Product Description

A guide to keeping a perennial garden in bloom from April through October, this book provides all the information a gardener needs to grow beautiful flowers. Detailed information includes descriptions of flowers, bloom length, light and soil requirements, care, propagation, and potential problems.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #609987 in Books
• Published on: 2000-03-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

From Library Journal
Cleverly arranged by month of blooming time, Duthie's book covers 272 perennials, including traditional perennials and selected bulbs, ferns, grasses, and shrubs. Each "plant portrait" provides the scientific and common names of the plant; details of its flower, foliage, care, uses, and propagation; plants to combine it with; and problems, insider's tips, and a good color photograph of the perennial. One drawback is that while the author provides the USDA zone(s) where each perennial does best, no map of all USDA zones is included in the book itself. Libraries needing a good, basic guide to perennials should first consider Larry Hodgson's Perennials for Every Purpose (LJ 12/99), which covers almost three times the number of plants as Duthie's book and offers more information on them. Public libraries in USDA zones four through eight may want to consider Continuous Bloom as an added title, especially if the subject is popular with your patrons.
-John Charles, Scottsdale P.L., AZ
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
Winner of the 2001 Benjamin Franklin Award for Best Gardening/Agriculture book! -- Publishers Marketing Association

About the Author
Pam Duthie is owner and president of The Gifted Gardener, a landscape design and consulting firm specializing in perennial gardens. She has been lecturing about gardening and perennials for more than 25 years and speaks at garden clubs, nurserymen's associations, trade seminars, and nurseries and garden centers. She has spent 11 years as an instructor at the Chicago Botanic Garden and has served as president of the Landscape Design Association. In addition to her work with plants, Pam is an accomplished photographer and has photographed gardens in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. She and her husband live in Northbrook, Illinois.

Customer Reviews

The most valuable perennial book I own!
This book is invaluable to me! I'm a garden designer by profession, and find information in this book to be the best available in the trade. One page is devoted to each recommended cultivar, and the information is listed in an easy, quick-to-use outline format. While I love to read about plants, when creating a design, I don't want to wade through paragraphs of text! In addition to bloom times, great photos, and plant spacing, the book includes information that the plant labels and catalogs (and most other garden books!) do not, such as if the perennial is short-lived, if it tends to be invasive (sometimes a plus!), diseases and their control, propagation techniques, problems specific to that plant, and more. This information helps you select the perfect plants for each site (flower and foliage colors, shape and habits, bloom times, maintenance AND cultural requirements). It'll save you time and $$ very quickly - you'll replace fewer plants because you'll learn the best sites for every plant to select (and where it wil NOT be happy), and you'll be happier because the plants will perform just as the book says they will. In addition, I have so many books that list all sorts of gorgeous perennials, and when you decide to buy them, you can't find them anywhere. Not the plants in this book. They are the "best of the best" that are commonly available in the trade. I'm buying this book as a gift for several perennial-loving friends and fellow landscape designers on my list. It is the best resource I've found for anyone who is interested in perennials!

The perennial book with the information everyone wants
This is an absolute must have book, whether you are a beginner or an expert gardener. Pam Duthie answers all of the questions you might have. The pictures are just fabulous because she shows combinations of plants. The fact sheet under the pictures gives excellent information. I looked under Verbena 'Homestead Purple,' which we have found doesn't winter over even though it is supposed to, and she says that it doesn't winter over.

I teach a class for adults called "Color Yearround in the Garden," and I was so excited about this book, I brought it to the class. My students were equally excited and wanted to purchase the book.

One of the very helpful facts Pam Duthie includes is what other perennials combine well with each plant she pictures. With perennial gardening, whether you have a lot of perennials or just a smattering by the pool or mailbox, this is what everyone wants to know, how to combine the plants for a pleasing design and succession of bloom.

I can't think of any other gardening book with so much helpful information.

Guaranteed to Bloom!
"Continuous Bloom" is a must have garden reference books. The author highlights 272 durable and long-blooming perennials and bulbs which are key to achieving continuous bloom in the garden. Each perennial highlighted is arranged by month of bloom. Like other perennial books, this book provides the botanic and common name of the plant, the zone, the height, the spacing of the plant, and the light necessary for bloom. However, the author also provides valuable information such as length of bloom, flower and foliage description, care and use of the plant, when to propogate, plant problems, interesting insider's tips, and companion plants. Pam Duthie also devotes a chapter to her "nitty-gritty" tips for good garden care. Finally, the appendicees of the book provide additional information on plants with colored foliage, hostas, astilbes, daylilies, perennials least affected by deer and rabbit browsing, and even lists of mail-order catalogs. All perennials in the book are indexed by both common and botanic names making it easy to use. Full-color pictures for each plant is an added bonus. Although this book highlights 272 perennials and is a valuable guide for the garden lover, you might want to keep another resource book around for those plants which are not mentioned. "Continuous Bloom" is a handy guide for both new and experienced gardeners. It has has become my most favorite garden reference book!