MAKE ROOM ON THE SHELF—a big, fat space in a prominent spot, since you’ll be reaching for it a lot—and also in your garden. With Mike Dirr’s massive new “Dirr’s Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs,” all 3,500 photographs and 3,700 species and cultivars of it, the man we’ve relied on for decades to tell us what’s what in woody plants outdoes even himself. By the time I’d gotten through the “A’s,” I had a list so long of new must-have’s (Abies and Acer, especially–oh, those firs and maples!) that I’d have to rate this book as not just “smart, opinionated, comprehensive, wonderful,” which is what it says in my blurb on the back cover, but “dangerous,” too. So like I said, make room–maybe for the copy that I bought to share with a lucky one of you?
The new book came at just the right time for me on two fronts. I manhandled a 1983 edition of Dirr’s thorough-but-not-illustrated “Manual of Woody Landscape Plants” from then until it fell apart, when I replaced it with a 1998 edition, which now is looking far worse for wear, too. There is hardly a workday in all those years when I have not gone to see “what Dirr says” about a tree or shrub I’m growing, thinking of buying, or writing about: How big will it get? Where is it native to? What conditions must I offer it? All of that is covered in “Dirr’s Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs,” but the chance to see shots of the plant–details and often full-grown versions as well–makes all the difference.
And then there is the other fact that made the publication date so right: the recent October snowstorm manhandled me–or at least the garden–making spaces for some newcomers. I’ll spend the winter deciding just who, with Dirr’s help.
Upcoming Dirr Lectures
Michael A. Dirr was a professor of horticulture at the University of Georgia since 1972 until his recent retirement, and now lectures and teaches widely. I was happy to learn I will have two chances to hear him speak in the coming months: At Brooklyn Botanic Garden January 31 (information here) and at Berkshire Botanical Garden in Massachusetts–not far from my home–on February 18 (information here). I failed to find a full calendar of his travels online anywhere, but I see he’ll also be presenting in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on December 2 (details).
How to Enter to Win the Book
TO QUALIFY TO WIN the copy of this $79.95 masterpiece that I purchased for the giveaway, all you have to do is comment below, answering this simple question:
What woody plant—whether an individual species or variety, or a whole genus like Malus or Pinus or even a group of plants, like blue-needled conifers—would you say is your most-loved? I have confessed many times that the genus Viburnum is a favorite here, but lately I find myself veering into conifers, especially firs. Hmmm…which will it be for you?
If you’re feeling shy, just comment by saying “Count me in,” or “I want to win” and your entry will be considered in the random drawing I’ll do after midnight on Tuesday, November 15. Good luck to all!
Can’t wait for your own copy?
- You can preview the 952-page book at the website of Timber Press, the publisher.
- Buy the book now on Amazon. (Disclaimer: If you, do, I get a small commission that I put toward books for future giveaways.)
Tulip tree…because I helped build a log cabin with tulip trees that were downed by us on the property…that was 30 years ago…people told us it wouldn’t last …but it is still in great condition..many people call the tulip tree ….a yellow poplar…don’t know why.
My favorite woody plant is Acer griseum.
How can I pick one favorite? Lately, I’ve been coveting something with a cinnamon colored, peeling bark, like a Pekin Tree Lilac – must be thinking of winter interest about now! But then I remember how spectacular the fall color has been on the Japanese Maple I planted 2 years ago…
Rosemary! I just planted my first and left a 3′ x 3′ space as instructed. I can’t wait for it to fill up that space.
Thanks for the great giveaway.
So hard to choose! Among broadleaf deciduous trees: Ginkgo and Tuliptree.
Count me in!! Here in northern Indiana the combination of black oaks, redbuds, and Heritage river birches speaks the natural scene. But I am fascinated with the variety in the Chameacyparis genus.
Have to go with the weeping willow. I love a tree you can sit and read under, nap under, picnic under, dream under…
My favorites by far are the skimmias. We have a woodsy garden with lots of native plants and a wildlife preserve behind our house. The skimmias are beautiful in every season with flowers, berries and evergreen foliage. And the best part is that the deer don’t touch them!
Maybe my oak leaf hydrangea, as it shows off its beautiful autumn colors right now. Although I have to spray it to keep the deer away, its hardiness and spring and autumn show is worth the effort!
Parrotia persica is a slow growing tree I would not want to be without. Hardy, healthy, handsome in all seasons.
My blue spruce tree in the corner of my front yard is my favorite. It always looks so healthy and beautiful.
The fig tree has my attention right now. I have a Brown Turkey and am in a holding pattern for the Chicago Hardy. I love the longevity of most woody plants. Fruit trees are a big bonus. I was on a tulip poplar/maple binge for a while.
One of my favorite trees in my backyard is the Hardy Magnolia. I never knew one existed for me to grow in Minnesota! I love the huge pussywillow-like buds you see throughout Winter and into early Spring, then the beautifullly fragrant large white flowers that bloom in the Spring. I love the color of the leaves in the summer and then how they turn a pretty yellow-brown in the Fall. This tree gives me so much joy in all the seasons! (Magnolia kobus var. stellata)
I’ve only been gardening for a year, so I have limited experience in this matter. The one I’m most excited about is my red twigged dogwood, can’t wait to see it this winter!
One of my Favorite trees in my yard is the Magnolia kobus var. stellata. I never thought I could grow a Magnolia Tree in Minnesota! I love it in all the seasons – Especially in Spring when it has the beautiful fragrant white Blooms all over the tree!
I want to win!
Willows & lilacs used to be my favorite but now I’m having a hard time picking. Planted my 1st Viburnum in May & so this upcoming spring may change my mind.
Count me in too! What an amazing book! It is near-to-impossible to choose just one favorite woody plant or any plant for that matter. :-) Pin me down today and I’d say rhododendrons. Like the ‘flame’ rhodie that sets the hills on fire in East Tennessee in the late spring/early summer. Of course, that could change tomorrow. I simply love plants of all sorts.
I love Rosemary… not only for it’s multi-use… but also it’s smell. I use it as a plant in landscaping outside but also to cook with, in aromatherapy (add to bath water or bath oil), in potpourri, and even as a tincture for rinse water after shampooing. I love to crumble the sprigs between my fingers and smell it and pretend I’m on vacation in Italy…LOL. There’s something about it’s earthy wholesomeness that’s so basic yet exotic at the same time!
Because I grew up on a tree farm and love so many of the different variety of evergreens, it’s difficult to pick a favorite. But if just for today, I’ll say the Serbian Spruce. It’s delicate wispy branches makes you just want to curl up beside it and take a nice afternoon nap.
Acer griseum…what more could you ask from a tree!?
Very difficult to narrow it down to just one, but I’m going to say Heptacodium miconioides (pp. 426-427 in the 1998 edition of Dirr!) I stumbled on one in my fantastic local nursery the summer I bought my house (2003), read up on it in Dirr (unusual! Reintroduced in 1980 through the Sino-American Botanical Expedition! ooohhh cool and “rare!” Must buy!), dragged it home in the back seat of my little Toyota, and have been enjoying it ever since. It’s now about 20′ tall, has bee and butterfly friendly blooms in September (I’m zone 6), and then some pink flush from the remaining sepals (less impressive on my specimen than Dirr’s). Very attractive peeling bark. Sorry, I’m probably going on a bit. But it’s a really cool tree!
Lavender is my personal favorite woody plant. It’s always a pleasure to work around and is so versatile. Count me in!
One should never have favorites among her children. That’s must work for plants too. I would have said hydrangea, but that would leave out viburnums, which just can’t be. And then there is my one and only corylopsis (?) that performs early and long each year; and oh yes, in this deer infiltrated place call Setauket, my new boxwood hedge has to edge its nose into the group. Dare I go on? NO…
Crab apples make me smile the most…..flowers in the spring, birds nests in the summer, amazing colors in the fall and wonderful structure for the snow in winter!!
Cercidiphyllum japonicum (Katsura). Blue green leaves, heart shaped leaves. Love.
Malus ~ flowering crabapple offers multi seaon interest food for wild life and human life, is adaptable from zone 2 nearly to zone 8, can tolerate high mountain desert climate as well as the muggy Atlantic seaboard.
It is hard to choose. Confers remain my all-time favorite. We raise Douglas fir, but I have a special fondness for things like blue spruce and incense cedar. I’ve always loved Ponderosa Pine as well, with the long needles and beautiful cones. And redwood…
My favorite would have to be any of the Hinoki Cypress.
The fothergillas. I work in a native plant center….and will always recommend these beautiful shrubs with great enthusiasm.
Love the Hamamelis – and I have a special affinity for the wild species which I wouldn’t necessarily want in my “garden” but I adore in their rather spindly wonder along the roads through the mountains at our cabin…as appreciated during walks with dogs in the fall.
Juniperus virginiana. Beautiful, no-maintenance, yum.
oh! so hard to pick just one, but after careful consideration, I would have to say my favorite for the time being would be Limelight Hydrangea! I need this book, my old one is worn out and dirty, imagine that!!!
Cornus mas. Also love the Dirr Guide iPhone app!
I would have to say Limelight Hydrangea!
Almost impossible to narrow it down to one, even a top 5 would be difficult. But at the moment, I’m particularly enjoying Nandina domestica. The multi-colored foliage as the seasons change (especially the bronzy-red new growth) complements the red berries. The woody canes provide sculptural interest.
Arctostaphylos-the manzanitas do it for me!
I just love trees!!! But I must say I so admire my peach tree–she is a real warrior having survived two really bad hail and wind storms here in Neb. She’s lost a couple of limbs and looks all lopsided with her hail pocket bark but every Spring she happily blooms and produces some of the sweetest peaches I have ever tasted
ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED, and I will select the winner at random, and notify him or her via email today,
Thank you all for your entries — what a list of great woody plants.
Hello – did I miss seeing the winner of the Dirr book posted? it was a very generous giveaway and looks to have been very well received by your readers!! Thank you.
Karen
Hi, Karen. I did put up a “comments are closed” notice, and emailed the winner. I usually don’t tell the name but I suppose I should: the winner was Maggie Mehaffey.
Oh, sorry Margaret – now I see your post – I did not obviously check under the comments! Sorry to cause you extra work – love your blog – thank you for it! Karen
Lavender, Lavender, Lavender!
Must I chose just one? Sadly I’ll choose a genus with many non-natives among them, magnolias. But we are losing magnolias at an alrming rate in their natives habitats–and even in my yard,where they are not native, they are so lovely and brighten my springtime. I can’t imagine spring without them. I just wish they did more for the wildlife.
count me in
I;m always on the look out for Sassafras. It grow near my yard but i can never get it in my wooded yard!
Edgeworthia causes deep breaths for me right now.
Without a pause I would have to say the Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). Its beautiful leaves and seedpods are great for eveyday floral arrangements and especially for holiday decorating.