Thursday, December 19, 2013

Garden Book Reviews

If there were such a thing as a Rose Bible, I think I know which book it would be, at least for me.  I just wish I would have found this book sooner!

I love all different kinds of roses.  But if they can't take my garden/soil/climate/conditions, and being grown organically, out they go!  Fortunately, I've found that roses are tough workhorses.  Sure, there are some that are wimps, but there are many that are as tough as nails.

Still, even I have the occasional problem with my roses.  But since I am adverse to spraying chemicals in my garden, when I have problems, I look at the solutions presented in

The Organic Rose Garden


by Liz Druitt

Not only are there solutions in this book, but it is full of great information for anyone wanting to grow roses organically.

What I love most about this book is the way Liz Druitt writes.  She writes as if she were talking to another gardener.  Of course, there's lots to love about this book.  She starts at the beginning:  soil basics, and design thoughts.  Then she goes on to the acquiring and planting of roses, maintenance of the garden beds, and problems you may encounter.

That is enough for one book, but she doesn't stop there!  She lists all the different rose classes, has a quick reference chart by size, color, and class, and almost half the book is a list of roses that thrive in organic gardens (like Red Cascade, pictured above, which is still blooming in my garden!).  I was actually surprised to find how many roses she recommends that I have growing in my own garden.  And now I have a great reference when I want to add more roses to my garden!  What I especially liked is this list covers all classes of roses.

She finishes the book with a discussion of roses as food, and I am dying to try her Rose Petal Pound Cake!  It would be luscious with her Rose Petal Jam!
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Now it's your turn!  This will be the final Garden Book Review meme I will host, and my last post for the year.  So, I want to wish everyone a very, very Merry Christmas and a rosy New Year!


24 comments:

  1. I should read this one. Thank you for sharing

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  2. Will look out for it! Merry Christmas!

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  3. Thanks for hosting this informative link up. I have enjoyed reading the various books that others recommend.
    Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season.

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  4. Many people have stopped growing roses because of the TLC they require and I would be interested in reading about the organic solutions the author has to offer. In Ontario we have a pesticide ban so the issue has become more complex.
    I have a number of books to still review so I'm sorry to read this is the end of the meme. It has been a pleasure to join you the couple of times I have.
    Merry Christmas and best wishes for a healthy and happy new year.
    Judith

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  5. Thanks for hosting this meme. I got on the band wagon late but I enjoyed being part of it. Merry Christmas!

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  6. I tried to come up with a great book for your final book review meme Holley! The Organic Rose Garden sounds like an excellent reference book. I could always use to know more about roses.

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  7. I love rose books and have many of them, but this one I don't know yet.
    Wish you a Merry Christmas!

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  8. You have such beautiful roses, and I can see that this book must have very good advice. Thank you for hosting the book reviews for these past two years. I have eally enjoyed them. As you can see, I did not master getting my thumbnail photo to publish. (If you can fix it, please feel free to do so. I don't know how to correct it!) Wishing you all the best in the New Year!

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  9. I found 3 happy potted roses in our new sandy garden. Will be exploring 'happy to grow in a pot' roses.

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  10. Hi Holley, great review of a book that I actually own and love, too. Liz Druitt's thoughts on organic rose gardening where so helpful and inspiring to me when I started to convert my last garden into a completely organic no spray rose garden. Thank you so much for hosting the book review meme for quite a while. I will certainly miss it! Wishing you and your family Merry Christmas and a Happy New! Hope to see you around in the blog sphere next year! Warm regards,

    Christina

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  11. Last month I bought one of the books from the review and ordered another from the library. I'm pretty sure I will be getting this book. We try to grow our veggies organically so flowers have to follow suit. Very excited about the lists. I think I have to start a personal book registry, same as wedding but books. Have a wonderful Christmas. I will be back in the New Year to enjoy more roses.

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  12. What a wonderful sounding book! I hate putting chemicals in my garden and try to grow as organically as possible. My new garden will have several types of roses, so we'll see how they do!
    I had really wanted to join in your last garden book review, but life has been so incredibly hectic lately. Not to mention, all our books are still in storage in our attic awaiting the building of shelving to accommodate them! I have enjoyed your Book Review meme and seeing all the books that people recommend. I hope you and your family have a wonderful and relaxing holiday!

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  13. Oh my goodness--I must have this book! Seriously, if I get some Christmas spending money, this book will be at the top of the list. I didn't know there were any books about organic Rose gardening. Silly me, I should have done more research. I absolutely love Roses, but I only grow a few because I don't use insecticides or pesticides in my garden. Thank you, Holley. This is definitely a book I can use!

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  14. Hope you are felling better Holley....I will have to check out this book as I love to organic garden but always found it hard with roses.

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  15. A Very Happy Holidays to you and your family, and if you celebrate Christmas, a Very Merry Christmas. Have a Great New Year as well :-)

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  16. This sounds like a fabulous book! Red cascade grows successfully in my own garden, and I can vouch for its tough, though beautiful, character. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and I wish you the best in 2014. Happy gardening!

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  17. I need that book! I battled with my roses last year and have already begun to implement the first few stages of my Rose Rescue Plan. I even had someone tell me it was impossible to grow roses organically. Thanks for hosting this. I've purchased several of the books that have been reviewed. It was great to get feedback before buying the book. :o)

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  18. Happy holidays and best wishes in the new year. I'm late to the party as usual but love seeing the books people contribute. Always good to see a review on things I've heard about or find a new book I wasn't aware of.

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  19. This book is exactly what I need and I am going right over to Amazon to look it up! Hope you had a great Christmas and wish you a happy and healthy 2014! P. x

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  20. I enjoy Liz Druitt's writing style. I have Landscaping With Antique Roses but do not have this book.. I look forward to checking it out.

    Happy New Year!

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  21. Hi Holley! The Organic Rose Garden just went on my wish list. I don't like to spray chemicals in my garden either, so this is just what I need. Thank you for sharing this with us. I look forward to yet another year of visiting your lovely garden. Happy New Year! :-)

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  22. Great book review! I will look for it at the library! Roses were once my very favorite, but they took a back seat to dahlias! But I am fickle, it could change again!

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  23. Holley nice reminder for me to plant a few Roses in our new garden.

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  24. Hi Holley, long time no see :). Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you. I was glad to come to your blog again after such a long absence and see a review of a rose Bible! It is also one of my favorite books, one that I still read from time to time even though I think I know most of it by heart. You are right, she is an intimate writer that treats her readers as friends. It has beautiful pictures too.

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