In message , Sacha
writes
On 11/7/06 22:13, in article , "June
Hughes" wrote:

In message , Sacha
writes
On 11/7/06 17:07, in article , "June
Hughes" wrote:

In message , "[H]omer" writes
rachel wrote:
If you can spare the space for just one book, I recommend the
Encyclopedia of Gardening from the RHS. It's authoritative and
comprehensive in my humblest opinion.

Hmmm yes, I've been looking at the RHS books on Amazon; they always seem
to get rave reviews.

If you have a Sussex bookshop near you, they have it at a very
reasonable price. (I bought my book a couple of years ago in Enfield
but they seem to be all over the country AFAIK).

The RHS encyclopedia is excellent but I wouldn't call it comprehensive, or
not entirely. Quite a few plants or their varieties are not in there -
especially the more unusual ones which are hardy in this country. One of
the best sources of info is Google and the Image search is extremely useful.

I believe you are correct but for mere amateurs like me, the RHS
encyclopaedia does the trick and it is well illustrated - If we need
any more, we ask here

I most definitely see myself as an amateur too but sort of bridging the
world between the expert - my husband - and the amateur who joined urg
originally - me. I'm absolutely NOT talking down the RHS Encyclopedia but
for the sake of newcomers to gardening, I did think it worth mentioning that
it doesn't have every plant ever found or bred in it. We get customers here
who believe it does and that if a plant isn't in there, it's incorrectly
labelled, either by us or by others. We use it a LOT, either to show
customers photographs of plants they're interested in but don't know, or to
check some detail or other. I doubt a day goes by without it being used in
our busiest months.

That is encouraging for people like me who sometimes have a job
remembering Latin names and types of soil best suited to plants we may
or not buy. I am not surprise you are busy.
PS Have just passed grade 6 flute, after learning for four years, so am
in a merry mood and think I am worthy of being excused

Well done! As one who has 3 musical children but who cannot play loo paper
and comb, I salute your efforts.

Thanks, Sacha.
( I take it you mean Jeyes and not Andrex
--
June Hughes