The Evening Garden: Flowers and Fragrance from Dusk till Dawn

By Peter Loewer

Book Overview

It is a great irony that garden books are filled with sunny, colorful photos taken at midday, while the gardeners who tend them are usually away at work. Peter Loewer's "The Evening Garden" is an exciting revelation of the delights to be found in a garden that is planned and planted for evening enjoyment, from night-bloomers to fragrant orchids and wildflowers. This book runs the gamut from technical considerations, like how the eye sees color at night, to essential discussions of plants with night-time value, whether it be fragrance, bloom, or the ability to attract moths. There are chapters dedicated to night-blooming daylilies, evening primroses and other nocturnal wildflowers, water gardens of the evening, moonlight gardens, and fireflies and glowworms. All are made eminently readable with quotes from past botanical writings, and the elegant text is graced with 160 beautiful line drawings. This is an indispensable book for any gardener who plans to venture out to the garden after sundown - or who just likes to read about it.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0881925322
• ISBN13: 9780881925326
• Release Date: June 2010
• Publisher: Timber Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.43 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.5" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

Excellent!!

After taking an insect class which had as part of it a night class I decided to set up a night garden. This book is great - it has some neat poems sprinkled in which is an extra bonus. The book starts out with a chapter called "The Beauty ofthe Night" which talks to the moon, colors at night, stars/brightness. The next chapter is an overview of a niht garden - fragrances, pollinators, and plants. Then there is a chapter on orchids, another on bromelaids, another on annuals and perrenials for the night garden, night blooming daylillies, primroses and water gardens. Cactuses are also covered as well as trees and vines. There's also a chapter on fireflies, glow worms and moths. A very complete book - I'm really happy with it.

Fantastic!!

No need for many words: if you see that book someplace, buy it!!!!

Beg, borrow or steal a copy

Gardening books are usually pretty utilitarian affairs, but this one is a pure literary delight. Loewer not only provides copious amounts of information, but he weaves an enchanting tale of the garden at night. As if that's not enough, he also provides intricate line drawings of many of the featured plants. This gem has a permanent place on my nightstand. I like to reread favorite evocative passages -- I can practially smell the jasmine and hear the delicate flutter of moth wings.I realize the book is out of print but if you have an interest in evening gardens (or just great writing) it's worth your while to hunt down a copy. You won't be disappointed.