Passalong Plants

Rating:
Summary: A Hoot and a Holler
Review: (J~(BPassalong Plants was one of the first gardening books I read and it is still one of my favorites. But then I live in a neighborhood that is obviously inspired by the same aesthetic and sense of humor--one of small southern cottages, few lawns, pink flamingoes, and bottle trees.

If you want to pretend you creating the next Sissinghurst, read Penelope Hobhouse. And if you need technical "how to" read any of Taylor's guides. But if you live in the hot and humid south and need to know about(J~(B(J~(B tough plants that are easy to propagate and require little maintenance AND you ain't afraid to laugh out loud...this might well become one of your favorite books, too.(J~(B

Rating:
Summary: Not for Northern gardeners!
Review: Although I enjoyed the book for casual reading, it was very short on both pictures and specific plant care info. The authors seem to enjoy commenting on the plants that they have included but 'Passalong Plants' is not for you if you are looking for technical information. I wanted it to tell me specifically how to divide, the best time to harvest passalong plants and give good drawings/photos of the plants listed. One of the more disappointing purchases I have made on Amazon.

Rating:
Summary: Break out of mega-store gardening mold, native plantings
Review: I can't say I know Steve Bender, but Felder Rushing is a very popular fellow in Jackson, MS. He seems to display his unique personality everywhere he goes. Well, he has come out with a few books now and his personality and unique love for plants is shown in great detail from a personal point of view. If you want to know how to properly propagate a specific plant in multiple ways this is not for you, but if you want a book for general information about some real good down home southern plants this is the book for you.

Rating:
Summary: Well known author of my area
Review: I can't say I know Steve Bender, but Felder Rushing is a very popular fellow in Jackson, MS. He seems to display his unique personality everywhere he goes. Well, he has come out with a few books now and his personality and unique love for plants is shown in great detail from a personal point of view. If you want to know how to properly propagate a specific plant in multiple ways this is not for you, but if you want a book for general information about some real good down home southern plants this is the book for you.

Rating:
Summary: Garden Gifts
Review: I LOVED this book-it is witty,funny and very informative. I never knew what type of gardener I was until I read this book.The two authors have very different styles and personalities but together they make the book mesh and come up with a great read.

Rating:
Summary: Extremely Readable, Beautifully Down-to-Earth Book
Review: I received this book for Christmas and it was my favorite gift. The moment I opened it I read it cover-to-cover--although that took quite some time. It is written by two very different, but very knowledgable authors, Steve Bender and Felder Rushing. The essays on the different plants are written by either Bender or Rushing. Rushing's essays are donw-to-earth and friendly while Bender's are downright funny at times (just read his hilarious description of why no one grows old purple phlox). Another good attribute this book possesses besides its talented authors is its frequent use of more familiar common names than hard-to-pronounce, ever-changing Latin ones. That fragrant, night-blooming vine that climbed up your grandmother's porch is not Ipomoea alba, but moonvine. And the powderpuff pink flowers that blossomed by your great aunt's white picket fence are no longer Cleome hasslerana, but spiderlegs. If you are a Southern gardener who loves those old-fashioned plants that are ripe with nostalgia, or any gardener at all for that matter, you simply have to buy this book. It combines the easy-to-understand, entertaining writing of two talented authors and those evocative plant names you grew up with.

Rating:
Summary: Break out of mega-store gardening mold, native plantings
Review: This is an incredible book, it is very amusing to read and full of useful information. The writers passion for the subject is readily evident and its hard to put this book down. I was surprised at how many plants I recognized from my childhood, but as an adult, had not seen in the large commercial nurseries/super stores. Each listing contains the botanical name if you need to reference additional information, and there are sources to order plants and seeds. If you need a cut and dry reference purchase the American Horticultural Society's A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, use Passalong Plants to narrow your selection. Perfect book if you are looking for plants that are drought resistant and natural to an area.

Rating:
Summary: The Way to Write
Review: Wrote with Southern charm, Felder Rushing's and Steve Bender's "Passalong Plants" is chocked full of humor and downhome anecdotes on how and why all gardeners should "share the fun and joy" of passing along a favorite flower or plant. That boils down to mean giving to others what the soil has gave to you! A fine book that will add lots of useful and practical gardening information to any home gardener's bookshelf.

Rating:
Summary: The Way to Write
Review: Wrote with Southern charm, Felder Rushing's and Steve Bender's "Passalong Plants" is chocked full of humor and downhome anecdotes on how and why all gardeners should "share the fun and joy" of passing along a favorite flower or plant. That boils down to mean giving to others what the soil has gave to you! A fine book that will add lots of useful and practical gardening information to any home gardener's bookshelf.