Product Description

Bamboos are unfortunately too often kept out of gardens for fear of their invasive qualities or lack of hardiness. In truth, these elegant grasses, encompassing both woody and herbaceous forms, can achieve dramatic yet restrained effects in a range of climates. Tropical and subtropical bamboos present many possibilities for landscapes in warmer climates, while the hardier species can be grown as far north as Minnesota.

Bamboo expert Ted Jordan Meredith provides a thorough and multifaceted treatment of these ancient grasses, including insight into selecting the right plant for the right situation. The bulk of the book is an encyclopedia of bamboo genera, species, and cultivars. More than 300 bamboos from 40 genera are described in detail, including information on size, lighting and temperature requirements, native range, physical characteristics, and landscape and other uses. Excellent color photos and clear line drawings effectively illustrate both the details and broader effects of these exquisite plants.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #186560 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 408 pages

From Booklist
A resurgence of interest in bamboos calls for an expert to help gardeners select appropriate plants for a given setting. Meredith's approach perfectly suits this objective, with engaging personal experience illuminating comprehensive coverage of the subject at hand. The book's attractive format opens the door to the usefulness and beauty of bamboos, presenting a vast range of possibilities to enhance a garden or landscape. And although avid plant lovers have generally overcome a fear of the invasiveness associated with these plants, Meredith addresses the issue with a chapter pointing out landscaping options and maintenance requirements. He also lists bamboos for special situations, so readers can glean which plants might be used to create an evergreen privacy screen, lush grove, or other design ideas that might translate to a private garden. Concluding with an encyclopedic reference that provides particulars on form, color, cultural requirements, and the habits of each species, Meredith's fine resource offers clarity and enlightenment to new and experienced gardeners alike. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"From ground covers to timber types, Ted Jordan Meredith, author of Bamboo for Gardens, knows his subject."—Oregonian, July 31, 2002 (Oregonian )

"Really want to know about bamboo? This is the book to get."—John Van de Water, Newark Star-Ledger, April 7, 2002 (John Van de Water Newark Star-Ledger )

For anyone interested in learning about bamboo, this is the book to have. -- Kym Pokorny, The Oregonian, September 13, 2001

From ground covers to timber types, Ted Jordan Meredith, author of Bamboo for Gardens, knows his subject.Oregonian, July 31, 2002 (Oregonian )

Really want to know about bamboo? This is the book to get.John Van de Water, Newark Star-Ledger, April 7, 2002 (Newark Star-Ledger )

The best all-around and certainly the most up-to-date treatment of these curious grasses. . . . A good introduction and a worthy guide. -- Jim Waddick, The American Gardener, March/April 2002

Will help gardeners understand the practicalities as well as the aesthetics of bamboo gardening. -- Verlyn Klinkenborg, The New York Times Book Review, December 2, 2001

[I] would recommend it to both the newcomer and expert alike - it is a required read. -- Ian Connor, Bamboo, The Magazine of the American Bamboo Society, August 2001

About the Author
Ted Meredith first discovered bamboo while looking for a rapidly growing evergreen screen to block out the new housing construction next to his home. Once he learned more about this amazing plant, he became, in his own words, "passionately captivated by it." Author of several books on viticulture, enology, and wine appreciation, Ted decided to apply his writing and photography skills to his new passion, bamboo. His goal was to help gardeners appreciate the advantages of bamboo, which he feels is "largely undiscovered in the western world." To this end, in addition to writing Bamboo for Gardens and articles on bamboo, Ted was the keynote speaker at the national meeting of the American Bamboo Society in 2001.

A native of Montana, Ted now lives in Kirkland, Washington, where he writes and works with computer networking and automation technologies. In addition to writing and photography, Ted enjoys cooking, hiking, and music. He is currently studying alliums, specifically the garlics, Allium sativum and A. longicuspis.

Customer Reviews

Don't be afraid of planting bamboo!
Straight forward practical advice on how to choose the right bamboo for your garden. Sections on choosing either running or clumping bamboo and the differences, site selection, soil requirements, winter protection, maintenance, controlling the spread of bamboo and a gardeners special needs list (cold hardy bamboo, tall hedge, ground covers etc.) are perfect for the beginner grower and a great cross reference for the expert. The book has many beautiful images of bamboo included throughout as well. Ted also does an excellent job explaining the historical and cultural aspects of bamboo. All of your fears about planting bamboo should be relieved after reading this book. Happy gardening!

Bamboo for Gardens
Attracted to the look of bamboo but nervous about planting it in your yard? Then buy this book! It tells you everything you need to know and will convert you to the beauty and mystery of bamboo forever.

The Bible of Bamboo Cultivation
I am a bamboo grower and member of the Northern California Chapter of the American Bamboo Society. I have praised Meredith's book in two articles for the ABS magazine BAMBOO so I might as well do so here. It is really the bible of bamboo cultivation, answering every question-- well just about! As every bamboo grower knows, problems often arise for which one is unprepared-- for instance this season I found slugs living inside my bamboos and eating them from within! But Ted is available to respond to such questions, although he may not thank me for saying so here-- try contacting him first through his publisher. One thing I really like about him is that he is not, in contrast to some bamboo growers who think they know one's own environment better than one knows it oneself, dogmatic. He is very open-minded and thoughtful, listening carefully to what one says and responding in a balanced fashion. However, I must say that his book is not exactly a good guide to the first-time bamboo grower. There are so many facts that one tends to read it and then forget them until one runs into problems later. It is best kept as a reference book, although I highly recommend looking through his discussion of the various species before one decides to buy a bamboo. This is a book for serious bamboo growers, not people who think of bamboo as a mere hedge around their yard, but those who seek a gorgeous centerpiece to their garden which may eventually grow to be seventy feet tall with stalks which are several inches in diameter.