Dirr's Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates: An Illustrated Encyclopedia
A professor of horticulture and the author of ten books, including the well-known Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, Dirr (Univ. of Georgia) here presents an encyclopedia with more than 1400 beautiful photographs, personal observations of over 400 species, and hundreds more cultivars and varieties of trees, shrubs, and vines that grow in the temperate zones of the Southeast. Intended as a companion volume to Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, this new book will be useful to landscapers, garden designers, horticulturalists, and home gardeners located in the South, as well as the West Coast through British Columbia. Dirr also includes a section on cold-hardy palms that will survive in growing zones 7-11. What sets this book apart from many other botanical encyclopedias is the author's personal writing style, which breathes life into the text. Each plant is described in detail, showing flower, fruit, bark, fall color, and any other distinguishing characteristics. Easy-to-read entries may also include the author's individual experience with the plant, recommended cultural requirements, and growing habits. This practical and comprehensive work indicates whatever unique features a plant has to offer in the garden, both aesthetically and economically. Useful appendixes aid in selection of plants by their various characteristics. Dirr's encyclopedia is strongly and unhesitatingly recommended as a basic reference resource for both public and academic libraries, especially in the relevant growing zones. Deborah Anne Broocker, Georgia Perimeter Coll., DunwoodyCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.