback
|
| “Everything
one needs to know about a water garden is here: selecting
a site, construction, building a waterfall, safety and
water-quality tips, pumps and filtration, prevention of
algae, and cleaning and maintaining a pond. This practical
guide is illustrated throughout with color photographs.”—Booklist.
“Chock-full of information... an extremely useful
and highly recommended resource.” —American
Horticulturist. |
|
The Complete
Book of the Water Garden
Philip Swindells and David Mason
|
 |
208 pages
Paperback
|
| Expertly written
and illustrated throughout with color photos and helpful
diagrams, this guide describes both traditional and modern
techniques for creating a water garden. From streams, waterfalls,
and fountains to self-contained features and bog gardens,
every form receives in-depth coverage that is easy-to-follow.
There are suggestions for siting, design, and construction;
detailed assistance on stocking ponds and pools with fish
and flowers; and invaluable advice on plant propagation,
care, maintenance, and common problems. An extensive directory
of aquatic plants covers such favorites as water lilies;
floating plants (among them the beautiful, delicate water
hyacinth); and many more. |
|
Conifers
The Illustrated Encyclopedia
(Two Volumes)
D. M. van Gelderen and J. R. P. van
Hoey Smith
Timber Press
|
 |
706 pages in
2 volumes (not sold separately)
8.5" x 11"
2347 color photos, 113 illustrations
Hardcover |
This magnificent pictorial encyclopedia includes
not only the latest cultivars but also rarities such
as Wollemia nobilis, recently discovered in Australia.
From towering redwoods photographed in their coastal
habitat to recent dwarf varieties so popular in small
gardens, conifers are presented in all their astonishing
diversity.
|
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Quick & Easy
Container Water Gardens
Simple-To-Make Water Features and Fountains
for Indoor and Outdoor Gardens
Philip
Swindells
Storey Publishing |
|
128
pages
8 3/4" x 8 3/4"
Hardcover |
Offers
full-color, step-by-step photographic instructions for
creating more than 25 low-maintenance water gardens
and fountains for small yards, decks, balconies -- even
indoors!
This
book's step-by-step instructions, photos and drawings
will show you how to construct, plant, stock and maintain
a water garden. |
|
Sunset Western
Garden Book
Kathleen
Norris Brenzel (Editor)
Sunset Publishing |
|
768 pages
10.9" x 8.2"
Paperback |
| The Western Garden Book presents hundreds
of pages worth of gardening wisdom from the editors of Sunset
magazine. The Western reader will find plenty of ideas and tips
on growing beautiful gardens, primarily in the Western United
States. |
|
Ortho's
All About Vegetables
Barbara
Pleasant
Ortho Books |
 |
96 pages
10.88" x 8.15"
Paperback |
Growing
instructions for 54 types of vegetables. Tips for success
for each vegetable. Highlights trendy produce and tells
how to grow it. Teaches how to plant and care for vegetables
to ensure optimal growth and bountiful harvests. Advice
on extending the gardening season.
|
|
Pruning
Judy
Lowe
Ortho Books
|
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96 pages
10.9" x 8.2"
Paperback |
This is a primer that teaches
readers when and how to prune to slow plant growth, promote
flowing and repair damage.
|
|
Western
Garden Problem Solver
Sunset Publishing |
 |
320 pages
482 photos, 58 illustrations
Paperback |
| The
only problem solver designed specifically for Western
gardeners, this book provides a commonsense approach
to garden problems that goes far beyond a simple reliance
on pesticides. Use this book to track all kinds of problems
by plant type, symptom, or pest. In addition, learn the
hows and whys of good gardening—practices that
will keep problems from taking root in your garden. Written
for gardeners in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho,
Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington,
Wyoming, and southwestern Canada. |
|
|
Western
Landscaping Book
Fiona
Gilsenan (Editor), Kathleen
Norris Brenzel (Editor)
Sunset Publishing
|
 |
416
pages
643 photos, 77 illustrations
paperback |
| The
Sunset Western Landscaping Book, a natural companion
to the Sunset Western Garden Book, is the only landscaping
book that reflects the uniquely Western contributions
to contemporary garden design, and addresses the climactic,
soil, and topographical challenges particular to Western
regions. It is packed with design tips and tricks from
landscape designers, gardeners, and many other experts.
Written for gardeners in Arizona, California, Colorado,
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington,
Wyoming, and southwestern Canada. |
|
Cacti
The Illustrated Dictionary
Rod Preston-Mafham and Ken Preston-Mafham
Timber Press
|
 |
224 pages
8.5" x 10.75"
1109 color photos
Paperback |
| This dictionary concentrates on the globular
cacti, particularly Mammillaria, but includes
some popular columnar cactus forms such as Echinocereus.
|
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Succulents
The Illustrated Dictionary
Maurizio Sajeva and
Mariangela Costanzo
Timber Press |
 |
240 pages
8.5" x 10.75"
1212 color photos
Paperback
|
| The problems
of nature conservation are widely appreciated. Those
who are considering growing, collecting and studying
succulent plants must be aware of the impact that they
can have on the wild populations of the plants they wish
to study. Most succulents grow in habitats that have
a fragile ecological equilibrium, and the environmental
conditions often lead to slow rates of growth and low
reproductive rates. |
|
Rhododendron
Hybrids
(Second Edition)
Homer E. Salley and
Harold E. Greer
Timber Press |
 |
442 pages
8.5" x 11"
592 color photos
Hardcover |
| Based on the journals maintained at Greer
Gardens, this pedigree book of some 5000 hybrids is organized
by grex so that hybrids of the same parents are listed
together, with cross-references from the hybrid name.
The photographs are all different from those in the first
edition. |
|
Rhododendron
Portraits
D. M. van Gelderen and
J. R. P. van Hoey Smith
Timber Press |
 |
424 pages
8.5" x 11"
1150 color photos
Hardcover |
| This book by two
great Dutch plantsmen presents the largest selection of
color photographs of elepidote rhododendron species, varieties,
hybrids, and cultivars ever gathered in one volume, a lavish
tribute to the most spectacular of flowering shrubs.
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