Engelska

Sempervivum have long fascinated gardeners and are useful plants for gardening situations in which other plants might fail. Many people are aware of only a single, rather uninteresting green cultivar, but selections from the wild and the work of hybridizers have resulted in over 7,000 cultivars with a range in size from 1/2 in. to over one foot in diameter and colors from gold to black. Clearly the gardener has never had a better choice. This book covers all aspects of their history, taxonomy, culture, propagation, hybridizing, people involved in the production of Sempervivum, and a long list of cultivars that are recommended for the gardener. Color illustrations show not only the cultivars, but garden uses and cultural practices.

Over 340 striking color photos introduce readers to the quintessential flower of the Cape and the Islands, the hydrangea. The lucky people who live in the region revel in these lush flowers flourishing in a maritime climate. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the beautiful displays of hydrangeas in home gardens, outside restaurants and inns, and especially in waterfront areas, where hydrangeas thrive in the sea air. Blue blooms predominate, their naturally cheerful colors echoing the blue of the sea and the sky. Regional gardeners also delight in creating tapestries of color in shades of pink, purple, and blue. This book captures the beauty of hydrangeas and their wide range of uses, both outdoors and indoors, including their frequent appearance in wedding bouquets. From the lacy white flowers of climbing hydrangeas in early spring to the rich burgundy blooms of late fall, hydrangeas bring accents of beauty throughout the growing season.

A follow up to the hugely successful The Thoughtful Gardener (2017), What Makes a Garden is the second book by Jinny Blom, one of the world's leading garden designers.