Garden Bulbs for the South

by Scott Ogden

There are hundreds of choice bulbs that revel in southern warmth and humidity, and Scott Ogden profiles the best of them in this fascinating, comprehensive volume. In a series of chapters that takes us through the gardening year, Ogden introduces the plants that help to give southern gardens their distinct regional flavor, many with charmingly descriptive rain lilies, oxblood lilies, jonquils, crinums, and scores of others. Weaving in bits of history and lore, Ogden details each plant's appearance and growing requirements. Originally published to widespread acclaim in 1994, Garden Bulbs for the South has been updated and significantly expanded in this edition to include information on new varieties as well as nearly one hundred new photographs.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Horticulture

396 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1994

Reviews

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sigh, swoon, repeat. Lovely book with exquisite details and beautiful photos of all the lovely darling bulbs that grow down here in the land of heeat and humidity. And he actually knows the difference between the very different Texas zones. What grows in the panhandle might not survive a day on the gulfcoast. This is the best garden book for the gulf coast I have ever come across. I'm going to get my own copy so I can write all over it and fill it up with sticky notes and dog ears. The library won't let you do that to their books. Did I mention the exquisite details? For example,:history of how a plant was discovered, where, when and how it got it's name. HOw and where to grow it. When to plant it or move it or propogate it. Whether or not you should bother where you are. He gardens himself, like big time. Several of the pics are from his own luxurious garden. I have long loved bulbs for their ease in my own, suburban garden of high heat, high humidity with an drought or two thrown in. Now, thanks to his book, I have a longer "want" list dream about at night.

[Laura Gilfillan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up some interesting tidbits here and there about what bulbs might do well in the south, and how to take care of them, but for the most part I didn't get a lot out of this book.

[David Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Garden Bulbs for the South by Scott Ogden (Timber Press 2007)(635.944) is the quintessential book on the use of bulbs in Southern gardens. This features a comprehensive listing of the bulbs that are adapted to Southern culture. My rating: 7.5/10, finished 2008.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reference for practicing horticulturists and avid gardeners in the Southern US. So many new and exciting bulbs you might never meet in the standard catalogs. So little yard. Get the latest edition.

[Todd Link · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reference book

[Lark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read, but most info readily available in other places. Very helpful pages in back listing places to buy bulbs / get help. Mr Ogden is much better in person.