[.ca] Wyman's Gardening Encyclopedia (ISBN 0026320703)

The best gardening encyclopedia in print.:
Compared to other gardening encyclopedias, Wyman's has more of the answers more of the time with comprehensive lists, excellent illustrations and diagrams, and best of all, pleasing typography! A heavy user of horticultural reference material, if I were confined to one single source, Wyman's would be it

Just about the best:
I would like to be able to rate this book at 4.9 stars, because, in my opinion and by way of usage and reference, only one other usually supercedes it (the comprehensively illustrated "AHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants"). Yet the Wyman's remains a valuable reference that I consult as a second (and often first) source of botannical and gardening information. The other readers' reviews here should give ample incentive to buy this book. Their words-"well researched" \othe book is thorough in its descriptions and definitions\c, "full and opinionated" \othe writing is colorful and makes for interesting reading\c and "comprehensive" \othe book is well edited and informative\c-are testimony to the book's usefulness. One does not just gain enjoyment from reading this tome; one reaps knowledge from consulting it.

Just about the best:
I would like to be able to rate this book at 4.9 stars, because, in my opinion and by way of usage and reference, only one other usually supercedes it (the comprehensively illustrated "AHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants"). Yet the Wyman's remains a valuable reference that I consult as a second (and often first) source of botannical and gardening information. The other readers' reviews here should give ample incentive to buy this book. Their words-"well researched" \othe book is thorough in its descriptions and definitions\c, "full and opinionated" \othe writing is colorful and makes for interesting reading\c and "comprehensive" \oWyman even gives the correct Latin pronunciation of each listed genus (I wish the AHS book did)\c-affirm the book's usefulness.

Indispensable.:
I have many gardening books and catalogs in my library, however, Wyman's is the one I refer to time and again because of its comprehensive discussion of each plant. If I could only have one reference, this would be it.

Five stars from Zone 5:
Offering more information than you'll find anywhere else, this encyclpedia does NOT read like a pretty plant catalogue filled with the usual tired (and brief) descriptions. This book is a labor of love: full and opinionated, proof that a picture is not worth a thousand, well-researched words.