Product Description

In this personal selection and authoritative guide to the most gorgeous bulbs on the earth, Anna Pavord, world-famous author of "The Tulip", writes charmingly about her favourite subject from Acis to Zigadenus via Tulip and Crocus. After a fascinating introduction explaining why bulbs are different from other kinds of plant, where they come from, and their history, the different types of bulbs are featured alphabetically in a jewel-box-like gallery. Throughout this gallery, each plant is beautifully illustrated by award-winning photographer Andrew Lawson. Anna describes each of the bulbous plants in detail, furnishing us with all the information we could ever need, including facts common to each group, growing information, and how to use the bulb in the garden. Bringing each bulb to life with beautiful description, anecdote and historical tale, Anna's enthusiasm for these delicious plants can only be described infectious.

"… a gorgeous, cloth-bound hymn in words and pictures to hundreds of flowers…" - The Mail on Sunday

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #933 in Books
• Published on: 2009-09-07
• Binding: Hardcover
• 544 pages

Review
…it just may become a gardening classic… --The Mail Weekend

… a gorgeous, cloth-bound hymn in words and pictures to hundreds of flowers… --The Mail on Sunday Books pages

Written by one of our finest writers, it sings of all the possibilities that you could and should add to your garden...this tome is a testament to a lifetime of learning... The description of individual flowers are sublime - Garden's Illustrated --Garden's Illustrated

About the Author
Anna Pavord writes for the Independent, Country Life, Country Living and the Observer. She has authored several books, including the internationally acclaimed bestseller, The Tulip.

Customer Reviews

A hymn to all things bulb - and rhizome, tuber and corm
Anna Pavord will forever be associated with Tulips. However, she has now widened her horizons much, much further to bring us 600 of her favourite bulbs. Pedants will of course say she has not been so narrow-minded, but has selected the most exquisite of flowers from those using means of underground storage with which to lay dormant. I, for one won't quibble with that wider remit.

The result is a jewel-box of flowers to celebrate each season, lovingly photographed by Andrew Lawson with Anna's enthusiastic prose to match. Those of you who've read The Tulip might be a little disappointed with this volume. With 600 bulbs, there is no way she could go into their story in such minute detail as she did with that previous opus. Instead she provides vignettes for each chosen one (including 60 Tulips) with both cultural and historical information stitched together in her distinctive way. Sandwiched between these are essays to introduce each section of the book.

In Britain we have so few native bulbs, but Anna tells us the story of the 3 main waves of introduction to this country: from the east via the Silk Road (e.g. Tulips), from the New World (e.g. Trillium) and South Africa (e.g. Nerines). Their portabilty and dormancy made them ripe for trade and our gardens are much richer as a result.

A book to constantly dip in to for fresh delights and inspiration, especially as the nights draw in towards winter.

A classic in the making
I was lucky enough to be sent an advance copy of this, and I liked it so much I've ordered another copy as a present. It is a most beautiful book, with superb photographs and lavishly illustrated, as you would expect at this hefty price. Anna Pavord's essays on the bulbs are always interesting and illuminating - even reading what she has to say on everyday bulbs like hyacinths or crocuses is an education. The real interest for me are the less well-known bulbs that she profiles. I doubt there has been a better gardening book this year, and if you're looking for a Christmas present for the keen gardener in your life, this would be a very good choice.

Photos and descriptions on bulbs,- unbelievable
I found this new book on bulbs 'BULB' to be an exciting book to have with its truly magnificent photos and its printed words so easy and big to read. A well thoughtout book on bulbs for this decade. The writings on each bulb subject is a delight to read and very informative; the indepth knowledge on all the bulb genera is so wonderfully presented. The quantity of photos appear the most in any book, I can recall, other than the RHS Perennial book. The evolution of the digital camera must have assisted in this area.
Tulips and narcissi chapters are extremely interesting, however, I would like to see photos of pure white trumpets and small white cup daffodils shown. My biggest disapointment happened when the first subject I searched for, and dear to my heart- crocosmias; these were not mentioned!,given that the gladioli species were well received snd photographed.
A welcome book to add to my books on bulbs.