The Complete Book of Bulbs, Corms, Tubers and Rhizomes – Brian Mathew & Philip Swindells

Description

About

From the blurb:
“A springtime lawn flecked with brightly coloured crocuses, a profusion of summer-flowering alliums and lilies in a border, a bowl of winter hyacinths perfuming the air – all these can be yours if you follow the sound advice, useful illustrations and clear directions in The Complete Book of Bulbs, Corms, Tubers and Rhizomes.

Many of the most familiar and attractive flowers are produced from bulbous plants, a large and varied group made up of true bulbs, corms, tubers and rhizomes. In this authoritative single volume, experts Brian Mathew and Philip Swindells present a practical and creative guide to choosing and growing bulbs, both indoors and outdoors.

The Complete Book of Bulbs, Corms, Tubers and Rhizomes combines comprehensive cultivation details with a wealth of exciting design options. Seasonal plant directories list and describe over 750 recommended species and varieties, and give advice on growth and propagation. Each directory is accompanied by an introductory essay that is chock-full of imaginative planting ideas for every situation. A special how-to section gives you clear instructions on selecting, growing and caring for bulbs, and practical advice about pest and disease control and propagation methods. A comprehensive glossary explains bulb-growing terms, and there is also a helpful list of bulb suppliers.

The Complete Book of Bulbs, Corms, Tubers and Rhizomes is lavishly illustrated with specifically commissioned photographs, showing flowering bulbs, on their own or mixed with other plants, and indoor cut-flower arrangements as well. Step-by-step colour artwork accompanies the how-to information. An invaluable book for every gardener’s bookshelf, this year-round guide to bulbs contains all the information you’ll ever need for success in gardening with bulbs.”

About the Authors
From the Blurb:
“Brian Mathew worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, for 25 years, where he specialized in bulbs, progressing through the grades to Principal Scientific Officer. He is now a writer and lecturer on the subject of bulbous plants. He has published more than 200 individual papers, and his 13 books include The Genus Crocus, The Genus Iris, Bulbs of Europe, The Year Round Bulb Garden and Flowering Bulbs. Among the many awards and he has won are the Royal Horticultural Society Lytell Cup for work on the genus Liliaceae, the British Iris Society’s Michael Foster award for his work on the iris, a Royal Horticultural Society Victoria Medal of Honour, and the International Bulb Society’s Herbert Medal for work on monocots.

Philip Swindells currently practises as a consultant for historic gardens and has recently organized the establishment of the British National Hyacinth Collection in the grounds of Ripley Castle, North Yorkshire. In addition to serving as custodian of this collection, he is responsible for editing specialist technical bulletins for landscapers and horticulturalists in the United Kingdom on behalf of the Dutch bulb industry. He is also a consultant to the International Flower Bulb Centre, Hillegom, Holland. His books include Bulbs for All Seasons. In 1985 he won the Geest Garden Writer of the Year Gold Award. He is a member of the Garden Writers Association of America and won its Golden Quill and Trowel Award for Radio in 1986.”