“WARDLE’S NATIVE TREES OF NEW ZEALAND AND THEIR STORY” by John Wardle has just arrived. It is a very handsome 388-page A4 sized hardback with more than 300 colour photographs, mainly taken by Ian Platt of Christchurch. It covers 330 species of New Zealand’s native trees, with descriptions of tree form, establishment from cuttings and seed, frost and shade tolerance, growth and the end use of the timber where applicable. It also describes how the Maoris used the trees for food, berries, dyes, medicines, canoe making, carvings, weapons and building. The book fits well with the recently published "New Zealand’s Native Trees - A Comprehensive Illustrated Encyclopedia" by John Dawson and Rob Lucas which, with 2300 colour photographs, is ideal for identification. John Wardle’s book goes a step further and is for those who wish to actually plant and establish new native trees. It gives good references to the pioneer species to plant first, followed by the ultimate forest species. The author is a hands-on forester with his own native beech forest in North Canterbury. This book is only available from us and the NZ Farm Forestry Association. $120.00.

“THE UNIVERSE IN THE LANDSCAPE. LANDFORMS BY CHARLES JENCKS” is a sequel to Jencks’s previous book “The Garden of Cosmic Speculation”. Jencks makes massive mounds of curved and shaped earth which are covered with mown turf. The holes from where the earth has been removed are formed into artistically shaped ponds. It is all done on a large scale. Jencks also plays with shapes, standing stones like Stonehenge, and various forms of metalwork. It is all quite original and very difficult to describe. Provocative and inspiring, with all sorts of new ideas. A large 288-page hardback with 600 colour photographs; wonderful! $115.00.

If you are interested in orchids and like a good read, contact ncmiller@orcon.net.nz and sign up for the excellent Online Orchid Magazine. It’s well written, illustrated with colour photos and has lots of interesting articles about orchids, other plants, gardens etc. It is free and put together by hands-on plant experts Nick and Elizabeth Miller of Lake Rotoiti.

“THE ILLUSTRATED PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GARDENING FOR SENIORS” is a book I’m going to have to buy as I become a decrepit old fool. I remember doing a show in Tauranga and an elderly gentleman asking if I had anything on pickling olives. I told him I did, but it was a very time consuming process. He replied he lived in a retirement village planted up with lots of olive trees, the fruit of which was just going to waste. The one thing he had was all the time in the world, and he just wanted something to do. The book covers all aspects of gardening from propagation through to pruning and composting, garden design, and a whole range of specially designed tools for those confined to wheel chairs, with bad arthritis, sore backs and so on. I have never seen such an armory of specially made devices. A good section on making and using raised bed gardens. The book has more than 900 photos and plans, making it very easy to follow. The author is a horticultural therapist and knows what she is writing about. A 256-page hardback, $65.00..

We have just received "THE HOME ORCHARD HANDBOOK" by Cem Akin and Leah Rottke of the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation. An American book, it is sub-titled “A Complete Guide To Growing Your Own Fruit Anywhere”. Well illustrated with lots of colour photographs and black and white line drawings, it deals with the absolute basics of fruit tree planting. Chapters include site selection, plant selection, planting, irrigation and fertilising, pruning and weeding, pests and diseases, preserving the harvest and community orchards. The book spells out all the basics very clearly and in great detail. A 192-page paperback, $50.00.

"THE ROSE" by Jennifer Potter is a fat 520-page hardback on the history of roses, their origins, myths and uses - in fact everything about roses except the latest varieties and how to grow them. It talks about the great rose growers and breeders of the past, great rose gardens, its use in medicine and perfume and so on. A very nice read, well illustrated with old paintings, black and white line drawings and modern photos. A well bound book with a dust jacket, $75.00.

I was becoming a bit despondent about the seeming lack of good new gardening books coming up for Christmas. We have three good new New Zealand trees books but nothing much else to excite the senses. But then “TWO DOGS AND A GARDEN” by Derelie Cherry arrived and what fun it is. Derelie worked in publishing for 20 years and met divorced Bob Cherry, who was looking for a new wife, at the Melbourne International Flower Show in 1999. Bob Cherry is a famous Australian plant hunter, plant breeder and nurseryman. I know several New Zealanders who have accompanied Bob on his plant hunting expeditions. His garden ‘Paradise’ adjoins the nursery ‘Paradise Plants’ one hours drive north of Sydney. The large garden has arcades, walled gardens, bridges and follies including a huge row of ‘ancient’ Greek columns made from brick - all built by Bob. He has used more the 450,000 bricks in the garden. There is a large dam planted with hundreds of lotus. The garden is only open to the public three times a year. The book starts with a chapter on camellias - Bob has more than 1000 in the garden and has sold hundreds of thousands through the nursery. He has spent time hunting for new ones in Asia, plus he has been breeding new hybrids. He is currently aiming at a camellia which flowers in mid-summer. The book rambles on through hydrangeas, polyanthus - they grow 150,000 each year in the nursery, and plant out thousands each year in the garden. The two dogs, Jessee (a Border Collie) and the late Trudy (a rat catching Cairn Terrier) accompany the reader through the book which is full of excellent colour photographs (all taken by Derelie) of the 100’s of different plants grown by the Cherrys. Trudy dies a sad death after being bitten by a snake. There are chapters on their plant hunting trips around the world, and a small one on magnolias. I was hoping for a bit more on these as the garden contains lots of magnolias I could go on forever, a wonderful read by a woman about her husband, their garden, the nursery and two dogs. A 240-page hardback, $50.00.

While you are on our website visit our list of New Titles. These list, on a monthly basis, titles new to our shelves. Also have a quick look at Diane's specials, there's some good buying there while stocks last.

Peter Arthur
Touchwood Books
12th October 2011