Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51931 in Books
• Published on: 2005-01-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Synopsis
A bestseller since its debut in 1990, with more than 100,000 copies sold, Botany for Gardeners has now been revised, expanded and updated. This edition of Botany for Gardeners will introduce and explain fundamental botanical concepts to gardeners of all abilities, helping them understand plants from a plant's point of view. In engaging, clear language, Brian Capon explains the often mysterious life of plants; What happens inside a seed after it is planted?; How are plants structured?; How do plants adapt to their environment?; How is water transported from soil to leaves?; Why are minerals, air and light important for healthy plant growth?; How do plants reproduce?

Customer Reviews

Amazing book
I am still amazed with how well written and pleasurable to read this book is. Botany can be quite complicated at times, and I will not say that this book hasn't had at least one or two topics that didn't interest me at first (such as genetics), but once you start reading it you really feel hungry to read more.

It is written in a way that almost feels like reading a novel. I am going to read it again as I found that writing notes were distracting me away from the pleasure of reading the book itself. It also makes me wonder why when I was at schoool they didn't teach us all those interesting things the book so easily and magnificently tours us about. Wow, I have learnt so much!

In a nutshell, it feels like you are a reading a BBC cum National Geographic documentary book. Nevertheless the only downside of the book is the diagramation and the coordination of space between pictures and text, not the content's fault and should definitely not decrease even a 0,0001 star from its stellar 5 star rating.

Very well written descriptions of how plants work
Reading about botany bores me (which is strange for someone who loves growing plants for a living), but I LOVE this book. When I was studying for the RHS Advanced Certificate in Horticulture (a Level 3 qualification) it provided just the right level of detail, well explained. Some great, simple diagrams clarify heavy subjects and the few pictures taken through microscopes are fascinating. There's no waffle, just facts.

If, like me when I started, you have very little knowledge of botany, you may find that 'Principles of Horticulture' by Adams, Bamford & Early is a better starting point. I used to read a chapter in PoH for the basics and then turn to Capon for a more satifactory level of detail.
Capon became the "Bible" of our botany class and we referred to it constantly as we struggled to understand and retain the botanical knowledge we needed.