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| Author: Michael A. Dirr
Publisher: Timber Press, Incorporated
Category: Book
List Price: $69.95
Buy New: $44.07
You Save: $25.88 (37%)
New (29) Used (22) from $41.00
Rating:  55 reviews
Sales Rank: 10364
Format: Illustrated
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 494
Shipping Weight (lbs): 4.5
Dimensions (in): 11.1 x 8.8 x 1.4
ISBN: 0881924040
Dewey Decimal Number: 635.977097303
UPC: 008819240402
EAN: 9780881924046
ASIN: 0881924040
Publication Date: October 1, 1997
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 Great Photos and Descriptions June 12, 2007
Highly recommended for its many lovely photos, sometimes 2 or 3 photos of each species. Also recommended for its loving and detailed descriptions of each species and variety. Unlike many books of this type, there are no planting or pruning instructions, just a catalog of shrubs and trees. Dirr is sometimes quirky in his opinions: for example, he doesn't like the usual varieties of lilacs and honeysuckle (!). He does point out some unusual varieties often neglected. He helped me to identify a bush in my backyard that I've been wondering about for many years as an unusual species of Lonicera.
Honest opinions in addition to great descriptions March 12, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
What makes this book stand out from all of the other encyclopedias describing plants and trees for the gardens is the candid opinions as to the relative merits of specific trees and shrubs. Dirr does not hesitate to extoll the virtues of a particular tree while exclaiming that he would never allow another to set foot in his garden. Equally helpful are the author's comments about his preferences for one cultivar of a particular species of plant, when there may be many cultivars to choose among. The pictures shrubs and trees are also excellent, often showing important plant characteristics (i.e. flowers or bark) in addition to the plant in its entirety.
I've come back to this book more than any other in my garden library over the past several years, and expect to continue doing so.
very good! March 9, 2007
For starters, my order was shipped in a very timely manner. I received the book much sooner than I expected.
Dirr's Illustrated Encyclopedia is an excellent book! It is very helpful whether you're someone who works in the landscaping/green industry or someone who just admires nature. The descriptions for each plant are very well written and very informative, and the corresponding pictures are wonderful!
A great purchase and well worth the money!
 Almost perfect March 8, 2007
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This book is a helpful, but not perfect reference guide. It would have been perfect if it consistently provided a plant's rate of growth, expected life, and the height and width each plant could be expected to reach in a home garden. Also, a greater number of photos of plant subspecies would have made this book more helpful as well.
For instance, I bought a Corkscrew Willow to quickly shade my house in the next five years, while a 100 year old maple tree that is on its way out finally dies. After the maple is down, I will plant a nice long lived oak it the Maple's place.
In the meantime I'd like to know how much growth per year I can expect from the Corkscrew Willow, how long the darn thing will live, and what it will look like. None of this information is available in this book.
I'd also like to know which Oak tree will do best, maybe even in the shade of my maple in the next few years? Which Oak tree will be a real legacy -- long life -- tree? Which Oak tree will produce the least amount of litter? This information is also not available in this book.
good February 22, 2007
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
the item when i got it was in very good condition and i was very pleased.
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