Drawing on insights gained from years of growing vegetables in Nova Scotia, Niki Jabbour shares her simple techniques for gardening throughout the year. Learn how to select the best varieties for each season, the art of succession planting, and how to build inexpensive structures to protect your crops from the elements. No matter where you live, you’ll soon enjoy a thriving vegetable garden year-round.

    About 75 percent of all flowering plants rely on pollinators in order to set seed or fruit, and from these plants comes one-third of the planet's food.Attracting Native Pollinators is a comprehensive guidebook for gardeners, small farmers, orchardists, beekeepers, naturalists, environmentalists, and public land managers on how to protect and encourage the activity of the native pollinators of North America. Written by staff of the Xerces Society, an international nonprofit organization that is leading the way in pollinator conservation, this book presents a thorough overview of the problem along with positive solutions for how to provide bountiful harvests on farms and gardens, maintain healthy plant communinities in wildlands, provide food for wildlife, and beautify the landscape with flowers.Full-color photographs introduce readers to more than 80 species of native pollinators -- including bees, flies, butterflies, wasps, and moths -- noting each one's range and habits. The heart of the book provides detailed garden plans and techniques showing how to create flowering habitat to attract a variety of these pollinators, help expand the pollinator population, and provide pollinators with inviting nesting sites. Readers will also find useful instructions for creating nesting structures, educational activities for involving children, and an extensive list of resources. Attracting Native Pollinators is an essential reference book and action guide for anyone who is involved in growing food or is concerned about the future of our food supply.

    Detailed weekly to-do lists break gardening down into simple and manageable tasks so that you always know what needs to be done and when to do it, from starting seeds and planting strawberries to checking for tomato hornworms and harvesting carrots. Enjoy a bountiful harvest with this organized and stress-free approach to gardening.

    Gail Damerow covers everything you need to successfully raise your own farm animals, from selecting the right breeds to producing delicious fresh milk, cheese, honey, eggs, and meat. Even with just a small plot of land, you can become more self-sufficient, save money, and enjoy healthy, delicious animal products. Also available in this series: The Backyard Homestead, The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects, The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, and The Backyard Homestead Book of Kitchen Know-How.

    Over 380 genera. More than 3700 species and cultivars.Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs is the most comprehensive visual reference to more than 3700 species and cultivars. From majestic evergreens to delicate vines and flowering shrubs, Dirr features thousands of plants and all the essential details for identification, planting, and care. Color photographs show each tree's habit in winter, distinctive bark patterns, fall color, and more. Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs is a critical addition to any garden library.

    You’ll discover that container gardening is an easy and fun way to enjoy summer’s bounty in even the smallest of growing spaces.

    Rather than organizing plants, including trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, by flower color or family characteristics, as is done in most guidebooks, botanist Tim Spira takes a holistic, ecological approach that enables the reader to identify and learn about plants in their natural communities. This approach, says Spira, better reflects the natural world, as plants, like other organisms, don't live in isolation; they coexist and interact in myriad ways. Full-color photo keys allow the reader to rapidly preview plants found within each of the 21 major plant communities described, and the illustrated species description for each of the 340 featured plants includes fascinating information about the ecology and natural history of each plant in its larger environment. With this new format, readers can see how the mountain and piedmont landscapes form a mosaic of plant communities that harbor particular groups of plants. The volume also includes a glossary, illustrations of plant structures, and descriptions of sites to visit. Whether you're a beginning naturalist or an expert botanist, this guidebook is a useful companion on field excursions and wildflower walks, as well as a valuable reference. Southern Gateways Guide is a registered trademark of the University of North Carolina Press

    A combination of aquaculture and hydroponics, aquaponic gardening is an amazingly productive way to grow organic vegetables, greens, herbs, and fruits, while providing the added benefits of fresh fish as a safe, healthy source of protein. On a larger scale, it is a key solution to mitigating food insecurity, climate change, groundwater pollution, and the impacts of overfishing on our oceans.Aquaponic Gardening is the definitive do-it-yourself home manual, focused on giving you all the tools you need to create your own aquaponic system and enjoy healthy, safe, fresh, and delicious food all year round. Starting with an overview of the theory, benefits, and potential of aquaponics, the book goes on to explain:System location considerations and hardware components The living elements—fish, plants, bacteria, and worms Putting it all together—starting and maintaining a healthy systemAquaponics systems are completely organic. They are four to six times more productive and use ninety percent less water than conventional gardens. Other advantages include no weeds, fewer pests, and no watering, fertilizing, bending, digging, or heavy lifting—in fact, there really is no downside! Anyone interested in taking the next step towards self-sufficiency will be fascinated by this practical, accessible, and well-illustrated guide.Sylvia Bernstein is the president and founder of The Aquaponic Source. An internationally recognized expert on aquaponic gardening, Sylvia speaks, writes, and blogs extensively about this revolutionary technique.

    Each entry includes information on the plant's native habitat, its cultivation requirements, and its horticultural potential. As useful to novice growers as to collectors and those with an existing interest in succulents, this will be the standard reference for years to come.

    Increasingly there are concerns in regards to not only the quality but the purity of imported herbs, and wild herbs picked for medicinal purposes are ever more endangered than in past years both at home and abroad.Peg Schafer, longtime grower and teacher, guides readers with information on propagating, cultivating, and harvesting Chinese herbs, and presents fascinating new scientific data that reveal the age-old wisdom of nature and the traditional systems of Chinese medicine. Through 79 detailed herb profiles--all tested and trialed on Schafer's certified organic farm-Schafer offers easy-to-follow information, suitable for both growers and practitioners, for growing efficacious wild-simulated herbs. Also included is important information on species conservation, crop integration, and how to avoid the introduction of invasive species. Sidebars on traditional medicinal uses for each herb and delicious recipes are also featured throughout.Vegetable and CSA farmers will find this book of great interest for adding value-added crops to their repertoire, and beginner growers looking to incorporate medicinals into their gardens will find this an invaluable guide to understanding where herbal medicine comes from, and will make eating-your-medicine more accessible than ever.

    It’s easy, and it’s fun! Authors Robert Gough and Cheryl Moore-Gough thoroughly explain every step in the seed-saving process. Descriptions of seed biology; tips on how to select plants for the best seeds; and advice on harvesting and cleaning, proper storage and care, and propagating and caring for new seedlings are all presented with clear, easy-to-follow instructions. Chapters dedicated to individual plants contain species-specific directions and detailed information. Gardeners of any experience level will find all the information they need to extend the life of their favorite plants to the next generation and beyond.

    Now Swift, one of the most-admired gardening writers of her generation, returns to describe a year in the life of the garden in The Morville Year.From the new beginnings and green shoots of March as the weather teeters back and forth between Winter and Spring as if trying to make up its mind, through the intoxicating simple pleasures of the first smell of freshly-mown grass and May flower festivals, all the way through the year in her wonderful garden, Swift takes the reader on a journey that will appeal to gardeners and non-gardeners alike. Every bit as beautifully produced as The Morville Hours, the book will include chapter-opening illustrations by Dawn Burford and four inserts of colour photography (one for each season) by Jane Sebire to show the garden in all its splendour. Those who loved The Morville Hours will again fall under Katherine's spell while those who haven't yet been taken to Morville will delight in discovering it for the first time.

    She was also becoming a capable gardener under the tutelage of her mother, Chestina Welty, who designed their modest garden in Jackson, Mississippi. From the beginning, Eudora wove images of southern flora and gardens into her writing, yet few outside her personal circle knew that the images were drawn directly from her passionate connection to and abiding knowledge of her own garden.Near the end of her life, Welty still resided in her parents' house, but the garden-and the friends who remembered it-had all but vanished. When a local garden designer offered to help bring it back, Welty began remembering the flowers that had grown in what she called "my mother's garden." By the time Eudora died, that gardener, Susan Haltom, was leading a historic restoration. When Welty's private papers were released several years after her death, they confirmed that the writer had sought both inspiration and a creative outlet there. This book contains many previously unpublished writings, including literary passages and excerpts from Welty's private correspondence about the garden.The authors of "One Writer's Garden" also draw connections between Welty's gardening and her writing. They show how the garden echoed the prevailing style of Welty's mother's generation, which in turn mirrored wider trends in American life: Progressive-era optimism, a rising middle class, prosperity, new technology, women's clubs, garden clubs, streetcar suburbs, civic beautification, conservation, plant introductions, and garden writing. The authors illustrate this garden's history--and the broader story of how American gardens evolved in the early twentieth century-with images from contemporary garden literature, seed catalogs, and advertisements, as well as unique historic photographs. Noted landscape photographer Langdon Clay captures the restored garden through the seasons.

    Tomatomania! walks readers through every step of the tomato gardening process, from the earliest planning stages to those final satisfying kitchen table moments of the season.Including 20 simple yet unique recipes and numerous kitchen tips to get the most out of your tomato harvest, this comprehensive guide to growing and cooking with tomatoes will turn you, too, into a proud 'maniac!

    Insightful, accessible text by gardening author Noel Kingsbury places Oudolf's work in context and explains how each garden and the plants selected for it fit the specific environment. Oudolf's detailed plans provide inspiration and insight for all interested in small personal gardens and the design of large-scale public landscapes alike."

    It also covers growing for the ‘hungry gap’ from April to early June.Not much grows in winter, but a well-organised plot may nonetheless be quite full. You need to plan carefully, and well ahead (as early as spring) for sowing and planting at specific times through the year, so the main part of the book is an extensive month-by-month sowing, planting and growing calendar. Further sections cover harvesting, from garlic in July right through to the last of the overwintered greens in May, and storing your produce.Many salads can be grown in winter, especially with a little protection from fleece, cloches or larger structures. The book includes a whole section on frost-hardy salad plants, explaining how to ensure harvests of fresh leaves throughout winter. The beauty of winter and its produce is captured in glorious photographs from the author’s garden.

    Plant entries provide the common and botanical name, the regions where the plant is best adapted, growth and care information, and notes on pests and disease. This practical and inspiring guide includes a variety of plants, from trees to succulents, perennials to bulbs, all selected for their wide adaptability and ornamental value. Companion plants, creative design ideas, and full color photography make this guide a must-have resource for any sustainable gardener.

    Authentic and easy-to-use, the book will reveal how Italians use vegetles year-round to prepare simple yet crowd-pleasing dishes.The book is organized by season in four color-coded sections (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter) to help you conveniently browse for recipes by time of year. Each season is subdivided into chapters for different vegetles highlighting best-known varieties, appearance, storage and preparation and everything you need to know to maximize flavor and nutritional content. It even includes information on how to plant and harvest each vegetle in your own home garden.Then come the recipes! Each season includes approximately 100 recipes organized further by main vegetle ingredient. For example for Spring, the book reveals how to utilize the best of the season?s bounty with main ingredients including Spinach, Swiss Chard, Wild Greens, Artichokes, Asparagus, Fava Beans, Peas, Radishes, Avocados, Onions and Belgian Endive.Offering something for everyone, two-thirds of the recipes are vegetarian, and the remaining third feature beef, chicken, pork or fish as co-stars and are coded with unique symbols to make pleasing any dietary preference easy. As stated in the book's introduction by the Editors, Italian cuisine is by no means vegetarian, but vegetables play an important and integral role to every meal.

    Authors Lewis Hill and Leonard Perry provide everything you need to know to successfully grow delicious organic fruit at home, from choosing the best varieties for your area to planting, pruning, and harvesting a bountiful crop. With tips on cultivating strawberries, raspberries, grapes, pears, peaches, and more, this essential reference guide will inspire year after year of abundantly fruitful gardening.

    That’s good news for gardeners everywhere, as the “eat local” movement continues to gain momentum across the country. What to grow? Where to plant it? How to get the most from your garden? It’s all in here. First-rate gardening pros share their expertise on designing a garden of any size, as well as fundamentals about soil, irrigation, pest control, crop rotation, and more. With detailed advice on growing 85 crops, plus sidebars on how to make a garden as attractive as it is productive, readers will delight in finding all the information they’ll ever need on vegetable gardening in one place.

    In this indispensable guide, Farm City author Novella Carpenter and Willow Rosenthal share their experience as successful urban farmers and provide practical blueprints-complete with rich visual material-for novice and experienced growers looking to bring the principles of ethical food to the city streets. The Essential Urban Farmer guides readers from day one to market day, advising on how to find the perfect site, design a landscape, and cultivate crops. For anyone who has ever grown herbs on windowsills, or tomatoes on fire escapes, this is an invaluable volume with the potential to change our menus, our health, and our cities forever.

    The perfect gift—a beautiful reference book celebrating British wild flowers, by the award-winning garden writer Sarah Raven.

    From greenswards and meadows to succulent and kitchen gardens, this book presents alternatives to the traditional lawn that can reduce water use, beautify the landscape, and attract birds and butterflies. The authors of Reimagining the California Lawn, Carol Bornstein, David Fross, and Bart O Brien, are visionary horticulturists who wrote the award-winning book California Native Plants for the Garden. With this new publication, they share their passion for water-wise plants and landscapes to help Californians discover the many possibilities and pleasures that come with reimagining the lawn. If you are thinking about removing or reducing your lawn, this inspiring book is the perfect companion to help you begin the process. Its detailed text provides information about how to plan, install, and maintain an attractive landscape that can replace your lawn and describes hundreds of water-thrifty plants from California and other mediterranean climates of the world. Reimagining the California Lawn is illustrated with more than 300 color photographs and offers a variety of plant palettes to choose from as you begin the process of creating a more sustainable landscape.

    After years of helping clients set up spaces to grow their own fruit and vegetables they believe anyone can create their own little edible garden, in most any area. And in this easy-to-use guide they show you how simple it is!Fundamentals such as Soil, Climate, Watering, Composting, Worm Farms, Saving and Sowing Seeds, and Raised Garden Beds and Crates are all discussed comprehensively – each with a fully illustrated step-by-step activity to help you create your own little veggie patch.The complete A-Z of Edible Plants gives you vital information on more than 40 vegetables (and fruit trees), including detailed planting information, ongoing maintenance advice, tips on best companions and when to harvest. And the family activities scattered throughout the book will get the kids involved too, whether it's Making a Scarecrow, Building a Spud Tower or Growing Beans in a Bean Can.Lots of fun, and packed full of all the information you'll need (plus some hilarious tips and stories from the Little Veggie Patch boys' own experience along the way), this colourful guide is for anyone interested in growing their own food.

    Arranged alphabetically, this book describes over 250 herbs and spices as well as offering feature entries on scented herb/medicinal gardens, herbalists and New World herbs.

    It combines practical advice with design inspiration and features step-by-step techniques with beautiful photography, as well as a planting guide to help you get the best out of your garden.Take a step towards self-sufficiency with a major section on growing your own fruit and vegetables or use the eye-catching catalogue of plants to see what you should be growing for every season and site. Plus, dedicated chapters focus on key gardening topics such as improving the soil, propogation, and problem-solving.RHS Complete Gardener's Manual is a great reference guide and a one-stop manual for both new and experienced gardeners alike.

    Comprehensive and fully illustrated, Growing Perennials in Cold Climates is an excellent resource for selecting, siting, planting, and maintaining perennials that flourish in northern climates. This expanded edition identifies the fifty most popular perennial groups, offers in-depth information on wild and cultivated varieties best suited to cold climates, and rates more than 500 of the choicest plants. In addition to the plant data, this book includes a concise course in perennial gardening, from preparing a site and buying potted perennials to composting, watering, mulching, fertilizing, weeding, staking, deadheading, pruning, protecting plants in winter, companion planting, and dealing with disease and insect problems. Owning this guide is like having a professional gardener at your side every step of the way. Written to make even the most sophisticated aspects of growing perennials easy to understand, this book will be indispensable to novice and advanced gardeners alike.

    are thinking hard about winter. This month's volume of Weekend Homesteader introduces two different ways to eat fresh produce deep into the cold months --- plucking winter squash and sweet potatoes right off the shelf and harvesting leafy greens from under quick hoops. Meanwhile, you'll take advantage of free mulch and compost going to waste in your neighborhood and will find out whether life at the poverty line is something to be scared of.For those of you who are new to Weekend Homesteader, this series walks you through the basics of growing your own food, cooking the bounty, preparing for emergency power outages, and achieving financial independence. Technically, the series began in May (or November in the southern hemisphere), but most of the projects are designed to be accessible even to someone starting from square one each month. This ebook, and each other volume in the series, presents one easy and fun project for each weekend so that you'll keep making headway without becoming overwhelmed.

    From bulbs to borders, weeds to watering, pick up gardening techniques, practical basics, and simple skills which will have your garden blooming. Top tips to guide you every step of the way with clear, easy-to-follow advice and photographs. Find out the principles of good of gardening - how plants work and how to give them what they need.This is your one-stop guide to creating and enjoying a garden of your own.

    If you need to fit homesteading into a few hours each weekend and would like to have fun while doing it, these projects will be right up your alley, whether you live on a forty-acre farm, a postage-stamp lawn in suburbia, or a high rise.The March volume includes the following projects: Plant a spring garden Grow edible mushrooms Attract native bees Learn to enjoy what you've gotThe second edition has been revised and expanded to match the paperback, with extra photos and feedback from weekend homesteaders just like you, plus permaculture-related avenues for the more advanced homesteader to explore.

    Now, in "Better Homes and Gardens(R) Herb Gardening, " you'll find simple, comprehensive guidance on planning, planting, creating, and caring for your own beautiful and delicious herb garden. With 35 projects, including handy shopping lists and simple instructions, this book will help you keep your garden growing for years to comeWhether you want to begin a large backyard garden or a small windowsill set-up, this book will guide you through all the critical steps with innovative ideas, simple plans and easy directions.Features more than 575 gorgeous full-color photos, including step-by-step photos to guide you through important stagesOffers 35 recipes for specific uses for herbs, such as homemade teas, spreads, potpourris, sauces, dressings, seasonings, and moreIncludes helpful seasonal-care charts and an encyclopedic listing of 145 herbs for easy identification and careFeatures an entire chapter of plant-by-number plans that are easy and simple, as well as tips from the "Better Homes and Gardens Garden Doctor" throughoutWith this beautifully photographed and easy-to-use guide, filling your home with fresh, aromatic herbs is easier than ever

    

    James Farmer III teaches respect for the age-old rules of flower and vegetable gardening in the Deep South (e.g., May is the time for pruning), in a fresh voice that resonates love of life and entertaining at home. Also included are delicious recipes for seasonal meals, as well as suggestions for floral arrangements and centerpieces created from the garden.

     Whether you are a beginner or more experienced, this comprehensive, practical, month-by-month guide to polytunnel gardening has got everything you need, telling you exactly what to do and when to do it, in order to grow the best fruit and vegetables all-year-round. From preparing the site to making a hotbed, from composts and organic feeds to identifying and coping with pests, plus information on how to get the best from each crop and month-to-month planting plans for year-round growing,  The Polytunnel Book provides a wealth of practical tips and techniques as well as celebrating what can be achieved. Illustrated with 300 stunning colour photographs, this practical guide to polytunnels hand guides you through each month of the year, ensuring the best results all year round.

    If you need to fit homesteading into a few hours each weekend and would like to have fun while doing it, these projects will be right up your alley, whether you live on a forty-acre farm, a postage-stamp lawn in suburbia, or a high rise.The December volume includes the following projects: Plant a fruit tree Cook up a pot of soup Narrow down your list of essential tools Stay warm without electricity The second edition has been revised and expanded to match the paperback, with extra photos and feedback from weekend homesteaders just like you, plus permaculture-related avenues for the more advanced homesteader to explore.

    Mainly, though, this is about what happens to our environment through the unregulated development and use of genetically engineered seeds and the chemicals involved in their use. But it is not a polemic; the story is told with humor and appreciation for volunteer groups everywhere.The following questions (and others) are answered in the novel.What happens when a Master Gardener innocently plants packets of magical seeds from the Peruvian Amazon in experimental plots operated by New Anglia’s agricultural college? Why does Bemis International Group, Agricultural Chemicals Division (BIG AG) feel so threatened by the plants those seeds produce? What is the mysterious eco-terrorism group doing to save the monarch butterfly?Best selling amazon.com author Rolf Margenau revisits the twenty-year-old hero of Public Information, Wylie Cypher, in his seventy-fifth year. He is a volunteer Master Gardener and is involved with four women plus Emma, his Weimaraner. One of those women is responsible for the plants that threaten to destabilize the comfortable world of seeds genetically engineered to withstand potent weed killers. Another is Wylie’s bitter ex-wife. The third is a granddaughter who lives with him as she completes law school and the fourth, Linda, is his former nurse who gives new meaning to septuagenarians living in sin.Wylie has had a career as an international attorney. He employs his negotiating and legal skills with varying degrees of success in resolving numerous challenges that arise during the fourteen-month period of the story. Mainly, he tries to save fellow Master Gardener Anne Proctor from ruin at the hands of BIG AG. In doing so, he leads an expedition to the jungles of the Peruvian Amazon to search for magic beans, corn and wheat. Elizabeth Pendleton Crangle (“Bitsy”) is an unlikely eco-terrorist whose monthly newspaper column offers timely gardening advice at the beginning of each chapter. Her guidance is spot on, but she does have a bit of an attitude. Gardeners will appreciate her suggestions that, as Bitsy says, will guarantee blissful gardening.Dick Geier, the ruthless and profane CEO of BIG AG, engages in corporate shenanigans that reflect current headlines. Among other things, he manages a program that infiltrates Master Gardener organizations throughout the country, and finds new and unethical ways to enrich himself and his cronies. The author tells the story with sharp insight and ribald humor. Gimlet prose enlivens the lawyers, tycoons, politicians, young and old lovers, windbags and adventurers who populate his story. The characters interact in Dickensian fashion, and most of them receive their just deserts. WARNING: This story may be unsuitable for politicians, corporate bigwigs, pundits and the like who might easily be offended by truth telling.

    With colour photographs and at-a-glance information on over 1,000 plants, the experts at the RHS give you the best options for each month, from radiant spring bulbs to shrubs with bright winter berries - all in a compact format.Choose from over 1,000 fully illustrated plants, divided into six seasonal sections and grouped according to colour for at-a-glance accessibility. With colour photographs and in-depth information, as well as advice on the latest trends, you'll know exactly when to plant your favourite flowers for best results with this handy planting guide.

    . .Heirloom plants belong in Southern gardens. Tough and adapted, tried and true, pretty and useful, these living antiques--passed through countless generations--represent the foundation of traditional gardens as we know them today. Heirloom Gardening in the South is a comprehensive resource that also offers a captivating, personal encounter with two dedicated and passionate gardeners whose love of heritage gardening infuses the work from beginning to end. Anyone who wants to know how to find and grow time-honored and pass-along plants or wants to create and nurture a traditional garden is sure to find this a must-have addition to their home gardening library. Inside the book:New essays on naturalizing daffodils, slips and starts, and growing fruit;A completely updated and expanded heirloom plant encyclopedia;Revised plant lists (bulbs, cemetery plants, etc.)New material on the creation of two of the authors' personal gardensBuilding on the popularity of the original edition, this lively, entertaining, and informative new book from two proven experts will be enthusiastically welcomed by gardeners and horticulturists throughout Texas and the South.

    It shows homeowners how to turn their yard into a productive and wholesome "homestead" that allows them to grow their own fruits and vegetables, and raise farm animals, including chickens and goats. Backyard Homesteading covers the laws and regulations of raising livestock in populated areas and demonstrates to readers how to use and  preserve the bounty they produce.

    

    Significantly expanding and updating the three-volume Michigan Flora, the book incorporates the discoveries of numerous additional species, recent systematic research, and a vast trove of new information on the shifting distributions of Michigan species. It presents concise identification keys, information about habitats, and completely updated distribution maps for all the seed plants, native or naturalized, that have been recorded from the state, fully treating over 2,700 species. All non-native species are included with notes on their first discovery in the state and comments on invasive tendencies. Rare native species that appear to be declining or to have shrinking ranges are also noted. This book is an essential reference for anyone interested in appreciating Michigan's natural heritage and understanding our ever-changing environment.

    Sando’s beans are sought after by famous chefs like Thomas Keller (Vallarta is his favorite), and he’s frequently profiled in publications such as Bon Appetit, Saveur, and the New York Times.In The Rancho Gordo Heirloom Bean Grower's Guide, Sando invites the gardener and home cook to share his passion, profiling the fifty best beans to grow, cook, and save. From the silky flavor of Good Mother Stallard to the buttery Runner Cannellinis, the most delicious varieties are presented in these pages along with growing tips, flavor notes, stories of their heritage, and beautiful photographs that showcase the unique beauty of each bean. In reintroducing the best of the New World heirloom beans, Sando has created a sensation, and food-lovers everywhere will relish transforming this humble staple into a celebrated delicacy.

    In The Garden in Art, acclaimed art historian Debra N. Mancoff reveals the many different ways in which artists from all periods of history – from ancient Egypt to the present day – have employed the motif of the garden. Featuring more than 200 illustrations of both renowned and lesser-known works, the book approaches its subject thematically, exploring such topics as working gardens, the garden through the seasons and artists’ gardens. Complete with a detailed timeline and a suggested list of gardens to visit, The Garden in Art is an absorbing and highly rewarding examination of the meaning and significance of the depiction of the garden.

    With fully researched entries on some 3,500 native and nonnative species, the book is the first in decades to provide a complete and correct botanical reference for the region's noncultivated plants. The volume includes many new species not documented in New England before, while also excluding many species that have erroneously appeared in earlier manuals.Focusing on the taxonomy and distribution of New England plants, the manual is largely dedicated to identification keys and to species entries that provide scientific name, origin, regional conservation ranking, common name, synonyms, distribution, ecology, and other miscellaneous items of interest. Nearly one-third of the entries are accompanied by helpful black-and-white line illustrations.Additional special features:Precise distribution information, accurate to the state levelDetails on unusual plant groups not included in other sourcesReliable and versatile keys for identificationTips on recognizing hybrid plants in the fieldA companion interactive teaching Web site (under development)Comprehensive glossary

    Watch each creature progress through different life stages as they eat, grow, and learn in a natural setting. Surprising and captivating, this one-of-a-kind introduction to the crawlers and flyers just outside the door is a delight for nature lovers of all ages.

    For ease of identification, the plants are arranged by flower color or growth form, providing a convenient way to distinguish a great majority of plants in any given woodland. Generous treatment is given to all major vascular plant groups of the forest, such as wildflowers, ferns, shrubs, trees, grasses, and sedges. Michael A. Homoya not only helps with identification, but also offers information on a plant's habitat, flowering period, familial relationships, biology, and connections to Indiana. For the garden enthusiast and habitat restorer, there is a section on landscaping and natural community restoration using native forest plants.A portion of the proceeds from each sale of this book go to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for land protection and stewardship.

    Two groups found exclusively in this region are the cotingas and the manakins. Few other families of birds have such widespread appeal. They are much sought after by birders for their colorful displays, unusual plumages, and, in some cases, great rarity. Their natural history and behavior offer fascinating case studies for evolutionary biologists, while the intriguingly elusive relationships of these birds are of profound interest to taxonomists.Cotingas and Manakins is the definitive work on these jewels of the Neotropics, covering more than 130 species. These range from some of the rarest and most enigmatic birds in the world to some of the best studied of all tropical species. Many are breathtakingly colorful and ornate while some are plain and difficult to see. This stunning volume features 34 color plates by Eustace Barnes, who has observed many of these species in the field, as well as distribution maps and approximately 400 color photographs that cover all but a tiny handful of species. Complete with detailed species accounts describing key identification features, Cotingas and Manakins is the authoritative illustrated guide to these magnificent Neotropical birds.Covers more than 130 species of cotingas and manakinsFeatures 34 color plates and about 400 color photosIncludes detailed species accounts and distribution mapsThe must-have illustrated guide to these colorful and exotic birds

    Gertrude Jekyll (1843–1932) laid the basis for modern garden design and is credited with popularizing an informal, naturalistic look in counterpoint to the rigid, formal landscapes of the Victorian era. Her collaboration with Edwin Lutyens produced seminal garden masterpieces of the Arts & Crafts movement, including Hestercombe and Folly Farm. Also known as a prolific and influential writer, Jekyll contributed more than a hundred articles to Country Life and designed three gardens for the publication’s founder, Edward Hudson. As a result, the Country Life archive has an unrivaled record of her work. This book includes a combination of both archival black-and-white and contemporary color photographs highlighting a selection of the more than 350 gardens Jekyll created. The book is organized in four sections and then concludes with an extensive bibliography and index. Introduction: Biographical overview: family, training, early influences, travel, homes; Accomplishments as an artist, gardener, designer, and writer; Circle of friends: artists, gardeners, architects, and writers; importance of their personal gardens, such as Gravetye Manor and Warley Place; Relationship with Country Life, Hudson, E. T. Cook, Robinson, Tipping, Weaver, Hussey; Importance of GJ's articles, books, and editorial activities related to Country Life Home and Garden: Discussion of Munstead Wood: its design, development, role of Lutyens, role played in Jekyll's books and articles for Country Life; visuals b/w, autochromes, and new color. Gardens of Lutyens and Jekyll: Discussion of their working and personal relationship; Jekyll's style with Lutyens design; progression of their partnership; Examples include: Orchards (1899), Tigbourne Court (1899), Goddards (1899), Deanery (1901), Bois des Moutiers (1904), Millmead (1905), Marsh Court (1905), Folly Farm (1906), Lambay (1907), Hestercombe (1908), Lindisfarne (1911), Gledstone (1925), Queen's Dolls' House (1924) Gardens for Small Country Houses: Jekyll's garden design style, her work with other architects, gardens she wrote about in Country Life, and influence on other designers; Examples include: Owlpen Manor, Little Boarhunt and Durford Edge (Triggs); Mounton House (Tipping); Hurtwood House and Westbrook (Turner); Manor House at Upton Grey (Newton), Townhill Park (Guthrie); Valewood Farm, Woodhouse Copse, (Oliver Hill) Garden Ornament: common features in period gardens drawn from Jekyll's books Wall and Water Gardens, Gardens for Small Country Houses, and Garden Ornament, with her comments; Examples of pergolas, arbors, water features, garden houses, ornament, etc., such as Iford, Easton,  (Peto); Deanery, Heywood, Marsh Court (Lutyens); Mathern and Mounton (Tipping); Leasowes and other Cotswold houses (Gimson et al); Little Boarhunt (Triggs), and more.

    It explains all you need to know in order to grow delicious fruit, from designing your orchard and planting your trees to harvesting your produce.Apples, pears, plums, cherries, apricots, peaches and nectarines, as well as less common fruits such as mulberries, medlars and figs, are covered in detail, with recommended varieties of each. The book describes all the pest and disease problems you may encounter and advises on how to deal with them. It explains about choosing rootstocks and suitable varieties for your needs, and illuminates the mysteries of pruning with step-by-step instructions and detailed diagrams. It features beautiful pictures throughout.The Fruit Tree Handbook conveys a deep respect for the natural world, showing how to cultivate healthy trees through good management, and also includes chapters on restoring an old orchard and setting up a community orchard. Whether you are planting a few trees in your garden or 50 trees in a field, this book provides the expert guidance you need to look after your trees – and be rewarded with basketfuls of luscious fruit at harvest time.

    Even if you've never grown an orchid, this straightforward and comprehensive guide for people of all gardening skill levels will show you how to get it right the first and every time.With colorful diagrams, helpful checklists that make shopping and planning a breeze, and easy-to-follow directions for all kinds of projects, it's the perfect guide to planning and maintaining your dream orchid collection.Chapters include a primer on understanding orchids, a glossary of orchid terminology, tips for selecting the best varieties for your region and situation, inspirational design ideas, and plant pairingsIncludes more than 525 gorgeous color photos throughout, including an orchid encyclopedia featuring more than 200 varieties of orchidsFeatures Better Homes and Gardens Test Garden tips and advice from the Better Homes and Gardens Garden Doctor throughoutPerfect for orchid lovers of any skill level, Orchid Gardening is the comprehensive, easy-to-use guide to selecting and caring for orchids.

     Accessing detailed and accurate information on tropical plants is not always easy, yet there is a huge interest in the beautiful and fascinating flora from the tropical regions of the world. This book is the most comprehensive survey of tropical plants in a single publication to date. Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants brings together over 3,000 species of tropical plants selected to reflect the major plant groups in the tropics all over the world. It uses the most up-to-date nomenclature and systematics and arranges the species in family order, rather than by the usual alphabetical genus name, which makes identification and comparison of similar plants easier. Species descriptions include the plant's leaves, flowers, stems and fruit, as well as its native habitat, distribution, blooming season and zone. Full-color photographs illustrate the major features of the plants described. Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants is an up-to-date, comprehensive and authoritative reference for botanists, horticulturists, professional growers and tropical plant enthusiasts.

    Arranged by seasons, Dan shares the challenges of gardening his city plot in a romantic and beautifully written series of diary-like essays, documenting the horticultural tasks required and sharing his successes and failures on the way. Written and photographed in 'real time' this book documents an urban garden and gardener at work, bringing the experience of gardening to life and offering a unique insight into the work and thoughts of the one of the world's most respected garden designers. <!--EndFragment-->

    This title feautres over 60 fun, child-friendly projects for gardening, with ideas for cultuvating flowers, growing fruit and vegetables, making crafty projects, and attracting insects, birds and animals.

    In this definitive guide, Alan Titchmarsh shows how to grow and care for roses in your garden. He covers all the essential techniques and provides inspirational ideas for training and planting schemes that will ensure healthy plants and stunning displays year on year.* A-Z directory of Alan's recommended roses* Essential techniques for pruning and support* How to combine roses with other plants* Suggested roses for all garden situations, including shady and exposed sites* Comprehensive guide to understanding rose types

    This manual provides a comprehensive breakdown of his macro and microbiotic farming techniques developed over years of study in Japan, Korea and the United States and gives an insight into farming methods that involve harnessing the power of beneficial microorganisms to boost soil health and produce yield without the need for harsh chemical fertilizers or processes that unnecessarily deplete the ecosystem of essential nutrients.

    A lifelong gardener, Simonds works the soil and the soul for wide-ranging revelations about everything from flowers that keep time, to the strange gift of compost, to great gardens of the world, to things lost and found underground.She is joined on her journey by a host of companions — including her Beloved, who tills by her side; the Rosarian, who tends to both bud and thorn in roses and life; and the Frisarian, who weeds unwelcome visitors to make room for new growth. Intelligent and intimate, irreverent and elegant, A New Leaf offers a cornucopia of enrichment and inspiration for the fertile mind.

    This encyclopedic reference demystifies gardening, bringing it back to the down-to-earth, environmentally practical activity that anyone can enjoy. Learn about:Planning your garden and preparing the soilOrganic fertilizers and simplified compostingGrowing healthy seedlings, transplanting, easy weeding and mulchingGrowing fruit and simple pruning methodsGreenhouses, tunnels, and containersOrganic pest management and morePacked with a wealth of information specific to the Pacific Northwest, this complete guide emphasizes low maintenance methods, exposes common gardening myths, includes a monthly garden schedule for year-round planting and harvesting, and features plant profiles for everything from apples to zucchini. Perfect for novice and experienced gardeners alike, Backyard Bounty shows how even the smallest garden can produce a surprising amount of food twelve months of the year.Linda Gilkeson is a passionate organic gardener with over forty years of gardening experience. She is a regular instructor in the Master Gardener programs in British Columbia and has led hundreds of workshops on pest management and organic gardening. Her Year-Around Harvest is considered the definitive guide to winter gardening on the west coast.

    Call it pot, bud, cannabis, ganja, dope—if you have the seeds, you can grow the weeds. Here are step-by-step directions to growing and managing your own marijuana plants. The author discusses both in-door and outdoor growing, including information on:• Choosing the right plants for your needs• Where to buy seeds• How to germinate the seeds• How to nurture the plants• How to prepare the final product• Problems to avoid• And more! In addition to more than 100 full-color, step-by-step photographs, the book features an extensive list of resources, making it the essential guide you need to grow your own weed.

    Highlights include: More than 370 new full-color photographs 100 portraits of underused, exceptional plants Information on drought-tolerant and deer-resistant plants Insights and lessons from Lauren’s three personal gardens

    With ideas for maximizing space and advice on garden design, planning and plant selection, this is the definitive handbook for anyone wanting to create a private haven in limited space.* Ideas for front gardens, side passages, courtyards, balconies, rooftops and windowsills* Tricks to make small spaces seem larger* How to use every inch of space, including containers* Easy-to-follow landscaping plans for all garden shapes and styles* Guidance on growing vegetables, herbs and fruit in small plots

    I am a great admirer of "chicken whisperer" Pammy Riggs, and with her two co-authors she has produced an admirably thorough guide to enjoying the pleasures and avoiding the pitfalls of keeping chickens. Get the book, and take the feathery plunge!" - Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall Keeping Chickens For Dummies provides you with an introduction to all aspects of keeping chickens, from constructing a hutch to the correct feeding regime. It offers expert advice straight from the River Cottage 'Chicken Whisperer', so whether you're looking to raise chickens for eggs, meat, or just the entertainment value and fun - Keeping Chickens For Dummies is the perfect place to start.Keeping Chickens For Dummies: Shows you how to keep chickens in different conditions Offers guidance on choosing and purchasing chickens Gives great step-by-step advice on constructing the right housing Provides expert advice on how to feed and care for your chickens

    The plants our ancestors grew tell stories about their way of life.   Wisconsin’s nineteenth-century settlers arrived in the New World in search of new opportunities and the chance to create a new life. These European immigrants and Yankee settlers brought their traditional foodways with them—their family recipes and the seeds, roots, and slips of cherished plants—to serve as comfort food, in the truest sense.    This part of our collective history comes alive at Old World Wisconsin’s re-created nineteenth-century heirloom gardens. In Putting Down Roots, historical gardener Marcia C. Carmichael guides us through these gardens, sharing insights on why the owners of the original houses—be they Yankee settlers, German, Norwegian, Irish, Danish, Polish, or Finnish immigrants—planted and harvested what they did. She shares timeless lessons with today’s gardeners and cooks about planting trends and practices, garden tools used by early settlers, popular plant varieties, and favorite flavors of Wisconsin’s early settlers, including recipes for such classics as Irish soda bread, pierogi, and Norwegian rhubarb custard.   Putting Down Roots celebrates the diversity and rich ethnic settlement of Wisconsin. It’s also a story of holding fast to one’s traditions and adapting to new ways that nourished one’s family so they could flourish in their new surroundings.

    . . a goat in your garage?! It might be if you've been reading The Urban Farm Handbook: City-Slicker Resources for Growing, Raising, Sourcing, Trading, and Preparing What You Eat. In this comprehensive guide for city-dwellers on how to wean themselves from commercial supermarkets, the authors map a plan for how to manage a busy, urban family life with home-grown foods, shared community efforts, and easy yet healthful practices.More than just a few ideas about gardening and raising chickens, The Urban Farm Handbook uses stories, charts, grocery lists, recipes, and calendars to inform and instruct. As busy urbanites who have learned how to do everything from making cheese and curing meat to collaborating with neighbors on a food bartering system, the authors share their own food journeys along with those of local producers and consumers who are changing the food systems in the Pacific Northwest. Organized seasonally, this handbook instructs on:> How to maximize space for planting a variety of fruits and vegetables> Small-animal husbandry and beekeeping> Canning, drying, freezing, fermenting, and pickling techniques> Grinding grains for flour and other uses> Tips for creating a farmer-to-consumer connection> How to form a "buying club" with neighbors> "Opportunities for Change" steps to followAnd so much more!

    Tom Turner follows the entire history of the European garden from its prehistoric roots right up to the present day in this beautifully illustrated book.European Gardens is divided into ten periods of history and garden development, detailing the advancement of land usage for over 10,000 years. Some of the topics covered in this comprehensive book include the Egyptian gardens of the Pharaohs, the castle gardens of medieval times, eclectic gardens of the nineteenth century and abstract gardens of the last 100 years. The geographical scope of this book covers the whole of the European continent, and touches the garden designs of North Africa and the Middle East.Turner is a skilled landscape architect and garden historian, who supports his engaging writing with his own detailed plans and diagrams. European Gardens also features almost 1,000 colour photographs from across the continent allowing the reader to see for themselves how the design and structure of gardens has developed over time.A companion to the Asian Gardens book, published by Routledge in 2010, European Gardens is a development of the original Garden History book from 2004.

    What are the key tasks for each month that the time-pressed flower gardener should do to ensure success? Which plants should you grow and which varieties will guarantee color, interest, and fragrance throughout the year? What are the most important things you need to know to keep your garden healthy, pest-free, bountiful, and beautiful? Pithy, practical and purposeful, for anyone who loves their plot but is forced to garden in snatched moments, this handy diary is full of tried-and-tested tips from a seasoned old hand.

    The effects of the moon on plants, flowers, fruits, and vegetables are explained in simple but ample detail, and recommendations for the ideal times to sow, transplant, rotate crops, and harvest are provided. This guide explains how animal husbandry, beekeeping, and even beer brewing and wine making yield better results when done in concert with the lunar cycle. In addition to gardening and farming advice, suggestions for living life in tune with the moon are offered, such as the optimum time for a haircut or even when and what to eat. An extensive color-coded daily diary section makes it easy to record reminders and daily gardening tasks. This biodynamic approach to gardening in harmony with the moon is a simple and green way to boost garden yields and live a better life.

    Indeed, few flowers can rival crocuses for the cheer they bring to the barren, late-winter garden and for the affection in which they are held by millions of gardeners. But though they’re viewed as an icon of early spring, crocuses aren’t just one-season wonders: there are also dozens of striking autumn-blooming species that appear just when they’re most needed, as summer’s flowers wind down. And because many species originate in the Mediterranean basin, they’re ideal for gardens in which summer irrigation has been reduced or eliminated.In this comprehensive, up-to-date volume, bulb expert Janis Rukšans surveys all the known species in this remarkable genus, including those that have been discovered since the appearance of Brian Mathew’s 1982 monograph. A seasoned plant explorer, Rukšans has observed many species in the wild, and so is able to offer valuable insights into how they may best be grown. He also discusses their use in the garden, their botanical characteristics, and classification—all in nonspecialist language so that even readers without a botanical background can profit by his knowledge and broad experience.Illustrated with 300 stunning photographs, this book will be indispensable for all those with a serious interest in crocuses, from collectors and bulb enthusiasts to nursery professionals and garden designers.

    Nearly 6 million copies of The Vegetable & Herb Expert have been sold and it is widely regarded as the grow-your-own bible.It takes the story from the seed packet to the back door, but the second half of the story has been neglected - taking the produce from the back door and on to the table.People who have grown their own vegetables and fruit want to know all the things they can do with them, but this is not in the standard cookery books.The Garden to Kitchen Expert provides this information.

    It’s all about back to basics: consumers are rejecting consumption and looking for more and more ways to reconnect with the earth, the community, and their food sources. Many people who have tried keeping chickens, toyed with turkeys, or even just fantasized about converting their quarter-acre suburban yard into a pasture has no doubt wondered: What about goats? I don't live on a farm—how do these lively, intelligent creatures fit into my life?This is a complete handbook for keeping all breeds of goats on smaller acreage. It includes essential information on the nuts and bolts of goat behavior:An extensive breed guide that teaches you how to make the best choice of breed for your lifestyleFencing and housingHealth and wellnessWhether to raise goats for product (milk, meat, fiber) or for companionshipAnd moreGet Your Goat is written for the new goat keeper, with all the right questions in mind!

    It includes an extensive Plant Guide, detailing the best wildlife-friendly plants suitable for the varied conditions and microclimates found across New England, along with cultivation hints and tips, and the species attracted by each plant. Broken down into sections for Annuals, Vegetables and Herbs, Bulbs and Perennials, Shrubs, Vines, and Medium to Large Mast Trees, The Green Garden includes an introduction and photos from renowned native plant author and propagator William Cullina, formerly from the New England Wild Flower Society, now Curator at Coastal Maine Botanic Garden. The Green Garden: A New England Guide to Planning, Planting, and Maintaining the Eco-Friendly Habitat Garden contains an extensive Plant Guide listing plants suitable for the varied conditions and microclimates found across New England, labeled with each plant's individual preferences and uses and broken down into sections for Annuals (Native and Nonnative); Vegetables and Culinary Herbs; Herbaceous Perennials and Bulbs; Native Grasses, Sedges, Rushes, and Other Grasslike Plants; Native New England Ferns; Perennial Vines; Shrubs and Small Trees; and Medium- to Large-Mast Trees.    Loaded with ideas, tips, and inspiration for gardening newbies and seasoned gardeners alike, this beautifully illustrated guide shows how to attract the wildlife you want while discouraging what you don't.

    Author and horticulturist Ray French summarizes the history of growing tobacco and then explains how age-old growing practices have now become a part of the easy, sustainable, organic methods for the home gardener. Ray also includes information on varieties and grades of tobacco, seed starting techniques, and suggestions for growing in the ground or in containers, all in this handy guide.

    This magnificently illustrated volume features 200 panoramic, full-color photographs as well as a color map for every site and at-a-glance information panels that highlight the kinds of flowers at each location and the best times to see them in bloom. The informative text gives a botanical profile of each location, and also describes the ecology and conservation status of these sites and the animal life to be found at them.A book unlike any other, Wildflower Wonders is a visual feast for travelers and armchair naturalists alike.Showcases the most spectacular wild flowerings on the planetFeatures 200 full-color photosDescribes noteworthy flower species, ecology, conservation status, and animal lifeIncludes color maps and at-a-glance information panels

    He is also a true allotmenteer, heading off to his plot whenever he can to get his hands dirty, find peace and contemplate life and nature. His book is a joy to read, humorous and humble, full of practical commonsense, and a belief in the values of community and sustainable living. There is plenty of advice here for plot holders - often of the what-not-to-do sort and written from sorry experience - and plenty of inspiration too in the creative ways that Cleve and his partner Christine make the most of their plot and enjoy the company of their fellow allotmenteers. There are easy to follow sections on Vegetables and Herbs, Flowers and Fruit, with recipes and troubleshooting tips as well as chapters on Community, Creativity and Children. Amply illustrated with Cleve's own beautiful photographs, fantastical drawings by Cleve and Christine and shots of the two of them at work taken by Cleve's cousin the garden photographer Derek St Romaine,

    This newly revised and updated edition provides detailed information about the preparation of alchemical elixirs from plants, the application of astrology to herbalism, and reveals secrets of occult ritual practice in the Tantric and Quabbalistic alchemical traditions.

    Shaw and the team at the Texas A&M University Institute of Renewable Natural Resources provide an indispensable reference to the world’s most economically important plant family. After discussing the impact of grass on our everyday lives as food, biofuels, land restoration, erosion control, and water become ever more urgent issues worldwide—the book then provides:a description of the structure of the grass plant;details of the classification and distribution of Texas grasses;brief species accounts;distributional maps;color photographs;plus black-and-white drawings of 670 grass species—native, introduced, and ornamental. Scientific keys help identify the grasses to group, genera, and species, and an alphabetized checklist includes information on: origin (native or introduced); longevity (annual or perennial);growth season (cool or warm season); endangered status;and occurrence (by ecological zone).A glossary, literature citations, and a quick index to genera round out the book.Guide to Texas Grasses is a comprehensive treatment of Texas grasses meant to assist students, botanists, ecologists, agronomists, range scientists, naturalists, researchers, extension agents, and others who work with or are interested in these important plants.

    Readers will find inspiring ideas for making the home landscape more attractive and functional. The 48 featured designs are created by landscape professionals from the region and use more than 200 plants that thrive in the southeast. Detailed instructions for projects such as paths, patios, ponds, and arbors are also included. Over 420 full-color photos and paintings are complemented by easy, step-by-step instructions. The Pacific Northwest will be in full bloom with Northwest Home Landscaping US: WA, ORCAN: Western British Columbia

    Charlotte Frieze presents forty-one cutting-edge gardens, all richly photographed and profusely illustrated, emphasizing design, climate, and horticulture. Overarching themes of Aqua, Arcadia, Bold Geometry, Color, Nightscapes, Oasis, Sanctuary, and Urban cogently frame chapters about the challenges presented by the land, the climate, and the client’s interests. Located throughout the United States, these gardens demonstrate the intersection between traditional elements of garden design and current concerns such as sustainability, drought tolerance, and use of native plants.Private Paradise features the work of the most talented landscape architects and garden designers working in the United States today, including Topher Delaney, Marta Fry, Kathryn Gustafson, Raymond Jungles, Steve Koch, Ron Lutsko, Steve Martino, Pamela Palmer, Ken Smith, Christine Ten Eyck, and Thomas Wolz. In a publication that rightfully takes its place on the sturdy foundation of a century’s worth of garden surveys and design monographs, Private Paradise creates a compelling portrait of contemporary landscape design.

    This text tells the fascinating story of Augustine Henry's life and work, and documents the expeditions undertaken by a dedicated team of botanists and horticulturalists in the 1990s to revisit Henry's routes, many of which were in danger of being flooded with the installation of the Three Gorges Dam across the Yangtze River.

    This second collaboration between the Peterson Field Guide series and Bird Watcher’s Digest includes tips on how to attract hummingbirds and butterflies to backyards—and how to identify them once they’ve arrived. Bill Thompson III and Connie Toops have decades of firsthand experience and have written the book in a fun, lighthearted style, providing both amateur and veteran nature watchers with need-to-know information, including where hummingbirds and butterflies live, what they eat, and the best garden plants to attract them. The species profiles of the 15 most common hummingbirds and 40 most common butterflies serve as a field guide, showing ranges, identifying marks, and preferred habitats. Full-color photographs and detailed drawings make attracting, identifying, and feeding these colorful creatures a snap.

    A brand-new title in the growing "Mini Encyclopedia Series" for aquarium hobbyists, this book helps aquarium owners plan, create, and maintain a colorful and interesting environment for fish and aquatic life. Each volume provides in-depth information and instruction on a specific subdivision of fish keeping. Complementing the text are sets of illustration panels filled with full-color photos, each with its own detailed and instructive caption. The team of authors, all recognized aquarium experts, show readers how to set up an aquarium, select species, and maintain an optimal environment for the tank's aquatic and plant life. Approximately 250 color photos and illustrations in each volume.

    A Banksia Album features over 90 stunning full-colour reproductions of watercolours, pencil and sepia-wash drawings, colour prints and early hand-coloured engravings and lithographs of banksias from the National Library of Australia's collections. A Banksia Album covers over two centuries of botanical illustration, from 1770 when the Endeavour's artist, Sydney Parkinson, was the first European to make drawings of banksias at Botany Bay, to 2007 with two prints of Banksia rosserae by Celia Rosser.

    They include La Reggia, Caserta, the 'Italian Versailles' laid out for the Bourbon King Charles III in the mid-eighteenth century, the gardens of the Villa San Michele on Capri and Lord Grimthorpe's Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, with its breathtaking panoramas.The text also traces the horticultural history of Campania, from Roman emperors to Edwardian millionaires, encompassing a parade of glamorous characters that includes Lord Byron, Wagner, Chanel, Jacqueline Kennedy, D.H. Lawrence, Virginia Woolf and Graham Greene.

    Discover how to design a growing space of any size, from planning your first vegetable patch or collection of potted herbs, to creating an urban landscape for all seasons entirely with edibles. More than one hundred edible plants are featured, including heirloom vegetables and new fruits bred especially for the prairies, illustrated with full-colour photographs. You will find detailed instructions on when, where and how to plant and care for each crop, as well as tips for harvesting, serving and preserving your homegrown produce. New and experienced gardeners will find plenty of solid information about the best plant varieties and environmentally sound gardening practices to be successful in a challenging climate and short growing season. Edible Plants for Prairie Gardens is packed with practical information about: Germinating vegetable and herb seeds indoors Choosing, planning and preparing a garden site When, where and how to plant outdoors Transplanting Garden care from planting to picking Proven strategies for avoiding and solving potential problems. Growing perennial edibles such as herbs, asparagus, rhubarb Prairie-hardy fruit trees and shrubs Pruning and pollination When and how to harvest each crop Saving seeds from heirloom plants Extensive source list of mail-order seed and plant suppliers in Canada and the United States

    Topical and practical, this is simply the best book you can read on growing, storing and preserving organic fruit & vegetables from the country's leading experts in the field of organic gardening.

    In this book, the first in a series, they keep gardening simple: taste how fun the science of gardening can be with a food-themed look at soil; make gardening practical with the scatter-and-poke method of seeding; understand the summer squash clan with a family snapshot that describes summer squash siblings."--www.noguffpress.com/no-guff-book-titl....

    Head gardener at the famed River Cottage, Diacono wants us all to stop growing onions, potatoes, and carrots, because it's just as easy to cultivate mouthwatering delights such as Chilean guava, kai lan, daylilies, Japanese wineberries and Szechuan pepper. In The Food Lover's Garden he shows how easy it can be to reap extraordinary flavor. Selected for their deliciousness and ease of growing, the fruits and vegetables in the book come with straightforward gardening advice and detailed information on how and when to harvest. Preparation suggestions plus fifty recipes, such as sweet Blue Honeysuckle Pancakes, stunning and delicate Daylily Fritters, and a rich, double cream Cardoon Gratin, teach readers how to showcase the unusual ingredients in their home cooking. Brimming with practical advice for growing and enjoying 39 of the most remarkable fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs, spices, and flowers, The Food Lover's Garden is a sumptuous and lyrical invitation to garden, eat, and live more adventurously.

    

    Its sixty-one species appear in (and sometimes define) plant communities up and down the continent. And no American genus has enjoyed a richer history in the world’s gardens.But until now, there has been no comprehensive horticultural account of the genus. In Phlox, plant expert James H. Locklear provides detailed profiles of all the currently recognized species of Phlox. Each contains general and botanical descriptions, geographic range, a description of its environment, associations with other plants, and notes on cultivation.This landmark of horticultural literature will be the definitive reference for years to come for Phlox enthusiasts, native plant aficionados, rock gardeners, and those with an interest in the natural history of North American flora.

    Sarah’s friends live in flats and are very surprised when they discover the wonder and magic of the plant world.They learn about plant companions, plant families and their Latin names, and realize their resemblance to people.The four friends discover nettles and all their uses, learn how to make compost and the advantages of not applying chemical fertilizers.

    Hostas originated mainly in Japan and were not introduced to Britain until the nineteenth century. They were grown and collected in Europe and America for the next two hundred years, but it was their move into containers that boosted their popularity and with their vibrant foliage made them an exuberant feature of gardens in the last twenty years. With the expert knowledge of Richard Ford, a Chelsea gold-medal winning nurseyman,  this practical book looks at all aspects of their care and cultivation and will inspire everyone to make the most of Hostas in their garden.

    With its lush forests, meandering rivers, and majestic mountains, the west of China has been a center of plant exploration for over two centuries, giving rise to many well-known species of trees, shrubs, perennials, and bulbs that populate our parks and botanical institutes, including rhododendron, orchids, peonies, and roses.            Guide to the Flowers of Western China describes and illustrates more than two thousand species, from the common to the endemic to the extremely rare. Plant families are arranged following the latest DNA-based classification, making this pictorial guide— the largest and most comprehensive on western China ever published—essential for gardeners and plant scientists.Celebrating the wealth of western China’s vast flora, this magnificent volume will enable the horticulturally inclined traveler (or armchair traveler) to identify many of the plants encountered in the wild.

    Heritage Trees of Penang

    When they found a century-old farmhouse on 150 acres of land that was in their price range, they jumped at the chance to make their move. The fact that the home was "off-grid" with no power or telephone lines connecting it to the outside world seemed like a bonus!Twelve years later their life in the country is not quite as simple as they had envisioned, but it is peaceful. There were more challenges than they could have anticipated, as well as more rewards.Along the way they installed more solar panels, erected a wind turbine, and upgraded and replaced all of the major components of their off-grid electrical system. They installed a solar-thermal hot water system; figured out how to have a phone, internet, and satellite TV; and kept their home heated with wood cut from their own property. They also carved out a garden and began growing much of their own food.They acquired new skills and knowledge, but, most importantly, they learned to appreciate the value of good neighbors, good books, and good manure.Cam Mather is a writer, publisher, and video producer who knows how to equalize batteries and pinch suckers off of tomato plants.Michelle Mather looks after the editing, the website, and the dwindling bank account and keeps Cam calm during times of crisis.

    Plants for Atlantic Gardens is your go-to resource for growing perennials, shrubs, and trees on the East Coast. Well-known gardening columnist Jodi DeLong profiles over 100 of the best species for planting in Atlantic Canadian gardens. Each plant description includes essential gardening information, such as growing requirements, hardiness, height, and bloom period. In an accessible, friendly writing style, Jodi also tells prospective gardeners about the plant's natural history in the region and shares her own experiences-both good and bad! The book includes a hardiness map, Jodi's list of preferred further reading, and short sidebars on useful topics like soil type, native plants, and pollinators. Over 200 colour photos provide readers a great opportunity to truly assess each plant's suitability for their own gardens.

    Immortalized in images of thatched cottages with flower-filled borders and ducks on the path, what was the reality of the cottage garden?For many the garden was essential to keep food on the table. For those more fortunate, the garden was a blaze of color and a status symbol. Gardens did not just appeal to the senses, however; they played a philosophical and moral role in British society, and thus in British social history. Visions of the rural cottager were never far from the mind of the Victorian middle classes, whether as a shining example to the indigent urban poor, or as an aesthetic and social ideal of a utopian 'merrie England'.

    Paul Getty’s vision to create such a garden in California was brought to reality. The second part includes a sumptuously illustrated guide to the plants in each of the five gardens at the Villa. Bowe introduces each of the gardens, describing the underlying concepts and the relationship to the ancient Roman models as well as their architectural and sculptural elements present. He also documents how plantings have been renewed in light of new knowledge emerging from excavations conducted in the Roman gardens of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Horticulturist Michael DeHart provides informative descriptions of the growing habits and characteristics for each of the plants, citing medicinal, culinary, and ritual uses for many of them.

    It helps you learn about: preparing the vegetable patch; getting the most from your land; tackling weeds and pests; benefiting from greenhouses and polytunnels; making your own compost and organic fertilizers; and, more.

    Featuring an extensive breakdown of both popular and rare herbs as well as their origins, growth, care, and usage, this guide is ideal for home gardeners and nature enthusiasts alike!

    Backyard gardens have never been so popular, farmers markets are abundant with seasonal and local produce, and a healthy nostalgia for growing heirloom plants is in vogue. These two books embrace this idea by reacquainting the reader with the origins, nature, and peculiarities of the world’s produce. Among the many revelations in their pages: apples have been cultivated by humans for at least three millennia, fresh pineapple juice can be used as a meat tenderizer, carrots were once purple, and potatoes were originally kept as ornamental rather than edible plants. Combining beautiful reproductions of the finest nineteenth-century botanical illustrations with a miscellany of fascinating facts and extraordinary histories, these are ideal giftbooks for the heirloom gardener, locavore, or conservationist. Mike Darton is a writer and editor with a passion for words, knowledge, and trivia. His published titles include a large number of dictionaries and miscellanies, such as the parody Spott’s Miscellany. He lives in the United Kingdom. Lorraine Harrison is a successful gardener and gardening writer with a passion for exotic and heirloom vegetables. Among her previous titles are How to Read Gardens and The Shaker Book of the Garden.

    Through gardening projects, scientific experiments, arty projects, cooking and even magic tricks, children will find out about plants, their life cycle, and structure. The book is divided into three sections:World of plants explores the amazing variety of plants, comparing their similarities and differences in plant structure, from drought-resistant plants to indoor plants. Activities include growing a loofah plant and creating a shrub sculpture.Life of plants looks at the stages of plant growth with craft and science projects from seed to maturity to decay, learning about key processes such as germination, pollination, and seasonal changes affecting plants.Uses of plants includes creating habitats as homes for wildlife, plants as a source of food for creatures and us and making papyrus paper and dying wool from blackberries.How Does Your Garden Grow? is not only full of fun projects to make and do, but is also highly educational as children learn about how the plants we see around us and take for granted everyday, either in the supermarket or park, really grow and develop.ContentsWhy be a gardener?Exciting introduction on fun, fascination and reward of growing your own flowers, fruits and vegetables, not just foryourself but also for wildlife and environment.Plant careUnderstanding what all plants need but in different amounts. Introduce symbols used in the book.SECTION 1: World Of PlantsIdentity parade: Plants made up of different parts that each have a job to do. These parts help to identify plants.Root view box: Make a root viewing box and plant dandelions to see taproot system and marigolds for fibrous root system.Top 10: Drought-resistant plants: Plants that survive on little water, so have adapted leaves, stems and roots.Colored stems: Watch how colored water progresses up a stick of celery.Leaf sculpture: Create and photograph a land art sculpture made from arrangement of simple and compound leaves.Leaf skeleton: Leaf art to show leaf parts.Top 10: House plants: Amazing leaves adapted for living indoors.Tortoise topiary: Snip and prune shrub into animal shapeFlower magic: Make feather flowers and then perform a magic trick, learning about parts of the flower.Loofah plant: Grow own loofah plant and find out about fruits and seed pods.Quiz 1Test your knowledge - quiz to identify parts of plants.SECTION 2: Life of PlantsSeasonal diary: Life cycle of plant and how it's affected by the changing conditions through the seasons.Pepper pips: Grow new plant from seeds from a pepper.Top 10: Propagating plants: A selection of propagation methods such as growing new plant from tops of a carrot or yam, cuttings and mini babies on bryophyllum plant.Corn wonder: Grow corn in a ziploc bag to observe sprouting stage.Terrarium: Watch the germination of a plant through a terrarium made from a plastic bottle.Salad hydroponics: Raft system for growing salad vegetables.Lily love: Cross pollinating from one lily plant to another.Shaped cucumbers: Grow star shaped cucumbers.Top 10: Climbing plants: A selection of decorative climbing plants.Worm bin: Using decayed plant materials to create rich compost.Quiz 2Recognize the seeds and how they disperse.SECTION 3: Uses of PlantsBee nesting box: Build a home for these great pollinators out of plants.Bird wreath: Dry flowers and make a bird feeder wreath, also using intertwined twigs, dried leaves, popcorn cobs, and pinecones.Top 10: Plants for wildlife: A selection of plants that attract wildlife.Wheat into bread: Grow wheat, harvest and grind into flour to bake into bread.Grow a vegetable soup: Grow potatoes, onions, and broccoli to make a tasty soup.Papyrus paper: Make paper from strips from a papyrus plant.Dyed scarf: Make a dye from blackberries and soak some wool, then use this to knit a scarf.Willow basket: Weave a basket made from willow or reed.Gourd vase : Grow a pumpkin, hollow it out and use as a vase.Quiz 3Work out what plants are used to make things.Glossary, Index, and Acknowledgments