During the last decade, hardy geraniums have become very popular ornamental garden plants. It is not hard to see why - they are work horse perennials and many have a very long flowering time. They are easy to care for and tolerate different soil types and amount of sunlight.
December 2003 an avid gardener and collector of hardy geraniums, Birgitte Husted Bendtsen, published a beautifully illustrated book titled 'Storkenaeb' - (title translates into cranesbills). Every nursery and plant center here in Denmark have since her book was published, provided gardeners with an ever growing collection of hardy geraniums.
In 2005 Birgitte Husted Bendtsens book was translated into english titled 'Gardening With Hardy Geraniums' and published by Timber Press. ISBN 0-88192-716-3 . You can get the book from Amazon where you can also search inside the book - My Advice: Get this precious reference book while you can!
Gardening With Hardy Geraniums is the most elaborated and authoritative work written about hardy geraniums ever. The book covers more than 70 species of geraniums and their hybrids. It tells you how to plant and care for them, and how to propagate them. Many examples and pictures inspire you how to use geraniums in gardens. One of my favorite chapters is of course - how to use geraniums as companion plants for roses. All the geraniums described are illustrated with pictures and colour plates showing the flowers and leaves, making the book a helpful tool when identifying unknown geraniums. see link
The author even called her publishing company Geranium. Their website has a gallery of hardy geraniums
It is hard not to be smitten by Birgitte Husted Bendtsens enthusiam about hardy geraniums. I know I did and now grow more than 25 different hardy geraniums in my garden, since they are perfect companion for roses. I also make sure to use them in my clients gardens, since they are low maintainance plants, providing both interesting foliage and beautiful flowers. Some varieties are great to use as groundcover and I did a garden for a man, using only hardy geraniums as foundation plantings with spring and summerflowering bulbs. A garden that never needs weeding and extremely little care - just as he wanted it. I did try to encourage him to use other perennials too - like sages, catmints, peonies, ornamental grasses and phlox but he did not want all that garden work. Speaking of Phlox - Birgitte Husted Bendtsen has written a wonderful book about about Phlox. I sure hope it will be translated into English too.
I will go out in my garden and enjoy the warm sunny summer day. I will bring some elder flower lemonade - and my copy of Gardening with Hardy Geraniums. I never get tired of reading this great book.
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8 comments:
Oh no, more temptation for my worst vice; books!
Thank you for the recommendation, I like species specific books as they go into far more detail about cultivation, and types, which I find fires my interest in plants even more.
I shall certainly have a look at this one as you suggested on Amazon.
Best,
Zoë
Well you definitly know why I would pick this one. Because it's so informative. I asked my sister the difference between the two we discussed (rozanne and jubil?) and she told m ethat they are pretty much the same except Rozanne has a longer bloomtime, which is why we go for it in our greenhouse over here. But that's something interesting to know and now that I know more about gernaniums, Im going to have a h ard time passing them by. I keep meaning to buy Rozanne but I always tell myself that I should be saving my money. haha. money? what's that you say? good question.
-Andrea
Thank you for this informative review Niels. I will be on the look out for this book. I love gardening books that are full of great information as well as beautiful pictures.
I must admit though you really caught my attention when you mentioned a glass of elder flower lemonade. That sounds wonderful!
Sounds like a book I'd love! Geraniums are a favorite of mine, for their grand variety of colors and hardiness. I'll put this one on my (ever lengthening) Wish List. :)
sounds like a great book. I am also geranium fan - they are so beautiful and almost carefree - hard to resist them.
Niels, That is a great book - the pictures are perfect. I can't remember if I've shown a picture lately of how nicely 'Rozanne' robes our roses in the North Garden. When the rose foliage starts to fall, the geranium fills right in and you just can't beat blooms from May to November!
Thanks for visiting Blithwold!
Yes I really feel good about recommended this book to all gardeners that want to know more about the differnt hardy geraniums.
Thanks for that information Andrea - I have however not noticed that difference. They both bloom from May to end of Oktober here.
Niels, that gallery is just wonderful. I have a cranesbill growing for several years now and have forgotten its name. Your post inspires me to do more research and add geraniums!
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