inkcube

thanks everyone! the Passiflora book is in the final stages; spelling, fact checking and photo credits - it will be out in Europe (more Passiflora enthusiasts) sometime next fall and then the US in early 2009. it will be aimed at the average hobbyist; history, some botany, culture, and a section on species & hybrids with how to grow.

the book on the orchids of the genus Stanhopea will be similar as the Passiflora book. i wrote both of these because i have hundreds of both types of plants and there seems to be little on their culture and botany.

the banana book is about 300 pages long so far and i am at odds with the publisher over some minor issues about content, i originally started it for the average hobbyist who wants to try and grow Musa - i have published scientific articles and chapters about Musa and thought it was time for a non-scientific book. in my opinion there isn't much printed for the hobbyist grower and many hobbyist have no access to libraries that have the scientific publications or the libraries don't subscribe ot the journals that carry such articles. it is supposed to be the 3rd of the 3 books released, sometime in 2010. it will be published in Spanish before it is released in English.

my main reason for all 3 is i am tired of horticulturists who don't want to or refuse to write for the hobbyist, there are plenty who think if its not scientific its not worth the paper its printed on and they often criticize or look down upon those who do write a hobbyist article or book. with the exception of bananas there are more hobby growers growing orchids, passionflowers, landscape plants, houseplants, roses, etc.

sorry for the preaching.