Species Specific Forum : Growing Orchids and Hybrids

smweaver · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 9:50 pm Post subject: Oakeley lycaste book

Do any of you lucky people who don't have to deal with either international shipping rates to the US or converting Euros to our wonderful dollar have the Henry Oakeley book, Lycaste, Ida and Anguloa, that was published last May? It's not easy to find over here, and the conversion rate, when ordered from a distributor in the UK, is almost prohibitively expensive (I say almost because I'm almost ready to break down and buy the book anyway, regardless of the cost). If you do have (or have seen) this book, and you grow lycastes, could you tell me whether or not the book is worth the price (good information, all of the species covered, etc.)? Thanks!

Steve[/u]

Debbie · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 3:39 pm Post subject:

There is a copy (just one) available through amazon.com, but I'm not surprised you want to know first if it's worth it at $126!

I've seen it at a couple of shows and it looked interesting, although I didn't do much more than scan through it. I have considered buying it but haven't taken the plunge because if I have £50 with me at an orchid show it doesn't take a genius to figure out what it'll be spent on! Rolling Eyes

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smweaver · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 4:02 pm Post subject:

I agree with you, Debbie. If I have money with me and I'm given the choice between buying a book and buying a plant, I'm generally more apt to pick the plant. I might go ahead and get Oakeley's book for my birthday next month (or make very strong and repeated hints to all of my loved ones until they given in out of exasperation and buy it for me so that I stop whining Smile

.

Steve

tom · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:07 pm Post subject:

is there no way you can borrow it from a library first
thats what i do
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smweaver · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 1:44 am Post subject:

Actually, that's a pretty good idea, Tom. It's an obscure enough topic that the local library might actually have purchased a copy (for some reason that I haven't yet figured out, the bureaucracy that runs my local library has zero interest in acquiring books that appeal to a large audience; however, if it's a topic with a highly specialized or limited readership, then that's what the library tends to have on display in the new acquisitions area). Thanks for the tip. I'll call them tomorrow.

Steve

tom · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 5:40 am Post subject:

its the other way round with us Steve with new books our local library
searches all the counties and then goes to the british central to obtain so we can normaly get it in the end cost about £2.
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trey.sanders · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 6:27 am Post subject:

The book got very good reviews in a couple of the UK orchid journals, although Henry is either Chairman or on the committee of those societies (RHS Orchid Committee, Orchid Scociety of Great Britain).

I guess I dont know.

Cheers
Trey

tom · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 6:35 am Post subject:

president OSGB
Past chairman rhs orchid committee
i think he has national collection lycaste
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Debbie · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:10 am Post subject:

Should be a good one then Tom.

I like the idea of libraries having very specialised books, Steve, particularly as those are likely to be the more expensive ones and, often, smaller quantities are printed. If something is of interest to large numbers of people they get printed in huge numbers and prices tend to be much cheaper so people just buy them.
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Debbie

http://www.justtropicals.com/
Willpower is not a problem, however... WON'T power is another thing entirely!

smweaver · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 2:08 pm Post subject:

The price just came down. Dr. Oakeley informed me that it dropped to $100 USD, so I'm going to go ahead and put it on the credit card (I can at least pretend that it's not real money until the billing statement arrives next month). Maybe I'll play up the obnoxious Yankee and boldly ask for a couple of seedlings from the national collection of lycastes that he has (I'm kidding--unless, of course, any of you think this ploy might actually work Very Happy

).

Debbie, I do think that our library sometimes tries to please "niche-market" readers as well as general readers. So in addition to finding beautifully-produced and expensive books on the intricacies of hermit crab mating rituals or the joys of Inuit cooking, you can also find numerous copies of the latest god-awful books by Nicholas Sparks and Nora Roberts (and if there isn't an English version of either of these two hacks, consider yourself lucky).

Paul_kozousek · Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:06 am Post subject:

If you don't ask you don't get. However, remember a please and thankyou. ;D

Good luck
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