The Encyclopedia of Roses

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ROSES is probably one of the best survey book about roses available. I'd give it 5-stars but it was written by a German for a German market and has been translated for American gardeners. Most of the factoids translate well, but I can help looking at the photos of Schneewittchen and remembering a tale I heard at a garden lecture about how this rose was named "Snow White" in Germany, and became "Iceberg" when it crossed the Atlantic. I don't know if the story is true, but my husband speaks German and when the white fluffy stuff falls he calls it "schnee."ROSES contains a 20-page introduction on the history of the rose--a long history that could probably not be covered adequately in 500 pages. Markley provides a good synopsis with the ususal mention of the Apothecary Rose, the Wars of the Roses--with quotes from some of Shakespeare's plays, and a box insert on Malmaison and Josephine's love of roses. I knew the rose was symbolic of Mary, and that rosery beads where first made of rolled rose petals, but it's nice to be reminded.The remaining 200 or so pages are devoted to the botony, horticulture, and growing needs of roses as well as a nice index filled with an annotated rose list consisting of those specimins Markley prefers. The information Markely provides about container growing, winter protection, planting and maintenance is extremely useful and detailed. The photographs are pretty, but they have been doctored--the color intensified via a wash which makes the flowers appear out-of-focus. This is an unnecessary ammendment given the beauty of the roses--it appears the photos were in color to begin with. I don't know whether this is the result of inferior photography (in Germany??) or German pandering to stupid Americans who can't tell the difference, but it reminds me of the unscrupulous garden catalogs Allen Lacy complains about that alter the photographs of their stock to fool the consumer. Experienced gardeners know when they are looking at the real thing. The book contains a listing of gardens in Germany where roses are grown, either as a featured plant or the main event. Not surprisingly, the author recommends you tour these gardens in summer. If you collect good garden books this is a useful addition for your collection. If you're an American gardener and can afford only one book, better stick to Taylor's Rose Book which contains useful information without obviously altered photos.

Beautiful pictures! A lot of information which was very well organized. I can't wait to put all this info to use in my garden!