My very first impression is incredible, magnificent,
original, well put together! I am very impressed with your work,
and I am not easily impressed. --Your 8% shaded note inserts are just
great. They add personal comments in addition to general information.
(The much needed human side of gardening) and allows the reader to stop
reading at a particular spot and ‘rest’, while picking up
additional information from the inserts. The picture quality is excellent,
well done.
Bob Obrizok -- Author, A Garden of Conifers
Wow! Your book, Dwarf & Unusual Conifers
Coming of Age, definitely needs to be recommended for
anyone interested in Conifers...Unusual...and Dwarf! It was wonderful
-- both photos and text. It makes me want to go visit The U.S. National
Arboretum! … I have already picked out the conifers I am most
interested in. I always like unusual shape and form, but now my awareness
is heightened. Thank you so much. It is a treat!
Maggie Mehr -- Avid Gardener, Newburgh, NY
…The photography is outstanding! On the other
hand, the text is equally as good; with directions for care and maintenance,
as well as wonderful description of plants and their culture…Cutler
writes in a very reader friendly style and is sure to educate all levels
of gardeners, landscapers, and professionals. -- I don’t
remember when I have been so enthralled by any book. This one
is definitely going to be a gift of choice for several of the people
on my list. My one son already put in his request for Dwarf & Unusual
Conifers Coming of Age. I think I might have to chain my copy to
my desk.
Lorraine Keifer -- Triple
Oaks Nursery, Franklinville, New Jersey
... is beautiful to behold and a boon to anyone interested in smaller
conifers. Better yet, the content matches the photographs…
Susan Banks -- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Dwarf & Unusual Conifers Coming of Age. Is a fantastic
source of information for the landscape contractor and landscape
architect. -- Fun to read and informative with easy to follow examples
for ideas on how to use dwarf conifers. -- A must for all people who
love or are involved in horticulture.
Jim Smith -- Blue Sterling Nursery, Bridgeton,
NJ
First of all – I would like to offer Dwarf & Unusual
Conifers Coming of Age. to my customers. I receive
many requests for cultural information. People want to know where mature
plants can be observed and compared. Your book has both. It is comprehensive,
detailed... The diagrams with numbers indicating individual trees make
a good reference for size and shape. …side bar notes are excellent…the
reader feels comfortable with the author… I like the idea that
the reader can use this book as a reference guide when purchasing from
garden centers or a catalog like mine.
Don Howse – PORTERHOWSE Farms -- Sandy,
Oregon
I loved the comfortable writing style which made me
feel that the author was speaking directly to me… Hugely informative
and comfortable to read and understand. As a novice gardener, I enjoyed
the attitude of "You can do it!" in Cutler’s writing.
Vincy Nagy -- artist & beginning gardener,
North Ridgeville, Ohio
…is indeed a documentary proving homeowners
don’t have to settle for evergreens that soon outgrow their space
and welcome. I just wish she had written it 43 years ago.
Jody Headlee – The Oakland Press – Rochester,
Michigan
I just finished reading Dwarf & Unusual Conifers Coming
of Age from cover to cover. You have done such a wonderful
job. Of course my favorite subject is 'Watnong.'
Helen Donn -- Watnong Gardens, Morris Plains,
New Jersey
It's a wonderful book that I can't put down. I
found a lot of useful info and some great photography. I also
learned a new trick of the trade. There was mention of using
a temporary lathe house while moving valuable plants in the summer.
This bit of info alone was worth the price of the book. I'll
definitely use the idea.
I especially enjoy that Dwarf & Unusual
Conifers Coming of Age was written through the eyes of
a newcomer to the world of conifers. I remember what it felt like
to discover dwarf conifers. When I went to find out more about them, I suddenly
was overwhelmed with strange botanical names. It was a bit intimidating at
the time. Fortunately, I found some answers along the way. This book will be
a great help for others. Thank you for your fine efforts.
Stanley Eyre -- President, Eastern Region,
American Conifer Society
How wonderful it is when an author like Sandra McLean
Cutler can show mature dwarf and unusual conifers through her writing
skills and the superb photography exhibited in Dwarf & Unusual
Conifers Coming of Age. This is especially demonstrated by her use
of the Gotelli collection as her theme. She could not have made a better
choice.
The numerous photographs provide a visual reference for
mature specimens and group plantings. Ms. Cutler has done her homework well.
All facets of gardening concerning conifers have been thoroughly covered: the
history of the Gotelli and Watnong collections, classification of conifers,
common and botanical nomenclature, growth habits, guidelines for hardiness,
disease and pest control, even recommended reading lists for additional information.
Ed Rezek -- founding member of The American Conifer Society
Congratulations on your new book, Dwarf & Unusual
Conifers Coming of Age. The photographs are spectacular, the informational
sidebars are extremely helpful, and the emphasis on mature sizes of
these wonderful plants is a novel and much appreciated approach. Anyone
with an interest in dwarf and slow-growing conifers should make room
on their bookshelves for this one!
Jeff Iles -- Professor of Horticulture, Iowa
State University
Received your book, Dwarf & Unusual Conifers
Coming of Age., as a birthday present last July
and have enjoyed it very much! I'm trying desperately NOT to get "bitten" too
hard by the conifer monkey, 'cause I'm carrying quite a few others
around the garden already. But, I've still got lots of holes to fill
and these days I'm leaning toward the dwarf evergreens for backbone. I'm
in AWE of what you've done with your book on conifers -- I know what
it takes to get published. Will there be more?
Charles Diem, Smallwood Gardens
This is a very different and very worthwhile ornamental
plant reference based on the National Arboretum's two conifer collections:
The Gotelli Collections of Dwarf and Slow-growing Conifers and the Watnong
Collection. Cutler both documents these significant national collections/gardens
of mature specimens, and offers a reference for the use of dwarf conifers
in landscape design. The book, Dwarf & Unusual Conifers Coming
of Age, begins with the photos and descriptions of two tours, a
drive-by and a closer walking tour through the paths and planting beds.
These sections are filled with photos of groupings of plants throughout
the seasons, which reveal a beautiful diversity of size, shape, texture,
and color and supply many ideas for planting plans. Another third of
the book contains descriptions, with succinct treatments of 350 conifers,
mostly cultivars. This section is liberally sprinkled with many excellent
photos and interesting sidebars. There are additional chapters on care
and maintenance and the history of the collections. The graphic layout
of the book is lively and appealing, as is the writing style. Suitable
for all levels of readers.
G.D. Deyer, Connecticut College --
Review from CHOICE December '97
-- Vol 35,No 4 --
Reprinted with permission from CHOICE -- Copyright
by the American Library Association
…easy to read, written with enthusiasm and a
wonderful source for any gardener interested in learning more about these
unusual plants.
Lynn Lustberg – GARDENSHOWCASE – Portland,
Oregon
