Latin for Gardeners
Over 3,000 Plant Names Explained and Explored
$62.81
- Hardcover
224 pages
- Release Date
21 September 2012
Summary
Since Latin became the standard language for plant naming in the eighteenth century, it has been intrinsically linked with botany. And while mastery of the classical language may not be a prerequisite for tending perennials, all gardeners stand to benefit from learning a bit of Latin and its conventions in the field. Without it, they might buy a Hellebores foetidus and be unprepared for its fetid smell, or a Potentilla reptans with the expectation that it will stand straight …
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780226009193 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 022600919X |
| Author: | Lorraine Harrison |
| Publisher: | The University of Chicago Press |
| Imprint: | University of Chicago Press |
| Format: | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages: | 224 |
| Release Date: | 21 September 2012 |
| Weight: | 703g |
| Dimensions: | 229mm x 178mm x 25mm |
What They're Saying
Critics Review
“A fine book for people who love plants and enjoy language… . If you enjoy learning the meanings and histories of names, you will find Latin for Gardeners to be a diverting and useful book.”
– “gardeninacity”“Beautifully illustrated with artistic renderings of plants… . [Latin for Gardeners] will help you better understand the botanical names that we often struggle with.”
– “The Native Plant Gardener”“Many gardeners call plants by their common names. But to accurately identify them–and to know exactly what you’re buying at the nursery–you need to understand the botanical Latin names on their tags. Harrison offers definitions for 3,000 common terms that convey important information about plants’ physical attributes and growing habits. Knowing that ‘procerus’ describes a tall plant and ‘prostratus’ one that creeps along the ground can help a beginner put the right plant in the best spot. That said, Harrison writes that her goal is ‘to encourage the blossoming of better gardeners, not of Latin scholars.’”
–Michelle Slatalla “Wall Street Journal, “10 Crucial Home and Garden Design Books for Beginners””“Latin for Gardeners is useful, surprising, and beautiful–an accessible dictionary for everyone who puzzles over botanical identifications, an opportunity to get better acquainted with the extraordinary discoverers and namers of so many of our favorite plants, and a treat for all who enjoy the art and lore of the garden.”
–Jane S. Smith, author of The Garden of Invention
“For those who want a better understanding of plant taxonomy, Latin for Gardeners, by Lorraine Harrison, is a treasure.”–Dominique Browning “New York Times”
About The Author
Lorraine Harrison
Lorraine Harrison is the author of several books, including Inspiring Sussex Gardeners, The Shaker Book of the Garden, How to Read Gardens, and A Potted History of Vegetables: A Kitchen Cornucopia.
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