Potted perennials

Reply to
madgardener
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Believe it or not, many plant groups have already reached a level of stability regarding genus and species classification. Most of the taxonomic changes have been done years ago, its just that the amateur gardeners are not aware of them and why they were done. Despite what you say, the changes have not been "myriad and constant" nor are they arbitrary.

Those who write garden book should take on the responsibility of consulting the specialists in the various plant groups for the up-to-date nomenclature and other important information. At least it should be the specialists who are encouraged to write the books and not those hack writers who write for garden magazines.

Reply to
Cereus-validus-...........

As I have said before, Hortus III was already out-of-date by the time it was published. Most of the contributions were made by grad students and not the experts in the various plant groups and it shows. Many of the contributors did not do their homework nor did the consult the most recent literature at the time. The book got much harsh criticism by reviewers when it came out.

The treatment of succulent plants was inconsistent and in many cases completely wrong.

Coleus was already an obsolete genus at the time and merged with Plectranthus but it was completely missed.

Many other obsolete genera were also included as if they were valid.

The book is a mess.

*********************

Since Organic Gardening has become little more than a cult, you can imagine what I would say about their lame encyclopedia series.

The Roger Phillips and Martin Rix books are pretty good as far as they go but they are not complete in their coverage.

Reply to
Cereus-validus-...........

Thanks for correction - but I'm still puzzled how I googled the other Latin term.

You didn't "offend"; far from it.

I wrote because, as I said earlier, having been in the word business all my life, I know how people can use terminology without being aware of how it got into the language.

Someone else made a comment that made me think they really didn't understand what "wandering Jew" means. I won't go into detail here, but if you want to send an email address, I can send a brief history.

Peace, indeed!

Persephone

Reply to
Persephone

Synonyms are not regarded as incorrect even if not current. Occasionally taxonimists between the USA & Europe & other nations accept different names & argue who is right & it never even gets decided definitively, or by the time it might have been settled, a third name is suggested by yet another eager botanist.

It even happens that a plant gets a new genus name assigned to itself then some years later gets the old name restored, so anyone who failed to note the first change would've ended up being right all along. As the arguments for these changes are often highly specialized & even obtuse to fellow taxonomists, it is not regarded as inappropriate that old names remain in use, & they are completely proper as synonyms.

It's nice but not essential to keep up with the minute details of taxonomical arguments whose penchant for changing names of things not infrequently gets vetoed by a larger concensus within their rarified & archly academic community, many of whom are not horticulturalists & couldn't keep a plant alive if their lives depended on it. Even the taxonomists themselves frequently persist in using older synonyms, either unconcerned or disagreeing with the recommended change.

-paghat the ratgirl

Reply to
paghat

Reply to
madgardener

I tend to agree with you there. It's very hard for me to follow well. I only have it because my friend who is 82 gave it to me to pass it along. It's more a tome than anything else. And it has her name inside it. (I also have some cherished plants that will always be my "Mary Emma's" that I take with me thru the years but having a few books and things are nice reminders of wonderful gardeners and what helped them along. Mary Emma used her Hortus enough that the pages have dirt on them........

Most of the contributions were made by grad students and not the

I don't listen to critics sometimes because they've got their own opinions and not always are they correct. Like the criticism of the movie, Barbarosa with Willie Nelson and Gary Busey. It's a great movie, but the critics tore it up when it came out. I still like it and watch it when I happen across it as well as own a copy of it but I still agree that it wasn't as informative as other books I've got.

and there you and I agree. I have many books regarding cacti and succulents. Still haven't found the definitive book on them, though.

like it was just filler to bulk up the book.

agreed. I don't consult it enough to warrent it's usage. I use my A-Z and Rix books more.

I understand. And I no longer subscribe to the magazine anymore. I have the books because when I was fledgling and before I started the master gardening classes, I absorbed any information I could, and I have to say that for the novice who is starting out and wants to be more organic, it's not a bad way to learn. Beginners need to start somewhere. and I never turn my nose down at my early teachers. Lame as you say, but I have respect that when they were published, they taught the basic gardening stuff that the common person could understand. The magazine and organization never was the same after Rodale and McGrath were gone. Rodale was getting too politically and active regarding food, and I have a feeling I know where he'd be right now if he had lived. Fighting for no dabblings in genetics and seed germination control and what not. Mike McGrath was an excellent editor and writer with a great humor. Down home. I return for basic reminders more than anything.

If there ever were a complete coverage on the plants, they would be huge tomes of pictures and pages and pages and weigh pounds..........I'm happy with what I have right now and don't think I'll be getting rid of some of them soon. I do have a collection of them that could go to the bookstore to recycle to someone who would get something out of, but the bulk of my gardening books are keepers for me until I'm too old to read and enjoy them. then I'll pass them on to a library or my daughter if she is still gardening at that point since they have a bit of me in them and would serve as keepsakes. enough jabber, good points all. madgardener

Reply to
madgardener

Not this time babe.You haven't a clue what you are talking about on this one. That's what you would like to believe but it just isn't true.

David Hunt at Kew and Robert Faden at the Smithsonian are both the experts on the Commelinaceae and they are in agreement in their classifications. They even collaborated on a recent revision of the family.

So much for your theory.

You want me to put together a list of the many incorrect plant names and mistakes on your website?

Reply to
Cereus-validus-...........

The name changes aren't whimsical.

You don't know why a plant was given a particular name in the first place to be able to judge the merits of why it was later changed.

Reply to
Cereus-validus-...........

We are not talking about art.

We are talking about what is supposed to be based in science but gets messed up when it is practiced by gardeners.

Reply to
Cereus-validus-...........

That wouldln't hurt my feelings one bit. I'd be appreciative of the time you spent, & I'd be happy with the updates & corrections.

-paggers

Reply to
paghat

Jeeeeez...someone didn't eat her Wheaties today.

Reply to
Natty Dread

its a good thing to put things right into the ground especially if u ge

heavy frosts or snow. unless u have the really heavy black rubber typ pots that a few garden centers have. where i worked they had th heavier pots so u could get away with leav I would plant the bee balm right into the ground. the carnations w get here ( might be too cold) are just annuals so either enjoy them now til the die off or bring them in. probablt different where you live. I still haven't planted my garlic yet . I did just have fresh carrot and parsnips out of the garden yesterday for a soup, Yum

The bee balm and carnations are in the ground. I'm still getting okra, tomatoes and peppers (and the rosemary and rue are blooming again

-- sockiescat

Reply to
sockiescat

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