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Book Review
- July 2008
The Cactus Primer, by Arthur C. Gibson and Park S. Nobel, 1986. Harvard University Press.
Brush up on your cactus biology with this book designed for the amateur collector. If you
want something more than care, cultivation, and propagation of your plants then consider this
book. You can learn about the form, physiology, evolution and ecology of cacti. There are
some excellent drawings and enhanced photos used in the education process.
If you slept through high school botany, you might want to check out this book to get a
deeper understanding of the inner workings of your cactus.
If you would like to check out this book or any other from the club library, contact Karen
Summers at klsumm@hotmail.com or 206-365-0315. Books can be delivered to the next
meeting or made available for pick-up.
Reviewed by: Karen Summers, CCSS Librarian
Book Review
- June 2008
The New Cactus Lexicon, Descriptions and Illustrations of the Cactus Family, compiled and
edited by David Hunt with assistance of Nigel Taylor and Graham Charles, 2006. Text & Atlas of
Illustrations.
Have you been putting off checking into whether the plant you got at the club’s holiday gift
exchange is a Mammillaria spinosissima or a Mammillaria xaltianguensis? Are the Stenocereus
cacti you grew from seen beginning to look more like Corryocactus? Or maybe you are just like me
and have been thinking it would be a good idea to put a name to a few of the unknown plants on the
windowsill.
Regardless, these are the books for you. 7,700 names are included in the Text with 2,500 photos in
the Atlas. Your cactus is bound to be one of them. Close up photos in the Atlas give you the detail
you need to look for on your plants. Then grab the Text to confirm the verbal description of the
plant. Speaking for myself, the photos are the most enticing part of this two part set.
Even if the reader isn’t trying to name plants, the Atlas is worth a look through to see the incredible
array of cacti that exist. Perhaps it could inform the next buying spree or cause one to switch from
collecting Euphorbias to Parodias. Regardless of why you choose to check this book out of the
library, it is a worthy choice. You can select the Atlas or Text if you’d rather not check out both.
If you would like to check out this book or any other from the club library, contact Karen Summers at klsumm "at" hotmail.com. Books can be delivered to the next
meeting or made available for pick-up.
Reviewed by: Karen Summers, CCSS Librarian
Book Review
- May 2008
Designing with Succulents by Debra Lee Baldwin, 2007.
It’s time to work in the yard and this book will give the reader an artistic nudge. Baldwin is a
succulent gardener herself with insight into what works best for these plants and how to combine
them in a striking garden. She provides information on garden design and varieties that make
interesting viewing in combination. Amazing photos demonstrate creative designs using succulents.
Of special interest to those in the club might be the chapter entitled Pots, Wreaths, and Container
Gardens – portable things that can be brought indoors if necessary. There are some beautiful
examples of ways to combine succulents to create an artistic design. There is also a topiary beach
ball and purse made of succulents – something for everyone!
I highly recommend this book for anyone who plants succulents outdoors or would like to try to
create an outdoor garden – even a small container garden for the deck. It might be small but it will
be spectacular with help from this book. With 255 pages, the book can be enjoyed for reading,
perusing, or used as a reference book.
If you would like to check out this book or any other from the club library, contact Karen Summers at klsumm "at" hotmail.com. Books can be delivered to the next
meeting or made available for pick-up.
Reviewed by: Karen Summers, CCSS Librarian
Book Review
- April 2008
A World of Plants, Treasures from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew by Heather Angel, 1993.
Save your airfare and visit Kew Gardens through this book. Angel has combined over 150
photographs with easily read text to bring the reader gorgeous flowers, stunning and rare plants, and
of course, succulents. Initially the author covers the fascinating history of Kew Gardens, and then
creates chapters based on plant habitat. There’s something for everyone in the Temperate Forest,
Montane Plants, or Grassland Plants. Of special interest to our club is the Desert Plants section in
which Angel has included detailed close ups capturing the beauty of plants such as Pelecyphora
aselliformis, Furcraea selloana, and Lophophora williamsii.
With 160 pages this book is interesting as a picture book or for more in depth knowledge the reader
can delve into the text.
If you would like to check out this book or any other from the club library, contact Karen Summers at klsumm "at" hotmail.com. Books can be delivered to the next
meeting or made available for pick-up.
Reviewed by: Karen Summers, CCSS Librarian
Book Review
- March 2008
The Remarkable Baobab by Thomas Pakenham, 2004
Pakenham is known for his work dramatizing trees around the word through written word and photographs. It
was in the course of writing “Remarkable Trees of the World” that Pakenham first encountered one of the
elephantine baobabs of South Africa and fell in love. This book is a beautiful testimony to his great affection
for this stunning tree. For eight years, he searched the world for the most striking baobabs resulting in a
representation that covers Africa, Madagascar, Australia, the Caribbean, and the US. The reader can simply
savor the exceptional photography or dig into the text for more depth. The easily read storyline accompanying
each of the baobabs reveals the place the tree inhabits. The locale, the history, or some other aspect brings the
tree to life. Pakenham’s personal regard for each of his selected baobabs is apparent.
Having recently been to Africa and seen these unusual trees growing in “forests” myself, I especially enjoyed
the photos of trees in groups. One baobab is a work of art, a grove of them is something unimaginable until
seen.
This book is 142 pages long, with over half of the pages being photographs.
If you would like to check out this book or any other from the club library, contact Karen Summers at klsumm "at" hotmail.com. Books can be delivered to the next
meeting or made available for pick-up.
Reviewed by:
Karen Summers, CCSS Librarian
Book Review
- February 2008
Zygocactus (Schlumbergera), A Comprehensive and Practical Guide for the Weekend Gardener Written by: Mark E. Cobia, 1992.
This is a fun book with beautiful color photos of the various colors of Schlumbergera one might encounter. It starts off with a segment on Culture which has good basic information on these easy to care for succulents. This is followed by several interesting and easily understood chapters on Schlumbergera production around the world and new varieties in development. My favorite part of this book is the chapter entitled Varietal Descriptions. Such a dry sounding name doesn't prepare the reader for the brightly colored photos that follow with interesting information about each variety. This book has a total of 58 pages, so it's a quick read, even if one lingers over the photos of the new types of Schlumbergera hybrids. Imagine a bud that's twice as large as the traditional one, with color showing earlier and a more upright plant that needs pruning. (Note, they were new in 1992, perhaps not so new now, but still lovely).
Reviewed by:
Karen Summers, CCSS Librarian
Book Review
- February 2003
Cacti - A
Wisley Handbook. Written by: Innes, Clive.
Copyright 1987, Second Impression 1988 . For the Royal Horticulture
Society by Cassell Educational Limited, London.
This booklet
was added to our library in February 2003 from books acquired in
2002 from Dixie Dringman.
The Royal Horticulture Society exists to encourage and improve all
forms of horticulture. The Soceity maintains a 250 acre garden at
Wisley, near Woking, Surrey, which is open to the members and the
public. The Society also has headquarters and a library in London.
This is one of a practical series of fifty booklets offering a simple
but comprehensive guide to a particular aspect of gardening, with
easy to follow advice, invaluable to the amateur gardener. Each
booklet in the series is written by an expert in that field and
has helpful illustrations.
"Cacti" has 64 pages. It's table of contents lists: Introduction,
Geographic distribution, Cultivation (Cacti in the greenhouse, in
the home, in the garden), Propagation (Seed cuttings and offsets,
Grafting) , Pests and Diseases, Directory of Cacti (Epiphytic Cacti,
Desert Cacti), and Suppliers. It contains 38 excellent photographs
in color.
If you are new to the cactus hobby, this booklet will be of help
to you. If you visit England, be sure to include a visit to the
RHS garden at Wisley.
Reviewed by:
Dorothy Collias
Book Review
- November 21st, 2002
Cactus and
Succulents - a care manual. Written by: Mace, Tony and Suzanne.
Published: 1998 by Laurel Glen Publishing , San Diego, CA.
ISBN 1-57145-619-8
Chalk it up
to newbie enthusiasm, but here is another book I've just read.
This book, like others targeted toward beginning hobbyists, cover
much of the same general knowledge. However, there is great value
in reinforcement, right? You'll find the definition of succulents
and cacti, growth forms, propagation, and general cultivation.
There is an interesting section that discusses some of the myths,
folklore, and so-called urban legends associated with these plants.
Large color photographs abound. There is a great, larger than
life, 9" x 11" photo of a plant covered with "Public Enemy #1",
the mealy bug.
Most valuable
is the "Plant Dictionary" section, which comprises the last half
of this 128 page book. The treatment of the genus is concise.
Tony and Suzanne give lots of information on the physical characteristics.
This really helps those of us who are learning to differentiate
between the types of cacti. Also, there is information on what
to expect while in one's care. I find statements like "they are
not difficult to grow..." or, "...reluctant to flower," particularly
welcome. Within the text of each genus a few species are discussed.
I enjoyed this book and do not feel it redundant in the company
of other general knowledge books. Beginniers should definitely
put this on their reading list.
Reviewed by:
Jean Clements-Macak
Book Review
- November 19th, 2002
The Complete
Book of Cacti and Succulents - The definitive practical guide
to cultivation, propagation, and display. Written by: Hewitt,
Terry.
Published: 1997 by DK Publishing , New York, NY.
ISBN 0-7894-1657-3
Three words
aptly describe this book: pictures, pictures, pictures!
There are plenty of vivd, lifesize photographs throughout this
book. It gets a recommendation from me, on that alone. This 176
page book is organized into 4 main parts: Anatomy and Discovery,
Style Guide, Plant Catalog, and Care and Cultivation.
Unlike many
encyclopedic or dictionary type books, The Complete Book of
Cacti and Succulents spends over twenty pages on aesthetics.
This is great! It discusses shapes, color, harmony and display
with lovely illustrations of each.
Pictures in the Cactus and Succulent genus sections are spectacular.
The section covering care and propagation is clear and helpful.
Toward the end, there is a plant selection list divided into several
categories, among them...beginner, enthusiast, and architectural.
The subject matter in this book may not excite the experienced
hobbyist, but everyone will appreciate the photographs. I am glad
I added it to my library.
Reviewed by:
Jean Clements-Macak
Book Review
- November 16th, 2002
House Plants,
Cacti and Succulents. Written by: Huxley, Anthony.
Published: 1972 by The Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited, London.
ISBN 0-600-34372-3
This book is
a recent edition from an eBay auction. This title, had for just
a few dollars, worked out well. Suitable for beginners in the
hobby.
The first half of this 133 page book concerns itself with the
general care and description of common house plants. While informative,
it is not particularly useful to the cactus/succulent enthusiast.
However, the payoff occurs in the second part of the book. Huxley
defines succulents, covers several families, describes care, disease/pests,
and treatment. It is my understanding that succulent and particularly
cactus classification has undergone numerous name changes. Therefore
this would provide some reference to the "state of affairs" in
the early 70s.
In addition
to above mentioned topics, Huxley provides a list of succulent
genera with a key that includes maximum and minimum temperatures,
resting period, and propagation methods. This is useful.
Houseplants, Cacti and Succulents is easy to read. It is
well organized and has a logical flow. The author has a pleasant
writing style. Often, facts are interspersed with interesting
trivia. Photos are in black and white as well as color. In addition,
line drawings are included.
Reviewed by:
Jean Clements-Macak
Book Review
- November 15th, 2002
The Genus
Ferocactus, Taxonomy & Ecology; Explorations in the USA &
Mexico. Written by: Lindsay, George, et al.
Copyright 1996 by Tireless Termites Press. ISBN 0-9654359-0-3
This book has
George Lindsay's 1995 doctoral thesis, The Taxonomy and Ecology
of the Genus Ferocactus, as it's core. To round it out, there
are updates and other contributions, all with Dr. Lindsay's blessing.
These include a biography, interesting color photos, botanical
illustrations, tips on propagation, an illustrated glossary, a
table summarizing Ferocactus distribution, a listing of Ferocactus
synonyms, and a chapter on current taxonomy research involving
analyses of DNA to arrange the taxa tree.
George Lindsay and the editors were interested in how molecular
studies being performed by Hugo Cota at Iowa State University
would clarify the phylogenetic relationships of Ferocacti. Despite
a heavy schedule, Hugo made time to write a chapter describing
his current work. This work will bring about a rearrangement of
the genus and will serve as a model for work on other genera.
It is hoped that this book can serve as a pocketable field guide,
be useful to the gardener, and bring one up to date on laboratory
techniques, which when backed with field work can be used to trace
what was thought to be untraceable a decade ago.
This is a book newly added to our library from books we acquired
from Dixie Dringman. It is the only book on Ferocactus in our
library. George Lindsay's recent death (reported in the Vol.4,
No. 5 issue of To the Point, Supplement to the CSSA Cactus and
Succulent Journal) prompted this book report. George contributed
so much to the cactus world in person and with his books and his
great interest in Ferocactus.
Reviewed/Compiled by: Dorothy Collias
Book Review
List of Southern
African Succulent Plants, 1st edition
Smith, G. et al, editors
1997, 175 pages
As the title
suggests, this book is a list of the 58 plant families found in
southern Africa. The book also includes distribution maps and
eight full-page color drawings. The book is a vital reference
on touring trips for the correct spelling of plant names and the
useful distribution maps. A softbound copy of this book was donated
to the Society for the regional meeting's auction by the publisher
of UMDAUS Press, Alex Fick. The hardbound copy is $39.95 at Rainbow
Garden.
Reviewed by:
Peter V Gammarano, President
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