The General Interest Category award was presented to:

Gardens and Historic Plants of the Antebellum South
by James R. Cothran,
(University of South Carolina Press, Columbia, SC , 2003),
344 p., ISBN 1-57003-501-6, $49.95 (cloth)

June 15, 2004 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania -- The Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries, Inc. (CBHL) presented its fifth Annual Literature Award on June 15, 2004. This presentation was made during the Council's 36th annual meeting hosted by the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Carnegie Mellon University. The Annual Literature Award, created to recognize significant contributions to the literature of botany and horticulture, honored two exceptional books this year. The CBHL selection committee praised both of these works for excellence of intellectual content, usefulness to the intended audience and distinguished contribution to the literature.

Slipper Orchids of Vietnam by Leonid Averyanov, Phillip Cribb, Phan Ke Loc, and Nguyen Tien Hiep with illustrations by Carol Woodin received the 2004 Annual Literature Award in the Technical category. This outstanding plant monograph published by Timber Press presents the 22 slipper orchid species and natural hybrids found within Vietnam. Richly illustrated with photos and drawings of both the plants and their habitats, the authors also present details of Vietnam's rich flora. Distribution maps, climate data and the exploration of significant conservation issues all unite to what can be described as everything a flora should be.

Honored with the 2004 Annual Literature Award in the General Interest category is James R. Cothran's Gardens and Historic Plants of the Antebellum South published by University of South Carolina Press. Marked by its exemplary scholarship and impeccable research, this work studies the glorious gardens of the South that flourished from 1820 through 1860. Presenting a handsome balance of text and supporting illustrations, this work features botanical prints, garden plans, historic photographs, and contemporary photography. With this work, Cothran creates a model for garden historians, a great boon for historic preservationists and an inspiration for home garden restorations.

The Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries, Inc. is the leading professional organization in the field of botanical and horticultural information services. It recognizes the critical importance of collecting, preserving, and making accessible the accumulated knowledge about plants for present and future generations. For more information, visit its web site at http://www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin/cbhl