Growing Orchids in Your Garden

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Books on growing orchids as house plants are numerous but information on growing them outside is not as easy to find. Here is a new book on growing temperate orchids in tropical and subtropical regions (i.e. California, Florida, Hawaii and southern regions of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Georgia). The chapters are well organized and the book is well illustrated with color photos of orchids growing in private gardens, nurseries, parks, etc. (most of them in Florida).

Chapter 1 is "Epiphytes: Growing Orchids on Trees," which discusses the requirements of epiphytes, how to attach them to trees, companion planting, and caring for the orchids after they are planted. This is followed by a glossary of orchid genera with information on the culture of each.

Chapter 2 covers "Lithophytes: Growing Orchids on Rocks and Walls" and Chapter 3 "Terrestrials: Growing Orchids in the Ground." Each chapter follows the same format as the first.

Other chapters cover such topics as pests, species or hybrids?, designing gardens on large properties, suburban gardening, and courtyard and balcony gardens. The last section of the book covers growing orchids in containers. A chart of recommended orchids shows name, type, region, main color, flowering season, fragrance and brief comments.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Orchid Guide
Review: Robert Friend has inspired me to look at orchids in a whole new way. Friend covers everything there is to know about orchids. From the different types of orchids and which type of garden to grow them in, to growing orchids in pots and containers and which pests to look out for.
I may not be able to leave my orchids outside year round, but his chapter on growing orchids indoors is very helpful in keeping mine alive and beautiful no matter what the weather is outside.
This book is really for someone who already had the orchid basics down. But for anyone who grows orchids already, this is a book that might inspire you to look at your plants in a new light.