House

Krenov is the most influential of American woodworkers. No woodworker's library is complete without this classic.

Why do I call it the most influencial book of its kind? Well partly because it influenced me, but it also struck a cord when it first came out in the seventies and the woodworking revival was underway. It is pretty much as valid today as then. Krenov, who grew up in the U.S., wrote these books while living in Sweden. They proved so popular that a school was created stateside at which he still teaches. Krenov's insights are of some use to people who persue other crafts.

The most likely volumes to share shelf space with this and other Krenov books are; George Nakashia The Soul of a Tree (worth it for the pictures alone) and Sam Maloof Woodworker (ditto)

The book is prefaced by a brief overview of shapes and forms, natural habitats, and design ideas. The body of the book is comprised of two sections on plants, one for cacti, the other for succulents. Species are presented alphabetically by genus, with an overview of the genus --its basic forms, preferences, and care-- followed by more detailed descriptions of individual plant species within the genus. Description include particulars of height and form, a rundown of cultivation preferences, and often details on propagation. The appendices at the back get a bit further into care and cultivation, particularly propagation, plus there's a glossary of terms, and several plant lists for conditions and interests. The index includes both scientific and common names.

What I liked best about this book was that it discussed growing environments in terms of tolerances, rather than ideals. It is all good and well to know that a plant grows best at 83 degrees, but how far can you push the envelope before the thing drops over dead? Descriptions like "It grows well in a half day of sun and will tolerate light frost without much damage" are ever so much more interesting and useful! Also, my hat is off to the photographer, for a most excellent job throughout.

I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone with an interest in cactuses. My particular interest is growing and identification of the various (unlabeled) things I've acquired over the last few years.

The photographs are of the highest quailty and resolution. If you imagine the history of this Victorian resort town could ever be represented in print, then this calendar delivers! I could almost smell the sea breeze and hear the waves washing up on shore as I reviewed month after glorious month.

Finally, a true depiction of Cape May, New Jersey is caught on a medium that can often disappoint a buyer of artistic calendars. I anxiously await the 2003 calendar and the beauty it depicts of our nation's first "Resort."

I would like have heard White's recommendations for storage, cleaning, and top protection (e.g., waxing vs. oiling ground surfaces), as well as his tips and comments for shop safety, but they are justifiably outside the scope of this book.

Overall an excellent book that I am very glad to have stumbled upon.

The text is written by different experts. I am not really sure that I come away from it with much sense of the Larssons' personalities in a detailed way, but the work speaks for itself and I consider this book to be more than just a valuable addition to my art library, but also as a great read and, even more -- a great "look".

I can't wait for the next notebook.