Reviews

An excellent addition to your garden shelf ... as well as fun to thumb through. -- Marilis Hornidge "Courier-Gazette" (04/27/2006)

"Weeds in My Garden" is a veritable natural history of weeds.

A fun look at 140 weeds found in IU's Botany Experimental Field, including dandelions, pokeberry and wild carrot.

A good, fun read. -- Ellen Dashner "Audubon Naturalist News" (07/29/2003)

A rather wry appreciation of a rogue's gallery of plants that arrive uninvited and decide to stay.

A rogue's gallery of botanical survivors . . . informative and idiosyncratic.

A splendid addition to the subject of weeds. . . . A fine choice to have beside your favorite chaiir for pick-up reading. Rely upon this author's words to help you understand the weeds you'll find this spring. -- A. Carman Clark "Camden Herald" (04/10/2003)

A trove of weedy lore. -- Rich Thomas "Woodland Garden" (07/29/2003)

A very good guide to the botanical ignored or disregarded, this book should be required reading for most gardeners. -- Barbara Mahany "Chicago Botanic Garden" (07/07/2004)

A warm, delightful book. -- Patricia A. Taylor "Trenton Times" (06/20/2003)

Be ready for some fascinating weedy tales. . . . Witty.

Bloomington botanist Charles Heiser is a champion of weeds . . . he brings a refreshing perspective to weeds, extolling their culinary, decorative and medicinal values.

For anyone interested in weeds as plants.

Gives entertaining, insightful information about each plant. -- Carrol Krause "Hoosier Times" (05/25/2003)

Heiser, a noted Indiana U. botanist who studied weeds for decades, makes a case for the virtues of these maligned plants.

Heiser's gentle touch creates a delightful perspective on those maligned plants we refer to as weeds. -- Carolyn Harstad "Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society News" (11/06/2003)

His affection for self-sown flowers and trees stems from an early stint at UC Davis . . . he presents 140 weeds whose beauty and utility have yet to be fully recognized. -- Marge Howard-Jones "California Garden" (09/11/2003)

His witty comments on plants he finds endearing will keep you entertained as well as informed.

I found Charles Heiser's book to be interesting, enlightening, and a pleasure to read. -- Nan Len "HortTechnology" (10/21/2004)

In a witty, conversational tone, [the author] challenges preconceptions of weeds as valueless plants, and explains their virtues.

Not all plants were created equal. A new book by Charles B. Heiser of Indiana University . . . examines these uninvited invaders in a new, and positive light.

Not your typical weed identification manual. -- Pauline Poparad "Chesterton Tribune" (05/29/2003)

Perfect for the philosophical plant-lover!

Reading through Heiser's wonderful book on weeds brought back pleasant childhood memories. -- Barney Lipscomb "Sida, Contributions to Botany" (09/24/2003)

Sheds new light and offers interesting stories about these much misunderstood plants. -- Jean Starr "Munster (IN) Times" (05/17/2003)

The world of weeds is immense...Heiser taps into this world by studying them in his garden for decades and finding some virtues among these misunderstood plants.

This is a book that will delight anyone in love with plants and growing things. -- Marianne Binetti "Seattle Post-Intelligencer" (05/29/2003)

This is a worthwhile read and an interesting take on the horticultural world we love to live in. -- George Graine "Virginia Master Gardeners Association Report" (10/14/2004)

Those who are interested in herbal medicine will have a field day with this book, and those who are interested in why certain weeds have their name will be enlightened. -- John E. Bryan "Gardening Newsletter" (06/27/2003)

Written in a nontechnical fashion for easy reading. -- Richard Poffenbaugh "Mansfield News Journal" (07/02/2004)

Written with wit as well as scientific authority. -- Rich Gotshall "Indianapolis Star" (05/18/2003)

Professor Heisher has been the most significant popularizer of economic and applied botany for many years. His books. . . are all superb examples of accessible but authoritative writing on scientific topics. It is clear that [this book's] particular subject matter, the weeds in Heiser's research garden in Indiana, is a beloved one.