The plants then pump the water back out in the form of beauty, food, shelter, wildlife habitat, timber and forage, while controlling erosion, reducing down-stream flooding, dropping utility costs, increasing soil fertility, enhancing the soil carbon sponge, and improving water and air quality.This dramatically revised and expanded full-color second edition builds on the information in Volume 1 by showing you how to turn your yard, school, business, park, ranch, and neighborhood into lively, regenerative producers of resources. Conditions at home will improve as you simultaneously enrich the ecosystem and inspire the surrounding community.Learn to select, place, size, construct, and plant your chosen earthworks. All is made easier and more effective by the illustrations of natural patterns of water and sediment flow with which you can collaborate or mimic. Detailed step-by-step instructions with over 550 images show you how to do it, and plentiful stories of success motivate you so you will do it!

    But it was not reels of wool or bales of cotton that awaited him, but plants and seeds…Over the next forty years, Bartram would send hundreds of American species to England, where Collinson was one of a handful of men who would foster a national obsession and change the gardens of Britain forever, introducing lustrous evergreens, fiery autumn foliage and colourful shrubs. They were men of wealth and taste but also of knowledge and experience like Philip Miller, author of the bestselling Gardeners Dictionary, and the Swede Carl Linnaeus, whose standardised botanical nomenclature popularised botany as a genteel pastime for the middle-classes; and the botanist-adventurer Joseph Banks and his colleague Daniel Solander who both explored the strange flora of Tahiti and Australia on the greatest voyage of discovery of modern times, Captain Cook’s Endeavour.This is the story of these men – friends, rivals, enemies, united by a passion for plants – whose correspondence, collaborations and squabbles make for a riveting human tale which is set against the backdrop of the emerging empire, the uncharted world beyond and London as the capital of science. From the scent of the exotic blooms in Tahiti and Botany Bay to the gardens at Chelsea and Kew, and from the sounds and colours of the streets of the City to the staggering vistas of the Appalachian mountains, The Brother Gardeners tells the story of how Britain became a nation of gardeners.

    Here, in 56 delicious recipes, 200 gorgeous photos, and Goldman's erudite, charming prose, is the cream of the crop.From glorious heirloom beefsteaks - that delicious tomato you had as a kid but can't seem to find anymore - to exotica like the ground tomato (a tiny green fruit that tastes like pineapple and grows in a tomatillo-like husk), Homegrown Tomatoes is filled with gorgeous shots of tomatoes so luscious they verge on the erotic.Along with the recipes and photos are profiles of the tomatoes, filled with surprisingly fascinating facts on their history and provenance, and a master gardener's guide to growing your own. More than just a loving look at one of the world's great edibles, this is a philosophy of eating and conservation between covers - an irresistible book for anyone who loves to cook or to garden.

    It demands your energy and heart, and it gives you back great treasures as well, like a fortified sense of humor, an appreciation for paradox, and a huge harvest of Dinosaur kale and tiny red potatoes.For more than thirty years, Wendy Johnson has been meditating and gardening at the Green Gulch Farm Zen Center in northern California, where the fields curve like an enormous green dragon between the hills and the ocean. Renowned for its pioneering role in California’s food revolution, Green Gulch provides choice produce to farmers’ markets and to San Francisco’s Greens restaurant. Now Johnson has distilled her lifetime of experience into this extraordinary celebration of inner and outer growth, showing how the garden cultivates the gardener even as she digs beds, heaps up compost, plants flowers and fruit trees, and harvests bushels of organic vegetables. Johnson is a hands-on, on-her-knees gardener, and she shares with the reader a wealth of practical knowledge and fascinating garden lore. But she is also a lover of the untamed and weedy, and she evokes through her exquisite prose an abiding appreciation for the earth—both cultivated and forever wild—in a book sure to earn a place in the great tradition of American nature writing.

    It recalls the monastic past of the house. It covers from the crunch of grass underfoot at midnight on a frosty New Year's Eve to the drip of trees in a melancholy March dawn.

    Four years later, more than one thousand trees had been officially nominated to the project and many others suggested for possible inclusion. The results, presented in this elegant, four-color volume, are astounding. Hugo and Kirwan, the project coordinators, have selected a sample of trees and "tree places" that illustrate the enormous variety, startling beauty, and fascinating history of Virginia's trees.Here you will see, through Llewellyn's incomparable lens, not only some of Virginia's largest trees, including a newly discovered national champion overcup oak in Isle of Wight County, but also some of the state's oldest, including baldcypress trees over 800 years old in Southampton County and red cedars over 450 years old in Giles. You will find unique trees like a willow oak in which a tricycle is embedded, fine specimens like the massive American beech in front of Sleepy Hollow Methodist Church in Falls Church, and outrageously shaped trees, like the water tupelos in the Cypress Bridge area of Southampton County. You will find trees associated with famous people and events as well as trees associated with ordinary people in extraordinary ways. Perhaps best of all, you will learn about communities that have gone to great lengths to protect their trees and about places where the public can visit some of the best trees and "treescapes" in the state.Remarkable Trees of Virginia is a celebration of trees, but it doesn't dodge hard issues. In a section on urban forests, the authors describe the major problems facing trees in urban areas and point out strategies urban foresters are using to solve them. They describe the ecological services trees provide and issue a call for action both to protect trees in their existing habitats and to find more places where trees can "grow large and long."Hugo, Kirwan, and Llewellyn present a treasury of Virginia's trees that is, indeed, remarkable.

    In this new identification resource, the state’s foremost botanist and endangered species expert Welby R. Smith provides authoritative, accessible, and up-to-date information on the state’s native and naturalized woody plant species.This fully illustrated resource features:• Easy identification: more than one thousand color photographs of fruit, flowers, bark, and leaves for every species, as well as more than one hundred illustrations by botanical artist Vera Ming Wong• Distribution maps: more than five hundred maps, including state and North American range maps• Interesting background: descriptions of each species’ habitat, natural history, and ecology, which provide context to the entries• Comprehensive coverage: includes all native and naturalized trees, shrubs, and woody vines in Minnesota from Abies balsamea to Zanthozylum americanum.Written for everyone from scientists and environmentalists to teachers and people interested in horticulture and gardening, Trees and Shrubs of Minnesota will engage and educate anyone with a curiosity about the natural world.Welby R. Smith is a botanist for the Division of Ecological Resources at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. He is the author of Orchids of Minnesota (Minnesota, 1993).

    Worldwide, garlic cultivation occupies over 2 million acres of farmland, an area that has more than doubled since 1970. Yet even garlic fanciers may be unable to tell hardneck from softneck, or Purple Stripe from Rocambole, not to mention the hundreds of cultivated varieties grown today, many with distinct differences in taste and character. In fact, the wealth of garlic varieties in nearly a dozen horticultural groups rivals that of corn, carrots, apples, and peaches. This book is the most comprehensive and in-depth guide available to what surely should be the next gourmet frontier. From 'Ajo Rojo' to 'Zemo', Meredith presents illustrated profiles of nearly 150 cultivars. Detailed chapters cover natural history, the history of garlic in cultivation, the nuances of cuisine and culture, therapeutic benefits, plant structure, how to cultivate, curing and storage, taxonomy, pests and diseases, and chemistry. Especially useful are the Quick Guides, which summarize information on growing and buying garlic and provide recommendations for the best-tasting cultivars for specific uses and climates. Lists of garlic sources and organizations are a boon to the aficionado. Whether you share Ted Jordan Meredith's "garlic affliction" or just find the pungent bulb indispensable, you'll understand it as never before with this meticulously researched, lovingly written exploration.

    Twenty-five years later, she and a small group of teachers and volunteers turned over long-abandoned soil at an urban middle school in Berkeley and planted the Edible Schoolyard. The schoolyard has since grown into a universal idea of Edible Education that integrates academics with growing, cooking, and sharing wholesome, delicious food. With inspiring images of the garden and kitchenand their young caretakersEdible Schoolyard is at once a visionary model for sustainable farming and childhood nutrition, and a call to action for schools across the country.

    Featured are some 530 subject species that occur naturally from southwestern Alaska to Oregon's border with California, and from the coast east to Idaho, plants that are not only beautiful ornamentals but important components of habitat diversity.Illustrated throughout with nearly 600 eye-popping color photographs and original pen-and-ink drawings, the book is smartly separated by plant type into five encyclopedic sections. Detailed descriptions include reommendations for cultivation and siting, from streambanks to parking strips, and lists suggesting natives for particular garden situations or themes—arid or sodden; hedgerows and meadows; hummingbird and rock gardens—concludes the book.Gardeners and conservationists alike will find much of value and interest in this impeccably presented and illustrated regional resource, which is sure to become a classic on the subject.

    A great way to expand your knowledge in preparation for the full length book.

    Infinitely varied and hugely interesting, these strikingly beautiful plants are sumptuously illustrated with over 1000 photographs in a reference that no orchid lover can afford to be without. Isobyl la Croix is a scientist, plant hunter, and horticulturalist; her deep passion for orchids informs the plant selection and adds depth to the plant descriptions. The cultivation advice includes information about the orchid's native habitat—including elevation, geography, and climate. Recent developments in DNA analysis have led to some surprising findings with regard to the relationships between orchids, and the author has undertaken an extensive effort to bring all orchid names up-to-date to reflect the latest scientific thinking and taxonomy. From Acampe to Zygostates, no other serious reference approaches the depth and authority of this remarkable book.

    Expert plantsman Ray Rogers offers equal parts inspiration and practical advice, with history, plant characteristics, problem solving, propagation, and designing with coleus in both containers and in the garden, all brought to life by Richard Hartlage's masterful photographs. An encyclopedia covers more than 225 varieties.

    From a handful of wild species belonging to the genus Hemerocallis, breeders have produced tens of thousands of hybrids in a dazzling array of colors, patterns, and shapes. Adding to their appeal is their hardiness, ease of care, and ability to combine well with other plants. With so many daylilies currently available, a pictorial guide to the best and most exciting cultivars is essential. More than 1700 daylilies—1400 of them new to this edition—are illustrated in close-up, detailed photographs. Each photograph is accompanied by a comprehensive description that includes information on color, size, bloom season, and parentage. Also included are chapters on daylily physiology, the history of the genus, the history of daylily hybridizing, hybridization techniques, and cultivation. Peat and Petit have created an authoritative reference and essential resource for anyone—nursery professional, hybridizer, designer, or enthusiast—who wishes to explore the vast potential of these beautiful plants.

    Barbara Pleasant and Deborah Martin explain their six-way compost gardening system in this informative guide that will have you rethinking how you create and use your compost. With your plants and compost living together from the beginning, your garden will become a nourishing and organic environment that encourages growth and sustainability. You’ll also find that the enriched soil requires less tending, weeding, and mulching, so you can do less back-breaking work for the same lush, beautiful results.

    It is a disciplined art form in which the arrangement is a living thing where nature and humanity are brought together.Ikebana: The Art of Arranging Flowers, a classic Ikebana text, has now been completely updated for modern readers. Written by Shozo Sato, a well-respected and renowned Ikebana expert, this book presents a fascinating overview of the history of Ikebana to present day, and introduces classic Ikebana styles such as Rikka, Seika and Moribana to Freestyle. The reader is familiarized with the tools of Ikebana and the basic Ikebana flower-arranging techniques. Simple and detailed instructions guide Ikebana enthusiasts through the process of making dozens of stunning arrangements.

    More than a cookbook, this innovative book offers a fresh approach to healthy eating by getting children involved in food right from the start. Children will learn that when they eat a carrot, they're biting into a root; salads are made up of leaves; and berries are the fruit and seeds of plants, encouraging an early appreciation of food and its origins. The recipes in the book take the homegrown fruits, vegetables, and herbs and use a variety of cooking methods and store-bought ingredients to transform them into truly homemade meals. All the "crops" can be grown in pots, so young chefs don't even need a large garden to enjoy Grow It, Cook It.

    Cullina notes that ferns, moss, and grasses are the green canvas for colorful blooms: they bring a level of refinement and sophistication that no flower can match, and no garden is complete without them. Native Ferns, Moss and Grasses offers a thorough discussion of plant hardiness, and for each species the natural range, type of soil, and habitat in which the plant thrives is indicated. The book concludes with complete information on where to buy featured plants and suggested species for various uses and spaces.

    [[Second is the exploration of Palm Springs architecture from Spanish to Mid-century modern and how outdoor gardens are made to work with these styles. [[Third is a detailed presentation of the plants that will thrive here under ordinary care, and are naturally adapted to the dry climates of Australia, Mexico, Africa and South America. Rather than group plants by trees, shrubs and perennials as most books are laid out, Palm Springs Gardening organizes plants according to their botanical associations and their aesthetic onesso readers go straight to the kinds of plants they find most appealing. For example, if you want to find the tropical-looking shrubs for your low desert garden, you go to the Tropicals section where they are grouped together for considerationno sifting through lots of other shrubs that would not be suitable. The author also considers the aesthetic vernacular of local architecture and the plants that are best used with each one. This includes the 1920/30s Spanish that's typical of old Palm Springs, which is linked to tropicals; the newly reconsidered mid-century modern style, linked to the Southern Africa succulents; the Bighorn-natural style that evokes Arizona cliff dwellings that works well with North American natives; and the desert modern (thick-mud-wall-rustic) keyed into a wide range of desert traditional plants. Beautiful locations throughout the region offer a great deal of diversity, so that the book covers the full range of interests. They include public places with garden interest, including Moorten Botanical Garden, The Living Desert, and outdoor garden galleries such as The Gardens at El Paseo.

    With a combined 100 years of gardening experience in the Pacific Northwest, the authors clearly explain the unique challenges and joys of gardening in the region. By dividing the Pacific Northwest into seven subregions, they help readers to better understand the climatic and geographical factors that shape their gardens. This complete guide includes extensive profiles of plants that are ideally suited to the region, including perennials, ornamental grasses, bulbs, groundcovers, roses, shrubs, trees, and climbers. The month-by-month gardening calendar describes what weather patterns to expect, what's in bloom, and what garden tasks are best done in that month. With additional chapters detailing the most common gardening problems and recommendations for effective, nontoxic ways of dealing with them, this book is nothing short of essential.

    Ripe with facts, punctured myths, serious investigation, and practical gardening wisdom, this is a gloriously illustrated and enlightening celebration of the plants that delight and sustain us. For Ken Druse, the garden provides both a refuge from the world and an irresistible invitation to explore the wonders of nature. In planthropology, Druse celebrates the secret stories of plants and explains their im-portance within daily life, now and since ancient times. A pleasingly random and ever delightful garden stroll of a book, it uncovers scientific facts, dispels myths, exposes controversies, tells some rollicking good anecdotes, and, along the way, casually dispenses an abundance of practical gardening wisdom.Using many of his own favorite plants as examples, Druse reveals little-known facts about both rare and common beauties. For instance, if you like winding down on a terrace or patio after work, Druse suggests planting petunias. Why? Because they are evening fragrant—their pollinators only come out at night. Perhaps you may not have noticed the beautiful spiraling patterns on sunflower heads; Druse explains that all plants feature such spirals, and that they correspond exactly to mathematical principles that have captivated great thinkers (and artists) throughout history.With the authority and assurance of someone who demonstrates both deep passion and uncommon ex-pertise, Druse takes us chapter by chapter through the history, biology, economics, and cultural significance of plants. We meet bumblebees who literally shake pollen free from flowers with sonic vibrations. (Druse can’t recommend petting the fuzzy little apian teddy bears as they sleep in a sheltering blossom, but he has tried it!) Here too are the adventures of the plant explorers who sailed and trekked across the world in search of new and exotic specimens, and whose exploits were far more harrowing than you might imagine. Some plants even factored into the instigation of war. But Druse then gives us a handy primer on the language of flowers (a single gardenia says, “I love you in secret,” and acacia blossoms say, “Let us be friends”). He considers the influence of plants on the history of fine and decorative arts, the way we garden now with stalwart, low-maintenance plants, and the ever more critical need for conservation.Planthropology is a wondrous ac-knowledgment, from one plant lover to his fellow devotees, of the limitless pleasure and deep wisdom to be found in the garden.

    Problems are alphabetized within each section and identified in full-color photographs. A quick overview of the problem and likely causes is followed by the author’s recommended fast and easy solution.

    After tireless hours of research to bring the most accurate and up-to-date information, as well as the most intriguing facts and historical illuminations 75 Remarkable Fruits for Your Garden provides a history of each plant, thoughts and tips on growing it, and ends with a simple recipe for serving up these mouth-watering fruits in salads, side dishes, breads, and desserts.Fruits Include:Apple 'Ashmead's Kernel', Blood Banana, Currant 'Pink Champagne', Boysenberry, Autumn Olive, Fig 'Petite Negra', Grapefruit 'Red Rio', Honeyberry 'Blue Sky', Lime 'Key Lime', Mulberry 'Dwarf Weeping Black', Persimmon 'Jiro', Prickly Pear 'Burbank', Rhubarb 'MacDonald',Author Bio: Jack Staub is one of the country's leading experts on fruit and vegetable gardening. He frequently lectures on the subject, and his articles have appeared in numerous magazines and print publications, including Country Living, Fine Gardening, and The New York Times. He is also a featured guest on NPR. You can learn more about Jack and Hortulus Farms at http: //hortulusfarmdiary.blogspot.com.

    Ragged robin. Costmary. Pennyroyal. All-heal. These plants, whose very names conjure up a bygone world, were among the great variety of flowers and herbs grown in America’s colonial and early Federal gardens. In this sumptuously illustrated book, a leading historic plant expert brings this botanical heritage back to life.Drawing on years of archival research and field trials in Colonial Williamsburg’s gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia, Lawrence Griffith documents fifty-six species of flowers and herbs and provides details on how they were cultivated and used. For each plant, an elegant period hand-colored engraving, watercolor, or woodcut is presented along with glorious new photographs by Barbara Temple Lombardi.This book is a dazzling treat for armchair gardeners and for those who have visited and admired the famous gardens of Colonial Williamsburg. It is also an invaluable companion for twenty-first-century gardeners who will appreciate the specific advice of a master gardener on how to plan, choose appropriate species for, and maintain a beautiful, historic flower and herb garden.The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a not-for-profit educational institution that operates the world’s largest living history museum.

    Includes detailed plant descriptions, the stories behind the selections, growing tips, anecdotal comments, photographs, and exquisite botanical illustrations.

    Presented as 35 loose-leaf Elephant folio-sized color prints as well as a booklet including an introduction and the original texts of the 31 botanical plates TASCHEN's Temple of Flora consists of the following, packaged in a presentation case: a 44-page booklet including author Werner Dressend????rfer's introduction as well as the texts of the 31 botanical plates 33 loose-leaf Elephant folio-sized color prints for browsing or framing

    Make this guide a must-have resource for anyone interested in growing vegetables, no matter what their space requirements. Helpful charts will outline when to plant and when to harvest cool and warm season vegetables.

    Descended from Chinese garden hybrids introduced into Europe in the early 19th century, tea roses have long been considered in a class of their own for their exquisite colors, distinctive fragrance, fine foliage, and almost constant flushes of flowers in warmer climates. They were looked upon as almost perfect roses, but the passage of time and the vagaries of fashion saw them lose favor and all but disappear. In this book, the authors have covered the history of tea roses, their rise and fall in popularity, and the nomenclature problems that arose during their revival when interest in old roses was rekindled in the later 20th century. Full details are given of tea roses currently sold in Australia. The authors bring together their own observations and knowledge of the teas they have personally cultivated. Lavishly illustrated with color photographs and historical plates, this inviting book shares the beauty and the fascinating story of the tea roses.

    But even experienced horticulturists can be mystified about how nature sows and germinates seeds especially acorns and walnuts.Thanks to this book, any gardener can now grow trees from seeds within as little as ten years. The secrets are to know what seeds to collect and how to prepare and plant them. From their extensive knowledge, the authors guide the reader in identifying native trees, vines and shrubs and describe howto propagate them.Growing Trees from Seed covers the ecology, abundance, fruit characteristics and edibility of the more than 200 species discussed in this book. There is expert guidance on when to gather fruits, how to extract seeds from the fruit, and when and how to treat and germinate the seed, plus information on transplanting and expected growth rate. Alerts throughout the book identify closely related non-native species now common to various regions.Many illustrations and descriptions help the reader with plant identification. A seed-treatment guide provides a handy reference.Among the trees, vines and shrubs covered are:Alders Beeches Berries Birches Cedars Cherries Chestnuts Clematis Dogwoods Elms Firs and pines Hickories Junipers Laurels Maples Oaks Plums Poplars Spruces Walnuts Willows. There is no better guidebook on how to grow native trees from seed.

    A stunning showcase of 120 full-color plates, this specially chosen collection features beautiful Eastern and Western botanicals that will delight flower lovers, artists, designers, and devotees of fine art. Admire such familiar and unusual blossoms as the poppy, rose, anemone, cyclamen, delphinium, water lily, lupine, passion flower, allamanda, phlox, dahlia, petunia, tulip, freesia, pansy, begonia, and many more beautiful blooms!Tanigami Kônan (1879–1928) was a genius at the art of woodblock creation and color gradation, and he is still celebrated as one of the finest artists of this highly specialized technique. Captions and a complete index are included in this distinct keepsake edition.

    The book shows how to grow more than 150 kitchen garden crops with step-by-step instructions.

    Water features, oversized and broadleaved plants, expansive use of color, zone-pushing tropicals, architectural emphasis, and elements of classicism and mystery-all combine to create a magical space. The authors describe how you too can achieve this kind of retreat for reflection in your own backyard. From practical advice on how to make a slow-drip natural fountain to tips on building an inexpensive Tuscan-style wall, you will be encouraged to use your imagination and take risks. Stunning photographs perfectly complement the inspiring text.

    She is well known as the founder of Koanga Institute, a charitable trust dedicated to saving heirloom food plants and supporting gardeners to use them in their lives again.Kay is a dedicated practitioneror permaculture and bio-intensive gardening.

    From preparing a new garden to maintaining fertility, from sowing seed to saving seed, step-by-step instructions an concise overviews help you garden every step of the way!

    That dream can become a reality with the help of this indispensable new reference book which provides concrete solutions to the questions and hurdles faced by gardeners coping with dry conditions.Abundantly illustrated with more than 400 original color photographs, this is a vital book for novice and experienced gardeners alike. It includes an A—Z list of more than 500 drought-resistant plants with details on the plant's scientific name, geographical origin, height and width, exposure and hardiness, foliage, ideal soil conditions, and related or complementary plants, and provides techniques for soil preparation, planting, and maintenance of gardens and landscapes.

    Amp up the flavor factor of your favorite foods with savory spices, add a splash of color to your wardrobe, create wholesome and delicious culinary recipes, mix healing salves and tonics to ward off illnesses—and cultivate your personal connection to the natural world.Enchanting you with herbal wisdom for over fifteen years, Llewellyn's Herbal Almanac offers three dozen articles that delve into the nourishing and healing properties of the earth's most potent and bountiful gift. Get ready to heighten your green consciousness, and feel the powerful influence of herbs in your life.Lazy Gardens for Busy Bodies by Elizabeth BarretteGrasses in the Herb Garden by James KambosPractical Pestos by Suzanne RessWinter and Summer Savory by Anne SalaHerbs for Young Children by Clea DanaanPet Food Cooked with Love (and Herbs) by Kaaren ChristOrganic Cosmetics by Sally CraginCosmetics of Ancient Egypt—Today! by Sorita d'EsteHerbal Home Care by Janice SharkeyA Plate of Herbal Passion by Nancy V. Bennett

    â€¢ Includes bonus in-depth information on the history of orchids so homeowners understand why orchids require certain growing conditions and care.• Invaluable resource for both novice and experienced orchid lovers.

    Each informs and illuminates the other in this loving celebration of nature's gifts and neighbourly friendship. Literature, poetry, spirituality and memory all merge to create an exquisite series of stories of our times. For all the changes in the contemporary countryside, timeless qualities remain and both are captured here with a poet's understanding and imagination.

    The latest revision combines Fiala's passion for lilacs with the expertise of Canadian plantsman Freek Vrugtman, the international lilac registrar. The new book provides up-to-date information on the 21 known lilac species and 10 natural hybrids, as well as hundreds of the 2000 named cultivars. Five hundred color photos have been added, including some which show the newest introductions from Russia and Poland. The text addresses practical concerns of selecting, growing, propagating, and using lilacs in the landscape, alone or with companion plants. It also provides fascinating details of the history, origin, and discovery of the species and of the people behind the development of the cultivars. A new chapter on lilacs in art and crafts and an updated list of places where lilacs can be viewed and celebrated complete this rich resource. Packed with 580 gorgeous color photographs, most of them previously unpublished, Lilacs: A Gardener's Encyclopedia tells the story of a classic spring-flowering shrub cherished for its reliable masses of colorful flowers and sweet fragrance.

    Traveling across the country from Tennessee to Montana, Mobley and his camera were welcomed into the homes of over one hundred farming families, who graciously shared their personal histories along with the fruits of their labor. To spend time with them was to turn back the clock--to an era when there were no locks on doors, no urban sprawl, and no virtue more prized than common decency. Children still move across the street and not across the state when they grow up, and parents move back in with their children whern they grow old. Story after story, visit after visit, Mobley slowly came to know the independent farmer's spirit both from behind the lens and over the dinner table.The result is a stunning series of portraits and direct quotes that collectively chronicle the life of the American farmer. Each image offers an unvarnished and intimate look inside the hardships and joys of a quickly disappearing lifestyle--one that once defined our national identity and now struggles just to keep a foothold. And even as encroaching cities threaten their livelihoods, these men and women continue to find sustenance in the same basic human values they were raised with. American Farmer is an inspirational reminder of what it means to live with simplicity and contentment, in a world that is driven by excess. This vivid portfolio is accompanied by anecdotes and memories in the farmer's own words that are both a testament to their enduring hospitatlity and a moving glimpse into their daily routines and family histories. But what you will read first, and foremost, are their faces. From Bruce Crump, a citrus farmer in Florida; to Patsy Fribley, a stockyard dealer from Montana; to Thurston Wilber, a Maine lobsterman, Mobley's intense and beautiful portraits capture the furrows of fields lining their brows, the crevices of drought creasing the corners of their mouths, and the grains of truth in their squinted eyes.35 states included: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming

    Reflecting modern best-practice, this definative guide explains all the essential techniques you're ever likely to need."The RHS New Encyclopedia of Gardening Techniques" is a clear and informative guide explaining all the essential techniques you are ever likely to need.It reflects our modern best-practice gardening here at the Royal Horticultural Society.All techniques are shown clearly and simply with step-by-step instructions for every gardener to follow.It contains more than 2000 clear and concise colour illustrations supported by over 1000 beautiful colour photos.This book includes steps for planning, pruning, propagating, feeding and watering; covers all plants including trees, flowers, shrubs, climbers, lawns, vegetables, fruit and herbs.It shows how to create water features and patios, add lighting; and, includes organic techniques, recycling and how to treat pests and diseases.There are also chapters on container gardening, gardening under glass, garden tools and equipment, and everyday garden maintenance, as well as on landscaping and construction work.The wealth of practical information makes this book an essential purchase for both professional and amateur gardeners.

    Everything you need to know about cultivating all of the common vegetable crops, & a lot more, including planning, soil preparation, where & when to plant, raising transplants, direct sowing transplanting, supporting, fertilizing, watering, weeding, pest control, harvesting, seed saving & cooking.

    But contending with difficult soils, three-digit summer temperatures, and minimal rainfall can pose a daunting challenge. To add to the dilemma, many plants that prosper in other parts of the country can't be grown in the Southwest without resorting to wasteful artificial irrigation. The solution to this conundrum is choosing plants that are adapted to the rigors of the southwestern climate. In Trees and Shrubs for the Southwest, readers will find profiles of more than 200 of the most attractive, easy-to-grow, and climate appropriate trees and shrubs. Mary Irish also provides expert information about how to use trees and shrubs in the garden, how to plant and care for them, and how to combat common pests and diseases. This comprehensive title also includes clear and concise instructions on common tasks such as planting, staking, and pruning. From feathery-leaved acacias to bright-flowered desert willows, tough-as-nails mesquites to silvery Texas rangers, homeowners who want to create an attractive, sustainable landscape will find no better resource.

    In fact, moth orchids are the most popular orchids in the world, accounting for a staggering 75 percent of all orchid plant sales. More than merely beautiful, they are also among the easiest orchids to grow, whether in greenhouses, on windowsills, or under artificial lights.Professional horticulturalist and orchid expert Steven A. Frowine, author of Miniature Orchids, focuses on the new orchid stars while also providing a detailed look at the classic hybrids and species. Readers will be enticed by the book's lavish color photographs and gratified by the wealth of practical advice on selecting and buying moth orchids. Most importantly, Frowine shares his secrets on how these glorious plants can be grown to perfection, with recommendations about light levels, potting media, watering, and feeding.

    For gardeners committed to a safe, natural, and healthy approach, this reference covers a wide range of organic concerns and can help the beginner get started while showing the seasoned gardener how to do even better.

    Week by week I have tried to show not only what must be done but also the best way in which to do it. The book is aimed at beginners that is hoped to simplify, not complicate the application of information to each and every year." Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are now republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

    The Thrifty Gardener is about creating the garden of your dreams, regardless of resources or limited space. It will eliminate the intimidation factor and reveal the ins-and-outs of soil, seeds, sowing and growing. At the heart of this book is a DIY ethic that says you don't always have to buy what you need – you can make it, take it or swap it with friends. From creating window boxes out of champagne cases to creating your own elegant compost bin, from bulking up perennials to finding plants for free, this book is packed with offbeat projects for a new generation of gardeners.

    And despite their versatility and beauty, they are often underused. Why? Most people, including knowledgeable gardeners, equate evergreens with conifers—and Christmas trees— rather than broadleaved plants. And many of the most attractive broadleaved evergreens have only recently become commercially available. Sean Hogan—one of America's most respected and well-known horticulturists—aims to correct the problem with this groundbreaking title. Ten years of research has gone into the detailed descriptions and photographs of more than 300 choice trees. Hogan opens our eyes to a largely unexplored world of foliar beauty—from China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan to Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand; from Chile and Argentina to Mexico and the western United States. Among the profiled plants are the drought-tolerant, russetbarked manzanitas; the finely textured, glossy-leaved azaras; and the exquisitely fragrant michelias. Also included are little-known gems from such well-known genera as the hollies and oaks. Hogan has filled an obvious gap in horticultural literature. By bringing to light hundreds of exciting plants that have the potential to transform gardens, he also performs an outstanding service.

    Garrett is one of Texas's top organic gardening experts, and gardeners rely on him for accurate, sensible advice about what to plant and how to maintain healthy yards and landscapes without synthetic fertilizers and toxic pesticides. In Plants for Houston and the Gulf Coast, Garrett presents nearly 400 plants, both native and adapted, that grow well in Southeast Texas.Like all of Howard Garrett's books, Plants for Houston and the Gulf Coast is loaded with indispensable gardening information:Nearly 400 trees, shrubs, groundcovers and vines, annuals and perennials, and grasses400 full-color, close-up photos of the plantsExpert information about each plant's appearance, growing requirements, landscape uses, potential problems, and other interesting factsPrecise, easy-to-follow instructions about how to design a garden, prepare the soil, install trees and other plants, grow grass and control weeds, and maintain the landscape and control pestsA detailed gardening calendar for Southeast Texas that lists specific plants to plant and maintenance tasks to perform each monthNo other book currently available provides such extensive and reliable information for Texas Gulf Coast gardeners.

    These climatic extremes rule out many standard garden plants that thrive in areas with greater rainfall and more moderate temperatures. Yet there is a wide variety of native plants that are not only beautiful but provide highly satisfactory choices for the western garden. In this comprehensive volume, Robert Nold describes the best picks among perennials and annuals; grasses; bulbs; rock garden plants; cacti; yuccas and other similar plants; shrubs; and trees-more than a thousand plants in all. Leavened with humor and rueful wisdom, Nold's pithy descriptions zero in on each plant's outstanding ornamental characteristics while giving the reader an accurate idea of what to expect from the plant's performance in the garden. With very few exceptions, the recommended plants can be expected to thrive without supplemental irrigation once established, and tolerate winter temperatures as low as -10F (-23C). Throughout, the book is illustrated with vivid color photographs and a selection of exquisite botanical watercolors by artist Cindy Nelson-Nold. Anyone with an interest in hardy, drought-tolerant plants will find in these pages an abundance of tempting possibilities with which to experiment. Indeed, High and Dry can serve as a highly useful tool for resource-conscious gardeners everywhere.

    Now completely updated and redesigned, Brooklyn Botanic Gardens essential, bestselling guide contains the latest information on modern composting techniques, from what to put in the pile to how best to use your compost in the garden. An expanded resource section features special advice for urban gardeners.

    With this book, you’ll know what to do each month to have gardening success all year. Written by authors in your state, the information is tailored to the issues that affect your garden the most.

    Because of this the gardens are situated over looking freeways, in downtown areas, in out of the way corners and busy neighborhoods. Beautiful full-color photos by Stacey J. Miller throughout!

    This full color book includes: *herb garden design and basic planting info *detailed section on what to do with the herbs, including storing *some basic recipes recommended species, cultivars and varities that work in your region * help in plant selection plus photos showing specific uses

    Make this guide a must-have resource for anyone interested in growing vegetables, no matter what their space requirements. Helpful charts will outline when to plant and when to harvest cool and warm season vegetables.

    But with its hot, humid summers and often bitterly cold winters, the Midwest presents a formidably challenging climate. This book provides concise, experience-tested information about popular perennials-including herbs, ornamental grasses, and bulbs-that can be grown successfully throughout a wide range of the midwestern United States (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin). From the unusual yellow-edged, mahogany-red, disk-shaped flowers of Mexican hat (Ratibida columnifera) to the demure charm of blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium), beautifully illustrated descriptions also tantalize with perennials that deserve wider appreciation for their superb garden qualities. In all, more than 400 plants are recommended, grouped into 140 main descriptions arranged alphabetically by botanical name. Each entry gives the plant's common name and describes its flowers, leaves, habit, soil and sun or shade requirements, propagation, insect and disease problems, outstanding cultivars and similar species, recommendations on where to use it, and other plants that will complement it. An easy-to-use box at the beginning of each description summarizes key characteristics. Native midwesterner Anthony Kahtz holds a Ph.D. in horticulture from the University of Illinois. His plant selections are based on his many years of professional and personal experience and represent perennials noteworthy both for their ornamental features and for the ease with which they can be grown. This trustworthy guide will be an indispensable aid to gardeners in America's heartland who seek to make their time in the garden easier and more fun.

    Large patio pots and grow bags can bring this useful hobby to the smallest of spaces.A book that introduces the basics in a picture-packed format. Everything that you could want for your new personal eating experience is here, from veggies through herbs and fruits, to the kitchen and the recipes to use for it all.It’s all very accessible and simply laid out. One step at a time to becoming a real gardener.

    They’re fascinated by the way a seed, when planted, watered, and cared for, sprouts into a baby plant that’s soon putting out its first roots and leaves. Inspired by children’s innate affinity for gardening, Tina Davis has created Sow and Grow—a year’s worth of playtime ideas that combine fun and learning with a child’s sense of wonder at the natural world.In this, the third in her enchantingly designed series of children’s books, Davis has devised a calendar of indoor-gardening and related activities, all linked to seasonal celebrations and changes: For April, she suggests planting tiny spring gardens in eggshells. For September, pressing late-summer flowers and autumn leaves. For December, decorating the house with living greenery. Each activity is described in child-friendly language—and parents are invited to participate!Sow and Grow also acquaints children with the basics of plant biology, teaching them the meanings of words like “fruit” and “flower” and explaining the roles of light, air, and water in plants’ development. Like Davis’s other books, Sow and Grow is illustrated with charming vintage drawings from children’s books of the past. Its lay-flat wire-o binding makes it easy to refer to during use.

    Child (1832), Foods That Will Win The War And How To Cook Them by C. Houston Goudiss (1918), Home Vegetable Gardening: A Complete And Practical Guide To The Planting And Care Of All Vegetables, Fruits And Berries Worth Growing For Home Use, by F. F. Rockwell (1911) and Cassell's Vegetarian Cookery: A Manual Of Cheap And Wholesome Diet, by A.G. Payne (1891). With over 400 pages of frugal food recipes, household hints, money saving tips, backyard gardening guidance and more, The Better Days Books Frugal Food Bible is a gift of practical wisdom from the past that no modern family can afford to be without during the hard economic times ahead.

    These projects and plant related activities range from easy to difficult, and each has a touch of whimsy. The authors explain that whimsy is the counterpoint to the serious work of being human. These projects were designed by professional horticultural therapists to be fun while serving as great physical, mental and social exercises for everyone. Contains four kinds of activities Plant projects with creative activities and care notes accompanying each one. Craft activities range from creating a "Peace Card" to "Turning Your Problems into Compost." Quizzes on everything from garlic to coconuts. These are great conversation starters. Short stories that can be read aloud to a group or individually while waiting for the plants to grow. These are great springboards for discussion. There is also a comprehensive list of both safe and dangerous plants. Teachers, home schoolers, activity professionals, counselors, horticultural therapists, family caregivers and individuals of all ages will find these pages of value. The focus is on empowerment and creativity.

    Gardening expert Jack Staub continues his stimulating series on unique additions to your garden with 75 Exceptional Herbs for Your Garden.

    They are the unappreciated gifts of nature, worthy of far more extensive study by all.Extraordinary Leaves is a celebration of one of nature's miracles. As Dennis Schrader explains: "To prepare this book, I have been obligated to take a more intimate look at all aspect of leaves -their many uses, their place in history, the science behind what's going on in a leaf and the unadulterated, simple beauty of the leaf itself."Photographer Stephen Green-Armytage discovered the beauty of leaves while browsing in a greenhouse. The more he looked at the intricate patterns, the more fascinated he became. His photography in this book is the result of years of study, and it is strikingly beautiful.Through words and images, Extraordinary Leaves provides an insightful tour. Topics include color, pattern, texture and shape. Among the specific plants covered are coleus, kale, caladium and ferns.

    Worldwide, garlic cultivation occupies over 2 million acres of farmland, an area that has more than doubled since 1970. Yet even garlic fanciers may be unable to tell hardneck from softneck, or Purple Stripe from Rocambole, not to mention the hundreds of cultivated varieties grown today, many with distinct differences in taste and character. In fact, the wealth of garlic varieties in nearly a dozen horticultural groups rivals that of corn, carrots, apples, and peaches. This book is the most comprehensive and in-depth guide available to what surely should be the next gourmet frontier. From 'Ajo Rojo' to 'Zemo', Meredith presents illustrated profiles of nearly 150 cultivars. Detailed chapters cover natural history, the history of garlic in cultivation, the nuances of cuisine and culture, therapeutic benefits, plant structure, how to cultivate, curing and storage, taxonomy, pests and diseases, and chemistry. Especially useful are the Quick Guides, which summarize information on growing and buying garlic and provide recommendations for the best-tasting cultivars for specific uses and climates. Lists of garlic sources and organizations are a boon to the aficionado. Whether you share Ted Jordan Meredith's "garlic affliction" or just find the pungent bulb indispensable, you'll understand it as never before with this meticulously researched, lovingly written exploration.

    The balcony, backyard, patio or even the doorstep can all be turned over to vegetable production. Flowerpot Farming shows you how to create an orchard on the patio, grow new season potatoes out of gags and offers a continuous source of seasonal vegetables throughout the year. This resourceful and informative reference book details all you will need to know to turn your slabs of concrete into your very own grocery store. With plenty of advice on soil preparation, tools, maintenance, the best seeds, the best planting times and plenty more, this book will encourage everyone to get started in 'flowerpot farming'

    This is a friendly, visually welcoming gift book by the authors of Grow Organic [as co-authors], Good Bug Bad Bug [Jessica’s], and Tomatoes, Garlic Basil [Doug’s].  Hardcover with ruled blank pages for journal entries.

    It is a comprehensive and clearly written, practical guide on all of the grafting techniques the professional and home gardener is likely to need.The book begins with an introduction to vegetative propagation, which includes growing plants from cuttings as well as from grafts. It provides a brief history of the subject, explains how grafting works and shows why it is now the preferred technique for propagating most commercial plants. The following chapter introduces the reader to the tools that are needed and the basics of budding, grafting and multi-grafting. It gives step-by-step instructions for making grafts, advice on selecting scion wood, production and preparation of rootstocks and after-care of grafted plants.Separate chapters on budding and grafting describe the complete range of methods that can be used. The budding chapter covers T-budding, chip budding, patch budding and V-budding. The chapter on grafting covers the splice graft, wedge graft, whip and tongue graft, side graft, approach graft, seed grafting, grafting of herbaceous plants, machine bench grafting and top working established trees. The remainder of the book has separate entries discussing the preferred method of propagation for each of the plant species.

    Written especially for the beginner, it is clear and concise with appealing color photos of plants, butterflies, and habitat. Includes appropriate native and non-native habitat plants for the Bay Region, host plants for local butterflies, wildlife ponds, tips on growing natives, how to get started, resources and references.

    More than simply a landscape of trees and flowering shrubs, a Japanese garden provides a place of serenity and rest, filled with peaceful spots that lend themselves to meditation and contemplation. Japanese Gardens celebrates and illustrates this ideal, showcasing the exquisite natural beauty of more than 20 quintessentially Japanese gardens—big and small, urban and rural, traditional and contemporary.The expert author-and-photographer team behind this book excels at capturing and explaining the essential elements and techniques that distinguish Japanese garden design from that of other countries. The featured sites reflect a cross-section of Japanese culture and history including large feudal period gardens, temple and Zen gardens and private countryside gardens. The mountain flower garden, tea garden, rock garden and bonsai garden alike are all celebrated and appreciated in this beautiful book.

    Following a general introduction and a background chapter on Late Antique and medieval theories of wellness and therapy, in-depth essays treat such wide-ranging topics as medicine and astrology, charms and magical remedies, herbal glossaries, illuminated medical manuscripts, women's reproductive medicine, dietary cooking, gardens in social and political context, and recreated medieval gardens. They make a significant contribution to our understanding of the place of medicinal plants in medieval thought and practice, and thus lead to a greater appreciation of how medieval theories and therapies from diverse places developed in continuously evolving and cross-pollinating strands, and, in turn, how they contributed to broader ideas concerning the body, religion, identity, and the human relationship with the natural world. CONTRIBUTORS: ALAIN TOUWAIDE, LINDA EHRSAM VOIGTS, PETER DENDLE, TERENCE SCULLY, MARIA AMALIA D'ARONCO, PHILIP G. RUSCHE, MARIJANE OSBORN, PETER MURRAY JONES, GEORGE R. KEISER, EXPIRACION GARCIA SANCHEZ, DEIRDRE LARKIN

    Discover the beauty and practicality of palms with this book.- Solution-based, easy to understand, expert advice and winning techniques to growing subtropical plants and palms.- Learn which plants are best for you from the over 200 palms and other palm-like plants in the illustrated plant encyclopedia.- Rich with step-by-step information and instructions for every gardener, regardless of your experience level.

    With valuable care tips throughout the book, Arizona gardeners are handed the answers to the region's most common question. From pruning shrubs and trees to caring for cacti, succulents, and other desert perennials, this month-by-month guide to water-wise landscaping is the perfect handbook for desert homeowners. Easy to use, filled with colorful, descriptive photographs, and written by desert gardening expert Mary Irish, Month-By-Month Gardening in the Deserts of Arizona is like having a professional landscape advisor in the garden with you all year long.  The Month-By-Month Gardening series is the perfect companion to take the guesswork out of gardening. With this book, you'll know what to do each month to have gardening success all year in the xeric landscapes of Arizona and other Southwestern states. Written just for gardeners where you live, you can be confident that the information is right for you. Other Month-By-Month Gardening books in this series include: Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountain, Deep South, New England, Carolinas, Mid-Atlantic, Florida, and others.

    Gazebos, pergolas, trellises, arbors, and more! This book offers a multitude of ideas for overhead outdoor structures in a wide variety of settings and regional contexts, from small to large scale and from attached to unattached.Cutaways, exploded diagrams, charts, and graphs help readers decide whether to undertake a project themselves or hire someone to do it for them.Chapters on prefabricated structures and available kits as well as extensive comparisons of materials are provided to help readers make intelligent buying decisions.Must-know information on choosing and working with professionals is covered in detail.

    The basics of companion gardening can be easily integrated into one’s gardening style using the nurturing power of Mother Nature and taking fundamental principles into account. Not merely a seasonal occupation or hobby, companion planting is a natural way to restore balance to outdoor spaces. By planting certain plants in close proximity, each helps the others. Techniques such as increasing the essential oils and nutrients in plants, conditioning the soil, and attracting helpful insects are discussed, as are ways to reduce pests and diseases without the use of toxic pesticides.

    Now, in Paul Bangay's Garden Design Handbook, he shares his many secrets for successful garden designing and construction.He shows how to analyse a siteand its needs, how to visualise a garden and use space, and how to decide on and achieve the hard and soft landscaping best suited to a particular style. Using diagrams, step-by-step instructions, plant lists and above all Simon Griffiths's lustrous colour photography of his designs, Paul talks about everyaspect of garden building from developing a ground plan, constructing a retaining wall and fitting in a swimming pool to finding a lawn substitute and drought-tolerant plants.Every page breathes with an infectious committmentto good design and the recuperative pleasures of gardening. Paul Bangay's Garden Design Handbook is instructive, inspiring, empowering -the guide to have on hand as you approach the challenges of garden making today.

    Even smaller-scale designers and landscapers can't afford to guess wrong when setting up flower beds that have to look their best on cue. This is the only book available to provide an authoritative, deeply researched guide to flowering time for more than 450 perennial flowers. No designer, landscaper, or public garden can afford to be without it. When Perennials Bloom is based on groundbreaking research on the exact bloom time of particular flowers from around the world—from Moscow to Missouri. Organized alphabetically by flower and including detailed charts and graphs, this book presents a system to predict the groupings of flowers that will reliably bloom at the same time. Introductory chapters explain the seasonal development of various perennial plants, the response of plants to weather conditions, and basic concepts of phenology—the timing of natural phenomena. Detailed descriptions illustrated with stunning photographs, recommendations for garden use, analysis of bloom times, and graphs showing month-by-month bloom time round out this comprehensive title. Whether you're a home gardener who wants to plan an effective perennial border or a nursery, design, or landscape professional whose career survival depends on a plant's peak display, you will find this carefully compiled book to be an indispensable tool.

    - An unmatched source for all care techniques associated with perennials such as staking, deadheading and overwintering.- A special pictorial troubleshooting section to help gardeners diagnose the most common ailments their plants might suffer.- Shows gardeners how to care for perennials in even the most diverse regions.

    Often a rose will bear a person's name, for the breeding of roses is an art and, like all artists, the raisers of roses enjoy dedicating their creations to people they love or admire. But who was Madame Hardy? Bettina? Lorraine Lee or Henri Martin? Vita Sackville-West asked this question many years ago and rose-lovers are still asking. Here, at last, in an elegant, timeless and beautifully illustrated edition, is the answer. Anyone who loves these delightful flowers will find this collection of stories as beautiful as the bloom itself.