Irises

Reference Book

 To help identification and solve cultural problems, I turn to reference books.
I have a well-stocked reference library that covers every plant genus I can grow and then some.
New additions are made yearly and still the wish list keeps getting longer.

One of my best finds of the year is Irises: A Gardener's Encyclopedia by Claire Austin .
The book covers a lot of ground and even includes photos of roots of different types of irises.
There is also a section on hybridizing and growing irises from seed.
The information and photos in this book make it invaluable for all iris lovers.

More Books

Kindle Editions

 I collect books, and this can get a little costly.
Getting a Kobo eReader saved me money and space.
However, sometimes I find the selection a bit limited.

Like most people today, when I look for a book the first place, I go to, is the Amazon website.
I read some of the ratings and if available I "Look Inside."
This morning I had a nice surprise, we can read Kindle editions on a PC.
Since I just bought my Kobo eReader, I'm not ready for a Kindle yet.

The best part, is that I can now get books for less.
Kindle edition prices are lower and there are no shipping charges.
And I don't have to buy new bookshelves.

Understanding Exposure

I'm very proud of the gardens I care for. Taking photographs helps me share the experience. Before I invested in a DSLR, most of my shots were disappointing, but having a better camera still wasn't enough. I had to learn how to bring out the best of my subjects. So I turned to books written by experts. Using a few keywords to find exactly what I needed got me Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. The man is a great teacher. I recommend this book to anyone switching to DSLR cameras.

Now I like to think that my garden photos can entice you to grow your own or see the flowers as the works of art that they are.