Koncocoo

Best Botany of Mushrooms

Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World
What Stamets has discovered is that we can capitalize on mycelium’s digestive power and target it to decompose toxic wastes and pollutants (mycoremediation), catch and reduce silt from streambeds and pathogens from agricultural watersheds (mycofiltration), control insect populations (mycopesticides), and generally enhance the health of our forests and gardens (mycoforestry and myco-gardening). --From the foreword by Andrew Weil, MD, author of Eating Well for Optimum Health “Stamets is a visionary emissary from the fungus kingdom to our world, and the message he’s brought back in this book, about the possibilities fungi hold for healing the environment, will fill you with wonder and hope.“. --Michael Pollan, author of The Botany of Desire “This is the kind of book I love: highly factual and practical and mixed with the spiritual content that sets the great writers apart from all the rest.“. --John Norris, former deputy commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration and founder of the Bioterrorism Institute. “This is the first book to give the Kingdom of the Fungi its proper place in the scheme of things. Stamets’s visionary insights are leading to a whole new understanding of how mushrooms, scarcely seen and rarely appreciated, regulate the earth’s ecosystems.“. --John Todd, founder and president of Ocean Arks International. “This visionary and practical book should be an instant classic in... A manual for healing the earth and creating sustainable forests through mushroom cultivation, featuring mycelial solutions to water pollution, toxic spills, and other ecological challenges.
Reviews
"This book is truly fascinating!"
"Paul Staments knowledge and understanding documentation of Mushrooms and it's benefits is a worthy resource for all us."
"only just started reading, but so far it is an amazing and eye-opening book!"
"Paul Stamets is the worlds leading authority on mushrooms and this book certainly doesn't disappoint."
"good book but I wish it were more nuts and bolts and less philosophy, worth buying but not Paul's best book."
"The more you read, the more you learn about the interconnectivity of fungi with all features of a healthy ecosystem and a healthy agriculture."
"Instructions and pictures sure help."
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The Mushroom Hunters: On the Trail of an Underground America
In the tradition of Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Susan Orlean’s The Orchid Thief, and Mark Kurlansky’s Cod —a renowned culinary adventurer goes into the woods with the iconoclasts and outlaws who seek the world’s most coveted ingredient . Whether dressing up a filet mignon with smoky morels or shaving luxurious white truffles over pasta, the most elegant restaurants across the country now feature an abundance of wild mushrooms. Langdon Cook embeds himself in this shadowy subculture, reporting from both rural fringes and big-city eateries with the flair of a novelist, uncovering along the way what might be the last gasp of frontier-style capitalism. Rich with the science and lore of edible fungi—from seductive chanterelles to exotic porcini— The Mushroom Hunters is equal parts gonzo travelogue and culinary history lesson, a rollicking, character-driven tour through a world that is by turns secretive, dangerous, and tragically American. “Like Susan Orlean in The Orchid Thief, Seattle author [Langdon] Cook shines a light on a shady subculture operating at the seam between wilderness and commerce. [A] beguiling, surprising book.” — The Seattle Times “Not simply about mushrooms, this book examines human behavior, economics, food, society, and nature. An Amazon Best Book of the Month, September 2013 : In your neighborhood grocery store sits a bin of nondescript white mushrooms, unthreatening and clearly-of-this-planet fungi that might have been plucked from the pages of Beatrix Potter tale. He took a long walk in the woods and returned with The Mushroom Hunters , a collection of delightful stories of a mycelial underground filled with eccentrics and obsessives who at first seem strange (and maybe even unsettling), but grow more charming by the page. I went to Oregon and British Columbia, to Michigan, Montana, Colorado, and New York City, among other places, to follow the invisible food chain from patch to plate. Images by Author Langdon Cook With the arrival of spring, North America’s woodlands begin to echo with the footfalls of stealthy and secretive hunters who aren’t after any animal. These hardy souls then meet up with even more shadowy types, dealers and middlemen, furtive guardians of mushroom supply and demand, who resell their booty to restaurants, greenmarkets, and the export trade. All this is in service of the fifth taste, umami, a prime flavor that mushrooms supply in such abundance that chefs willingly pay astronomical prices to please themselves and well-heeled guests.
Reviews
"So, to sum up, I would say a great read if you like the woods, like learning about some of the unique ways people on the fringe make a living, or enjoy food. With so much focus on how farmed beef, poultry, fish, etc., make their way to our table it was very interesting to learn something about the paths taken by foraged wild edible food."
"I don't know what was in my head when I bought a book about scrounging for mushrooms!"
"Interesting and informative about a part of mushroom hunting that was new to me."
"I decided to read it in advance and became completely intrigued."
"As a land manager on the west Olympic peninsula, and a mushroom hunter, I really enjoyed this book."
"I found the book to be as informative as it was engaging -- from the ecology of mushrooms, to the logistics of their journey from the forest floor to the restaurant table, to the amazingly dedicated people who make it happen despite long odds and often miserable conditions."
"For mycophiles, good addition to your library."
"Like the best adventure, travel, nature or food writing, this book combines just the right blend of ingredients for a satisfying multi-course feast: excitement, wild characters, appreciation of nature, innovative 21st century cuisine, but most of all, entry into the chthonic underbrush world of that most magical of earthy delights, the mushroom, and the people who pick, buy, sell and prepare this gift from the forest floor."
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Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation: Simple to Advanced and Experimental Techniques for Indoor and Outdoor Cultivation
In Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation , Cotter not only offers readers an in-depth exploration of best organic mushroom cultivation practices; he shares the results of his groundbreaking research and offers myriad ways to apply your cultivation skills and further incorporate mushrooms into your life—whether your goal is to help your community clean up industrial pollution or simply to settle down at the end of the day with a cold Reishi-infused homebrew ale. Geared toward readers who want to grow mushrooms without the use of pesticides, Cotter takes “organic” one step further by introducing an entirely new way of thinking—one that looks at the potential to grow mushrooms on just about anything, just about anywhere, and by anyone. Starting with general information about the mushroom life cycle and growing techniques, it progresses into innovative applications for mushrooms and educational ideas using fungi, and then gets into advanced systems. A microbiologist, mycologist, and organic gardener, Cotter takes a holistic approach, mindful of the mushroom’s life cycle and ecological role, in this challenging guide to the indoor and outdoor cultivation of edible mushroom varieties. The book’s four sections cover the fundamentals of mushroom cultivation; innovative applications and projects, including alcoholic beverages; advanced techniques and research, including mycoremediation; and detailed descriptions of selected mushrooms. In addition to providing step-by-step directions for growing mushrooms, the book foodies, amateur scientists, and activists with esoteric and advanced applications for them, such as mushroom-infused beers; 'mushroom modules' that can be used for food, water filtration, or insect control in disaster relief; and mushrooms that can be “trained” to break down specific contaminants. “ Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation is a guide and inspiration for new and experienced mushroom cultivators alike. Tradd Cotter’s Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation provides low-cost, easily accessible techniques for growing mushrooms indoors and outdoors, from home to commercial scale.” --Eric Toensmeier, author of Paradise Lot and Perennial Vegetables. Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation is an invaluable resource for teaching students about mushroom cultivation.” --Peter Oei, author of Mushroom Cultivation , director of horticulture innovation at InnovatieNetwerk, Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, and founder of MeattheMushroom.nl and spore.nl. Tradd Cotter is a genius of organic mushroom production. In 1996 he founded Mushroom Mountain, which he owns and operates with his wife, Olga, to explore applications for mushrooms in various industries and currently maintains over 200 species of fungi for food production, mycoremediation of environmental pollutants, and natural alternatives to chemical pesticides.
Reviews
"While many books I've been reading have lightly touched on the subject, this masterpiece goes into so much detail and has such great photos and instructions, after reading it cover to cover, I immediately started earmarking trees for mushrooms growing and planning which varieties I'm going to order!"
"Met the Author at Mother Earth News Fair."
"Highly recommend for anyone wanting to know more about mushrooms, wanting to grow their own, or start a business selling mushrooms."
"A big hit with my daughter's boyfriend who has big plans for mushroom farming as a way to save the planet."
"Fascinating resource of information with an intellectual author."
"Incredible book!"
"Very informative with good illustrations and photographs."
"This is a great beginner book."
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Best Horticulture

The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World
The book that helped make Michael Pollan, the New York Times bestselling author of Cooked and The Omnivore’s Dilemma, one of the most trusted food experts in America In 1637, one Dutchman paid as much for a single tulip bulb as the going price of a town house in Amsterdam. Three and a half centuries later, Amsterdam is once again the mecca for people who care passionately about one particular plant—though this time the obsessions revolves around the intoxicating effects of marijuana rather than the visual beauty of the tulip. He uses the history of John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed) to illustrate how both the apple's sweetness and its role in the production of alcoholic cider made it appealing to settlers moving west, thus greatly expanding the plant's range. As part of his research, Pollan visited the Monsanto company headquarters and planted some of their NewLeaf brand potatoes in his garden--seeds that had been genetically engineered to produce their own insecticide. Though they worked as advertised, he made some startling discoveries, primarily that the NewLeaf plants themselves are registered as a pesticide by the EPA and that federal law prohibits anyone from reaping more than one crop per seed packet. Pollan has read widely on the subject and elegantly combines literary, historical, philosophical, and scientific references with engaging anecdotes, giving readers much to ponder while weeding their gardens.
Reviews
"Michale Pollan brings a unique perspective on nature, food, and animals."
"I find myself oft-quoting the lessons of this book. Read The Botany... book, then the Omnivore's... book."
"But if touching on that subject is offensive to you, skip over it until you can revisit it with an open mind."
"Extremely interesting book!"
"A simple, transforming view of our species by those who came, are still with us and may well outlive us."
"Of all the chapters, the apple and the potato were my favorite. If your reading time is limited, I would recommend it."
"This was recommended by a friend and I think it's a great book."
"And i must say that if you so much as eat apples or potatoes ( read: french fries?)."
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Best West Region Gardening

Succulents: The Ultimate Guide To Choosing, Designing, And Gro
Readers will find inspiration for imaginative and exciting new ways to use succulents in striking garden designs, containers, vertical walls, and indoor arrangements, as well as step-by-step projects, such as living bouquets and terrarium ornaments. Robin Stockwell is the founder of Succulent Gardens in Castroville, CA.
Reviews
"SUCCULENTS: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHOOSING, DESIGNING, AND GROWING 200 EASY CARE PLANTS is a typical Sunset book, with the first 125 pages (of 288) devoted to "Inspirations"--photographs of mature succulent gardens located in the U.S. West."
"This book is excellent at describing and showing a plethora succulent species and subspecies, where to plant, and how to care for these awesome plants."
"This was purchased as a Christmas gift but after thumbing through it I'm going to have to get one for myself!"
"Beautiful pictures and very interesting book."
"Good information and very helpful."
"This is beautiful book, but it is only for those wanting to add succulents to their landscape This doesn’t apply to me here in zone 7b."
"My wife liked it so much."
"Wonderful informative book."
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Best Gardening & Horticulture Vegetables

All New Square Foot Gardening, Second Edition: The Revolutionary Way to Grow More In Less Space
He also explains how you can make gardening fun for kids by teaching them the square foot method. "Bartholomew, author of the popular Square Foot Gardening (1981), has refined his original square-foot gardening concept by adding ten improvements, including a new location for the garden that is closer to the house, a special soil mix, and six-inch deep, 4' x 4' above-ground boxes with grids. He clearly explains the square-foot concept, from the rationale behind it (the square-foot garden takes up much less space than traditional row gardening and saves time, money, and aggravation) to how to plan the garden, build the boxes and vertical supports, and employ his planting and cultural techniques.
Reviews
"The thought of tilling our soil was too daunting, so we put the gardening project on hold for several years. This year we decided to "go for it" and the idea of using raised garden beds made sense (due to our horrible local soil). One of the key elements of this book is the innovative composition of the soil used in the garden beds. I'll quote a portion of the book that discusses the ideal soil: "There are three characteristics of a perfect growing mix. Next, it is nutrient rich and has all the minerals and trace elements that plants need without adding fertilizers. Mr. Bartholomew goes on to say, "After many experiments, I found three of my favorite ingredients made the perfect mix when combined in equal portions." Ok. Now, something about cost that will make you feel better: When using this mix again for another planting season, you do not need to ever again add vermiculite and peat moss. I also needed seeds, seed starters, ingredients for organic pest control mixture (I chose neem oil and organic liquid peppermint soap - I got this idea from the Global Healing Center... they wrote an article entitled "10 Organic Homemade Pesticides"), a water hose nozzle, garden fabric (for underneath raised beds), and other miscellaneous items. Fortunately, a dear older couple is giving us their anti critter materials because they no longer garden. Again, all of these prices can vary dramatically, but I'm just giving you a ball park figure based on my own experience. Available information at this website includes a blog by Mel Bartholomew as well as a forum with posts from SFG gardeners from around the world. In the forum, moderators and SFG gardeners provide a huge amount of supporting information. Based on my family's experience so far (we are at the indoor seed raising stage), I have to highly recommend this book. UPDATE 3/2013: We are in the process of determining where our raised beds should be located based on sun exposure. QUICK SEED STARTING TIP: My daughter and I found that a turkey baster is excellent for watering seedlings gently and precisely. UPDATE 4/23/2013: I have had various experiences (very bad and very good) with Jiffy seed starters (pellets). I started my beds a bit late in the season, but there is still time for them to produce a good harvest. I think my successes are completely due to the SFG method (vermiculite water retention is great). I know that my situation is unusual, but I think it is a credit to this method that if circumstances are less than perfect, you won't have a total loss. My Black Krim tomatoes produced a nice amount of juicy and sweet fruits (and they are still going). Those tomatoes not planted with basil nearby had some leaves stripped off by caterpillars (I'm not sure if there was a direct connection, perhaps it was a coincidence). We got one beautiful Sugar Baby watermelon (a personal sized melon and you typically only get one or two per plant each season). Our chives survived and even our carrots did ok. Our squash, bell pepper, and eggplant, and cucumber plants fared badly. I took a big chance on the radishes because they hate very hot weather (I at least wanted to try). UPDATE 01/10/2014: Despite bitter cold days (sometimes in the teens), I have been having fantastic success with winter variety vegetables. These included: Lunar White, Solar Yellow, Cosmic Purple, Atomic Red, Bambino and Dark Knight. UPDATE 3/23/2014: I planted tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, anaheim chiles and eggplant 2/21/2014. The "in-and-out" thing (no pun intended for my CA readers who are burger lovers), can be tiresome. UPDATE 4/13/2014: Unfortunately, my family and I did not make a concerted effort to prepare our own compost during the past months. I have been getting some good advice from folks at the Square Foot Gardening Forum. The good news is that I have gotten lots of Anaheim peppers, tomatoes of all sorts of varieties and and an eggplant (with more to come it looks like). I set up a large pot full of Mel's Mix and in it I have rosemary, thyme and ginger. With regard to tomato horn worms: After my daughter saw the first one of the season, I applied BT Thuricide. Something interesting: My daughter has foregone her flower bed for winter variety vegetables."
"I read this book last winter and my husband built 5 boxes for me for my summer 2016 garden. Lettuce grew great but other plants grew to about 4 inches and then seemed to stop. This increased my depth (6 inches just was not getting the job done) and lessened the percentage of vermiculite which was making Mel's mix too light and dusty. The book says to use 1/3 vermiculite which might work for growing flowers, herbs, lettuce but next time I will make his mix with only 1/5 vermiculite."
"I'm an absolute novice at vegetable gardening and this book was among the 6 books I found at the library."
"The only people selling organics at the farmer's market were the square foot gardeners. It was such a powerful testimony of all the ways people win when it comes to personal gardens!"
"Not only did I learn how easy it was to put together a small garden, but I also really enjoyed reading Mel's story on how he developed the SFG method."
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Best Botany of Trees

The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate—Discoveries from a Secret World
In The Hidden Life of Trees , Peter Wohlleben shares his deep love of woods and forests and explains the amazing processes of life, death, and regeneration he has observed in the woodland and the amazing scientific processes behind the wonders of which we are blissfully unaware. "The matter-of-fact Mr. Wohlleben has delighted readers and talk-show audiences alike with the news — long known to biologists — that trees in the forest are social beings." — Sally McGrane, The New York Times “This fascinating book will intrigue readers who love a walk through the woods”— Publishers Weekly. "Soon after we begin to recognize trees for what they are — gigantic beings thriving against incredible odds for hundreds of years — we naturally come to ask, 'How do they do it?'. "Wohlleben’s book is at once romantic and scientific, beautifully articulating his personal relationship with the trees he has dedicated his life to. "With colorful and engaging descriptions of little-known phenomena in our natural world, Wohlleben helps readers appreciate the exciting processes at work in the forests around them." Peter Wohlleben spent over twenty years working for the forestry commission in Germany before leaving to put his ideas of ecology into practice.
Reviews
"At this job, he was expected to produce as many high quality saw logs as possible, with maximum efficiency, by any means necessary. Luckily, he made friends in the community of Hümmel, and was given permission to manage their forest in a less destructive manner. In one portion of the forest, old trees are leased as living gravestones, where families can bury the ashes of kin. The book is built on a foundation of reputable science, but it reads like grandpa chatting at fireside. He’s a gentle old storyteller explaining the wondrous magic of beautiful forests to befuddled space aliens from a crazy planet named Consume. Their root systems intermingle, allowing them to send nutrients to their hungry children, and to ailing neighbors. When a Douglas fir is struck by lightning, several of its close neighbors might also die, because of their underground connections. Analyzing the rings of their trunks, they learned that the pines that survived a climate that warmed 42°F, and then cooled about the same amount — in a period of just 30 years! Dinosaurs still exist in the form of birds, winged creatures that can quickly escape from hostile conditions. (Far more questionable is the future of corn, wheat, and rice, whose genetic diversity has been sharply reduced by the seed sellers of industrial agriculture.). They unfold in the spring, capture sunlight, and for several months manufacture sugar, cellulose, and other carbohydrates. When the tree can store no more sugar, or when the first hard frost arrives, the solar panels are no longer needed. Now, with bare branches, the tree is far less vulnerable to damage from strong winds, heavy wet snows, and ice storms. In addition to rotting leaves, a wild forest also transforms fallen branches and trunks into carbon rich humus. By the end, readers are likely to imagine that undisturbed forests are vastly more intelligent than severely disturbed communities of radicalized consumers. More and more, scientists are muttering and snarling, as the imaginary gulf between the plant and animal worlds fades away. Wohlleben is not a vegetarian, because experience has taught him that plants are no less alive, intelligent, and sacred than animals."
"Review The Hidden Life of Trees Peter Wohlleben. The Hidden Life of Trees” is an amazing book presenting trees as sentient, purposeful beings living in dynamic relationship with each other. This single fact has hidden the true life of the trees from us. “The Hidden Life of Trees” is carefully and well presented with humor, with gentleness, with compassion, with joy, even with love."
"He outlines how trees work in terms of light and water, their intricate relationship and co-dependence with the mushroom family. How they communicate, how they deal with pests and warn nearby trees of danger, how they even feed and support each other. These are very human characteristics and we share them with most animals as they are necessary to stop us killing ourselves as we learn to move about our environment and also to make choices. But it is hard to see how they would be of any advantage to a sessile tree with limited options, and so there is no obvious reason to think they would have evolved in plants."
"Wohlleben is a charming guide to magical, but very real, world."
"Live on a tree-filled island in the summer and have always "felt" the companionship of the trees but thought I was crazy."
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Best Botany of Flowers

The Reason for Flowers: Their History, Culture, Biology, and How They Change Our Lives
And because of our extraordinary appetite for more unusual and beautiful “super flowers,” plant breeders have created such unnatural blooms as blue roses and black petunias to cater to the human world of haute couture fashion. Here, he integrates fascinating stories about the many colorful personalities who populate the world of flowers, and the flowers and pollinators themselves, with a research-based narrative that illuminates just why there is, indeed, a Reason for Flowers . They are miniature chemical factories, wireless signal stations,inspiration for artists, and—of course—sustenance for the most important creatures living on the planet. "Buchmann, a prolific and ardent pollination ecologist, peels back the petals to reveal fascinating aspects of floriculture....Intensely researched, well paced, intricately detailed, and delightfully accessible, Buchmann’s exploration of this trove of living sensory delights is a boon to both casual and committed flower lovers." "With a subtitle that serves as a swift, sweet summary, [Stephen Buchmann] compresses the cultural and natural history of flowers into a few hundred graceful pages...A volume that is like a Eurail Pass that will carry you through gorgeous terrain you will want to explore in more depth." "Buchmann, a biologist specializing in pollination ecology, uses his eighth book to enthuse about the importance that flowers have played in human civilization...his excitement is both palpable and contagious...fascinating...captivating." This world-renowned explorer of nature’s inner workings will delight you while unobtrusively edifying you at the same time.” (Gary Paul Nabhan, Kellogg Endowed Chair in Sustainable food Systems, University of Arizona ). In this attractive book, Steve Buchmann brings to life for the interested reader the many facets of their existence and their interplay with insects and other animals, informing us well about how they evolved and the roles that they play in our world.” (Peter H. Raven, President Emeritus, Missouri Botanical Garden ). How flowers influenced Gregor Mendel and Charles Darwin are discussed along with examples of collaborative floral studies I've conducted with other scientists over my career.
Reviews
"It is a wonderful book on the natural history, economics, and beauty of flowers."
"As a Registered Dietitian, I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the role of food and the marvels of nature in our lives."
"But flowers are so much more."
"This is a delightfully well written, well researched and well organized presentation on flowers and their role in our present and previous societies."
"It is also an excellent book for students interested in the study of plant reproduction."
"There is something for every type of reader from those passionate about natural history to an aficionado of garden design."
"Bought this book for my wife and then couldn’t stop reading it myself."
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Best Botany of Grasses

Color Atlas of Turfgrass Weeds
Very often, weeds are the results of weakened turf and specific spoil problemsthe Color Atlas of Turfgrass Weeds explains why, and helps you problem-solve for effective management. One of most undesirable characteristics of weed infestation is the disruption of turf uniformity—so vital to the golf, sports field, and managed landscape industry. Weed clumps, color variation, and patches can drive turf managers crazy, and have a pronounced effect on the perceived quality of the maintenance program. Fred Yelverton , is an Associate Professor of Crop Science at North Carolina State University in Raleigh.
Reviews
"So, unless you really want to understand everything about weeds, save yourself the money and just buy the herbicides for lawn weeds from your local lawn and garden center."
"This is an excellent book that really describes what the weeds are and what to do about them."
"This is my go-to book when I come across grass or weeds that I am unfamiliar with or when I need to know the best way of handling a specific weed."
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Best Botany of Cacti & Succulents

Succulents Simplified: Growing, Designing, and Crafting with 100 Easy-Care Varieties
Succulents are hot. "In her new book, Succulents Simplified:Growing, Designing, and Crafting with 100 Easy-Care Varieties , Baldwin even tells of a Jade plant that has lasted for more than two decades in her garden with various stages of neglect! "Anyone who knows Debra Lee Baldwin is aware of her extraordinary prowess as an author, writer, photographer, and artist...her book, Succulents Simplified , is a work of art." From quick and easy succulent rosettes for bouquets, to teeny tiny mint-tin gardens, to succulent-topped pumpkins there's a project in this book for even the most craft-challenged." "Debra is nothing if not passionate about succulents...In S ucculents Simplified (Timber Press) she demystifies these popular low-water beauties." When we returned home, my mother described the house to my father: "Big picture windows, but imagine having to clean them. Others were necklaces of blue-gray buttons, rubbery silver-blue roses, and sticks of green chalk with windowed tips. It became something I longed for, along with a saltwater aquarium, a hot air balloon, and an unlimited supply of chocolate marshmallows. In slanted early morning or late afternoon sun, red margins burn neon bright, spines incandesce, fuzzy filaments shimmer, and leaves reveal glowing hues of rose, orange, purple, and blue. It's a guide for novice enthusiasts, a quick reference for anyone seeking an overview, and a vehicle for presenting design ideas I'm excited about.
Reviews
"Her first two books, Designing with Succulents and Succulent Container Gardens, are still the most thoughtful, in-depth guides to those topics available. That's where Debra's new book, Succulents Simplified, comes in. Succulents Simplified has three sections: · How to grow and design with succulents successfully. · How-to projects that showcase succulents. · Debra's top 100 easy-care succulents. Even though I'm a landscaping professional, I'm definitely no succulent expert, so having Debra's keep-it-simple tips for how to succeed with them are incredibly useful to me. What I love best about this section is that Debra gives us the tools to create our own projects from her instructions - not only is there endless variety in terms of which succulents you choose, but each project has huge potential for you to personalize it and make it your own in other ways. I adore the in-depth information in her other two books and refer to them frequently, but I think the ease-of-use, inspirational photos and DIY projects, and the simple reference guide to the most common and noteworthy succulents is going to make this my favorite of the three to recommend people start with, because it has a little bit of everything you need, no matter how deep your interest in succulents."
"Just what we were looking for."
"Perfect."
"Since I live in the southwestern U.S. in the fifth year of drought, this book has helped me change over to many less thirsty, but lovely plants."
"This book seems like a really good introduction to successfully growing succulents."
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