Product Description
This 8 1/2 by 11 paperback book with 232 pages and 450 color pictures is a comprehensive guide to gardening and landscaping practises in central Florida. The area it covers is from Jacksonville to Melbourne on the east coast, the middle part of the State including Orlando and its environs and Tampa on the west coast. It focuses on what is unique about gardening in this part of the State and illustrates plants which thrive here and how to use them in the landscape. … More >>
#1 by M. Hedrick on May 16, 2010 - 10:18 pm
This was for my daughter, a new resident of Florida. She was very excited about the book and is looking forward to trying out many of the suggestions.
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by Tamara L. Klein on May 16, 2010 - 10:18 pm
Pictures are terrible (amatuer and low resolution) and I know plants are missing because our newly-purchased Florida place has a ton of “purple heart” on it, which is not mentioned anywhere under any name (scientific or common) in this book. Not a BAD book, but there must be better ones out there… you might get better plant/tree info from [...]
Rating: 3 / 5
#3 by L. B. Taylor on May 16, 2010 - 10:35 pm
I am going against the grain and agreeing with E. Dickmann and rating this book three stars. Considering all the good information Ms. Bell took the time to share with us, the pictures were slightly blurred. When I refer to plants it may seem a minor point but I want detail when someone uses the camera. Secondly, considering this book covered a very specific area, I thought many cultivars would be listed: it didn’t. An important criteria for me: is it a keeper for my garden book shelf? This wasn’t.
All in all, it is a good book for beginners. There are so many subjects to cover and Ms. Bell does it well if you don’t have much experience with gardening in central Florida. If you are one of the many people who have moved to our state but have gardened elsewhere, it is not the same. This would be the book for you.
If you have gardened in Florida a long time I have five star reads listed below, check them out:
EASY GARDENS FOR THE SOUTH by Pamela Crawford
HEIRLOOM FLOWERS: Vintage Flowers for Modern Gardens by Tovah Martin
AMERICAN ROSE SOCIETY ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ROSES : The Definitive A-Z Guide by Charles Quest-Ritson
GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS OF THE SOUTH by Sally and Andy Wasowski
Every Stick has Two Ends -Southern Saying
Rating: 3 / 5
#4 by Victoria L. Andrade on May 16, 2010 - 11:34 pm
This is a great reference for the beginning Florida gardener. It covers lawn, trees and flowers. I would have liked to see more information regarding fruits and vegetables. These are briefly covered with little detail. There is more detail regarding lawn and tree care. I will have to get a second book that deals only with fruits and vegetables. All said, it is still a great book to have and refer to.
Rating: 4 / 5
#5 by Yeah but...... on May 17, 2010 - 1:22 am
Book contains p[lenty of good solid info which is reliable. Print is large enough so that you dont have to stain your eyes to read so therefore it is good for older folks who love gardening and are perhaps retiring to Florida and want info for the area.
Rating: 5 / 5