Camellias: The Gardener's Encyclopedia

Description

This encyclopedia is a comprehensive, one-stop reference for camellia enthusiasts at all levels. It provides information on how to grow and care for camellias as well as detailed descriptions of a hand-picked selection of over 600 garden-worthy species and cultivars. The highly informed and truly international plant selection includes classic favorites as well as the latest introductions bred by nursery owners and enthusiasts. Detailed propagation advice, including unique grafting methods, will appeal to the keen amateur enthusiast. Helpful advice on combating problems that result from pests, diseases, and other causes will be invaluable, while over 800 captivating images will entice all gardeners to accommodate more of these exquisite plants.

Jennifer Trehane's lifelong passion for camellias stems from her involvement in the family nursery business. She managed Trehane Camellia Nursery in Dorset, England, from 1982 to 1995 and currently runs Dorset Blueberry Nursery with her son. Her interest in blueberries began when her father responded to an offer of free blueberry plants from a North American nursery at the end of World War II. 1000 plants arrived on the Queen Mary in 1959, and Trehane was duly instructed to collect them. She helped her father plant the first thousand blueberry plants, which became the basis of the family business - a pioneering plantation that was planted below the family home in Dorset, UK. Trehane obtained a bachelor of science in horticulture from the University of Reading, England. She is now one of three directors of the International Camellia Society and has been editor of their journal since 2006. She is also a member of the RHS Rhododendron and Camellia Committee and author of Camellias: A Gardener's Guide to the Genus. She has traveled widely all over the world to see camellias growing in gardens and in the wild, including two botanical trips to China. Trehane has contributed to various gardening magazines and columns over the years, including BBC Gardener's World, The Garden, and The Times, among others. In her free time she enjoys photography and traveling the world.

For any gardener interested in growing camellias, this book would be an invaluable asset. For any gardener who enjoys beautiful photos, this book will be a coffee table favorite. -- Angela England Suite101.com 20080107 A beautiful new book ... chockablock with gorgeous photographs of hundreds of varieties, the book details characteristics of the flowering bushes from all over the world. -- Mary Tutwiler Lafayette Independent Weekly 20080213 A well-crafted, authoritative book, superbly illustrated. ... This is an important work that will stand the test of time both as a bedside bible for the camellia fancier and a finely illustrated book for plant lovers in general. -- John Gallagher The Garden 20080201