Four books published in 1998
were selected to receive the 1999 American Horticultural
Society Annual Book Award. The awards were presented at the
Society’s 1999 Annual Meeting, held in Boston, Massachusetts
in June.
The 1999 winners:
A
Celebration of Heirloom Vegetables: Growing and Cooking
Old-Time Varieties
by Roger Yepsen, Artisan.
Illustrated by the author, this well-written and visually
appealing book was a consensus favorite. “This book does
everything right,” said Bender. “The cover practically leaps
off the shelf and shouts, “Open me!”, while the
illustrations of heirloom vegetables inside are stunningly
beautiful. In addition, the accompanying text is
interesting, informative, and as easy to digest as the
dozens of recipes scattered throughout.”
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Earth
on Her Hands: The American Woman in Her Garden
by Starr Ockenga, Clarkson N. Potter.
This collection of profiles of 18 American women who have
created outstanding gardens over several decades, appealed
to committee members because it is a masterful combination
of strong photography, writing, and book design. “The women
profiled are all dedicated and knowledgeable gardeners, so
there’s something to learn from each one,” said Easton. “The
photographs, mostly by the author, are simply stunning,
especially the full-page black-and-white portraits of the
women themselves.” Sidebars with each profile focus on a
topic of special interest, such as lists of favorite plants
or how to build a stone wall.
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The
Savage Garden: Cultivating Carnivorous Plants
by Peter D’Amato, Ten Speed Press.
Committee members applauded this in-depth look at an unusual
and fascinating group of plants that are diversely
represented in North America. Nursery-propagated selections
of some carnivorous plants are just beginning to become
available, so this book is a timely reference on how to grow
these plants, many of which are endangered in the wild. “I
never thought this book would end up on my bedside table as
compelling reading, but it did. The strangeness of the
plants and their behavior is fascinating,” said Bales.
“D’Amato writes with authority, passion, and humor—a winning
combination.”
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The
Tropical Look: An Encyclopedia of Dramatic Landscape Plants
by Robert Lee Riffle, Timber Press.
This comprehensive description of hundreds of plants that
offer a tropical look even in temperate gardens is also
timely. “There’s a trend going on in contemporary American
horticulture that I like to call the neo-Gauguin movement,”
says Lorton. “This book offers an effective pattern for
achieving that look in a home garden.” Extensive lists of
plants for various garden habitats and landscapes add to the
usefulness of this reference.
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