A garden without bulbs is only half a garden. F.F. Rockwell

{HISTORY}

There's nothing more hopeful when it comes to the autumn garden as planting bulbs in anticipation of spring and the early flowers they will produce.

In this Complete Book of Bulbs, husband and wife gardening gurus, F. F. Rockwell & Esther Grayson explore all the practical and possible garden scenarios when it comes to planting, caring and maintaining all types of flower bulbs in beds and pots for years of enjoyment. 

Unique in content, upon debut this was the first comprehensive book written about bulbs for American gardeners despite their long history and illustrious persona that has captivated flower enthusiasts for centuries. 

Containing a wide variety of information from general plant anatomy to location selection, from specific types of bulbs to timetables of bloom and requirements needed for successful health, propagation, and return from year to year, no stone is left unturned when it comes to setting readers up for gardening success. There is even a chapter on indoor bulb growing too.

Flowers covered include tulips, begonias, lilies, dahlias, daffodils, crocuses, gladiolus, hyacinth, snowdrops, and tuberrose along with other lesser-known, spring, summer and autumn flowering bulbs. 

Both color and black and white photographs along with black and white illustrations accompany the text for a complete understanding of these reliable keepers of time and season. While bulb information can easily be found on the internet, as we have learned here in the Vintage Kitchen, not all online information is accurate or correct and its nearly impossible to find all of the info included here in this book in one tidy, true, and reliable place online. That's the value of vintage garden books - expert advice all in one spot.

F.F. (also known as Frederick Frye) was everywhere during the early to mid-1900s. Working for decades as a garden editor at The New York Times, McCall's magazine and Farm Journal, he also founded his own magazine, The Home Garden, and published 25 garden books over the course of his life. His wife, Esther Grayson, joined him as co-author and expert on over 10 of those book projects.

This real-life, longstanding experience makes all of the Rockwell/Grayson books a treasure trove of interesting information, successful tips, and reliable techniques that never become obsolete. And if you were lucky enough to inheit a bulb garden in your landscape, than chances are F.F. and Esther had a hand in helping establish it as the leading experts in their field during the 20th century.

Previously owned by an early 20th century librarian at Syracuse University who lived and gardened in a cottage built in 1900, this book is a must have for any bulb lover, garden afficienando or flower enthusiast. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• Stated First Edition published in 1953
• Contains original dust jacket
• 352 pages including detailed index
• Includes color and black and white photographs along with detailed line drawings throughout
• Lists of bulbs are broken down via outstanding characteristics for easy reference (fragrance, window box appropriate, woodland gardens, dry conditions, height, greenhouse appropriate, moist environments, cut flowers etc)

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition, this book is bright and clean throughout with no markings or notations. The dust jacket is a bit shabby in places with chippy areas along the bottom and top edge and a paper scuff on the spine. The jacket itself is still very bright and clean on the front , but the spine side has faded due to sun exposure and time.  All interior pages are secure and the spine intact. Please see photos.

{SIZE}

Measures 8.5" inches (length) x 6 inches (width) x 1.5" inches (thickness) and weighs 1.12 lbs.