The Hardy Plant Society of Oregon provides its members with many opportunities to get involved, i.e. volunteer. You can open your garden to other members, help out at events, write for the bulletin. It’s all fun, and a great way to meet new gardening friends. If that is not enough to prompt you to sign up, how about this? Each December, there is a volunteer appreciation event in the HPSO offices, where, besides coffee, treats and chatter, there are books for sale at cost. I never seem to be able to work the event into a busy holiday schedule, but the sale continues during office hours for the entire month. I have been picking up succulents wherever I see them for some time now, and often the labeling is slipshod or absent. I was looking for a book that I could use to identify my growing family of nameless urchins. This was not exactly the book I was looking for, but at half the cover price, it would do.
The emphasis here is on design and grouping succulents in containers, but enough of the plants in question are identified to do me some good. Mostly, it is a visual treat, and I am sure that some of the ideas are seeping into my brain, where they will be stored, regurgitated, and claimed as having originated in there.
Some of the ideas that have made it into the pages of this book will never be claimed as my own. I imagine stately Agaves and Yuccas blushing with humiliation over having been tarted up for the holidays.
HPSO also runs a lending library, where I found exactly the tome I sought. Succulents II, the new illustrated dictionary, takes a no nonsense approach, with alphabetized photos accompanied by the basic pertinent information. I checked it out for the allowed three week period, but I think this is one I will have to put on order, along with the first volume. Together, they cover about 2000 species. The authors are Maurizio Sajeva and Mariangela Costanzo, and the book is from Timber Press.
Good find Ricki! And it must be a rare one because it’s $154 on Amazon (used) and only available at the library in the reference section (can’t be checked out). I need to return some magazines to the HPSO perhaps I’d better check out this sale and try and get the book when you bring it back!
p.s. speaking of busy holiday schedules I regret not managing to make it to your “open house” in December!!!
Loree~Hmmm…the price on the borrowed book was $49.95, so I wonder what’s up with Amazon? Was that a price for both volumes? I will be taking the book back tomorrow, weather permitting. My daughter found an Andy Goldsworthy book on Amazon for a king’s ransom which I then found at Powell’s for the usual 40-odd dollars.
I was hoping to see you, but maybe we can meet somewhere in the new year.
All Amazon had were used copies making me think it’s out of print? Re. the banners at the Seattle Art Museum no, I’m sorry I don’t have a close up. Darn! I would like that! (meet up in the new year)…maybe I’ll see you at the YG&P show and we can take a coffee or vino break!
Ricki, I’m starting to get into succulents too so thanks for the heads up on some reference books on the subject. I’m not into the larger ones like agaves but I love the small sedums. I just wish I had more sun in my garden to grow them. I had several small succulents in a container on my patio last summer – talk about low maintenance – and I loved the look.
Loree~Oh, right…YGP in Feb. Yay! I looked for you last year, when you would have been easy to spot with the cast and all. Guess we need to make actual plans. I’m all for it.
Debbie~I have to bring all of mine inside for the winter. They are beginning to push us out, but it’s worth it.
Looks like an invaluable book for the eye candy alone.
Grace~Yes, indeedy!
Wendy~not only beautiful, but fun in these cold winter months.
Ricki, I’m glad I wasn’t the only one to have that reaction to the glass ornaments on the agaves! I have yet to make it to the HPSO office, but I see it would be worthwhile for many reasons.
Jane~My reaction, or Wendy’s?