Product Description

This landmark publication features the first 74 plants promoted by Plant Select, a unique collaborative venture aimed at identifying and distributing the best plants for the Rocky Mountain region. This bold new plant palette will revolutionize the way we garden. For the first time, all of the plants promoted by Plant Select during the plant introduction program s inaugural 11 years are presented in a single resource. Durable Plants for the Garden shares the story behind the selection of each plant as well as detailed plant descriptions, growing tips, and anecdotal comments. Photographs and exquisite botanical illustrations make this both an informative and a beautiful resource.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #137358 in Books
• Published on: 2008-12-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781555915902
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
"...the stars are the plants themselves, each of them profiled in a two-page spread with comments on use, propagation, range, origin, needs, and -- gasp -- disadvantages... Me, I just want to fall into the pictures. I'm sort of dismayed that it's so gorgeous, because I know my copy will be well-thumbed and likely coffee-stained in no time. And oh, yeah -- I'll probably get it dirty. --Digging In Colorado, February 2009

"...the stars are the plants themselves, each of them profiled in a two-page spread with comments on use, propagation, range, origin, needs, and -- gasp -- disadvantages... Me, I just want to fall into the pictures. I'm sort of dismayed that it's so gorgeous, because I know my copy will be well-thumbed and likely coffee-stained in no time. And oh, yeah -- I'll probably get it dirty --Digging In Colorado, February 2009

"Go to your nearest book store and buy this book now. If you live in the Rocky Mountains, you will have your map for this season's gardening. If you live elsewhere, buy it anyway. You will gain a deep appreciation of the beauty and adaptability of a small slice of our plant world." -- The Bloomsbury Review, March 2009

"Go to your nearest book store and buy this book now. If you live in the Rocky Mountains, you will have your map for this season's gardening. If you live elsewhere, buy it anyway. You will gain a deep appreciation of the beauty and adaptability of a small slice of our plant world." --The Bloomsbury Review, March 2009

"This oversized, lavishly illustrated volume aimed at Rocky Mountain-region gardeners is lovely enough for coffee table display, but is more likely to end up well-thumbed and dirt-stained. The 74 varieties of shrubs, grasses, and flowers profiled in Durable Plants for the Garden are introductions of the Plant Select program. This collaborative effort of Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado State University, and regional landscape and nursery professionals aims to introduce plants adapted to our area's challenging climates and soils. Many are native to the Rockies and High Plains, others have proved themselves "durable" here. The heart of this beautifully designed book is arranged in four sections: Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines; Perennials; Perennial Groundcovers; and Annuals. Within these, each plant is profiled on a full two-page spread including close-up and garden photos and botanical illustrations, and narrative sections detailing why each was chosen for Plant Select, plus descriptions, habits, and advantages and disadvantages. Unlike the telegraphic text in many garden guides, these brief stories of botanical exploration and plant lives make compelling reading. The final section of the book is a series of tables summarizing the characteristics of each variety. My only complaint: the book's title. The plants described are far more than merely durable." --Zone 4, May 2009

"This oversized, lavishly illustrated volume aimed at Rocky Mountain-region gardeners is lovely enough for coffee table display, but is more likely to end up well-thumbed and dirt-stained. The 74 varieties of shrubs, grasses, and flowers profiled in Durable Plants for the Garden are introductions of the Plant Select program. This collaborative effort of Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado State University, and regional landscape and nursery professionals aims to introduce plants adapted to our area's challenging climates and soils. Many are native to the Rockies and High Plains, others have proved themselves "durable" here. The heart of this beautifully designed book is arranged in four sections: Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines; Perennials; Perennial Groundcovers; and Annuals. Within these, each plant is profiled on a full two-page spread including close-up and garden photos and botanical illustrations, and narrative sections detailing why each was chosen for Plant Select, plus descriptions, habits, and advantages and disadvantages. Unlike the telegraphic text in many garden guides, these brief stories of botanical exploration and plant lives make compelling reading. The final section of the book is a series of tables summarizing the characteristics of each variety. My only complaint: the book's title. The plants described are far more than merely durable." - --Zone 4, May 2009

A "documentary publication featuring the first seventy-four plants promoted by Plant Select" since the program began introducing plants in 1997. A collaborative effort between Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado State University, and green industry partners, this program focuses on promoting exceptional plants for the High Plains and intermountain region. Anyone who gardens in this area of the country will appreciate having at their fingertips this list of tough but beautiful plants that will thrive despite low rainfall, alkaline soils, strong winds, little winter snow cover, and other challenges that often make short work of lesser plants. Each entry includes brief notes about why it makes the cut, its characteristics and landscape uses, preferred cultural conditions, native range, and a list of its best features- all accompanied by color photographs and illustrations. --The American Gardener Magazine (July 2009) of Alexandria, VA "Gardener's Books: Regional Gardening Books"

Durable Plants for the Garden is a tool for every gardener who wants durable plants for our region's plant growing challenges. --KUNC Radio, February 2009

Review
The photos make this book a coffee table book as much as a garden guide.

About the Author
Plant Select® is a cooperative program combining the talents and expertise of Colorado State University, Denver Botanic Gardens, and landscape and nursery professionals from throughout the Rocky Mountain region to seek out, identify, and distribute the very best plants for landscapes and gardens from the intermountain region to the High Plains. Each organization brings different skills to the table, from plant evaluation and landscape design to devising efficient propagation and production methods.

Customer Reviews

A horticultural symphony for Western horticulture
Anyone who gardens outdoors in the Intermountain West (from the Sierra Cascade crest to the Midwest) would benefit substantially from reading and owning this book. I suspect that even keen gardeners who live on the coasts could grow many of the plants contained herein, and certainly the lavish photography (and graceful paintings) depicting these plants in combination with one another and with similar plants should inspire anyone to create gardens in the brash, new Western style so much more in keeping with our intense sun, low rainfall and changeable climate. As a sometime player in Plant Select (a cooperative program between Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado State University and the horticultural industry nation wide) you may take my words with a grain of salt. Go ahead! Most dishes can use a dash of salt, and frankly this book is not just a platter but a banquet of gorgeous photographic images, concise history and data of each of the nearly 80 plants covered, with charts and data galore for those nerdy to the point of masochism. Yes, I did write one of the forewords, contributed a few pictures and some prose, but this is a truly massive effort with dozens of artists and photographers, and a sizeable village of contributors. Jim Henrich is to be commended (along with Fulcrum) for blending the potentially discordant voices into a resounding symphony of gorgeous art and valuable cultural information. I believe Plant Select is nothing less than drought insurance for our vast region, promising stunning landscapes needing little supplemental irrigation and fuss. I will treasure this book forever, and have already bought copies to give to friends across the country and abroad. Viva Waterwise Gardening! Long live Plant Select!

Perfect book for the beginner gardener
This book is absolutely perfect for someone like me who is a beginner gardener. There is so much useful information and it is presented in a very easy to follow way. Great pictures and descriptions help me tremendously when trying to identify and learn these awesome plants. Thanks for putting together the "Gardening for Dummies" book for me. It is a life-saver!!!

Must have if you live along the front range of the Rockies
Durable Plants for the Garden features "Plant Select" trees, shrubs, perennials, ground covers, etc. tested & evaluated for conditions along the front range of the Rocky Mountains. If you live near the Denver metro area or the foothills this is a must have book. The illustrations, diagrams, and detailed information on each plant is like none other. Take this book with you to plant sales, design your gardens with the facts from this book, read for pleasure, or just support the folks at CSU & Denver Botanic Gardens who developed the ideas and put the book together. Finally, a book for our area!