Hardy Bamboos: Taming The Dragon

Hardy Bamboos: Taming The Dragon

Product Description Bamboos are extraordinary in their ability to transform a garden, adapt to inhospitable surroundings, survive with little care and, most of all, surprise and delight the people who view them. Too long the exclusive pleasure of those with tropical and subtropical gardens, this hand-picked selection allows gardeners in cooler climes to experience the wonder and infinite variety of these magical plants. Besieged by winter wet, summer drought and bitter, drying winds, Paul Whittakers garden has been a rigorous testing ground. In the first part of the book his compelling anecdotes, experiences and case histories illuminate how bamboos perform in different places, draw attention to their idiosyncratic nature, and highlight their geographical origins. A further section describes the bamboos unique physical structure and growing habits. These fascinating insights give you the knowledge you need to choose the right bamboo for your site and grow it successfully. At the heart of the book are detailed plant descriptions that join with striking photographs and evocative illustrations to highlight each plants characteristics. Using bamboos to best effect in the garden, propagation, aftercare and their resilience to pests and diseases complete the guidance for gardeners. The distillation of years of hands-on growing experience, this is the ultimate bamboo reference book for cool-climate gardeners. Enthusiasts will delight in the variety of new possibilities for their collection and gardeners everywhere will be captivated by the charm bamboos bring to countless different garden situations. From Booklist Many gardeners fear bamboo and its propensity to spread, so Whittakers subtitle is an apt one for a manual that offers guidance for dealing with hardy, woody species with useful and ornamental characteristics that can add much to a cool-climate garden. To-the-point and opinionated, Whittaker delights in sharing knowledge gleaned over many years of growing bamboos and offering irresistible descriptions accompanied by abundant line drawings and wonderful photographs. Conveying a contagious regard for these stately plants, Whittaker puts his expertise on the line in the books fascinating plant portraits, which include growth habits, cultural requirements, and personal experiences. His descriptions should assist gardeners in selecting an appropriate variety for the specific conditions at hand, whether looking for groundcover, a container specimen, or a vigorous species to form a shady glade. With its celebration of plants boasting culms of gold and amber, chrome and pea green, violet-flushed bronze and cornflower blue, this is the ultimate guide to bamboos for gardens. Alice Joyce Copyright American Library Association. All rights reserved Book Description The distillation of years of hands-on growing experience, this is the ultimate bamboo reference book for cool-climate gardeners. Enthusiasts will delight in the variety of new possibilities for their collection and gardeners everywhere will be captivated by the charm bamboos bring to countless different garden situations. About the Author Hailing from Lancashire, Paul Whittaker has worked in horticulture for almost thirty years as a nurseryman, landscaper and consultant. A regular exhibitor at Royal Horticultural Society shows, he has won many gold medals for his legendary foliage displays. Dedicated to the promotion and understanding of these special plants, Paul Whittaker contributes articles to gardening magazines, lectures widely and holds workshops and events at his nursery and garden. As a member of the RHS woody plant committee, he works tirelessly to increase general horticultural knowledge and also judges exhibits at the major horticultural shows in the U.K. Paul lives in Norfolk, England with his wife, Diana, three teenage offspring and two labradors. Excerpt. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.