Media Reviews
A standard reference work on the subject has long been overdue and it now appears in the magisterial form of An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Clematis.
Mark Griffiths Times (London) 06/10/2001
This volume should spark a revolution in clematis growing, while ensuring that the Queen of Climbers continues in her reign.
Mark Griffiths Times (London) 26/10/2001
A masterpiece . . . I would have no hesitation in recommending this book to the enthusiastic grower of ornamental climbing plants.
Charlie Wilkins Irish Examiner 22/09/2001
This book deserves a place on the bookshelf of both the experienced gardener and beginner.
Charlie Wilkins Irish Examiner 22/09/2001
Fills the vacuum perfectly and is certain to find its way onto every serious gardener's bookshelf over time.
Helen Rock Tribune (Dublin) 16/09/2001
The latest and greatest book to have yet come from the pen of Ireland’s uncrowned Clematis Queen, Dr. Mary Toomey.
Helen Rock Tribune (Dublin) 16/09/2001
An excellent reference to a genus that is soaring in popularity. This is well-written and well-photographed. . . . Worth owning.
Ann Milovsoroff Pappus 22/03/2002
All that a keen gardener could want.
British Clematis Society 20/09/2001
It is the most comprehensive reference to this genus to date, examining more than 550 species and hybrids in great detail, by two of England’s foremost clematis experts.
Avant Gardener 29/11/2001
If you love clematis, and encyclopedias, you’ll love An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Clematis by Mary Toomey and Everett Leeds, which is the last word on the subject.
Verlyn Klinkenborg New York Times Book Review 02/12/2001
Mary is one of those people I would call passionate about both gardening and life itself.
Mike Darcy Through the Grapevine 17/09/2001
This encyclopedic reference may well prove to be the ultimate resource for years to come; offering gardeners help in selecting plants appropriate for various geographical regions and growing conditions, and detailing the cultural requirements for a plant already acquired.
Alice Joyce Booklist 20/08/2001
Generally, if a book comes from the gardening specialists at Timber Press, you know it's going to be good. This one is beyond good: the most comprehensive guide to one of the best all-around garden climbers to date.
Michael Weishan GardenworksOnline.com 22/01/2002
Indispensable for any horticultural library as well as the library of any gardener seriously interested in clematis.
Choice 06/02/2002
There has been a steady stream of books for the self-styled 'clematarians', the most recent being Grey-Wilson's Clematis, The Genus (2000), but none is so handsome as this.
David Mabberley Biologist 22/03/2002
At long last, we have one complete clematis resource that combines practical gardening, cultivation, pruning, and disease prevention with botany, history, design tips, and even information about propagating and hybridizing. More than 650 gorgeous photographs illustrate the text.
Barbara Blossom Ashmun Fine Gardening 22/06/2002
This volume, given the endorsement of the British Clematis Society, is the first pictoral encyclopedia to deal with the more than 800 species and hybrids of the genus clematis. . . . This is an easy-to-read, beautifully photographed piece.
Rachael Green American Reference Books Annual 23/04/2001
If you're a fan of the clematis then this is definitely for you. . . . The love for the clematis that writer and artist share is obvious and on every page—you'll feel it too.
Gardens Monthly 08/08/2002
This valuable book will prove useful and practical to new and experienced gardeners alike . . . Toomey and Leeds clear the air with a well-organized, beautifully illustrated guide to this genus.
William T. Johnson E-Streams 09/05/2002
Toomey and Leeds' extensive encyclopedia, which includes 650 color photographs (one for nearly all of the selections discussed in the book), should largely put an end to the multi-volume search. It is that comprehensive.
Dorothy Rodal American Gardener 16/10/2002
Among several gardeners' guides to Clematis published in recent years, this book is one of the most comprehensive and lavishly illustrated. . . . For someone planning a garden and seeking appropriate colors and textures, this catalogue is invaluable.
Aaron M. Ellison Plant Science Bulletin 13/01/2002
Mary Toomey and Everett Leeds have hit the nail on the head with An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Clematis. . . . The first section covers care and cultivation of clematis, the second half is a gardener's delight of clematis options arranged alphabetically, including information on description and flowering period.
Sharon Wootton Home and Garden 17/01/2002
There are many, many books about clematis. This is one of the good ones.
Carol Bishop Miller Horticulture 05/03/2003
If you're a fan of clematis then this is definitely for you. . . . Vibrant pictures, maps of origin and diagrams make this an impressive and accessible guide.
Gardens Monthly 23/08/2002
Timber Press is to be congratulated on bringing so much technical information together here: it follows in the splendid tradition of their books.
David Mabberley Biologist 23/04/2002
