Editorial Reviews:
Synopsis
The American Rose Society's guide to the most beloved flower Roses are the floral embodiment of grace and romance. They express the love that occurs in many forms and between many types of people: lovers, friends, spouses, children, and parents. The many types of rose are as varied as the thoughts and feelings they convey. Ultimate Rose provides insight into all that roses are, both beautiful plants and legendary symbols. The Rose Spectrum: Created by the American Rose Society, the international registrar for the world's favorite flower, Ultimate Rose contains more than 400 photographs, featuring a wide variety of forms and colors. It provides a way for newcomers to understand how rose classes have emerged and evolved to create new ones. More than 60 two--page spreads feature introductory text and several examples of each class, and every flower is accompanied by insightful text on its unique characteristics or unusual origins. Complete Coverage: This gorgeous guide to every rose class is introduced by a general overview of rose history, explaining where roses came from and why they are so popular. The book closes with a concise section covering basic techniques for growing roses, as well as examples of arranging and drying roses, so that everyone can enhance their world by bringing more roses into it. Whether a long--standing fan of roses or a newcomer to the gardening world, Ultimate Rose appeals to any lover of elegance, color, and beauty. It provides the ultimate sense of the ultimate flower.
Amazon.com Review
Dorling Kindersley publishes the most beautiful of illustrated books; their expertise with layout and color photography is especially welcome in books on plants and gardens. The minute you open the cover to find front and back end papers in rose pink, you get a clue about the quality of this volume. Four hundred color photographs celebrate the long history of the rose, paying tribute to this most beloved of all flowers.
What flower is more immediately recognized than the rose? Despite this icon status, there is much confusion about the various kinds of roses. Thus, choosing wisely for the garden can be a puzzle. It is far too easy to be seduced by those silky petals and sweet perfume, but do you really need another hybrid tea? This book can be enjoyed simply as a reference for identifying roses or as an exploration of the history and significance of roses. Because it's arranged by kind of rose, it makes clear the differences between species: noisettes, hybrid perpetuals, etc. The most stunning flowers of all (and of course you may well have a different opinion) may be the old moss roses, with their fuzzy stems and flowers so doubled as to appear ruffled. Pages are filled with close-ups of breathtaking roses, individual blossoms photographed against a black background to highlight form and color.
Whether Ultimate Rose is an art book or a garden book doesn't really matter. It has managed to capture the magic and compelling beauty of roses, identify each, compare the looks and virtues of the various types, and give clear and thorough information on how to place and care for them in your garden. --Valerie Easton
