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Woody Landscape Plants on CD-ROM!
Deborah Simpson – Gifts for Gardeners About.com: The software that rocked the gardening world, these CD’s are worth every cent. Spring for the collection of all three sets (9 CD’s total) for the gardener in your life. A massive and well-received collection from PlantAmerica by renown horticulturists Allan Armitage and Michael Dirr, this huge CD set and accompanying text (with notebooks) are sure to delight and occupy gardeners not only through the cold winter months, but serve as a vital reference year-round. About $350 for all. No software to date can touch it. (Sorry Mac users, this is Windows only.)
Ann Milovsoroff made this simple yet eloquent statement in the Canadian magazine Pappus: The ultimate resource for furnishing your garden is Michael A. Dirr’s Photo Library of Woody Landscape Plants on CD-Rom.
Doug Green wrote the following review for Grower Talks magazine and Landscape Trades magazine: “The Dirr collection is excellent- not only is Dr. Dirr a plantsman extraordinaire, he is also a photographer. I managed to get the program loaded correctly the first time. The manual is written in plain English, and should be awarded prizes for its straightforward way of explaining the simple interface between the gardener and the pictures. Even raw beginners will have no problem with the installation and use”.
In the Journal- Castanea, T. Lawrence Mellichamp had this to say about the Dirr Photo-Library: “This is a new approach to plant identification, but will soon become more widespread in both botany and horticulture. Unlike some CD-Roms I have tested, this one is truly user friendly. The guidebook has a complete listing of the taxa included. I found it intriguing to be able to see flowers and fruits of species that I had not yet seen before, and I was amazed at the quantity and quality of coverage. To sum up my feelings, I would say that while we traditionally consider a picture to be worth a thousand words, in this case thousands of pictures are worth just one word- wondrous”.
Doris Sullivan of the MASLA penned, “ Michael Dirr’s Photo-Library of Woody Landscape Plants is a photographic tour de force of trees, shrubs, and vines.”
In the American Horticultural Therapy Association Newsletter, the Dirr CD’s were called… “An unbelievable resource. The photography is superb, with full specimen shots and selelctive closeups of characteristic bark, flowers fruit and foliage.”
Srenda Scott, from Country Folks Grower exclaimed, “Wonderful, fun and exciting are words to describe Michael A. Dirr’s “Photo Library of Woody Landscape Plants on CD-Rom” The photography is outstanding and the method of presentation makes it an excellent source for information on woody plants. Garden Centers, landscapers and learning institutions should consider this collection a must “The Photo-Library of Woody Landscape Plants is designed to teach and inspire. Teach and inspire it will!”
Recently Southern Living Magazine spoke about the benefits of Dirr’s Photo-Library: “Mike’s Photo-Library of Woody Landscape Plants is getting extremely positive reactions from Nurserymen and Designers. It is easy to use, and a great way to learn new plants.”
Dr. Ken Tilt from Auburn University in Alabama had this to say about Michael Dirr’s CD: ” There are many “Picture Books” in the world of gardening, but how many can you visit and see plant cultivars? I have bounced around Michael A. Dirr’s new Photo-Library of Woody Landscape Plants on CD-ROM. WOW! There is nothing like it available. Just like in his book, Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, it is the only source that deals extensively with cultivars available in our nursery industry. The 7,600 woody plant images on the CD’s are beautiful. I have taken it around the state with my laptop computer to demonstrate to Master Gardeners as part of my Design, Care and Maintenance class. Everyone has enjoyed the ease of use and the vast array of plants available. If you have an interest in woody plants, this Photo-Library is a must. If you are a commercial landscape designer or nursery producer, it will or should become an abused resource just like his book has become over the years.”
Bradley Rowe from the Dept. of Horticulture at Michigan State University reviewed the Dirr Photo-Library in HortTechnology, ” The Photo-Library provides a wealth of photo-images for avid amateurs, students, educators, and other professional horticulturists.”
Win Dunwell recently wrote about the Dirr CD in the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Hort Memo. He had this to say, “I have had the opportunity to use Michael A. Dirr’s Photo-Library of Woody Landscape Plants on CD-ROM. How does he do it? You will remember I told you that Avant Gardener described his book, Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, as “Monumental”. I cannot think of a better description for his new CD-ROM of 7600 woody plant images. If you have an interest in woody plants this Photo-Library is a must. If you struggle with ID or want to visually study plant characteristics for use in a landscape plan, the Photo-Library will be invaluable.”
While describing the Michael Dirr CD ROM on Woody Landscape Plants, Keith Davitt from Fine Gardening Magazine said, “This collection works wonderfully for viewing images, as a learning tool and as a resource for landscape architects.”
Pat Jonas from the Brooklyn Botanical Garden had this to say: “Michael Dirr’s manual is complemented by the most handsome and detailed portraits of plants anywhere, in the new CD- ROM. It is easy to dive into Dirr’s collection of consistently beautiful images and come up with new plants. A garden designer or landscape architect need spend only a few minutes with the program to realize how extraordinary a tool this is for developing design presentations for clients. The quiz feature is a challenging self testing and review tool for students. The Cd-Rom is a unique contribution to our understanding of woody Plants by one of the great names in American Horticulture.”
Allen Boger of the News Sentinel, Fort Wayne Indiana had this to say, ” Serious Gardeners who have access to a computer should obtain the Michael A. Dirr Photo-Library of Woody Landscape Plants. I found the software one of the easiest to use. It installed quickly without a glitch, and in a matter of a few minutes I was able to navigate its features.”
Dr. Jane Helmer, Master Gardener, wrote in the Chillicothe Constitution Tribune, ” The pictures compiled from Michael A. Dirr’s collection, are excellent. His expertise has been well-known through his books, teaching, and research. This Photo-Library is a wish- list item for landscape enthusiasts and educators alike.”
Ray Rothenberger, Horticulturist from the University of Missouri, had this to say in his column for The Columbia Tibune, ” One of the most innovative CD-ROMs is Michael A. Dirr’s Photo- Library of Woody Landscape Plants. This photo-library provides hours of education and enjoyment for gardeners interested in woody plants and who want to gain greater expertise in plant identification. Those interested in landscape design will find these many pictures very useful. Such extensive visual material is rarely found to include so many species, varieties, and cultivars.This photo-library is easy to load and easy to use. The dark days of winter are coming. Whatever your interest, the beautiful pictures can make you feel that the new gardening and landscaping season is not too far away.”
Designer Mike Donnelly e-mailed with this quote, ” My compliments to your firm. This is a magnificent work that is immediately invaluable to me as a landscape designer.”
David Tatum of the Mississippi Nurserymen Association recently quoted, ” Look no further! We have the best quick reference source thus far! Anyone involved in woody plant selection, description, or selling should have this 4 CD-ROM set. This is a must have companion to Dirr’s manual!”
Thomas Powell of The Avant Gardener calls the Dirr CD’s ” An outstanding new computer plant-finding resource”
Bill Wilder of the North Carolina Association of Nurserymen wrote in Nursery Notes: “It’s here! It’s great! Beautiful pictures! Great Color! Dr. Dirr has provided the industry with a great user friendly tool. Order yours today!”
The Georgia Green Industry Association says: ” This long awaited cd is unique! We recommend it for teachers, students, garden and retail centers, landscape architects, and gardeners who love woody plants.”
Greg Gouge from Mountain Empire Landscape Professionals Association says, ” The benefits of this product are endless. It is really an outstanding program for our industry. I can’t think of one reason why every Garden Center, Landscape Company, or Horticulture Student wouldn’t want one.”
Bob Souvestre of the Sunday Advocate newspaper in Baton Rouge Louisiana stated, ” I have never seen any program like this. The photographic quality is superb, and the program is so simple to use. I highly recommend PlantAmerica’s Michael A. Dirr’s Photo Library of Woody Landscape Plants for your gardening library.”
Don Brigham of the Idaho Montana chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects wrote in The Lean and Mean News: “Michael A. Dirr’s Photo Library of Woody Landscape Plants on CD- ROM is an excellent resource for plant images; it may be the best product of its kind on the market today.”
Greg and Pat Williams, the editors of Hort Ideas summed up the Dirr CDs with an overall rating; “Superb!”
Jennifer Janos of the American Nurseryman wrote, ” A digital garden consisting of 118 families, 423 genera, 1,474 species, 1,977 cultivars and 142 varieties and subspecies is blooming under the guidance of PlantAmerica.”
Robert Rouse announced to his readers in Tree Care Industry magazine, ” Dirr’s Manual of Woody landscape Plants has been the ‘Bible’ for information on plant material used in the United States for years. Now Dirr has chosen 7,600 of his best photographs to be included in this digital photo collection.”
In NM PRO magazine, Jyme Mariani asks, ” Ever wonder what a Spartan Chinese juniper or a ghost bramble looks like? Those plants and thousands of others are awaiting your discovery in the form of BREATH-TAKING images captured by Dr. Michael Dirr. His photo library is the first offering in PlantAmerica’s Distinguished Authors’ Series, and I look forward to forthcoming releases.”
In the North Carolina Association of Landscape Architects newsletter, Wendy Miller announces, ” Dr. Dirr’s photo library is a STUNNING companion to the Manual of Landscape Plants, and an unparalleled visual resource for plant selection and comparison. Just a few minutes of browsing through the wealth of information packed into this four CD set confirms what a tremendous resource it is for an office or school.”
In News Clips, the newsletter for the Chattanooga Association of Landscape Pros., Janet Phillips recommends the Dirr CDs to landscapers, students, and Professors alike. In her own words, ” Michael Dirr’s new photo library is OUTSTANDING. What a massive undertaking, particularly considering the high quality of the photographs.”