[.ca] Forcing, Etc.: The Indoor Gardener's Guide to Bringing ... (ISBN 0761115129)

From Amazon.com:
What's a dyed-in-the-wool gardener to do when faced with stubborn Old Man Winter's downright refusal to let much of anything grow? Force it, that's what. Forcing is the art of convincing a bulb, branch, houseplant, or cutting to flower when it would otherwise be dormant. So when the drabness of winter and its attendant exorbitant price for cut flowers hits you, try forcing. It's not difficult, but it does take some planning and foresight. If you want to force bulbs to flower in February, for instance, you have to order them in late summer so that you can pot them up in the fall. Twigs, on the other hand, are much easier to force: just cut them after six weeks of cold weather, put them in some water, and watch the virtual spring of your warm rooms transform them into leggy, flowering spirea, corylopsis, forsythia, or catkins, for instance. Author Katherine Whiteside explores associated topics such as choosing the best container and presentation within the home, as well as topics only an expert could love ("the narcissus question"). Forcing, Etc. is a good read. It's not a reference book in the truest sense of the word; the lack of an index is at fault there. This doesn't mean that there's not an awful lot of good information here for beginners and adepts, well and entertainingly written. But when you want to check on the fertilizer ratio for your calla lilies, you'll have to page through the entire book to find it (in a very small typeface, too). But with Richard Felber's gorgeous photos on every page, maybe that's not such a bad thing to have to do. --Stefanie Durbin

Pretty to look at, but not alot of substance:
I absolutely agree with the review given by Tom Krischan on 1/28/2000. This book is beautiful to look at, with lots of photographs that are well-taken and gorgeously displayed. That's the good part.... Unfortunately there isn't a lot of information in here that even the most basic gardener wouldn't already know from other sources. Bulbs are the primary area of discussion, with houseplants and cuttings from trees and shrubs also being discussed sparingly. It's not the best book for in-depth answers to your other forcing needs. It is nice to look at, though. A definite fixture for aesthetics on my coffee table at home, if nothing else.

Great photographs, but limited information:
It's a nice coffee table book. Something you look at once, then never touch again. Clearly not a reference book. The first 85 pages discuss forcing hardy and tender bulbs. The remaining 68 pages talk about house plants, twigs, and cuttings. About half of the book is pictures, and much of the text from the other half is double spaced. There is not alot of information about forcing in this book. Another problem, the book has no index. So when you wish to find information on forcing Amaryllis, you must page through it manually. No appendix in the back, no tables, no charts, and no reference section at all (except for a meager list of two dozen garden catalog companies). There are pockets of detailed and interesting facts. But the poorly organized format makes it a chore to find this info. On the plus side, the plant photography is great. It is the most worthwhile part of the book. Hundreds of photos of interesting, clear, crisp, and properly identified plants populate this book (unfortunately, since there is no index, you'll never find the picture you want - when you want it). Nice coffee table book, but not much more.

Expert gardening advice blends with floral styling:
Expert gardening advice blends with floral styling techniques as Katherine Whtieside offers an introduction to the finer art of forcing bulbs, branches, and other flowers in Forcing, Etc. Plant features include the most common flowers which are grown through forcing, offering tips for plant pairing and arranging. With Richard Felber's lush photos throughout, Forcing, Etc. makes an exceptional visual display in addition to a practical guide.