There are around 1400 species of bamboo spread throughout the world's temperate, tropical, and subtropical regions. They grow from sea level to high mountainous regions and can be successfully grown in a range of climates, from coastal California to Minnesota, New England, the British Isles, and continental Europe. Versatile bamboos are both ornamental - they have striking foliage and come in variety of colors and patterns - and practical for providing screening and privacy and controlling erosion. They also play an important role in modern society: As a rapidly renewable resource, bamboos are an environmentally conscious solution for homes, gardens, construction, and manufacturing.
"The Timber Press Pocket Guide to Bamboos" covers 35 genera of bamboos in cultivation and describes more than 300 species and cultivars. Each entry includes the plant's maximum height, maximum culm diameter, light requirements, and minimum temperature tolerated. It includes 300 color photographs for easy identification.
Ted Jordan Meredith has written books on viticulture, enology, wine appreciation, and bamboo. His Bamboo for Gardens (Timber Press 2001) was awarded the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries Literature Award and The New York Times Editor's Choice for Best Books for Gardening. #A native of Montana, Ted recalls the daring use of fresh garlic in the family kitchen. In later years, as his interest in cooking grew, Ted enthusiastically incorporated garlic into much of his cuisine but initially regarded garlic as a supermarket commodity with little distinction. It was at a farmer's market that he purchased a few heads of a Rocambole garlic, 'Spanish Roja'. Ted realized then that all garlic was not the same, and he never looked back, voraciously exploring a new-found world of hundreds of cultivars in nearly a dozen different horticultural groups. #Ted and his wife, Merrill, reside in Washington state. In addition to writing and photography, Ted enjoys cooking, gardening, hiking, and music.
Some bamboos make great screening, some are useful for erosion control, others are just nice to look at. Ted Jordan Meredith introduces us to the gamut. -- Mary Beth Breckenridge Akron Beacon Journal 20090905 [There are] plenty of superbly photographed bamboos to savor, and Meredith's expertise and enthusiasm shine in his ability to identify a defining characteristic in each, however similar it might look to another at first glance. -- Tom Gard Gardens Illustrated 20091001 Stunning - which is not surprising because Timber Press does an outstanding job with color photos, and Meredith with his knowledge and precise language. -- Betty Shor Bamboo 20091001 Why this book? Because bamboos are excellent plants for erosion control. -- Todd Major North Shore News 20091209