Product Description

This is Christopher Lloyd’s most important book since the publication thirty years ago of his landmark The Well-tempered Garden, representing the fruit of his lifetime’s study of perennial plants. Genus by genus, he has set down everything he has learned, thought, seen, tried, likes or regrets about them, individually or in combination.

Ever the scholar among professional gardeners, he is formidably knowledgeable, iconoclastic, sometimes dyspeptic or even rude, and always entertaining. He makes us see and he makes us think. In his own words, “for good or ill, here you have the voice of an individual rather than the omniscience of a faceless team of contributors…I love plants: at least that must be clear – perhaps even infectious.” The lively text is supplemented by breathtaking photographs, most by Jonathan Buckley.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1668210 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 448 pages

Review
" A lifetime of experience among plants has been distilled, species by species, variety by variety, into a highly distinguished abecedarium." -- Verlyn Klinkenborg, New York Times Book Review, December 3, 2000

"...his sumptuously illustrated text shares a lifetime of trial and error. Lloyd's subjective guide gives the lowdown on everything..." -- Gardener, April/March 2001

"The essence of this famous gardener's lifetime of experience - a mounumental and lively report...about a great range of perennial plants." -- The Avant Gardener, 2000

"Want help picking a terrific plant for your garden: You'll find it in this exciting book,..." -- Kristine Moe, The Seattle Times, September 3, 2000

"[Christopher Lloyd's] sumptously illustrated text shares a lifetime of trial and error." -- Rebecca Sawyer-Fay, Country Living Gardener, March/April 2001

...here is yet another invaluable book from Britain's most esteemed garden writer and plantsman…[written] in his own entertaining, enthusiastic style. -- Gardens Illustrated, June 2000

A lifetime of experience among plants has been distilled, species by species, variety by variety, into a highly distinguished abecedarium. -- Verlyn Klinkenborg, New York Times Book Review, December 3, 2000

Always informative and always entertaining (a rare quality for a reference book) . . . A volume that belongs in every gardening collection. -- Rachael Green, American Reference Books Annual, 2001

Another invaluable book from Britain's most esteemed garden writer and plantsman. -- Gardens Illustrated, June 2000

Demonstrates all that is best about our greatest garden plantsman. No-one else can do practical advice so pithily. -- The Garden, September 2000

From the Publisher
This is Christopher Lloyd’s most important book since the publication thirty years ago of his landmark The Well-Tempered Garden, representing the fruit of his lifetime’s study of perennial plants. Genus by genus, he has set down everything he has learned, thought, seen, tried, likes or regrets about them, individually or in combination. Ever the scholar among professional gardeners, he is formidably knowledgeable, iconoclastic, sometimes dyspeptic or even rude, and always entertaining. He makes us see and he makes us think. In his own words, “for good or ill, here you have the voice of an individual rather than the omniscience of a faceless team of contributors . . . I love plants: at least that must be clear – perhaps even infectious.”

About the Author
Christopher Lloyd has lived in the 15th century half-timbered manor house of Great Dixter since his birth in 1921. Through his long lifetime he has developed and refined its garden, originally designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens; it is one of Britain’s most celebrated and imaginative gardens. In 1979 the Royal Horticultural Society conferred on him its highest award, the Victoria Medal of Honour.

Customer Reviews

Christopher Lloyd -- organized, yet still colorful
Lloyd's normal rambling, storytelling style doesn't suffer at all from being organized into this alphabetical presentation of his favorite plants. In fact, I like him this way. Some plants get a quick brush off. Some get rich detail. Even the ones I'll never grow are fun and interesting to read about.

He includes names of favored varieties. Unlike with many "Euro-gardening" books, I have been pleased to find those varieties available by mail and even locally (from a good nursery specializing in perennials). There are exceptions. I liked the Dr. Seuss look of Helianthus Salicifolius in one of Lloyd's photos. Most sites I found by searching for it on web were in foreign languages. There's hope, however, as it's apparently known as "willow-leaved sunflower and rock sunflower" in Kansas. If it doesn't get to Ohio from Europe, maybe it will get here from Kansas.

I can't give five stars to a book that commits my pet peeve: photos, although lovely and colorful, are printed in sections. They are cleary labeled and referenced to the text and text descriptions have photo number references in the margin, where they are easy to find. It works, but I have four other books by Timberland Press, each intermixing great content with great photos. Go figure.

The gardening book we've always wanted
Following a short but informative introduction the main body of the book is arranged alphabetically by plant genus, wherein there is a general description followed by an assessment of each species or variety of that genus. The book concludes with a glossary and an index to plants and photographs. The book is beautifully illustrated with in excess of eighty full and half page colour photographs depicting plants singly and in stunning combination - but however fine the photographs are the stands on its writing.

Unlike any other gardening "encyclopaedia" Christopher Lloyd's Garden Flowers is a personal account. Yes it is full of information about the plants, size, colour and so forth, but it is honest and forthright in its descriptions. It is typical of his work; in discussing plants he takes no prisoners, and he is not afraid to express his opinions; one might not always agree with him, but such was the stature of the man that I am sure he would not expect one to.

This is a book full of delightful phrases and expressions, brimming with powerful observation and wit. Christopher Lloyd is always a delight to read such that I am sure even a non-gardener would fine his writings pleasurable. It is his combination of informed authority, open mindedness, fearlessness, adventurousness, his passion for plants and gardening and his wit which make his writings such a joy. Christopher Lloyd was one of our greatest plantsmen and garden writers, and this is perhaps the book we've always wanted from him, how fortunate we are now to be able to enjoy it.