Customer Reviews (1)

Good Book
Orchids in Colour has been written with the amateur orchid grower in mind.It contains many details regarding the most popular orchids which are in cultivation today and illustrates which are most widely grown and available to the amateur.Easy to read.105 full color photographs, with descriptions of each. ... Read more

Product Description
Featuring:
•Over 120 orchid species found in Southeast Asia
•Contains more than 130 color photographs
... Read more

Product Description
Although Africa has fewer orchid species than the other tropical continents, some of the world's most spectacular, and increasingly popular, terrestrial orchids are found in Africa. This guide, covering sub-Saharan Africa, includes all plants available from nurseries and many that are being grown but are not yet available in the trade. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

African Orchids by Isobyl and Eric Lacroix
This is one of the finest books published on the topic of African orchids.Although Africa is a continent relatively poor in orchid species there are still about 1550 species in 99 genera and they deserve to be better known and more frequently grown in collections.Until the ground-breaking work of luminaries such as Fred Hillerman very little attention was given by orchidists to the African species.I am pleased to see the Lacroix's volume carrying on Hillerman's bright path.This is a comprehensive book with many line drawings and colour illustrations that is well-written and includes a section on African orchid hybrids as well as important cultural information on many diverse species.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Orchids in any setting make for a beautiful sight, but native orchids growing in their natural habitats offer an especially rewarding view for plant enthusiasts, naturalists, and nature lovers of all ages. South Carolina hosts a rich potpourri of these enormously popular wildflowers, thanks in large part to its unique position as the lower boundary of more northerly species and upper boundary of species found in Florida and the gulf states. In Wild Orchids of South Carolina, James Alexander Fowler captures with spectacular photography and encyclopedic knowledge the full glory of the state’s native orchid population. From the bogs and bays of the coastal plain to the mountain woodlands, Fowler catalogs rare and widely distributed species, offering a wealth of information for identifying these prized plants.

In addition to providing photographs of each species, Fowler includes common and scientific names, flower descriptions, bloom times, ranges, habitats, pollinators, and refreshingly candid personal observations about the orchids as he encountered them in the wild. He details his experiences of coming upon a show-stopping colony of large yellow lady’s slipper orchids (Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens) and of locating the rare monkey-face orchid (Platanthera integrilabia).

Paul Martin Brown, a nationally renowned botanist and wild-orchid specialist, provides an introduction to the volume. He explains South Carolina’s significance in the larger context of North American orchid habitats and prepares the reader for the striking display of beauty and information assembled in this volume. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An invaluable tool
This book is for anyone interested in native plants in South Carolina.The research is solid, and the book is well written. But it is the stories and the pictures that will stay with you. It's a highly informative book that is rooted in the both the history and the future of each flower.Beautiful photographs provide a firsthand viewing of all the known native orchids in South Carolina.It is a superb book.

Finally, a book focusing exclusively on orchids in South Carolina.
A must have compendium of SC species presented in a first-hand accounting of one man's remarkable journey with these plants. Each has a photo of a grouping in situ and closeups of floral parts, there is room for notes and extensive explanations of habitat needs, personal observations, recollections and recommendations for where you might find the plant. This is an exceptional book and I highly recommend it. I recently had an opportunity to correspond with the author and his intoxication with our wild orchids is contageous and enlightening. ... Read more

Product Description
Orchid lovers of all levels will delight in this unique approach to selecting new and exciting varieties of fragrant orchids. More than 100 different orchids are profiled here, with exquisite images of each, and salient details are included for another 355 enticing varieties. Profiles include cultivation information and detailed notes on each fragrance, which can range from elegant and sophisticated to downright pungent, from fruity and spicy to medicinal, from light and fresh to heavy and intoxicating. With some 20,000 fragrant orchids available today, orchid enthusiasts will appreciate this first-ever guide to choosing, growing, and showcasing orchids with the right look and most enjoyable scents, including cinnamon, chocolate, lemon, and vanilla. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

great book
This is a book for a person who is really serious about the hobby, and wants to become better acquainted with some of it's more obscure, but worthy! plants. There is enough cultural info. to whet your appetite for more, and I actually joined the American Orchid Assoc, on his recommendation.
I love the way the scent is classified exactly into strength, and even time of day! Exactly what us night-bloomers want to know! I would rate it highly, but cannot loan mine out; it's covered with notes and checkmarks to myself. People will just have to go and buy it for themselves!

Good Way To Track Down Fragrant Orchids
Mr. Frowine's book is the first I've seen devoted to this topic (though there may well be others). I've grown orchids for many years; I'm happy to find a way to focus on fragrant orchids. The plant descriptions are grouped by scientific orchid families or alliances.

pros:

1) The individual entries summarize just enough basic information for me to choose plants I can grow. There are plenty of other sources of detailed information on orchids and their culture.
2) Mentions several orchids that are "stinkers". Not all scented orchids have a pleasant smell!
3) Appendix G contains a number of reputable sources for ordering orchids; I can't vouch for all of them though.

cons:

3) The other appendices sorting plants by ease of culture, light requirements, etc. are a great idea, but they would be easier to use if they included the book's page number where the plant is described. It was awkward to go from an appendix to the plant name index, and then to the plant description once I had a page number.

Heavenly Scent
I read and enjoyed "Orchids for Dummies" another book by Steven Frowine which actually helped give me the courage to get started in the wonderful hobby of growing orchids, so when I saw the "Fragrant Orchids" book by the same author I picked it up confident that it would help me learn more about these extraordinary plants.
I was not disappointed.After a brief couple of chapters entitled "Fragrant Fact and Fancys" and "The Basics of Growing", the book is divided into informative chapters on orchid "alliances", each one profusely illustrated with life like photographs. Everything from pronunciation to recommended potting medium is covered for over 100 fragrant orchids.
I found the extensive appendices offered by the author to be very helpful.Here the species are sorted in to several useful categories that range from "Ease of Use" to "Time of Fragrance".This book has certainly help deepen my knowledge and love for the beautiful and now fragrant orchids.

a weak book
The book teaches to cultivate some easily orchids found at especialized stores.
The photos need to have more ligth, many are dark; its a book indicated only for beginners.
It was not that waited.

Very nice reference
Frowine lists a multitude of orchids within this book that have been observed to be fragrant either through first hand knowledge or word of mouth. For many of the orchids, he lists some of the basics such as fragrance (i.e. what it smells like), distribution, and some cultivation information. The cultivation information isn't very detailed, but this is a book about fragrance and cultivation information can be found in other books and on the web. For me, the most useful section of the book is the appendices. There are 6 appendices and they are all great:

A) Orchids by Ease of Culture
B) Orchids by Light Requirements
C) Orchids by Nighttime Temperature Preference
D) Orchids by Intensity of Fragrance (my favorite, also describes the fragrance)
E) Orchids by Time of Fragrance
F) Orchids by Season of Bloom ... Read more

Product Description
This comprehensive guide book takes a step-by-step approach to proper potting mediums, light, water and fertilization of a wide variety of orchids. It is written for beginners, hobbyists and all orchidists as an adventure in the joy of growing orchids. Also included are over 150 full color photographs and illustrations of orchids in all their glory as well as a source guide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

GOOD BOOK BUT PRETTY BASIC STUFF HERE
I gave this one four stars, but probably three and one half would be better.This small volume is okay per se, but leaves much to be desired.I found the book to be a good supplemental to others, and that was about it.I do fear that the new grower or want to be grower or collector my be mislead, in that times, the author makes the growing and keeping of orchids sound a little too simple.I have found that growing is certainly not as difficult as some would think (keeping in mind that I am a mere hobbyest), it ism how ever, in reality not all that simple either.I have picked up some good tips from this small volumes, but have found the several dozen other books I have collected on orchids to be quite more necessary that just this one volume.On the other hand, the price of this book (used) is certainly right, and it never hurts to peek at as many works as possible...there is always some useful information lurking here and there. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Reply to anonymous "A Reader"
As one of the authors of this book (the photographer) I am sorry that you are disappointed. The book was never intended to address the "science and methods of orchid care", nor was it intended to serve as a field guide for identifying species. The book's purpose is to share the beauty of these flowers with those who are unfamiliar, and offer a non-technical, easy reading introduction to the history, classification, and culture of orchids. The publishers contracted us to produce a coffee table book and that is exactly what we did.

nice pix - lousy narrative
I am very disappointed by this book.While the pictures are plentiful and striking, the information in the book is essentially useless.While the authors make a valiant attempt to cover a breadth of species, they do so at the expense of providing any depth beyond what you might expect from your teenager's research report.The vast majority of photos are extreme close-ups of the blooms - great if you're looking for a coffee table book.Since there are few pictures of complete plants, however, the photos do not really aid in plant identification.Finally, a casual read uncovered three typos - all of which would have been caught through a spell check.I'm left thinking the authors were more interested in making a quick buck than making a quality contribution to the science and methods of orchid care.

A Must for Every Orchid Lover!
I can't recommend this book highly enough.The photography is fantastic and the informative text is written in an easy to read style.References to individual plants and supplies are up-to-date, too.You can't go wrong with this book, which is available for a surprisingly low price. ... Read more

Product Description
Covers all aspects of the species of the genus Dendrobium in Australia. The characteristics and classification of the genus are described, and each species has a separate entry, covering history, synonyms, distribution, habitat, cultivation and hybrids, along with a detailed drawing. ... Read more

Product Description
This, the seventh volume in a respected series of books,continues a policy of presenting significant reviews by outstandingauthorities in the field. The chapters in this volume include reviewsof molecular biology of orchids, mycorrhiza, embryology, ethnobotanyand research in Japan. Like previous volumes in this series, thepresent one will serve the need of orchid scientists and growers andbotanists in general. ... Read more

Product Description

A valuable reference guide for the home gardener and orchid enthusiast.

With full-color photographs of 300 species, hybrids, varieties and cultivars of orchids, this book is a comprehensive guide to the most common orchid varieties. The orchid family is immensely diverse, and the ingenuity of plant breeders has recently added hundreds more hybrids and cultivars to the growing list of varieties. Improved shipping methods and increased plant availability have made the hobby of growing orchids more popular everywhere.

300 Orchids includes a wide array of species from all continents. The book describes the basic biology of orchids and provides simple instructions on their care. For each orchid there is detailed information on its:

• Taxonomy
• Form
• Distribution
• Cultivation
• Habitat
• Conservation status.

Stunning color photographs illustrate the featured orchids, and numerous "picture galleries" highlight the species most widely available to home gardeners. Forthe increasing number of orchid enthusiasts, 300 Orchids is an easy-to-use and authoritative guide to these fascinating plants.

Product Description
This is the most complete guide to cultivated orchids currently available. A summary of each genus, with cultural information, is followed by descriptions of the species. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Superior illustrations
I'm fairly new to orchid zealotry (about 3 years), mostly as a result of friends dumping their distressed plants on me because of my inexplicable success bringing neglected orchids back to health and happiness.

I've branched out from safe orchids like paphs and phals to neofinetias, laelias, blc's, zygos, oncidiums, dendrobiums, and burragearas.Because I receive so many plants in their non-flowering state, it is practically impossible for me to determine certain species, particularly if they are hybrids.And because of my ignorance, I am sometimes unable to determine even simple species.

The Manual of Orchids helps me with the aforementioned problems by doing something that no other orchid book I've seen does: provide illustrations of the ENTIRE plant.Most books focus on zoom photos of the blooms at their peak.You almost never see orchid books that take the care to photograph the blooms within the context of the entire plant.Seeing the entire plant helps us newbies understand total plant anatomy, rather than focusing solely on flowers (which is, to be honest, like expecting someone to understand homo sapiens anatomy based solely on photos of the human face!).

The bibliography of the 1995 edition I borrowed from the library cites 7 sources for illustrations.All of them are excellent.I'm eager to see how the edition listed above improves with the addition of nearly 50 pages.

Very good but not fantastic
(Note, I would have given it 3 1/2 stars if that were an option.)

When I read the Book News and Book List blurbs that claim this book includes entries for "all orchid species, grexes, and cultivars" I had towrite to note that that statement is utter nonsense.(I also note thatthey both suspiciously use the exact same words -- a publisher's pressrelease perhaps?)

The short answer is that if you are a beginner, don'tcount on this book to teach you how to grow orchids.If you are moreadvanced, it's useful, but don't expect it to be the end all and be all ofreferences.Realistically though, it may well be as complete a singlereference as one will find.(Although I haven't done a very closecomparison with the Manual of Cultivated Orchids, I have found entries herefor plants not included in the latter, although at least that one purportsonly to include those in cultivation.)

The manual's coverage is veryextensive, and probably does contain references to "all better-knownspecies and a number of lesser known ones as well," but given thatthere are on the order of 25,000 orchid species and the hybrids run intothe hundreds of thousands, the quoted statement is just plain silly.Frommy own experience, it makes no mention of several species orchids I justbought, which were by no means recently discovered/collected in the wildsof South America and India.Although it mentions two of the best knownspecies of Chinese cymbidium, it doesn't mention a single cultivar, ofwhich there are at least several very long established (for decades if notcenturies), well-known examples.

Finally, the cultural notes are notunhelpful, but are very oversimplified and sketchy.(One, more obvious,example is that not all Masdevallias and Cymbidiums are cool growing, andit makes no mention at all of exceptions to the so-called rule.) ... Read more

Product Description

Brimming with intriguing and practical details and illustrated with 250 beautiful color photos, Simon & Schuster's Guide to Orchids provides everything the enthusiast needs to know about this most colorful and elegant blossom.

An informative introduction gives such useful information as morphology of the flower, ecology, classification, and cultivation. The individual entries that follow describe over 160 cultivated species and offer visual symbols for the temperature and light necessary for optimum growth, as well as whether a particular species has a scent. Simon & Schuster's Guide to Orchids is a spectacular and authoritative reference to this exotic and fascinating flower. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Generally Quite Useful
Its a useful little handbook for a quick reference on a wide range of orchids. I did note that for the dendrobium section, it omitted the 2 most popular dendrobiums, that of the 'dendrobium phalaenopsis' and the 'dendrobium biggibum', which are probably the parents of most of the dendrobium hybrids in the cut-flower business. Otherwise, really very good. Some of the terms used are a bit ambiguous, e.g. I'm not sure if Indo-Chinese peninsular refers to all of mainland Southeast Asia or to Vietnam/Laos/Cambodia. Another note, I wonder if Marsh Orchids should also have been included?

Good, Basic Information
This is a handy little book if you need a quick source of basic cultural information about a particular orchid. The book contains 250 color photos over 160 types of orchid species and hybrids. This makes it a valuable aid in identifying those mystery orchids that we all seem to come across. ... Read more

Product Description
Using a combination of bite-sized, easily accessible information, and inspiring photographs of achievable results, the Simple Steps series promotes gardening as a real pleasure rather than a back-breaking chore. No other group in the plant kingdom can match the incredible diversity found within the orchid family. Simple Steps: Orchids features the dazzling range of plant forms, and spectacular colors capture the imagination and inspire orchid enthusiasts as well as new growers. ... Read more

Product Description
Providing a guide to the cultivation of both the terrestrial and epihytic orchid species growing in South Africa, this volume includes numerous hints, illustrations and photographs to help simplify the process. Detailed growing notes are given for over 60 terrestrial and over 40 epiphytic species. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is an excellent blend of information for serious orchid growers as well as orchid enthusiasts who may have plants of Philippine origin in their collections. It documents both the popular, well-known species and those of botanical interest in a format designed to aid in identifying species found in collections. Descriptions are accompanied by more than 300 color photos.Amazon.com Review
Jim Cootes knows orchids so well that two species have been named after him. The author notes in his stunning Orchids of the Philippinesreveal that he has even found a pure white flower, rare as a snowleopard: "An albino form of Dendrobium fairchildiae." This volumeconsists of an exhaustive and hypnotic listing of over 300 species oforchids--plants native to the archipelago, which have been discovered andclassified by Cootes and others over decades of research.

Each entry includes a vivid color photograph and a series of subcategories,including growth habits, petals, habitat, and distribution. The roots ofbotanical names are traced for descriptive meanings. Occasional notesallow the author's voice into the proceedings, and the prose is ofteninadvertently poetic, as in this description of the habitat of theBulbophyllum antenniferum: "It normally grows as an epiphyte, usually onthe trunks of trees, but has been observed by the author growing onrocks in dappled light." Orchid enthusiasts beware: most of theplants shown here can only be grown in greenhouses. --Emily White ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

the more i know, the more i appreciate and admire
"The Orchids of the Philippines" is one of a few books on indigenous Philippine orchids currently available.The more comprehensive ones are hard-to-find and very expensive.This book is priced just right.It contains morphological, cultural and geographical info on famous Philippine orchids and their lesser known relatives.

I am not a botanist so I cannot claim that this book covers the latest-and-greatest Philippine orchid genera and/or species.I am, however, a great lover of our own native orchids and I know about the more common and popular ones.This book, written by a non-Filipino, about Philippine orchids, continues to educate me, a Filipino.The more I know about our own native orchids, the more I appreciate and admire their beauty, diversity, and rarity!

Curiously, the word "orchid" has no direct Tagalog translation. ... Read more

Product Description
It's Never Been Easier to Grow Orchids at Home
Have you heard that orchids are impossible to cultivate? Do you love orchids' exotic flowers but despair of ever having one survive in your home? Thing again! With simple instructions and straightforward advice from professional orchid grower Mary Carol Frier, you'll find that orchids can thrive on your home windowsill, rewarding you year after year with gorgeous blooms.
What makes an orchid "easy care"? The six orchids featured in Easy-Care Orchids are surprisingly hardy flowers with minimal maintenance requirements, and they do well in the environmental conditions found in most North American homes. Armed with the basic growing information in this bulletin, you'll enjoy the unique pleasure of adorning your home with the strange and magical beauty of orchids. ... Read more

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