Books you may like to hear about

[Maggi Young]

We first heard of this book from Gail Harland in the "snowdrops in Art" thread - I've just received a copy and thought it should be mentioned here too .......
you can find the book here - through this link which benefits the SRGV when you purchase, too!
This  super wee book ( A5 size which makes it a very practical and comfortable read - I begin to find such things important these days!) is called simply, Snowdrop. 

SNOWDROP - by Gail Harland

• ISBN-10: 1780234929
• ISBN-13: 978-1780234922

Another snowdrop book? Yes, but this is rather more than a list of names! There are some notes  about the "new" varieties which have sold - mostly to other nurseries - and which have raised such excitement and derision in some circles - but  Gail spends much more time following the  history of snowdrops in art, in general gardening and about the  people who paint, fashion and grow them.  A book which makes for a pleasant and often informative read -  showing just how much general charm these wee snow flowers have  in so many  fields - no pun intended!

[Gabriela]

There is a new short list with books from Kew - those growing Amaryllidaceae may be interested in The Amaryllidaceae from Southern Africa; it sounds really good:
http://shop.kew.org/the-amaryllidaceae-of-southern-africa?utm_source=KewBooks&utm_campaign=bccad35d7c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2016_11_04&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_86ab81d40a-bccad35d7c-124876029

I don't know if it can be bought through the forum Amazon link.

[David Nicholson]

At £90.00 it sure ought to be!

[Maggi Young]

It is true that some of these Kew books are far from affordable!  The one on Lachenalia is £120 !
http://shop.kew.org/the-genus-lachenalia-a-botanical-magazine-monograph

 Makes Janis Ruksans' offer on his forthcoming  Crocus book a pretty good deal!
 http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=14685.0

[Gabriela]

Yes these Kew monographs are very expensive but truth to be said they are worth the money - for those interested in that particular genus/family.

They contain, just like Janis book will do on Crocus, everything up to date on that genus/family. It is unfortunate he cannot publish his book through other means and I hope that everyone who is in the position will help. Such are things in most eastern European countries, they still don't make any sense...

[ashley]

There is a new short list with books from Kew - those growing Amaryllidaceae may be interested in The Amaryllidaceae from Southern Africa; it sounds really good:
http://shop.kew.org/the-amaryllidaceae-of-southern-africa?utm_source=KewBooks&utm_campaign=bccad35d7c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2016_11_04&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_86ab81d40a-bccad35d7c-124876029

Oh wow, it really does doesn't it?

[Gabriela]

Oh wow, it really does doesn't it?

For those into Amaryllidaceae I think it does Ashley 
Sometimes they go on sale later (I bought the Roscoea like that) but you may never know. It depends how large the edition was.

[Jon Evans]

The Amaryllidaceae book is not a Kew publication as far as I know.  It is published by Umdaus Press in South Africa and has been a very long time in gestation.  Prices direct from the publisher convert to something just over £85 by the time you consider credit card currency conversions, so £90 isn't unreasonable.  It is also available from NHBS (http://www.nhbs.com/title/209366/the-amaryllidaceae-of-southern-africa) at a slightly lower price but excluding postage.  They also list the book about the book (http://www.nhbs.com/title/209367/the-book-about-the-book-the-search-for-the-inferior-ovary?bkfno=228496).

[Maggi Young]

quote author=Maggi Young link=topic=248.msg363704#msg363704 date=1473099420]
Irish  chums, including Paddy Tobin, are involved in this  project.....
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=248.msg363704#msg363704
Plandaí Oidhreachta, Heritage Irish Plants
 
 The Irish Society of Botanical Artists and The Irish Garden Plant Society have joined forces in a project titled Plandaí Oidhreachta, which celebrates Irish Heritage Plants. It highlights the wealth of good Irish Garden Plants and celebrates the beauty of botanical illustration. In late 2016, the end product of the collaboration will be an exhibition of original paintings and the publication of an accompanying book.
 
 The book will feature articles on a variety of plant themes that highlight Irish Garden Plants, especially those that have come into being since the year 2000.  The latest latest snowdrops, dahlias and sweet pea will be featured along with primroses, iris and daffodils, as well as other groups of plants, including garden plants selected from the native Irish flora.
 
 As of August 2016, much of the work is complete: the paintings are finished and scanned, the sections on different plant groups have been written, and the design and layout of the book are well underway. If you’d like to find out more, including how to order a copy of the book, which will be published late this year, http://irishbotanicalartists.ie/heritage-irish-plants/

 From Paddy Tobin :

Yesterday, at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Martin Rix (editor of Curtis' Botanical Magazine etc etc) opened the exhibition of the work of the artists of the Irish Society of Botanical Artists and launched the accompanying book. There was an enormous attendance and everybody was delighted with the exhibition and with the book so it was a great relief and a very happy day.

Plandai Oidhreachta - Irish Heritage Plants was a joint project between the Irish Society of Botanical Artists and the Irish Garden Plant Society and the exhibition continues until early December.
 Join us next Saturday, the 19th at 2pm at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, for a talk about this project - the plants, the artwork, the book, the contributors and the growers."
 Paddy also wrote :

"After months and months of correspondence and following Shevaun Doherty's work on this project I finally met Shevaun for the first time today and saw the completed portrait of Galanthus 'Longraigue' and Galanthus 'Lady Moore'. It was a wonderful day and was made special by Shevaun and the other artists."

You can buy the book online at http://www.irishbotanicalartists.ie/

 This  picture is of Paddy himself with Shevaun Doherty, who painted two snowdrops for the exhibition - including Galanthus 'Longraigue' - named by forumist Alan Briggs and described in the International Rock Gardener e-magazine #73 http://www.srgc.org.uk/.../2016Jan281454019772IRG73.pdf  where Shevaun also allowed a sketch of  hers of  G. 'Longraigue' to be used.

[Matt T]

I recently bought Plandai Oidhreachta as a Christmas present for Patrick. It's already wrapped, but I had a look through it beforehand and am impressed. The illustrations are first class and the book has been produced to make the most of them, with the pages big enough to show them off and include plenty of text but not to be too big to manage. There is good coverage of different plant groups in chapters authored by various experts in their field (some known to us here). This would make a great gift (to yourself or another) for anyone interested in the provenance of garden plants, with a generally curious mind or an appreciation for botanical art.

[Graeme]

OH has asked what I wanted for xmas and I said the Cyclamen Genus book by Brian Mathew- does anyone already have it and is it any good as I do already have a lot of cyclamen books?

[Maggi Young]

I'm a big fan of Brian Mathew - and  all his books. Oddly, the Cyclamen one is one we don't have - though I thought we did - maybe my OH has  moved it somewhere - that happens a lot!

[Matt T]

Hi Graeme,
The big Cyclamen book is well worth getting hold of. It is full of new information, much of it from CS expeditions and other subjects including breeding and artistic representations etc. There are lots of photographs and beautiful plates with botanical artwork. I refer to my copy often. It'll be a gift you treasure.

Hope yours turns up, Maggi!

[Graeme]

thanks Matt and Maggie - I better get one ordered

[Matt T]

An update on Janis' Crocus book here