Ferns for American Gardens: the Definitive Guide to Selecting and Growing more than 500 Kinds of Hardy Ferns

A great reference on the long-underappreciated fern its cultivation and ornamental use in the temperate garden. Mickel, Curator of Ferns at the New York Botanical Garden, describes more than 400 types of ferns and many more subspecies, varieties, and cultivars. Each entry explains the fern's habit, frond size and color, hardiness zones, and ease of cultivation, in addition to pointing out any outstanding ornamental features and their season of interest, and gives suggestions for the best use of the plant in the garden. Includes some 360 color photographs and 30 line drawings. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

Mickel is the curator of ferns at the New York Botanical Garden, and he has included more than 400 types of ferns in this excellent reference source. Mickel begins with chapters on fern structure, fern growing and gardening with ferns, and fern propagation. Each entry in the list of ferns (arranged alphabetically by genus) covers foliage, habitat, method of culture and propagation, and suggestions on garden use and plant combinations. Appendixes include a list of ferns grown under various conditions, a list of fern societies, and a glossary. The finished book, a Garden Book Club selection, will have 360 color photographs. George Cohen