Product Description

Christopher Lloyd knows perennials as well as anyone else alive. Now available in paperback, this book represents the fruit of Lloyd's lifetime study of perennials. Genus by genus, he sets down everything he has learned, thought, seen, tried, liked, or regretted about them, individually or in combination. He is formidably knowledgeable, iconoclastic, opinionated, and always entertaining. Here, meticulously recorded, are his expert opinions about numerous varieties of flowering garden plants, from Acanthus to Zigadenus, accompanied by spectacular photographs from Jonathan Buckley and others. Any gardener will find themselves opening this book time and again with pleasure and the frequent thought, "I MUST grow this one, too."

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #348947 in Books
• Published on: 2005-07-01
• Released on: 2005-08-15
• Format: Bargain Price
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 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
Christopher Lloyd shares a lifetime of experience growing and studying perennials. In an A-Z encyclopedia of plants, we learn about flower and foliage, scent and color, size and shape, soil and cultivation; in effect, everything one needs to know to become an expert gardener.

About the Author
The late Christopher Lloyd (1921-2006) lived in the 15th century half-timbered manor house of Great Dixter his entire life. He is the author of a string of bestselling garden classics, and 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.