What a wonderful celebration of bulbs! As a somewhat amateur gardener, this not only gave me so many ideas for new plants for the garden, but also reassured me that I should not be disheartened by the bulbs that just don’t seem to have worked in my garden. I had begun to lose faith, also not certain if I had enough. I now know how to manage staggered displays and have a list of no fewer than 20 new plants to try. I also have a perfect birthday gift idea for several friends and family members who share my love for all things horticultural. If you want your garden to bloom, then I would urge you to buy this book!

As a gardener, I was so excited for this book, and The Essential Guide to Bulbs did not disappoint! Over the past five years, my little garden has really evolved, and bulbs have become such a big part of the joy I find in gardening. There’s just something magical about growing plants from bulbs — from tulips to hyacinths — but especially tulips, since they’re my absolute favorite! Last spring, I planted about 400 bulbs, and it gave me the most colorful, beautiful spring I’ve ever had.

This book was exactly what I hoped it would be — stunning photography, a great layout, and so much helpful information. I loved that Jenny Rose Carey shares the history of bulbs first, then dives into different groups of bulbs (using the Latin names, which I really appreciate because flower names can vary so much). There’s also a wonderful chapter on maintenance and caring for your bulbs, plus one of my favorites — a section on planting bulbs in containers (I love container gardening!). And I was so happy to find a chapter all about designing with bulbs, giving real ideas you can use.

As a reader, I also really enjoyed Jenny Rose’s engaging writing style — it’s warm, knowledgeable, and made the whole book a joy to read from beginning to end. Whether you’re just starting out or have been gardening for years, this book is a must-have. You can easily read it cover to cover, like I did, or jump into the chapters you need. If you love growing bulbs — or simply love beautiful gardening books — you’ll definitely want this one on your shelf. It’s a true gem!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to read this book.

I really appreciated the detail sections of this book, where the author goes into more detail about each subtype of bulb. I specifically appreciated the sections on further divisions of the sub types of dahlias, daffodils, tulips, etc. I do think the into section was a little too vague and a little too long, but the details further in excused this. I wish the small section that spoke of bulbs vs corms, etc was more detailed.

Though I consider myself a more advanced intermediate gardener, I've been influenced to get a few more types of flowers I hadn't thought of before. This would be great for a beginner gardener.

The cover of this book drew me in as someone who does enjoy photographing nature, I was hoping and was happily so surprised by some beautiful detailed photo's of flowers blooming from bulb.

Packed with chapters of detail about how to plant and nurture bulbs as a beginner with only a few mere daffodils, a pineapple plant and a passionflower in my garden so far this was a great guide for learning more about how to plant and nurture the bulbs to be strong beautiful flowers definitely a handy book to refer to.

"The Essential Guide to Bulbs" is bursting with gorgeous images and information. Whether you are an expert gardener or a newbie, this guide has something helpful for you. Jenny Rose Carey has a way with words and balances the images and information in an aesthetically pleasing way. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Pub Date: Oct 14, 2025.

#TheEssentialGuidetoBulbs

This was a great read for me being from Wisconsin, new to bulb planting, and trying to figure out what I want to do in my front yard. It gave lots of tips and tricks and I loved the detail for each variation of bulb. It was extremely helpful to learn all about where certain bulbs grow best and when to plant. I learned a lot and am super excited to start planting bulbs. This will definitely be a book I need on my shelf! Tons of great information and beautiful pictures.

Thank you to Timber Press publishing for providing me an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my review.

The Essential Guide to Bulbs has been an incredibly helpful resource this spring. It guided me through planting dahlias, gladioli, and lilies, and gave me plenty of ideas for what other bulbs to try out. The book is beautifully laid out, and the photography is gorgeous. Even though it's primarily a reference book, it's far too lovely to tuck away on a shelf.

The Essential Guide to Bulbs by Jenny Rose Carey is an absolute gem for anyone passionate about gardening. With its stunning photography and inviting tone, this book instantly draws you in and makes the world of bulbs exciting and accessible. It’s a perfect resource for both beginners and seasoned gardeners looking to deepen their understanding and enhance their gardens. The book covers everything you need to know—how to select bulbs that match your style, planting techniques, and care tips to ensure your bulbs thrive. I especially appreciated the design ideas for creating vibrant, multi-season displays and the tips on incorporating bulbs into containers for year-round beauty. The section on ecological gardening and supporting pollinators was also enlightening, adding an important dimension to my gardening practice. Whether you're working with a small space or a large garden, this guide provides practical advice that transforms bulb planting from a simple task into an enjoyable art form. Plus, the diversity of bulb varieties discussed opens up endless possibilities for color, drama, and spontaneity. If you want to elevate your gardening skills and find joy in every step of the process, this book is a must-have. Highly recommended!

I love the idea of a beautiful garden but don't like a lot of the hard work that goes into creating one. Bulbs are a great way to add beautiful flowers to your garden that come back year after year. This book will give you great ideas for choosing the right bulb for your garden and how to combine bulbs for the wow factor. There are all kinds of bulbs such as daffodils and tulips to start the spring season going all the way to beautiful dahlias that will bloom for most of the summer. This book will teach you how to care for your bulbs so they will bloom and be beautiful for years to come.

I get hyacinths every year for the Persian New Year because I love their fragrance, but unfortunately, they always die, and I end up keeping them from one year to the next without success in regrowth. I never thought about them until it's New Year again. So when I saw this book about bulbs, I had to pick it up.
I appreciate the book's structure, and it was fascinating to identify familiar flowers whose names I didn't know. Since I don't have a garden, I particularly liked the chapter on planting bulbs in containers. This book is perfect for anyone interested in starting to grow bulbs but doesn't know where to begin.

Thank you, NetGalley and Timber Press, for the ARC and the opportunity to read this book.

So much information in this book that even the experienced gardener would find something interesting in this book.
Recommend this to any gardener no matter how how they have been gardening it’s definitely one I will read each year

As a new gardener, I found this book very informative.. I think I can take the information and put it to use. The pictures are beautiful.

Timber Press delivers another gem with this beautiful and practical addition to their publishing lineup. Jenny Rose Carey’s The Essential Guide to Bulbs is packed with incredibly useful information for gardeners of all levels. It took me a while to get through, not because it was dense, but because I kept pausing to admire the gorgeous flower photography and absorb the wealth of knowledge on every page.
This is definitely a book I’ll keep within arm’s reach as a long-term reference. My only wish is that it included more photos, especially wide shots, so I could better visualize what a fully bulb-planted garden might look like. With so many varieties mentioned, seeing them in larger garden contexts would have helped spark even more inspiration.

It’s only August, but now is the perfect time to start planning and purchasing bulbs for next season. This book has me genuinely excited for both fall and spring plantings. Whether you’re new to bulbs or a seasoned gardener, The Essential Guide to Bulbs will inspire you to dream big, dig deep, and plant with intention.

Thank you to Timber Press & Netgalley for this advanced reader copy.

I love bulbs, so this book really caught my eye. After reviewing it, it's definitely going to be purchased and added to my gardeniing library. The author does a great job of introducing the novice to growing bulbs (as well as other bulb-like things such as corms and rhizomes). There is an abundance of information about planning the plantings, maintenance, hardiness and growing in containers. The book covers nearly every possible setting. I was awed by the sheer number of types of bulbs included in the book. Each type is given a description that includes general features, planting/maintenance, design ideas, and samples of species and cultivars. Abundant photographs accompany each section. As a veteran gardener, I thought I'd seen just about every type of bulb, but this book included several that were new to me (and I must now find them!)

Bulbs are so great for any garden, big or container. This book will help any gardener to grow them with great success!

Thank you to Timber Press and NetGalley for providing an advance review copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

Such a great guide! The Essential Guide to Bulbs is packed with helpful tips and gorgeous photos that make you want to plant bulbs everywhere. Jenny Rose Carey makes the info really easy to follow. Definitely a must-have for those who want to learn the basics about bulbs and need help deciding what bulbs to plant.
Thank you to NetGalley and Timber Press for the arc!

More gardeners ought to grow more bulbs! It's a completely different and equally enchanting plant "genre" with trends which come and go but bulbs will always be beloved. They can be grown in most climates (though my zone 2a gardening life and my zone 8b are literally different worlds). Amazingly, most lilies do much better in 2a than 8b as they need the period of cold dormancy. My sister grows thousands of lilies in her zone 2a garden, the most beautiful and extensive I have ever seen. Bulbs can be grown in small or large gardens and in balcony containers. Not only are they stunning but also versatile and suit beginners, novices and experts alike. Some are simpler to grow and care for than others but there are also those requiring just the right amount of challenge for those who seek it.

Author Jenny Rose Carey includes magnificent photographs and information such as seasonal bulbs, combining colours, how to plant and fertilize, how many to plant and when, encouraging pollinators, managing pests and diseases (including the scorned lily beetle), and types of bulbs (corms, rhizomes, tubers...). She also highlights a generous selection of specific bulbs, growing zones and requirements. On my travels, I am always amazed at what bulbs grow successfully (or not) under particularly harsh climactic conditions.

The Essential Guide to Bulbs is a phenomenal book with all one needs to get started or be inspired to foray further. I just love this book! It has given me ideas for adding vigor to one of my tired bulb beds.

This is a great resource for gardeners. If you are a beginner bulb user or have been planting them for years this will guide you on your planting journey. I found many helpful tips and tricks to hopefully have an even more successful blooming season next year.

The Essential Guide to Bulbs by Jenny Rose Carey is a non-fiction book on gardening, specifically growing from bulbs.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Timber Press for granting my wish, and the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

  

My Opinions:
First, you should never download a "picture" book and attempt to read on an e-reader.  As pretty as the pictures our, invest in the hardcover!  Second, definitely, don't download them as a .lcpl file -- what was wrong with Adobe files???? Okay, enough talk about the format.

The book is divided into different sections, making it easy to find what you are looking for, with a wonderful index in the back.

The book looks at the different types of bulbs, including true bulbs (tulip, lily), corms (crocus, gladiola), tubers (caladium, tuberous begonias), tuberous roots (dahlias),  rhizomes (canna and calla lily).  Then it moves on to figuring out which are hardy to your area, or which are "tender" and will have to be dug up each fall.  From there, the book gets into the individual bulbs - from A to Z.  Their common name, their scientific name, their cultivars, height and spread.... Then, when to plant them, how to plant them,  when they'll bloom, how much water or space they need, when and if to deadhead, how to over-winter, and even pests and problems....all the basics.

This book is a fountain of information for the newbies to bulbs, and to those of us who already have a lot of them spread out in our garden...it's already given me ideas of what to plant next.

Again, the pictures in this book are so vivid, so beautiful, you will want to purchase the hardcover....even if you don't want to plant bulbs!

The Essential Guide to Bulbs by Jenny Rose Carey

Grow a Bounty of Beautiful Bulbs in Gardens and Containers
#1 New Release in Container Gardening

Everything you need to know about how to choose, plant, and care for your bulbs—and find joy in the process.

An absolute must-read for any gardener who wants to level up their gardening skills, The Essential Guide to Bulbs is a gorgeously photographed, comprehensive, and inviting resource that is destined to become a gardening classic. Bulbs have a universal appeal—they are extremely diverse with many varieties to choose from, and they are great in containers. While many gardeners may be familiar with the early show of spring bulbs like daffodils and tulips, there are many more to choose from that provide three-season color, drama, and spontaneity in the garden. Plus, they're great for a tighter budget.

In this book, gardeners will discover:
·How to recognize what bulbs you love and personalize your garden to match your vision
·Planting techniques and design ideas for growing bulbs in any size garden
·Incorporating bulbs for pollinators, and the importance of ecological methods
·Tips for creating a brilliant bulb container garden in every season
·A wide array of bulb varieties with in-depth planting information
Wonderful pictures.
Lots of good information.
A good book for a new gardener or seasoned gardeners.
I recommend this book.
The Essential Guide to Bulbs by Jenny Rose Carey is a 5-star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Jenny Rose Carey .
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.

This book is a great resource for gardeners from beginners to experienced gardeners. Is there anything as simple as planting a bulb? Well, maybe not exactly so simple, but with a little guidance, it is pretty easy. And it can be very complex when you're planting a garden design, or planting for year 'round flowers, or trying to defeat hungry critters.

The book is well organized and easy to follow. I was happy with the alphabetical listing of bulbs with growing conditions, height of plant, seasonal interest (spring, early summer, etc.) and photos. The sections on "About These Bulbs, "Planting and Maintenance," "Design Ideas" and "Species and Cultivars" provide useful information. It would be so helpful to have this book to consult as you're going through those catalogs that show up in your mailbox. Some of the types of bulbs are common to almost anyone and some are more unusual. All may have a place in your garden.

Chapter 3 covers personalizing your garden. Finding places to plant bulbs, do you want something informal or is your style more formal? What season do you need more color? What color themes do you like? Do you want bulbs in a woodland setting, or do you want a lawn of bulbs?

Chapter 4 is for planning and planting a bulb container garden. Chapter 5 describes how to plant and tend to your bulb garden. One of the areas the author covers is "congestion" when bulbs multiply underground. I was the lucky recipient of some gorgeous daffodils when my neighbor had 2 patches that had quintupled the number of bulbs. I dug them up for her, replanted, and redistributed.

So if you're looking for guidance, inspiration, help, and general knowledge, this book is a wonderful addition to your bookshelf.

What a delightful book!! It is an inspirational visual and textual feast to all - seasoned gardeners, beginners and those with just curiosity, as well as anyone who loves to see pictures with nature's beauty! One friend asked me for advice, saying that I was the only person she knew who planted bulbs. I was so happy to help her, and only wish others knew how easy and rewarding it is to plant bulbs! This is the most comprehensive guide to bulbs I have ever seen, and it is truly satisfying! It gave me insights to problem questions I have, like how to help my falling down dahlias. The author uses painted poles and ties all branches with twine! The book not only has glorious pictures, but provides details on selecting bulbs, specific bulb types, where to plant, etc. I learned that most bulbs need at least 6 hours of sunshine. This would made a divine gift to gardeners, as it provides such a comprehensive guide!
I read this book, compliments of the publishers. The views expressed are my own opinion.

The Essential Guide to Bulbs is a beautifully photographed tutorial guide to selecting and using flowering bulbs by gardening expert Jenny Rose Carey. Released 14th Oct 2025 by Hachette on their Timber Press imprint, it's 348 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a huge, encyclopedic, and very well arranged primer on bulbs and how to grow and deploy them successfully in a wide variety of situations, containers, beds, and naturalized. The author's writing voice is unforced and layman accessible, but where the book really shines is the photography. It's as much an inspiration book to pore over during garden planning as it is theory/tutorial.

Correct binomial (Latin) nomenclature is used throughout, alongside common names where applicable. Specific varieties are named in the text. It's unusual to find gardening books which have something for every level of expertise, and this one does deliver, from the beginner trying to select some daffodils for a spring container by an entryway to the professional gardener selecting for large installations or customers.

Five stars. This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, smallholders, gardening/community garden/allotment libraries, and similar uses.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

While I know some gardening basics, bulbs are completely foreign to me. Not many people grow them in my area. Learning their potential, however, is exciting. This guide helps outline the different real and false bulbs, as well as the best seasons and regions for growing them. Snowdrops have never looked more wonderful.

A wonderful book! The author has written a very thorough, informative, instructive, and enjoyable book about bulbs. Personally, I love using bulbs in our gardens. They're relatively easy to grow, require very little maintenance, and are absolutely stunning when they are blooming. Carey goes into great detail not only about how to grow bulbs, but into the history and issues with them. And the photography is spectacular! The book is presented in an easily understandable format, and you can dig into it as deep as you wish, or just the parts you want. I learned a great deal, and look forward to really stepping up my game with bulbs in our gardens. Great book!