Product Description

In this new book noted grass expert and advocate Rick Darke addresses both the aesthetic qualities of grasses in private gardens and the opportunities and challenges of using them in wild and constructed public landscapes. All the true grasses, sedges, rushes, restios, and cattails that possess ornamental merit or that can contribute to ecological plantings are described, and practical matters of propagation, growth, and maintenance are also covered. More than 1000 stunning photographs show details of individual plants and hundreds of gardens and landscapes in which grasses play a prominent part. This worthy successor to The Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses is a new type of design reference that sets a standard for inspired, sustainable use of grasses.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #141322 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 484 pages

From Booklist
Taking a broad view of gardening with grasses, Darke acknowledges the ornamental attributes that enhance private plantings and looks at the myriad possibilities for using grasses in natural areas and public landscapes. A notable photographer, Darke includes more than 1,000 entrancing photographs to illustrate grass family members, from grasses and sedges to rushes, restios, and cattails. Issues of sustainability and ecology color Darke's thoughtful approach. International travels take him through Japan and houses thatched with miscanthus to a railway line in Pennsylvania where he documents switchgrass emerging from granite walls. A presentation of the botany, aesthetics, and design potential of grasses advances the concept of gardening with these plants. Each plant entry includes advice on maintenance, cultivation, and nomenclature implements^B as well as descriptions of characteristics and cultural requirements. Darke's impressive achievement should stand as the definitive resource for grasses for some time to come. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"Opening chapters discuss the global significance, botany and beauty of grasses. Design, cultivation and maintenance are also detailed. The massive plant encyclopedia describes hundreds of different grasses...with specifics to help gardeners select the most appropriate grasses for their conditions and help nurseries decide which ones to stock." L. A. Times, Lili Singer

"...what a beauty. Rick is one of the best of all time; passionate about gardening and plants." Bob Hill, host of Homegrown

About the Author
Rick Darke is a landscape design consultant and widely published author and photographer focused on regional landscape design. He has received the Scientific Award of the American Horticulture Society, and two of his books, The Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses and The American Woodland Garden, have earned book awards. He lives in Landenberg, Pennsylvania.

Customer Reviews

From a designer's point of view
This is an awesome book. I own another of Rick Darke's grass books, the Timber Press pocket guide, which is also excellent as an overall reference. This one, though, goes in to a depth I didn't know I needed until I saw it! I find I am reading every page, after having skimmed every beautiful photo. I particularly admire the wisdom behind the design theory (see the chapter on design)--a true artist's understanding of color, form and line. Why use grasses in a garden design? And how to do so? The topic is eloquently covered. So well in fact that I have had a bit of a paradigm shift.

In addition to Darke's exquisite artistic sense, his horticultural, encyclopedic knowledge of all these plants is very appreciated. I can trust what he tells me. The only thing missing (and missing from almost all--dare I say ALL--ornamental grasses books) is the width size for grasses listed. One needs to try to extrapolate a probable width from the height which IS given for every plant. Granted this piece of info must be hard for authors as there may be two or even three width sizes for grasses--the basal clump in spring, the foliage fully expanded in summer, and tip-to-tip spread IN BLOOM in fall, for example. And there is the question of time as well: e.g. a 3-year size vs. a 10-year size. Still, a gardener needs to know these things: what sort of space to give a grass for its best look to be achieved.

The above is a small point for an overall excellent book. It covers ornamental grasses from every angle, from a man very experienced in the genre.

Excellent book for growing grasses
Excellent for the experienced and inexperienced grasses' growers. Beautiful photographs and readable, informative text. We live in Maine and have planted many grasses. This book helped us understand soil conditions and care.

The best ornamental grass book ever
This book is the bible of all ornamental grasses, great pictures for referance and identifacation of grass plants !!!!!!!!!!