Michael A. Dirr: Photographic Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. Form and Function in the Landscape

This book attempts to fill a gap in the area of ornamental horticulture and landscape architecture which for too long has been evident. The need for a reference text which encompasses photographs of plant habit and ornamental characteristics has been frequently brought to my attention. The first book, Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, Revised 1977, Stipes Publishing Co., has received wide acceptance as a plant materials text. One comment that kept surfacing was related to the absence of any photographs accompanying the text. This book is contructed along the lines of the first but includes only brief, terse descriptions of the various plants. The major thrust is geared towards black and-white photographs. These photographs were selected to accurately represent form (growth habit) and other ornamental characteristics (flower, fruit, bark, unusual foliage). All photographs were taken by the author.
My hope is that this book will effectively complement the Manual of Woody Landscape Plants and allow students, nurserymen, homeowners and interested plantsmen the means by which they ace better able to learn, appreciate and use landscape plants.