Gardening with Shrubs By Una Van Der Spuy
Gardening With Shrubs
A Practical Guide to Creating Low-Maintenance and Cost-Effective Southern Hemisphere Landscapes
A Practical Guide to Creating Low-Maintenance and Cost-Effective Southern Hemisphere Landscapes
Bibliographic Specifications
• Title: Gardening With Shrubs
• Author: Una van der Spuy
• Publisher: Don Nelson Publishers, Cape Town
• Publication Date: 1986
• ISBN-10: 1868060144
• ISBN-13: 9781868060146
• Edition Details: Standard Hardcover Release (Issued without a dust jacket).
• Binding: Original publisher's premium pictorial laminated hardboards.
• Physical Format: Quarto (4to), approx. 160–200 pages. Richly enhanced with full-colour botanical plates, structural landscape layouts, and regional climate charts printed on heavy semi-gloss stock.
• Language: English
• Title: Gardening With Shrubs
• Author: Una van der Spuy
• Publisher: Don Nelson Publishers, Cape Town
• Publication Date: 1986
• ISBN-10: 1868060144
• ISBN-13: 9781868060146
• Edition Details: Standard Hardcover Release (Issued without a dust jacket).
• Binding: Original publisher's premium pictorial laminated hardboards.
• Physical Format: Quarto (4to), approx. 160–200 pages. Richly enhanced with full-colour botanical plates, structural landscape layouts, and regional climate charts printed on heavy semi-gloss stock.
• Language: English
Official Condition Report
• The Book: Good (G)
o Exterior / Boards: The original printed pictorial boards are structurally intact but display clear signs of historical use and honest shelf-wear. The corners and spine ends are lightly bumped and exhibit noticeable edge-wear and surface rubbing consistent with an entry that was well-read and appreciated in a domestic gardening environment.
o Interior: Remonstrates a far superior grade to the exterior. The text block and color photographic plates remain remarkably clean, crisp, and intact. There are no internal ownership inscriptions, previous dealer pen markups, text highlighting, or library ink stamps. The structural binding geometry remains completely intact and excellent.
• The Dust Jacket: Not Applicable (As Issued in Glossy Pictorial Boards)
• The Book: Good (G)
o Exterior / Boards: The original printed pictorial boards are structurally intact but display clear signs of historical use and honest shelf-wear. The corners and spine ends are lightly bumped and exhibit noticeable edge-wear and surface rubbing consistent with an entry that was well-read and appreciated in a domestic gardening environment.
o Interior: Remonstrates a far superior grade to the exterior. The text block and color photographic plates remain remarkably clean, crisp, and intact. There are no internal ownership inscriptions, previous dealer pen markups, text highlighting, or library ink stamps. The structural binding geometry remains completely intact and excellent.
• The Dust Jacket: Not Applicable (As Issued in Glossy Pictorial Boards)
Synopsis & Historical Value
Published in 1986 by Don Nelson, Gardening With Shrubs is a highly utilitarian and sought-after text by legendary South African horticulturist Una van der Spuy. Written explicitly with the pragmatic homeowner in mind, the foundational core of this volume is to guide gardeners through the deliberate selection and placement of hardy shrub species to build a beautifully layered, labor-saving garden that costs very little to maintain over time.
Published in 1986 by Don Nelson, Gardening With Shrubs is a highly utilitarian and sought-after text by legendary South African horticulturist Una van der Spuy. Written explicitly with the pragmatic homeowner in mind, the foundational core of this volume is to guide gardeners through the deliberate selection and placement of hardy shrub species to build a beautifully layered, labor-saving garden that costs very little to maintain over time.
Van der Spuy details the specific growth rates, pruning requirements, soil preferences, and water parameters for hundreds of indigenous and exotic shrubs suited to the unique microclimates of South Africa and other temperate Southern Hemisphere zones. By advocating for structurally dominant perennials over delicate annuals, she presents an early blueprint for sustainable, eco-friendly landscaping. Filled with robust structural advice and vivid photographic catalogs, this out-of-print reference manual remains highly collectible for practical gardeners, landscape designers, and enthusiasts of classic South African botanical literature.
Author Profile: Una Van Der Spuy
Una van der Spuy (1912–2012) was an exceptionally distinguished South African horticulturist, environmental conservationist, and incredibly prolific author who effectively shaped the landscape style of mid-century Southern Africa. Living to the remarkable age of 100 at her historic Old Nectar estate in Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch—whose magnificent gardens were declared a National Monument under her care—she channeled her deep practical experience into writing groundbreaking text guides. Her celebrated bibliography includes standard references such as Gardening in South Africa, Gardening with Trees, and Wild Flowers of South Africa. Renowned for her rigorous empirical research, sharp structural prose, and pioneer work in color plant photography, van der Spuy remains a revered icon in international botany, celebrated for making advanced silviculture universally accessible to amateur and professional growers alike.
Una van der Spuy (1912–2012) was an exceptionally distinguished South African horticulturist, environmental conservationist, and incredibly prolific author who effectively shaped the landscape style of mid-century Southern Africa. Living to the remarkable age of 100 at her historic Old Nectar estate in Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch—whose magnificent gardens were declared a National Monument under her care—she channeled her deep practical experience into writing groundbreaking text guides. Her celebrated bibliography includes standard references such as Gardening in South Africa, Gardening with Trees, and Wild Flowers of South Africa. Renowned for her rigorous empirical research, sharp structural prose, and pioneer work in color plant photography, van der Spuy remains a revered icon in international botany, celebrated for making advanced silviculture universally accessible to amateur and professional growers alike.
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