Reviews
[An] invaluable manual. . . . Armitage's extensive personal experience brought to life each of the 279 species he describes so beautifully. His descriptions, full of detail, are liberally sprinkled with frank and sometimes amusing opinions which at times had me chuckling with approval., If you're a serious gardener who knows who Armitage is and knows who tree-and-shrub guru Michael Dirr is, you'll probably be taking this book to bed with you. Actually, anyone who flower-gardens should find this book a useful resource., Armitages's manuals on perennials are among the most useful gardening books on our shelves. . . . Dip in anywhere, and you're sure to be entertained as well as informed. . . . Keep a notebook to hand - you'll come away with an adventurous plant list., A screaming gap in my garden library shelf has been filled by Armitage's Manual of Annuals, Biennials, and Half-Hardy Perennials. Gardeners have long needed a really comprehensive and affordable encyclopedic reference to plants of brief longevity, and now we have it. . . This book--whether you are an experienced gardeners or an intelligent beginner--will make you want to run right out and hammer at the doors of your local nursery or write away madly for every obscure catalog you can find., "I have yet to see the perfect guide to annuals and tender perennials, but this new compendium by esteemed plantman Allan M. Armitage comes close ... [Gardeners] will need no other reference on the subject."--Steve Silk, Fine Gardening, May/June 2002, I've been waiting for this book for years. I found the opinionated writing delightful and the coverage of what is available in this category in the marketplace excellent. . . . A necessary and useful book that will be an indispensable reference for many gardeners., The authentic voice of a genuine gardener guides readers through the easy flow of information provided in this A-to-Z compendium. . . . Excellent throughout, this guide is a rich book for every plant lover., This book is one of the few I know which will enable gardeners in California to take advantage of our mild climate. Well written, filled with useful information, it is a book well worth having. It is well worth the price; it will be well used, I assure you, and it is so pleasant to read., Whether one lives in the deep South or in an area of frigid winters, there is much to learn from the learned Armitage's latest effort: a wonderfully written resource chockablock with gardening information.An endearing approach that goes against any form of 'plant snobbery' ensures accessible guidance for all., A complete book about temporal plants that grow in this region. There are more than 100 photos, but the information is the primary reason to get this tome., Invaluable... It's compendious, learned and chatty all at once, encyclopedic in coverage of these important plants., Whether you grow perennials or annuals, if you grow any flowers or foliage in the garden, this should prove an excellent reference and wonderful read in the evenings., True to form, Armitage's humor accompanies his sage advice throughout the text. I predict that this book will become holy writ on the subject of annuals. And I confess that when it comes to a book written by Allan Armitage, I buy it unhesitatingly for the authority associated with the name and then find out all about the subject within., Armitage writes an opinionated, yet refreshingly detailed and meticulous A-to-Z of 279 species and hundreds more cultivars of annuals, biennals, and half-hardy perennials., This is the kind of book in which you'll look up one plant and end up reading about ten more . . . . It's a treasure trove of information written in a readable style., Armitage's Manual . . . is a readerfriendly book all gardeners will understand. The most uptodate information on the subject can be found here . . . this book will become a standard textbook on the subject., Many entries are accompanied by a delicate line drawing, while the color plates in the center are nothing short of breathtaking. It is the quality of the prose, however, that makes reading this book a joy., The best Avant Gardener buy of the season. . . . Especially valuable for the cultural tips gleaned from the author's long experience., Finally, there is a definitive reference for annuals...You will forget you are reading a textbook because of Armitage's plain and enjoyable banter about the plants he knows so well., A truly authoritative book on annuals (it also includes biennials and half-hardy perennials) ... Armitage's writing style is approachable, friendly, and seasoned with touches of humor., Armitage's Manual . . . is a reader-friendly book all gardeners will understand. The most up-to-date information on the subject can be found here . . . this book will become a standard textbook on the subject., Armitage's ability to pack so much infomation into a book that's such fun to read is testimony to his teaching skills., I have yet to see the perfect guide to annuals and tender perennials, but this new compendium by esteemed plantman Allan M. Armitage comes close...[Gardeners] will need no other reference on the subject., Armitage's unique position on the cutting edge of herbaceous plant knowledge makes this new book a must-have for anyone interested in growing annuals, from homeowners to nurserymen. . . . This new book fills a void that has existed for a very long time by covering the ever-changing world of annuals. Anyone who gardens should want his or her very own copy., One of [the book's] best features is the Armitage style of writing. He writes in everyday speak with a refreshing sense of humor, and he does not waffle when it comes to his opinions...A great resource for the gardeners who thrive in growing the unusual, as well as those who want and need to stay on top of what's new in the garden., [This book] is a splendid volume describing more annual garden plants than you or I could imagine. . . . It's a book which belongs in garden club collections and in every public library., Describes in great detail the pros and cons of the garden habits of flowering plants that bring color and pleasure to the home landscape, but do not persist as long as we'd wish., This informative and entertaining book by an award-winning garden writer belongs in the collection of all gardeners who want to add some depth and excitement to their plant palates.
