A Guide that Offers Both Quantity and Quality
If your rose bushes look anything like mine after such a brutal summer, you’ll understand why I’ve been reading Roses for Dummies. Although I was unsure of what to expect, I’ve been quite surprised by both the quantity and quality of the information it contains. With its comical cover and textbook-like interior, this “reference for the rest of us,” as it’s billed, is much more helpful than some more attractive, more cultured volumes. Written by Lance Walheim (who’s described as a horticultural consultant and experienced gardener) and the editors of the National Gardening Association, the guide includes everything a novice rose-grower will need. What’s more, Roses for Dummies (which, needless to say, is another edition in the series of books that readers either love or hate) covers topics and includes details that other more sophisticated books leave out. If you want to get started with roses, expand what you have, or correct what’s going wrong, Roses for Dummies is for you. Much of the guide’s features are designed so the book can serve as a quick reference for readers. It has not one but two versions of the table of contents; the second of which is more detailed, so you can flip to the exact page you need to consult. Most of the chapters are short, are filled with numerous sections with their own headings, and have symbols to indicate text that includes things like warnings or sources. All of which help the reader hone in on what he or she needs at the moment. Many of the topics, like the history and botany of the rose, are briefly introduced early on in the guide, and then explained in greater detail in later chapters. Throughout, there are black and white drawings that do an excellent job of illustrating the topics or techniques discussed. Another quite useful feature is how a lot of the information is categorized and itemized in lists, lists, and more lists. For example, each of the chapters on the groups of roses includes lists of those roses by color, so if you fancy a multicolored floribunda, you can easily learn more about their suggestions, including Judy Garland and Scentimental. The book includes numerous definitions of jargon like substance and blend, cartoons that tickle a gardener’s funny bone, and language (like the expression recently used) that is frequently relaxed and light-hearted as in the heading about roses for “Spring Break vacation spots,” which others would have typically described as The South. Of course, the guide includes chapters on the basics of growing roses, and most provide a healthy amount of knowledgeable instruction. In addition, the book offers chapters on topics—like fragrance, climate, and container-growing—that are often glossed over in other supposedly more expert references. The chapter on landscaping, for example, explains things like planting for function (such as to create hedges) as well as for aesthetics by combing roses with other plants (to cover gangly stems) or planting white flowers (to create a moonlight garden). In the middle of all this information, are about 30 color-coded pages with full-color illustrations of individual roses grouped by their color. Most are close-up shots of lush blossoms, while a few pages show rose bushes in various landscape settings. All of the pictures show us exactly what is explained in the accompanying captions. Before the hearty appendix appears, there are also discussions of more topics that are often overlooked, like cuttings and sports, as well as unexpected but useful sections specifically on the important topics of nitrogen and phosphorus and potassium. The chapters on the usual topics of pruning and pests and diseases are unusually long and informative, so they not only cover the basics, but they also go into extensive detail on these topics. Published in 1997, with a second edition in 2000, Roses for Dummies is right for all rose lovers. Whether you’re just starting out and need lots of information, or you’re an experienced rose-grower looking for a new tip, this book has something for everyone. Roses for Dummies is available at the Brockport-Seymour, Central, Charlotte, Fairport, Lyell, Parma, and Pittsford libraries. If you’re in the Rochester area and need help with your roses, please join us at one of our upcoming meetings. We get together year round because we love roses and we enjoy helping each other grow the best ones possible.
1 Comment
leona
5/26/2022 05:40:57 pm
This is very much a helpful for a dummy like me! Thanks. I want to share a company who help me in delivering the freshest flowers. "The Flower Merchant". https://theflowermerchant.com.au They have efficient flower delivery service and good flower choices. Once again, thanks!
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Patti Dee, Archives
December 2018
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