. . . an optimistic call to action.” —Chicago Tribune Over time, with industrialization and urban sprawl, we have driven nature out of our neighborhoods and cities. But we can invite it back by designing landscapes that look and function more like they do in the wild: robust, diverse, and visually harmonious. Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West is an inspiring call to action dedicated to the idea of a new nature—a hybrid of both the wild and the cultivated—that can flourish in our cities and suburbs. This is both a post-wild manifesto and practical guide that describes how to incorporate and layer plants into plant communities to create an environment that is reflective of natural systems and thrives within our built world.

    It’s time to quit fighting Mother Nature and start working with her to recycle organic matter and create lush and beautiful gardens with some of the most extreme composting techniques known to Man! In this inspiring composting guide, you’ll learn how to… …brew your own fish fertilizer with a few easy ingredients …quit turning piles and make compost the simple way …avoid roasting your garden with chemical-laced manure …discover the Native American trick for concentrating fertility and growing in lousy soil …squeeze every ounce of fertility from your compost …deal with grid-down sanitation …stop filling landfills and start enriching your yard …turn “trash” into treasure ...get rid of unwanted bodies. Learn to compost like you’ve never composted before with expert gardener and master composter David the Good.

    In their current form, these unproductive expanses of grass represent a significant financial and environmental cost. However, viewed through a different lens, they can also be seen as a tremendous source of opportunity. Access to land is a major barrier for many people who want to enter the agricultural sector, and urban and suburban yards have huge potential for would-be farmers wanting to become part of this growing movement.The Urban Farmer is a comprehensive, hands-on, practical manual to help you learn the techniques and business strategies you need to make a good living growing high-yield, high-value crops right in your own backyard (or someone else's). Major benefits include:Low capital investment and overhead costs Reduced need for expensive infrastructure Easy access to marketsGrowing food in the city means that fresh crops may travel only a few blocks from field to table, making this innovative approach the next logical step in the local food movement. Based on a scalable, easily reproduced business model, The Urban Farmer is your complete guide to minimizing risk and maximizing profit by using intensive production in small leased or borrowed spaces.Curtis Stone is the owner/operator of Green City Acres, a commercial urban farm growing vegetables for farmers markets, restaurants, and retail outlets. During his slower months, Curtis works as a public speaker, teacher, and consultant, sharing his story to inspire a new generation of farmers.

    Why? Because the bold promises in the book are kept: grow vegetables anywhere, earlier in the year, with no weeding. Gardeners everywhere are excited. Straw bale gardening works! In just the short amount of time that has passed, the gardening world and Joel Karsten himself have learned even more about how to apply this method in just about any environment: on a city balcony, in a rocky outpost, in a desert, and even in the tundra of Alaska.Straw Bale Gardens Complete contains all of the original information that has set the gardening world on fire. But it also goes much deeper, with nearly 50 pages of all-new advice and photos on subjects such as growing in a tight urban setting, making your straw bale garden completely organic, and using new fertilizers and conditioning products. There is even information on using straw bale techniques to grow veggies in other organic media for anyone who has a hard time finding straw.Fans of Straw Bale Gardens will not want to miss adding Straw Bale Gardens Complete to their gardening library. There is, literally, nothing else like it!

    In How Plants Work, horticulture expert Linda Chalker-Scott brings the stranger-than-fiction science of the plant world to vivid life. She uncovers the mysteries of how and why plants do the things they do, and arms you with fascinating knowledge that will change the way you garden.

    Completely redesigned and updated for the first time in 10 years, the new edition features over 1,700 beautiful color photographs and over 7,000 featured plants. Enhanced features include a monthly garden checklist, a Q&A section to tackle everyday problems, and garden design solutions, plus industry experts provide the hottest trends and tips combined with old-fashioned wisdom. From the new homeowner just starting out in gardening to the Master Class gardener, this book will be an essential resource.

    or water? What if you've never even planted a garden in your life... and your life depended on growing your own food?Don't panic! Grow or Die: The Good Guide to Survival Gardening has the answers. From hand tools that will till the ground better than a tractor to plans for growing all the calories you need in a crisis to easy-to-follow crop rotations that will beat the pests, this book is the cheapest insurance you can own against the crash we all know is coming sooner or later.You'll discover how to scrounge for seeds in unlikely places. How to till without a tiller. How to preserve your harvest. How to beat pests without poison. How to convert a lawn into a food factory. How to garden to survive in emergencies and crises.Expert gardener David The Good, author of the bestselling Compost Everything: The Good Guide to Extreme Composting, has written the gardening book that could one day save your life. Easy to follow and entertaining, Grow Or Die doesn't bog down in the technical details, but focuses on how you can turn your garden into a tool for survival. It's perfect for those interested in preparedness, low-tech gardening and living with a lighter, more ecologically sustaining footprint.

    The problem, according to botanist James Wong, is that many conventional gardening practices are based on pure myth or faulty science. They create bumper crops at the expense of flavor and nutrition. It doesn't have to be that way.After trial and error of cutting-edge horticultural techniques and extensive review of more than 2,000 journal papers from around the globe, Wong turns the tables on old-school advice with a radical new system that transforms the flavor and nutrition of homegrown produce."Grow for Flavor" shows the simple steps and innovative methods that yield tasty harvests beyond dreams and, best of all, the methods involve less effort, are strictly organic and can be mastered easily by newbie gardeners. The goal is maximum flavor with minimum labor.Consider these examples: For tomatoes 150 percent sweeter with 50 percent more vitamin C, ditch the tomato food and use molasses, aspirin sprays, and a bit of salt water. For strawberries 20 percent bigger with 100 times the aroma, plant in acidic soil in full sun with a skirt of red plastic mulch. For super-healthy berries with 300 percent more antioxidants than grocery store varieties, plant Rubel blueberries. For maximum flavor and sweetness, harvest beets early and carrots late."Grow for Flavor" is more than tips from a gardening expert. It overflows with practical information and inspirational advice -- an essential for all gardeners.

    Her first book, Fresh Eggs Daily, was all about healthy, natural care for chickens. Now comes Duck Eggs Daily, an equally valuable guide to raising ducks for eggs and companionship. This is also a book for chicken keepers who want to add ducks to their flock. While ducks can live happily with chickens, ducks are different in many important ways. Steele provides an information-packed, beautifully photographed how-to for raising – and living with – happy, healthy ducks. She examines every aspect of her ducks’ lives, including duck houses and pools, health care, duck behavior and blending ducks into a chicken flock. She provides a breed chart and a selection of favorite recipes using duck eggs.

    You CAN grow buckets upon buckets of food in Florida - and this book gives you the secrets to pulling it off year after year. Lots more food - for a lot less work! Whether you want to save money, feed your family, start a survival garden, garden year-round, go paleo or build a huge prepper garden, this is the book for you. Learn the cheap simple techniques that will kickstart your Florida gardening. Discover the crops that will always come through for you. Quit hating the sand and the bugs and start reaping abundant harvests like you've never had before! This book provides the answers for both beginners and experts, delivered with humor. If you want yet another boring gardening book - this isn't it. Through combining Back to Eden gardening, Square Foot Gardening, Biointensive gardening, container gardening and some of the most productive crops on the planet, you WILL succeed! This is easy Florida gardening like you've never seen before. Pick up a copy of Totally Crazy Easy Florida Gardening and turn your backyard patch of weeds and sand into a money-saving vegetable factory that will keep your family fed no matter what the economy does. Start gardening RIGHT NOW before it's too late! Expert Florida gardener David The Good shares how in Totally Crazy Easy Florida Gardening.

    In an easy-to-understand, practical, and comprehensive manner, readers will learn how to focus on quality over quantity, and keep costs down by innovating with existing equipment, rather than expensive technology. Market farmers who have never before considered growing medicinal herbs will learn why it’s more important to produce these herbs domestically.The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer makes a convincing case that producing organic medicinal herbs can be a viable, profitable, farming enterprise. The Carpenters also make the case for incorporating medicinal herbs into existing operations, as it can help increase revenue in the form of value-added products, not to mention improve the ecological health of farmland by encouraging biodiversity as a path toward greater soil health.

    These captivating and useful insects are the subject of a new wave of beekeeping interest. Based on Tim Heard’s successful workshops, this book starts with the general biology of bees and finishes with practical details on keeping them.The Australian Native Bee book is richly illustrated with over 400 photo, drawings and charts to aid your learning. This guide features:Bee biology, behaviour, nesting, social life and foragingHow to build your own native bee hiveHow to transfer a bee colony to a hive box and propagate hivesAll about sugar bag honey, including how to extract it from hivesManaging your hive, including identifying and dealing with pestsUsing stingless bees for pollination – from small gardens to commercial cropsA complete list of Australia’s stingless bee species and their details

    The marketplace distorts our values, and our modern dependence on petroleum in particular presents a serious barrier to creating a truly sustainable agriculture.For him the solution is, first and foremost, greater self-reliance, especially in the areas of food and energy. By avoiding any off-farm inputs (fertilizers, minerals, and animal manures), Bonsall has learned how to practice a purely veganic, or plant-based, agriculture—not from a strictly moralistic or philosophical perspective, but because it makes good business sense: spend less instead of making more.What this means in practical terms is that Bonsall draws upon the fertility of on-farm plant materials: compost, green manures, perennial grasses, and forest products like leaves and ramial wood chips. And he grows and harvests a diversity of crops from both cultivated and perennial plants: vegetables, grains, pulses, oilseeds, fruits and nuts—even uncommon but useful permaculture plants like groundnut (Apios).In a friendly, almost conversational way, Bonsall imparts a wealth of knowledge drawn from his more than forty years of farming experience."My goal," he writes, "is not to feed the world, but to feed myself and let others feed themselves. If we all did that, it might be a good beginning."

    Thomas, and readers’ expectations. This edition is packed with wit, wisdom, tips, advice, facts, fun, and recipes, including: • traditionally 80 percent–accurate weather forecasts • how to make sausages at home • “creatures from hell” • grow your own beer (ingredients) • time- and money-saving tips • unmasked mysteries of plant seed dispersal • bale, key, and concrete block gardens • quirky origins of American horse breeds • history, lore, and more about birthstones Plus, Moon phases and other celestial sightings, tides, gardening tables, best days to do things, and more.   Added value this year: • 96 full-color pages • full-color winter and summer weather maps • updated Reference section Often imitated, but never equaled. Accept no substitutes!

     Do you want to learn to turn food scraps into valuable compost? Do you believe in taking responsibility for the food waste we create? Worm Composting is the Solution! People all over the world are using worm farming to turn their food scraps into nutrient-rich vermicompost by starting their own worm compost bin. Check out a few of the reviews for “How to Start a Worm Bin” to see what readers say about the book. ”How to Start a Worm Bin” will teach you how to: Start a Worm Compost Bin Care for Composting Worms Harvest the Worm Compost (vermicompost) Use Worm Compost in your garden soils Scroll back up and click ‘Buy Now’ to Start your Worm Bin today! “How to Start a Worm Bin” also includes: A FREE gift from the author: “Inside my Worm Composting Toolbox” Vermicomposting FAQ Worm Compost Bin Troubleshooting

    In this comprehensive book, Seed Savers Exchange, one of the foremost American authorities on the subject, and the Organic Seed Alliance bring together decades of knowledge to demystify the time-honored tradition of saving the seed of more than seventy-five coveted vegetable and herb crops--from heirloom tomatoes and long-favored varieties of beans, lettuces, and cabbages to centuries-old varieties of peppers and grains.With clear instructions, lush photographs, and easy-to-comprehend profiles on individual vegetable crops, this book not only teaches us how to go about conserving these important varieties for future generations and for planting out in next year's garden, it also provides a deeper understanding of the importance of saving these genetically valuable varieties of vegetables that have evolved over the centuries through careful selection by farmers and home gardeners.Through simple lessons and master classes on crop selection, pollination, roguing, and the processes of harvesting and storing seeds, this book ensures that these time-honored traditions can continue. Many of these vegetable varieties are treasured for traits that are singular to their strain, whether that is a resistance to disease, an ability to grow well in a region for which that crop is not typically well suited, resistance to early bolting, or simply because it is a great-tasting variety. In an age of genetically modified crops and hybrid seed, a growing appreciation for saving seeds of these time-tested, open-pollinated cultivars has found a new audience from home vegetable gardeners and cooks to restaurant chefs and local farmers.Whether interested in simply saving seeds for home use or working to conserve rare varieties of beloved squashes and tomatoes, this book provides a deeper understanding of the art, the science, and the joy of saving seeds.

    Supported by over 350 photographs and drawings, each action to be performed is explained in detail with photographs showing the steps as well as the final result. Many potential beekeepers are unclear about the equipment they need to buy and how to obtain their first colony of bees. The first chapters in the book explain in detail the equipment needed as well as equipment that may be useful later on as their confidence and experience grows. The chapter ‘Your First Bees’ explains how to obtain bees, where to locate them in the garden, and the basics of colony management. In addition to chapters on keeping bees, there are detailed chapters on the life cycle of the honey bee, extracting honey, the bee-friendly garden, entering honey in competitions, native bees and rearing queens. The result is a comprehensive manual that includes material not available in other Australian, North American or European books and is the ultimate Australian reference source.

    Most techniques for growing what are commonly referred to as microgreens left him feeling overwhelmed and uninterested. There had to be a simpler way to grow greens for his family indoors. After some research and diligent experimenting, Burke discovered he was right there was a way! And it was even easier than he ever could have hoped, and the greens more nutrient packed. He didn t even need a south-facing window, and he already had most of the needed supplies just sitting in his pantry. The result: healthy, homegrown salad greens at a fraction of the cost of buying them at the market. The secret: start them in the dark.Growing Soil Sprouts Burke s own descriptive term for sprouted seeds grown in soil as opposed to in jars employs a method that encourages a long stem without expansive roots, and provides delicious salad greens in just seven to ten days, way earlier than any other method, with much less work. Indeed, of all the ways to grow immature greens, this is the easiest and most productive technique. Forget about grow lights and heat lamps! This book is a revolutionary and inviting guide for both first-time and experienced gardeners in rural or urban environments. All you need is a windowsill or two. In fact, Burke has grown up to six pounds of greens per day using just the windowsills in his kitchen! Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening offers detailed step-by-step instructions to mastering this method (hint: it s impossible not to succeed, it s so easy!), tools and accessories to have on hand, seeds and greens varieties, soil and compost, trays and planters, shelving, harvest and storage, recipes, scaling up to serve local markets, and much more."

    You’ll learn their secrets for preparing the soil, selecting and rotating your crops, and mapping out a specific customized plan to make the most of your space and your growing season. Packed with the charts, tables, schedules, and worksheets you need — as well as record-keeping pages so you can repeat your successes next year — this book is an essential tool for the serious gardener.

    Andrea Chesman shows you how to bridge the gap between field and table, covering everything from curing meats and making sausage to canning fruits and vegetables, milling flour, working with sourdough, baking no-knead breads, making braises and stews that can be adapted to different cuts of meat, rendering lard and tallow, pickling, making butter and cheese, making yogurt, blanching vegetables for the freezer, making jams and jellies, drying produce, and much more. You’ll learn all the techniques you need to get the most from homegrown foods, along with dozens of simple and delicious recipes, most of which can be adapted to use whatever you have available.

    They have captured the hearts of crafters, decorators, and plant lovers all over the world. Always popular as an outdoor plant in warm climates, succulents have found a new popularity as a try indoor plant that's easy to care for and fun to look at. Idiot's Guides: Succulents includes:+ Everything needed to select, pair, pot, and care for succulent plants. + Snapshots of 100 of the most popular varieties of succulent plants, including care, color, hardiness, pairing, and a full-color photo for each. + 16 beautiful craft projects with how-to steps and color photos, including picture frames, wreaths, terrariums, centerpieces, and bouquets. + Tips on successfully propagating new succulents from existing plants. + Extensive advice on choosing pots and unique planters, repotting succulents, and pairing varieties for maximum impact. + An index of succulents by color and height that gives readers another tool for selecting the succulents that will look.

    Now imagine that Eden is your very own Florida yard! No matter where you live in the state, you can transform a patch of grass or woods into a magical edible Eden in just a few years. Discover the permaculture breakthrough that may one day feed the world. Build soil, get plants for free and grow more food with less work! Learn how in this booklet with expert Florida gardener David The Good.

    I am now about to plant another garden, full of wonderful rose varieties and I intend to follow Peter's advice wholeheartedly.” —Martha Stewart Have you tried to grow roses, only to give up once you realized how dependent on pesticides they are? In this lush guide rose expert Peter Kukielski highlights 150 rose varieties that excel in gardens without the use of chemicals. Roses Without Chemicals features information on planting, pruning, and pests; plant profiles that include a color photo and details on color, growth habit, and fragrance; and helpful lists of roses organized by color, growing habit, and region.

    A place where her devoted efforts bear glorious results, the garden is not only a reflection of what has inspired Roehm, but also a font of inspiration from which she draws--for her astonishingly lovely arrangements, her gracious dinner parties, and her new passion for interpreting her flowers in vibrant watercolor paintings. Each of the gardens at her historic Connecticut home, Weatherstone, has been lovingly crafted to serve as an outdoor living room, where the hours may be passed at work, alone, or enjoyed with company. In the Parterre Gardens bordering the south side of the home, Roehm created a fantasy of snow in spring with white tulips and Sargentina crabapple trees. All of the varietals in her Rose Garden were selected for their pulchritude and divine scent, as well as for their ability to bloom twice to satisfy her insatiable thirst for roses. And when the stream through her property offered only an unsatisfying trickle, Roehm replaced it with a river of hostas, primula, bleeding hearts, and rodgersia that sweeps through her Shade Garden. As Roehm accompanies us on the first-ever tour of these marvels, she shares witty and candid stories of the unexpected triumphs and the sometimes-crushing defeats. And always, there is her desire to return to the garden—to tend, to mend, or to plant anew.A garden is like love, Roehm claims, and indeed, this lavishly illustrated volume is a testament to an enduring, complex, unquestionably personal, and deeply passionate amour.

    2,000+ beautiful color images illustrate this book. Medical cannabis history, cannabinoid measurement & medical varieties provide a background for medical patients & caregivers. The Medicinal Concentrates & Cooking with Medicinal Cannabis chapters feature different methods to concentrate & consume cannabis. Each stage of plant growth is detailed and graphically explained -- seed, seedling, vegetative growth, clones & mother plants & flowering. Harvest, drying & curing information aims to preserve cannabinoids. Garden room & greenhouse design, construction, maintenance & care. Each aspect of cannabis cultivation is examined in detail with a focus on organic practices, preserving the sanctuary, meters, air, light, lamps & electricity, soil, containers, water, nutrients, additives, container culture & hydroponics, diseases, pests & breeding.

    With illustrated step-by-step instructions, David Bainbridge shows you how to install buried clay pots and pipes, wicking systems, and other porous containers that deliver water directly to a plant’s roots with little to no evaporation. These systems are available at hardware stores and garden centers; are easy to set up and use; and work for garden beds, container gardens, and trees.

    In these stunning pages you’ll gain an understanding of how seeds are formed and dispersed, why they look the way they do, and how they fit into the environment. Seeing Seeds will take you to strange and wonderful places. When you return, it’s safe to say that you’ll never look at a seed the same way again.

     Hummelo—near the village of the same name in Gelderland in the eastern Netherlands—is visited by thousands of gardeners seeking inspiration each year. It is Piet Oudolf’s home, his personal garden laboratory, a former nursery run by his wife Anja, and the place where he first tested new designs and created the new varieties of perennials that are now widely available. A follow-up to Oudolf’s successful Landscapes in Landscapes—Hummelo tells the story of how the garden has evolved over the past three decades since Oudolf, Anja, and their two young sons moved onto the property, with its loamy sand and derelict, wood stove-heated farmhouse, in 1982. Text by noted garden author and longtime personal friend Noel Kingsbury places Hummelo in context within gardening history, from The Netherlands’ counterculture and nascent green movement of the 1960s, to prairie restoration in the American Midwest, and shows how its development has mirrored that of Oudolf’s own outstanding career and unique naturalistic aesthetic. Oudolf has long been at the forefront of the Dutch Wave and New Perennial Style movements in garden design, which have ecological considerations at their base. His work stresses a deep knowledge of plants, eschewing short-lived annuals in favor of perennials that can be appreciated for both structure and blooms in every season. He is credited for leading the way to today’s focus on sustainability in garden design. The book will appeal to readers who favor beautiful, biodiverse, and ever-changing plantings: seed heads, grasses, sedges, and winter silhouettes. They will be drawn into its pages by lush photography, often demonstrating how Oudolf views his own work, and providing rare glimpses into his daily life. Short essays highlight important techniques, including scatter plants and matrix planting, and introduce other famed landscape designers—Karl Foerster, Henk Gerritsen, Rob Leopold, Ernst Pagels, and Mien Ruys—to create a full panorama of the movement Oudolf now leads.

    Visitors to Ireland are often surprised at the 'palm trees' that make so many gardens look as if they belong in a holiday postcard. How can such exotics survive on an island that is as far north as the prairies of Canada and the pine forests of Siberia? The answer lies in the tail of the Gulf Stream - the North Atlantic Drift - which wraps around this green land on the western edge of Europe. Its warm and watery embrace bestows the renowned 'soft' climate that allows those palm trees (in fact, New Zealand cordylines) to make their homes here - along with tree ferns from Australia and bananas from Japan. Plants from colder regions, including rhododendrons, primulas and all manner of alpines, are equally happy. So, with a range of plants that runs from the subtropical to the subarctic, and a landscape that varies from gently pastoral to savagely rugged, the aptly named Emerald Isle has some of the most romantic and interesting gardens in the world. The result of a lifetime visiting, considering and writing about gardens in Ireland, and several years of dedicated photography, this is a truly comprehensive exploration of a fascinating subject.

    Author Matthew Benson writes that beauty inspires behavior, and he believes that we can and will eat better, be healthier, and live more sustainably when we grow food that's visually enticing.Benson restored a time-worn gentleman's farm and operates a CSA on one small acre of the land, offering vegetables, orchard fruit, cut flowers, herbs, eggs, and honey from the property. His garden-to-table operation offers an edible feast of textures, colors, and aromas and has grown into a way to feed others, while pushing back against the industrial food system in a small but meaningful way.Growing Beautiful Food is both inspiration and instruction, with detailed growing advice for 50 remarkable crops, a memorable narrative, and evocative imagery. It's a photographic journey through four seasons in the garden, fueling the dream that you can connect to the land by growing your own food. Benson encourages us to start small like he did, celebrate every harvest, and understand that heartbreaking crop losses are simply part of the process. Whether gardeners, families, farmers, or chefs, readers will come to the table motivated by the flavor of homegrown, the message of self sufficiency, and the beautiful food that's as local as their backyards.

    It is a place of pleasure and learning, relaxing yet filled with ideas to take home. And now those lessons are available for everyone in this stunning book! You’ll learn techniques specific to different conditions and plant palettes; how to use hardscape materials in a fresh way; and how to achieve the perfect union between plant and site. And Rob Cardillo’s exquisite photographs of exciting combinations will be sure to stimulate your own creativity. Whether you’re already under Chanticleer’s spell or have yet to visit, The Art of Gardening will enable you to bring the special magic that pervades this most artful of gardens into your own home landscape.

    Margaret Rose Realymaster gardener, retreat leader, and author of the Patheos blog The Catholic Gardener, offers meditations and scripture passages on a spiritual theme for each month, reflections on the liturgical seasons and feasts, and delightful stories of saints who have special relevance to gardening. Readers also will discover the connection between the conversion of St. Paul and the canna seed, how the flight into Egypt was saved by a miraculous growth of seed, and the many miracles that made St. Brigid patroness of farmers.

    All the plants can easily be grown throughout North America by any home gardener, and used for their healing and natural-remedy properties! Author Elizabeth Millard shares her deep knowledge of what to add to your garden to grow your own medicine cabinet to enhance your health.Each featured plant profile includes:- A detailed full-color photograph of the plant and key preparation steps. ​- Brief histories and descriptions the plants (including recommended varieties).- The most efficient way to cultivate, care for, and harvest your plant.- Which parts are the most medicinal.- A profile of your plant’s health and nutritional properties.- The current state of scientific research on the plant.- The best practices for any plants requiring special harvesting, storing, or preparation.- The most effective use of the plant as a remedy, and any precautions you should take.Richly illustrated with 200 photographs, Backyard Pharmacy not only includes photography of the plants, but also images demonstrating step-by-step preparation, harvest, and storage methods to get the best results from your gardening efforts.Take control of your health. Learn about the benefits of herbs and "backyard friends" and natural health remedies for yourself and your family, and even grow them right in your own backyard.

    Here she explains both scientific botanical illustration and the looser botanical art, and covers materials, collecting and preserving plant specimens, drawing and painting techniques, magnification, using dividers, drawing from life, composition, light and shade and tranferring drawings. She goes on to discuss painting leaves, flowers, cactii and succulents, wildflowers, trees and plates for Curtis's Botanical magazine. A chapter on travel drawings gives a flavour of the author's passion and worldwide experience. There is a helpful section on suitable subjects for beginners and a glossary of terms. The text is highly illustrated throughout with beautiful paintings.

    But the possibilities of the indoor garden to transform our homes and our lives remain largely unrealized.In this groundbreaking book, Jerome Osentowski, one of North America’s most accomplished permaculture designers, presents a wholly new approach to a very old horticultural subject. In The Forest Garden Greenhouse, he shows how bringing the forest garden indoors is not only possible, but doable on unlikely terrain and in cold climates, using near-net-zero technology. Different from other books on greenhouse design and management, this book advocates for an indoor agriculture using permaculture design concepts―integration, multi-functions, perennials, and polycultures―that take season extension into new and important territory.Osentowski, director and founder of Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute (CRMPI), farms at 7,200 feet on a steep, rocky hillside in Colorado, incorporating deep, holistic permaculture design with practical common sense. It is at this site, high on a mountaintop, where Osentowski (along with architect and design partner Michael Thompson) has been designing and building revolutionary greenhouses that utilize passive and active solar technology via what they call the “climate battery”―a subterranean air-circulation system that takes the hot, moist, ambient air from the greenhouse during the day, stores it in the soil, and discharges it at night―that can offer tropical and Mediterranean climates at similarly high altitudes and in cold climates (and everywhere else). Osentowski’s greenhouse designs, which can range from the backyard homesteader to commercial greenhouses, are completely ecological and use a simple design that traps hot and cold air and regulates it for best possible use. The book is part case study of the amazing greenhouses at CRMPI and part how-to primer for anyone interested in a more integrated model for growing food and medicine in a greenhouse. With detailed design drawings, photos, and profiles of successful greenhouse projects on all scales, this inspirational manual will considerably change the conversation about greenhouse design.

    This revolutionary approach combines the best of horticulturist Thomas Ogren’s previous books—Allergy-Free Gardening and Safe Sex in the Garden—into a full-color guide, including hundreds of new and updated plant listings and photographs. Ogren’s innovative system for combating allergens is based on the crucial matter of plant sex. By replacing troublesome male plants in your yard with pollen-blocking female “pollen screens,” allergy sufferers can reduce or eliminate their symptoms. More than 3,000 plant listings are included, accompanied by an easy-to-use allergy ranking scale of 1 to 10. With many new pollen-free plants to choose from, as well as clearly marked “worst offenders” to avoid, this is the ultimate resource for home gardeners and professionals alike who want to build healthy, safe, and beautiful gardens that everyone can enjoy.

    Bring it on!” —Permaculture Magazine Permaculture is more popular than ever, but it can still be a daunting concept. If you are new to permaculture and interested in learning more, Practical Permaculture offers authoritative, in-depth, and hands-on advice for a more holistic approach to sustainable living. Jessi Bloom and Dave Boehnlein, two dynamic leaders in the permaculture community, explain the basics of permaculture, share their design process, and explore various permaculture systems including soil, water, waste, energy, shelter, food and plants, and animals and wildlife. They also profile the fifty most useful plants for permaculture landscapes.

    It is the first book to share Oudolf’s original planting plans and plant groupings and the only book to explicitly show how his gardens and landscapes are made. An intimate knowledge of plants is essential to the success of this approach and Planting makes Oudolf’s considerable understanding of plant ecology and performance accessible, explaining how plants behave in different situations, what goes on underground, and which species make good neighbors. Extensive plant charts and planting plans will help you choose plants for their structure, color, and texture as well as the way they perform in the landscape. A detailed directory, with details each plant’s life expectancy, the persistence of its seedheads, its tendency to spread, and propensity to self-seed, is an invaluable resource.Planting is an essential resource for designers and gardeners looking to create plant-rich, beautiful gardens that support biodiversity and nourish the human spirit.

    Believing he can easily accomplish this simple task on his own, Coo’s wacky ways distract him from the true mission God has planned for him. But the serpent has other plans for Adam and Eve, and for Coo & Flutter. Will their mission be over before it begins?

    This is the extraordinary story of how a determined, passionate and deeply creative woman has slowly transformed an overgrown wasteland into a beautiful sanctuary for everyone to enjoy - and in the process, transformed herself.Wendy Whiteley was Brett Whiteley's wife, muse and model. An artist herself, with a finely honed aesthetic sense, she also created the interiors at the heart of Brett's iconic paintings of their Lavender Bay home. When Brett died, followed by the death nine years later of their daughter Arkie, Wendy threw her grief and creativity into making an enchanting hidden oasis out of derelict land owned by the New South Wales Government. This glorious guerrilla garden is Wendy's living artwork, designed with daubs of colour, sinuous shapes and shafts of light.This is Wendy's story but it's also the story of the countless people who cherish the Secret Garden. 'I've loved making this garden. It's been a great gift to my life. It let me find myself again, and it's my gift to share with the public.' Wendy Whiteley

    In his landmark work, Grow: Stories from the Urban Food Movement, Stephen Grace embarks on a journey of discovery to understand what motivates these urbanites working to reinvent the way we feed ourselves.From the driver of a repurposed garbage truck healing the soil to a guerrilla gardener bombing the city with seeds, a cast of extraordinary characters emerges as Grace makes his way into the heart of a revolution. He discovers that food can be a means to tackle some of our most pressing problems, from youth crime to the healthcare crisis, from resource depletion to climate change. Instead of succumbing to despair over global challenges, the citizens of Denver profiled in Grow find the creativity and fortitude to begin rebuilding the food system in their own backyard. This shift in the Mile High City is a microcosm of a movement redefining our relationships with farming and food-and with each other. Grow is concerned with what we put on our plates, but its true subject is the stories we tell as we struggle to repair our severed connections to nature and our fellow citizens.In the tradition of great travel writing, Grow encounters worlds as diverse as permaculture and hip-hop with expansive curiosity and irresistible humor. Whether joining a crop mob or collecting compostable waste in an alley, whether foraging for cactus or seeking refuge in a café founded on compassion, Grace illuminates moments of growth as he explores the hardest parts of the city."Grace gives us the stories of those on the ground and in the dirt and thereby gives us all hope and know-how. I absolutely loved this book. A must-read­-for everyone." -Laura Pritchett, author of Stars Go Blue

    And along the way, you will pick up a wealth of advice, tips and ideas for growing food and keeping pollinators well fed.Letters to a Beekeeper is for lazy gardeners, novice beekeepers and everyone in between. It is the best rule-breaking, wildlife-friendly, guerilla, urban gardening, insect-identifying, honey-tasting, wax-dripping, epistolary how-to book you could ever hope to own.

    Along with backyard chickeners, balcony beekeepers, rooftop farmers, and community gardeners, urban composters are part of a bumper crop of pioneers who are redefining the green space of crowded towns and cities. You may think you need a big yard to compost. Think again. Compost City teaches you how to easily choose and care for a compost system that fits perfectly into your (tiny) space, (busy) schedule, and (multifaceted) lifestyle.Whether you live in a cramped apartment or a sprawling town house, or you dream of composting in a shared space with a group of friends or colleagues, Compost City provides simple and effective indoor and outdoor composting options. Packed with research, expert testimonies, and a healthy dose of humor, Compost City will help you:• compost your food scraps and yard waste with ease• ease your fears of backbreaking labor, obnoxious odors, big messes, and creepy crawlies (hint: you can compost successfully without any of the above!)• convince compost-wary family, friends, neighbors, and community leaders to green-light your compost dreams Compost City serves all eco-curious citizens from casual hobbyists to staunch activists.Put your compost cap on. Whether you compost one tea bag or whole honking barrelfuls of scraps at a time, you’re about to have a whole lot of fun.

    In The New Shade Garden, Ken Druse provides this generation with a comprehensive guide to creating a shade garden with an emphasis on the adjustments necessary for our changing climate. Druse offers advice for common problems facing today’s gardeners, from addressing the deer situation to watering plants without stressing limited resources. Detailing all aspects of the gardening process, the book covers basic topics such as designing your own garden, pruning trees, preparing soil for planting, and the vast array of flowers and greenery that grow best in the shade. Perfect for new and seasoned gardeners alike, this wide-ranging encyclopedic manual provides all the information you need to start or improve upon your own shade garden.

    In order to grow a flourishing garden, every gardener must know the specifics of their region’s climate, soil, and geography. Gardening in the Pacific Northwest, by regional gardening experts Paul Bonine and Amy Campion, is comprehensive, enthusiastic, and accessible to gardeners of all levels. It features information on site and plant selection, soil preparation and maintenance, and basic design principles. Plant profiles highlight the region’s best perennials, shrubs, trees, and vines. Color photographs throughout show wonderful examples of Northwest garden style.

    The month-by-month format makes it perfect for beginners— gardeners can start gardening the month they pick it up. This must-have book is for home gardeners in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, eastern California, and southern Colorado.

    The "two percent" refers to: the amount of new carbon in the soil needed to reap a wide variety of ecological and economic benefits; the percentage of the nation's population who are farmers and ranchers; and the low financial cost (in terms of GDP) needed to get this work done. As White explained in Grass, Soil, Hope, a highly efficient carbon cycle captures, stores, releases, and recaptures biochemical energy, mitigating climate change, increasing water storage capacities in soil, and making green plants grow. Best of all, we don't have to invent anything new--a wide variety of innovative ideas and methods that put carbon back into the soil have been field-tested and proven to be practical and profitable. They're mostly low-tech, too, relying on natural resources such as sunlight, green plants, animals, compost, beavers, creeks, and more. In Two Percent Solutions for the Planet, White expands what he calls the "regenerative toolbox," to include holistic grazing, edible forests, biochar, weed-eating livestock, food co-ops, keyline plowing, restoration agriculture, bioenergy, aquaponics, animal power, Farm Hack, bees, bears, wildlife corridors, rainwater harvesting, native seeds, and various other projects from across the United States, as well as in Canada, Europe, and Australia. These short, engaging success stories will help readers connect the dots between diverse, exciting, and pragmatic practices, and inspire them to dig deeper into each individual story and concept, energized by the news that solutions do exist.

    Much of the impetus to move back to the land, raise our own food, and connect with our agricultural past is being driven by women. They raise sheep for wool, harvest honey from their beehives, grow food for their families and sell their goods at farmers' markets. What does a woman who wants to work the land need to do to follow her dream?First, she needs this book. It may seem strange to suggest that women farmers need a different guide than male farmers, but women often have different strengths and goals, and different ways of achieving those goals. Audrey Levatino shares her experiences of running a farm and offers invaluable advice on how to get started, whether you have hundreds of acres or a simple lot for an urban community garden. Filled with personal anecdotes and stories from other women farmers, from old hands to brand new ones, from agricultural icons like Temple Grandin, to her own sister, this book is a reassuring and inspirational guide that discusses: Should you do an internship or jump right in? How to find a farm or how to handle one that you’ve inherited Best practices for selling at the farmer’s market and how to sell your goods locally Farmhouse chores and how to get them done right How to handle large power tools, including a chainsaw Planning and growing an organic farm garden Incorporating animals as part of a farm ecosystem Where to get started if you want to farm-school your kids Tips for keeping your mind, body and spirit healthy while undertaking the demanding nature of farm work It's all here, in the same warm and friendly voice that readers embraced in The Joy of Hobby Farming. Full-color photography throughout provides step-by-step instructions for anything you’ll need to do on your farm.

    In this accessible guide, you'll discover the pros' secrets: practical ways to transform your yard using basic design principles. You can create an aesthetically pleasing yard that meets your needs, whether you want stunning curb appeal, privacy, low maintenance, or a lush retreat. You'll develop your eye for design with Lyndon's short critiques of gardens, both good and bad. You'll also find worksheets to help you design your own garden.With his signature style and wit, Lyndon delivers his expert advice for a four-season makeover for your yard. Topics include:Elements of design, such as scale, balance, texture, colour and repetition. Choosing a theme and a focal point. Weather, diseases and pests. Low-maintenance, water-wise, and shade gardening. Trees, perennials, annuals and permanent garden features.

    The book explores the health risks, cultural biases, origins, and the insults to Mother Nature caused by our culturally backed, legally enforced obsession with artificial representations of nature.The author, Phil Williams, is a former owner of a successful lawn and landscape company. He exposes the waste, fraud, and downright ridiculousness of an industry focused solely on aesthetics. Through his subsequent training as a permaculture designer, he offers many practical solutions aligned with nature to increase the health and productivity of landscapes, and the world by extension, while simultaneously reducing the workload of upkeep.

    Arne Maynard is known for his award-winning gardens at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show (2000, 2012) and for his beautiful and sympathetic gardens for private houses across the world. Central to his work as a designer is his ability to identify and draw out the essence of a place, something that gives his gardens a particular quality of harmony and belonging.Maynard is also a passionate gardener himself, and is in the process of transforming the garden around his house in Monmouthshire, Wales. This garden is one of those featured in the book, offering unique insights into the work in progress and his design methods. Also featured is Maynard’s very first garden of his own, at Guanock House in Norfolk, where over ten years he created a formal layout – including a kitchen garden, herbaceous borders and a knot garden – from a field.Each of the twelve gardens is specially photographed and is described through the seasons in personal text by Maynard himself, including details of the brief and plant selection. The book also includes fully illustrated features on various topics close to Maynard’s heart, such as growing and using roses, planting borders, creating productive kitchen gardens, incorporating sculpture in the garden, and training trees and shrubs.This beautiful book will appeal to garden lovers everywhere, whether armchair gardeners keen to explore the beautiful designs, or hands-on gardeners seeking inspiration and ideas for their own plots. It will also appeal to garden designers and horticultural students.

    Choose the right plants and care for them properly with help from an expert. John Cretti, one of the Rockies' most highly respected and experienced gardeners, shares his deep knowledge of the region, gardens, and plants in a lively, upbeat style.The author's top picks for plants that will thrive in (or despite of) the Rockies' fluctuating temperatures, altitude, dryness, rocky soil, and other unique growing conditions guarantee success for area gardeners and home landscapers. Plants are divided into easy-to-browse chapters, such as Annuals, Bulbs, Groundcovers, Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees (deciduous and conifers), Lawns, and Vines. Each plant is highlighted in their respective chapter with a large full-color photograph and tips on how, when, and where to plant.Rocky Mountain Getting Started Garden Guide doesn't stop at plant selection. Methods for preparing soil, watering, fertilizer application, and pest management are also covered in detail. Along with the "nitty-gritty" of tending your garden, John shares his inspiration for garden design, offers ways to incorporate your plants into the landscape, and names some favorite cultivars or species. His sound, practical advice is clothed in beautiful descriptions of each plant that will inspire you to get your hands dirty!

    It is about whānau having access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that is produced locally and free from chemicals, pesticides and genetic modification. This book received a publication support grant (PSG) from NPM, and makes a connection between the global and the local, between the political and the personal - and encourages us to take control over the food security of our whānau, providing practical advice on how to grow kai traditionally and in a kaupapa Māori way.Jessica Hutchings (hua parakore gardener, activist, academic and certified Te Waka Kai Ora grower) explains the political implications of the decisions that we make about growing and eating kai. She encourages us to take control over the food security of our whanau, providing practical advice on how to grow kai in accordance with the kaupapa of hua parakore, inspiring us with stories of hua parakore heroes and reassuring us that becoming a hua parakore gardener is a journey that anyone can embark onWith communities increasingly facing the challenges of food costs and security, rampant consumerism, climate change and oil pressures the book seeks to inspire its readers with stories of how to grow food holistically, organically and purely - guided by the knowledge of past generations, and combined with the shared experiences of other hua parakore growers from around the country.Ultimately it seeks to reassure us all, that this journey towards exerting some control over our food sources and becoming a hua parakore gardener can be realised by all our communities - whether urban or rural.You can buy a copy of Te Mahi Maara Hua Parakore from Te Wānanga o Raukawa, by emailing tetakupusales@twor-otaki.ac.nz

    As communities from Victoria to St. John’s amend urban bylaws to allow backyard flocks, more and more Canadians are enjoying the pleasures and rewards of keeping hens in the garden. In addition to tending her family’s flock as a child, Signe Langford has kept chickens in her urban Toronto yard for almost a decade. Her book is stuffed full of practical advice on keeping the garden both gorgeous and productive and hens happy and healthy. In addition to answering questions about coop construction, year-round egg production and whether or not a rooster is really needed, she covers the best breeds for backyards—from the Canadian winter-tough Chantecler to peewee bantams to blue-egg producing Ameraucana. A self-admitted “biomass addict,” Langford explains how hens are the happiest garden helpers anyone could ever have. Give them kitchen scraps and let them visit the compost pile: they’ll enrich and aerate the soil, all while eating as many bugs as they can get their beaks on. Langford also shares what plants should be scratched and what to sow to support the flock—from edible flowers and foliage to a hens’ herbal healing bed. In the kitchen, Langford tells why coddling can be a good thing when it comes to eggs; how to salt-cure yolks and how to dash off a classic French omelette baveuse. From Egg Yolk Won Ton Soup to Vanilla Coeur a la Crème with Blueberry Compote, Langford includes dozens of simple and elegant recipes from her own kitchen, as well as from celebrated contributors such as Vikram Vij, Laura Calder, Ted Reader, Roger Mooking and John Higgins. Illustrated with beautiful photographs, illustrations and garden plans, Happy Hens Fresh Eggs is sure to become a favourite of avid and aspiring backyard farmers alike.

    The wonderfully detailed illustrations create busy scenes which will keep children entertained. Not only this but your children will learn along the way, too! Fantastic spot book activities, combined with non-fiction settings, make for an informative and entertaining series. With interesting facts dotted on each page, further educational value is added to the books.

    Through my lifetime of experience, I've researched and educated myself on how to grow and care for all of them. I've experimented with various methods of how to cultivate them, and made countless errors along the way. I've written these books to share my knowledge and help the complete beginner with everything you need to know on these House Plants. The aim of the books is to prevent you from making the same mistakes I have, and to enjoy cultivating these fantastic House Plants for years to come. Here's A Preview Of What's Included In Each Book Book 1 - Your First Orchid The Different Types Of Orchids The Easiest Orchids To Grow For Beginners Which Tools To Use For Orchid Care The Ideal Conditions For Optimal Orchid Growth How To Pot and Repot Your Orchid The Pests and Diseases To Look Out For Why Blooms Fail My Top Tips To Orchid Success Further Orchid Resources and much more! Book 2 - Air Plants Introduction To Air Plants The Air Plant Family Creating The Perfect Air Plant Environment Watering and Feeding Your Air Plant Dividing Air Plants Air Plant Gardening Tools Mounting and Displaying Your Air Plant Pests and Diseases Common Air Plant Mistakes Air Plant Resources and much more! Book 3 - Your First Bonsai An Introduction To The Bonsai The Easiest Type of Bonsai To Grow For Beginners Creating The Perfect Bonsai Environment Feeding your Bonsai Watering Your Bonsai Pruning Your Bonsai Bonsai Gardening Tools Repotting Your Bonsai Pests and Diseases Common Bonsai Mistakes Further Bonsai Resources and much more! 3 for the price of 2 Download your copy today to receive all of this information. Just Scroll to the top of the page and select the Buy Button. Tags: House Plants, Indoor Gardening, Indoor Plants, Orchid Care, Orchids, Orchid Basics, Growing Orchids, Understanding Orchids, Orchids For Beginners, Orchids, Orchids Made Easy, Orchids For Dummies, House Plants, Indoor Gardening, Indoor Plants, Air Plant, Air Plants, Tillandsias, Air Plants For Beginners, Growing Air Plants, Air Plant Care, Air Plant, House Plants, Indoor Gardening, Indoor Plants, The Art of Bonsai, Bonsai Care, Bonsai Watering, Bonsai, Bonsai Growing, Bonsai Tree, Bonsai Gardening, Bonsai, Bonsai Care, Bonsai Basics, Bonsai Tree, Bonsai Gardening, Bonsai Growing, Bonsai Watering, Bonsai, House Plants.

    With this book, you'll know what to do each month to have gardening success all year, from January to December. It's full of the when-to and how-tos of gardening along with richly illustrated step-by-step instructions, so you can garden with confidence.Reap the benefits of the gardening "experiments" and experience by authors Liz Ball and George Weigel.With a fresh look and updated information, Pennsylvania Month-by-Month Gardening includes all the when-to and how-to information that has made these books so popular over the years, presented in a new, easier-to-use format with more full-color photography and the most current information available. Complete with specific advice on growing flowers (both annuals and perennials), bulbs, grasses (both lawn and ornamental), roses, groundcovers, shrubs, trees, and vines, this book is one no garden lover will want to miss! In the winter, certain tasks are needed to plan for and improve the next growing season. And once things really start growing in the spring and summer, you'll find advice on the best way to get the most beautiful flowers, the lushest lawns, and the sturdiest trees. From planting to watering and fertilizing, and from maintenance to problem solving, Pennsylvania Month-by-Month Gardening shows all levels of gardeners the best practices to grow satisfying and rewarding results.

    This book is a complete step-by-step guide showing you exactly how to get started with raised beds in your garden. Whether you want a one or two or want to create an entire vegetable garden of raised beds, you will find everything you need to know in this book. As you read this book you will find out how much time you can save and how much more you can grow by converting your vegetable garden to raised beds. Of course, if you prefer to grow flowers then a raised bed can be a perfect feature in any garden, built to blend in to the design of your home and look fantastic. When you read "Raised Bed Gardening - A Guide To Growing Vegetables In Raised Beds" you will discover: Why Use Raised Beds In Your Garden? - find out why raised beds are so popular and how they can benefit you Planning and Siting Your Raised Bed Garden - learn what you need to know to plan your raised bed garden to Materials for Building Raised Beds - discover the different materials you can use to build your raised beds and the pros and cons of each Building Your First Raised Bed - step by step plans including material and tools lists for building your first raised bed out of wood The Best Soil Mix for a Raised Bed - learn how to make the best possible soil mix for your raised beds but also one that is in your budget What to Grow and What Not to Grow In a Raised Bed - find out which plants thrive in raised beds and which ones to avoid ... but not for the reasons you may think! No Dig Gardening With a Raised Bed - discover how to grow vegetables in your raised beds without back breaking digging Square Foot Gardening In Raised Beds - a great method for boosting your yield by growing more produce in the same area ... ideally suited to raised beds Growing Vertically In Raised Beds - another method for boosting your productivity which works well in raised beds, helping you to use your space even better Pest Control in Raised Beds - find out how to keep pests under control in your raised beds and why you'll have less of a problem with this gardening method Weed Control in Raised Beds - this is much easier than you may think and you will find out how to significantly reduce the amount of weeding you need to do Crop Rotation and Planting Techniques - discover how to maximize the amount of vegetables you produce plus keep pests and diseases to a minimum with this useful gardening techniques Over-Wintering Your Raised Beds - learn what you need to do over winter to keep your raised beds productive and to minimize work the following season Raised Beds Tips and Advice - practical advice and tips helping you to make the most of your raised beds Raised bed gardening is one of the best ways for you to make gardening easier. Your vegetable patch will be much more productive with less work required for digging and weeding as you get more produce out of the same growing area. It's easier on your back and the beds themselves can become a feature in your garden.

    The book is chock full of lots of helpful information that anyone can put to use in the vegetable garden." ~Andy Wallace, Vine Voice "Great book! I was taken by surprise. The little gem is packed with information and resources to find everything mentioned in the book. Get it. Learn from it. Use it as a reference guide to produce sustainable gardening. High Marks all the way around for this book.." ~Kenneth Mack "I love this book! Teri made things easy for me, the garden novice. A great resource." ~C.B. "This book was beautifully written, so informative, and inspirational. I can't wait to incorporate her advice into my garden this year!" ~Kikka Q. Want a high performing vegetable garden? What's the secret to a bounteous harvest? It all starts with the skill and knowledge of the gardener. As you know, it's easy to plant a garden, but it's not always easy to get a high yield from all your hard work. In 'High Performing Vegetable Gardens," you'll learn how Teri Hanna grows loads of food in her garden and to carries the home-grown produce out in wagons and overflowing buckets. Vegetable gardening seems easy, you plant a seed, give it some water, and soon the tomatoes are filling the counter tops. Unfortunately, the reality is far from the dream. There's a simple truth about high performing vegetable gardens. It's not a one day event. Sure you can plant a few seeds and plants in a day, but it's not going to reach maturity without skill, effort and sweat. The people who succeed in the garden understand the balance between quality crops and rich soil. Moreover, they know how to create a garden that produces a rich harvest year after year because they put systems in place to make it happen. The good news is, that it's not that hard to improve your garden success. With a little bit of know how, your dream of the big harvest is attainable! DISCOVER: 12 Keys To a Highly Performing Garden "High Performing Vegetable Gardens" details a variety of techniques that will increase your daily harvest. Inside this cover you will discover: How to map your garden as a learning tool What kind of hoses work best for plants What type of amendments will feed your soil 10 ways to increase the microorganism population in the garden 4 ways to suppress weeds Why you might want to grow your own transplants How to set up a trellis What food plants will attract pollinators How to entice beneficial predators Why everyone needs to avoid man-made chemicals How to use microclimate tools You can grow more food. Just try a few of these techniques and you'll see that it can be done in your backyard. And how to store a supply of seeds Take Your Garden Skills To The Next Level...

    RHS Red Hot Chilli Grower

    Susan Cohen, the founder and director of the acclaimed Landscape Design Portfolio Series at New York Botanical Garden, illustrates the creative path taken by landscape architects like Mikyoung Kim, whose design for the Crown Sky Garden in Chicago was inspired by the interplay of music and nature. And Cornelia Oberlander, whose vision for the form of a Vancouver green roof was drawn from a Karl Blossfeld photograph of a gently undulating orchid leaf. With original sketches, plans, and photographs, this book is an extraordinary journey through the creative process.

    These unique designs—created by some of the world's leading floral artists as well as by homeowners with a flair for creativity—embody the Veranda reader’s passion for gracious living. From charming bedside bouquets to showstopping centerpieces, from a simple arrangement of yellow roses in a glass vase to a free-form mix of succulents sprinkled atop a dining room table, these designs will appeal to anyone with an appreciation of color, artistry, and imagination.Foreword by Aerin Lauder.

    Full-color images illustrate the more than 25 fruits and berries featured, and there are also more than 35 recommendations for the best vegetables to grow in this sometimes challenging climate. Helpful growing tips, icons, charts, and maps assist gardeners in planting the right edibles for their exact Florida location.This is the perfect book for longtime Florida gardeners as well as newcomers to the state with its enviable twelve-month growing season. This updated edition of the original Guide to Florida Fruit & Vegetable Gardening (Cool Springs Press, 2010) includes new specimens and cultivars as well as updated information on the outbreak of citrus greening disease that has ravaged orange groves throughout the state, with recommendations on safe practices gardeners should follow. Make your garden healthy and happy with tips from expert gardener and horticulturalist Robert Bowden.

    In their rocks and plants, empty spaces and intimate details—Kyoto's gardens manifest a unique ability to provoke thought and delight in equal measure. These varied landscapes meld the sensuality of nature with the disciplines of cosmology, poetry and meditation. Japanese aristocrats created these gardens to display not just wealth and power, but cultural sensitivity and an appreciation for transcendent beauty. A class of professional gardeners eventually emerged, transforming Japanese landscape design into a formalized art. Today, Kyoto's gardens display an enormous range of forms—from rock gardens display of extreme minimalism and subtle hues, to stroll gardens of luscious proportions and vibrant colors.In Kyoto Gardens Simmons' photographs present a fresh and contemporary look at Kyoto's most important gardens. Their beauty is enhanced and humanized by gardeners tending the grounds using the tools of their art. Clancy's graceful text provides historical, aesthetic and cultural context to the Japanese gardens. Combining wonder and rigor, she describes how Kyoto's most beloved gardens remain faithful to their founders' creative spirit and conception. Journey to Kyoto's thirty gardens with just a turn of a page, or use the handy maps to plan your trip.

    Filled with gorgeous pictures, this friendly, no-nonsense book makes growing and arranging your own flowers achievable and fun.Whether you’re growing for a wedding or for a birthday, festival or other celebration, Georgie’s cheerful advice takes you through everything you need to know.Step-by-step guides cover:Planning, growing, cutting and conditioning your flowersSpring, summer, autumn and winter weddingsFlower craft for special occasions, including buttonholes, bouquets, centrepieces, garlands and flower crowns.From jam-jar posies to elaborate displays, Grow Your Own Wedding Flowers explains how to grow and create beautiful arrangements and make your special day unique, without costing the earth.

    No hobby farm is complete without critters…possibly a small herd peppering the field or a microflock flapping around the hen house or pond. A single information-packed volume with everything a hobby farmer needs to know about farm animals, this new comprehensive manual to selecting, caring for, and breeding livestock brings forth the expertise of six hobby farmers, each of whom has real-life on-the-farm experience with the animals she discusses. Whether you’re contemplating adding a small herd of sheep or goats to your existing hobby farm or you’ve always wondered about the benefits of raising angora rabbits or Muscovy ducks, Livestock for Your Hobby Farm provides the kind of guidance you need to begin a herd or flock and expand your pens and fencing. With exhaustive detail, the authors offer complete coverage of chickens, ducks, goats, sheep, cattle, pigs, and rabbits, including the housing, health-care, special needs, advantages and challenges of each.-Extensive sections devoted to the seven major farm animals, including profiles of the most popular breeds and varieties-Detailed how-to chapters on the care, handling, feeding, health, and safety of each animal-Special chapters devoted to the breeding and raising of young animals-Recommendations for ways of capitalizing on your livestock’s output, from selling eggs, milk, fiber, and so forth-Tips for troubleshooting potential problems and warding off diseases, parasites, and predators

    An ecologically balanced soil system is essential for maintaining healthy crops. This is a comprehensive manual on soil management. The "whats and whys" of micronutrients, earthworms, soil drainage, tilth, soil structure and organic matter are explained in detail. Kinsey shows how working with the soil produces healthier crops with a higher yield drawing on his wide range of experience as a master consultant. Learn how to balance soil nutrients for maximum yield. Discover why simple N-P-K fertilization isn't enough. Understand the proper use of manures, compost, tillage, micronutrients and more. Kinsey gives first-rate science that brings organiculture and conventional farming together on speaking terms and indicts toxic rescue chemistry at the same time.

    Learn how to make the most of them with this complete guide to gardening with perennials. Discover all these gorgeous flowers, grasses, and greens, with names you won’t be able to resist. Turkish Iris, Iris spuria Candytuft, Iberis Evening Primrose, Oenothera Painted Daisy, Tanacetum Sweet Rocket, Hesperis Bee Balm, Monarda Hollyhock, Alcea For each one you’ll see complete information about how well it tolerates droughts, cold seasons, wildlife, and native soils, so you can pick the plants that will serve you best. Whether you’re looking for something fragrant, a bloom to attract butterflies, or a splash of bright color to light up your yard, there’s a powerful perennial in this book that’s perfect for your garden!

    Grandiflora, the highly acclaimed business she started 20 years ago, is known as much for its large-scale events with cascading flowers and extravagant arrangements as for its exquisite, intimate bouquets of petal-perfect blooms. Here, Saskia shares some of her favorite floral moments, captured in glorious detail by photographer Nick Watt.

    She doesn’t know anybody at her new house. Will she ever make new friends? Join Katy as she explores beyond the picket fence. Find out who she meets and what new adventures await her in Mrs. Bumbleberry’s Garden.

    Yet, the phrase Autism Spectrum Disorder is simply a label, the underlying causes of the symptoms are rarely diagnosed. Conventional doctors are unable to help because they are restricted by the guidelines of the American Medical Association. So what is a parent to do? Beating Autism is the personal story of Anne Evans's struggle to find answers to the cause and cure of her daughter's condition. Evans left the world of conventional medicine and found not only the source of her daughter's autism, but clear steps to her complete healing, alternative medicine, allergy elimination and Field Control Therapy. She found a combination therapy which brought about a complete reversal of symptoms and healed her daughter without the use of expensive equipment, pharmaceuticals, or surgery. From that moment on, the Evans family used diet, and Integrated Chinese Medicine (ICM) and Field Control Therapy to diagnose the condition of Sarah's brain tissue, analyze her dietary needs, detoxify her organs, and boost and redirect her own immune system to fight off invading pathogens without the use of antibiotics or psychotic drugs. Their daughter showed improvement immediately and recovered completely. Beating Autism is the compelling and true story of the Evans's 3-year struggle battling and overcoming autism. It is a case study that includes full explanations of the weekly drug-free treatments, details of the side effects and their durations, and a complete list of materials, metabolic and psychological tests, laboratories, and clinicians used. For the past 15 years the Evans' daughter has been fully functional with no signs of the disorder. Find out how you can get your child on a path to recovery and beat autism too.

    Every root system presented in this book was drawn by people literally working in the trenches, sketching the roots where they grew.The text provides a verydetailed review of all aspects of transplanting; describes how roots work their magic to improve soil nutrients; investigates the hidden life of soil microbes and their mysterious relationship to roots; explores the question of whether deep roots really gather more unique nutrients than shallow roots; shares the latest research about the mysteries of mycorrhizal (good fungal) association; shows you exactly where to put your fertilizer, compost, water, and mulch to help plants flourish; tells you why gray water increases crop yields more than fresh water; and, most importantly, reveals the science behind all the above (with citations for each scientific paper).This book contains at least eighty percent more new information, more results of the latest in-depth and up-to-date explorations, and even more helpful guidelines on roots than the author s previous book (Roots Demystified: Change Your Garden Habits to Help Roots Thrive). This is not a revised edition it s a whole new stand-alone book."

    Complete with specific advice on growing annuals, perennials, bulbs, grasses, roses, ground covers, trees, shrubs, and vines, this book is the only reference you'll need to have a successful and beautiful garden, lawn, and landscape.  Included are detailed instructions on everything from watering and fertilizing to pruning and problem solving. No matter your gardening level—from beginner to expert—you'll find actionable tips for all of the seasonal gardening tasks needed to gain satisfying results. Reap the benefits of the gardening successes of author John Cretti, who has more than thirty-two years of gardening experience! The Month-by-Month Gardening series is the perfect companion to take the guesswork out of gardening. With the region-specific advice offered in each of the titles in this series, you'll know exactly what to do each month of the year. Other books in this series include Mid-Atlantic, New England, Florida, the Carolinas, Arizona, and more. Full of step-by-step seasonal tasks and full-color photographs, the Month-by-Month Gardening guides help you garden with confidence, no matter where you call home.

    Current scientifi c case studies are covered, highlighting the advantages and limitations of plant-based cleanup. Typical contaminant groups found in thebuilt environment are explained, and plant lists for mitigation of specific contaminants are included where applicable.This is the first book to address the benefits of phytotechnologies from a design point of view, taking complex scientific terms and translating the research into an easy-to-understand reference book for those involved in creating planting solutions. Typically, phytotechnology planting techniques are currently employed post-site contamination to help clean-up already contaminated soil by taking advantage of the positive effects that plants can have upon harmful toxins and chemicals. This book presents a new concept to create projective planting designs with preventative phytotechnology abilities, 'phytobuffering' where future pollution may be expected for particular site programs.Filled with tables, photographs and detailed drawings, Kennen and Kirkwood guide the reader through the process of selecting plants for their aesthetic and environmental qualities, combined with their contaminant-removal benefits.

    It will help you unplug, relax and make the world go away. Since the days of Cleopatra, we have been in search of the "Spa Experience" - a mystical place of white fluffy towels, populated by the finest of facial masks and lotions. But this vision of relaxation can come with a hefty price tag. That is about to change. In her new book, herb gardener, spa enthusiast and award-winning garden designer Sue Goetz shows us how to create the luxury spa experience in our own home, featuring fragrant, therapeutic herbs from the garden. With lavish photos throughout, The Herb Lover's Spa Book gives the reader simple steps for growing and preparing herbs for the home spa...aromatherapy oils, lotions, tub teas, masks, scrubs, sachets, travel bath mixes, and more. It has never been easier to enjoy the spa ambiance and let the stress of the day melt away.

    Interspersed throughout all the up-to-date gardening advice offered in this guide are tip boxes describing all the traditional skills that are used. Head gardeners from world-famous gardens like Hidcote, Sissinghurst, and Stourhead all contribute. This comprehensive guide covers garden basics (soil type, aspect, weeding, digging, and what to grow where and when); design (styles, functional vs. aesthetics, landscaping, low maintenance gardening, container gardening, and a return to lost gardening styles and techniques); lawn care and lawn alternatives, gardening techniques and maintenance, crop rotation, growing and cooking food (fruit, vegetables, and herbs), greener gardening, and wildlife gardening—natural alternatives, how to encourage wildlife, how to deter pests without damaging the environment, beehives, and composting tips. Each chapter is packed with step-by-step guides to various techniques, handy hints from head gardeners, and "tales from the potting shed" that give historical context to the methods used by the gardeners.

     The runaway craft beer market's convergence with the ever-expanding local foods movement is helping to spur a local-hops renaissance. The demand from craft brewers for local ingredients to make beer--such as hops and barley--is robust and growing. That's good news for farmers looking to diversify, but the catch is that hops have not been grown commercially in the eastern United States for nearly a century. Today, farmers from Maine to North Carolina are working hard to respond to the craft brewers' desperate call for locally grown hops. But questions arise: How best to create hop yards--virtual forests of 18-foot poles that can be expensive to build? How to select hop varieties, and plant and tend the bines, which often take up to three years to reach full production? How to best pick, process, and price them for market? And, how best to manage the fungal diseases and insects that wiped out the eastern hop industry 100 years ago, and which are thriving in the hotter and more humid states thanks to climate change? Answers to these questions can be found in The Hop Grower's Handbook--the only book on the market about raising hops sustainably, on a small scale, for the commercial craft beer market in the Northeast. Written by hop farmers and craft brewery owners Laura Ten Eyck and Dietrich Gehring, The Hop Grower's Handbook is a beautifully photographed and illustrated book that weaves the story of their Helderberg Hop Farm with the colorful history of New York and New England hop farming, relays horticultural information about the unusual hop plant and the mysterious resins it produces that give beer a distinctively bitter flavor, and includes an overview of the numerous native, heirloom, and modern varieties of hops and their purposes. The authors also provide an easy-to-understand explanation of the beer-brewing process--critical for hop growers to understand in order be able to provide the high-quality product brewers want to buy--along with recipes from a few of their favorite home and micro-brewers. The book also provides readers with detailed information on: - Selecting, preparing, and designing a hop yard site, including irrigation; - Tending to the hops, with details on best practices to manage weeds, insects, and diseases; and, - Harvesting, drying, analyzing, processing, and pricing hops for market. The overwhelming majority of books and resources devoted to hop production currently available are geared toward the Pacific Northwest's large-scale commercial growers, who use synthetic pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, and fertilizers and deal with regionally specific climate, soils, weeds, and insect populations. Ten Eyck and Gehring, however, focus on farming hops sustainably. While they relay their experience about growing in a new Northeastern climate subject to the higher temperatures and volatile cycles of drought and deluge brought about by global warming, this book will be an essential resource for home-scale and small-scale commercial hops growers in all regions.

    The traditional English garden is seen through the fresh eyes of plantswomen such as Mary-Anne Robb at Cothay Manor and Arabella Lennox-Boyd at Gresgarth Hall, alongside Hilborough House in Norfolk and Ferne Park in Dorset that recently only existed as fields. The historic landscape gardens of Boughton House and St Paul's Walden Bury are explored alongside the contemporary and conceptual at Plaz Metaxu in Devon. From the private walled garden at Petworth to the wildflower-strewn meadows of Spye Park, each garden is a testament to the thriving art of English gardening.With contributions from the country's best garden photographers, The Private Gardens of England reveals gardening at its highest level. It will inform and inspire anyone with a love of gardening, beauty and excellence.'The photographs are take-your-breath-away spellbinding . . . The minute level of detail here will satisfy real gardeners, elevating this book far above its competition.' Sarah Feeley, English Garden'Captures a brilliant moment in our history, where plantsmanship, good design and love of plants have all come together . . . compelling format . . . the photography and production are superb.' Kathryn Bradley-Hole, Country LifeOne of Christopher Woodward's Books of the Year in the Evening Standard

    It provides expert information on the fundamentals--soils, cultivation techniques, pruning, fertilising and maintenance--and looks at different styles of garden design, using Australian plants not only for aesthetic reasons but for creating droughtproof gardens, fire resistant gardens, and environments attractive to native fauna as well. Growing your own bush foods is also covered. Highly illustrated and information-packed, The Australian Native Garden showcases some of the best designed Australian gardens and explores rural areas around Australia where indigenous species thrive in the wild, representing a fascinating source of inspiration and information.

     Focusing on the counties of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, this stunning book features gardens designed by some of the leading contemporary garden designers from across the world. This beautiful corner of England has a rich tradition of garden making, which is explored in this very personal view by photographer Hugo Rittson-Thomas and journalist Victoria Summerley, both residents of this green pocket with more than its fair share of beautiful and interesting gardens.The gardens: Abbotswood, Ablington Manor, Asthall Manor, Bourton House, Burford Priory, Colesbourne Park, Cornwell Manor, Cotswold Wildlife Park, Daylesford House, Dean Manor, Eastleach House, Eyford House, Kingham Hill House, Rockcliffe, Sarsden, Sezincote, Stowell Park, Upton Wold, Walcot House, and Westwell Manor. Some of the gardens are strictly private, while others are regularly open to visitors, but all can now be savoured and enjoyed along with those who know them best. Tour even more magnificent English gardens with Secret Gardens of East Anglia and Secret Gardens of Somerset.

    This expanded and updated edition--organized into 6 easy-to-follow sections--offers even more hands-on horticulture. Award-winning author Stella Otto starts by systematically guiding readers through the all-important first steps of planning and planting the home orchard. Learn to: - evaluate and build healthy soil- choose the best planting site- select fruit trees that are easy to grow and appropriate for your climateBecome familiar with the growing requirements of popular temperate zone tree fruit: the pome fruit--apples, pears, Asian pears, quince, and the novelty medlar --and stone fruit--cherries, apricots, plums, their new hybrid pluots and apriums, peaches and nectarines. In-depth chapters on each fruit offer recommendations on:- disease-resistant varieties to save you time and reduce unnecessary spraying- size controlling rootstocks choices for smaller spaces- compatible varieties to achieve proper cross-pollination that leads to a bountiful harvestFor urban gardeners in apartments, condos, and small lots, Otto walks you through the essentials of container growing and even how to winterize figs and other potted fruit trees.Horticultural fundamentals are simplified into practical techniques for ongoing care and maintenance of a thriving orchard. Gain understanding of soil biology and how nutrient availability impacts the tree. Master how to prune with precision, including the when, how, and why of pruning and its importance to tree health and disease prevention. Water with confidence: learn when why, and how much.The pests and disease sections are extensively illustrated to help with identification. Control solutions, both biological and synthetic have expanded greatly since the original edition, offering the gardener numerous choices based on their individual situation.Harvest hints, use, and storage recommendations help you enjoy your fruit at its peak flavor or preserve it for the off-season. A seasonal to-do calendar, resource list, additional reading suggestions, glossary, illustrations, charts, and an index put all you need to know at your fingertips.

     SUCCESSFUL COMPOSTING Although there are plenty of books written about how to make compost, few focus on preventing problems and providing advice on what to do when things don’t quite go to plan. In The Composting Troubleshooter, compost expert Dr Jane Gilbert explains the composting basics and sets out how you can compost effectively. By blending both art and science, the key components needed for successful composting are clearly explained and illustrated using easy-to-understand diagrams. PREVENTING PROBLEMS You’ll learn how to prevent composting problems by blending different materials, getting the structure of the heap right, and adjusting the moisture levels. ‘The Composting Troubleshooter’ provides an in-depth description of the different types of materials that can be composted, listing their key properties and things to keep an eye on. You’ll also find out about materials that may cause you problems, or taint your compost. TROUBLESHOOTING PROBLEMS Unlike other composting books, The Composting Troubleshooter, provides detailed advice on how to overcome a range of different composting problems. It is accompanied by a quick Look-Up Troubleshooter guide to help point you in the right direction. The book also contains chapters on: alternative composting methods; putting your compost to work; health and safety; and useful resources. By understanding the composting basics described in this book, you’ll be empowered to make and use compost effectively. You’ll also know what to do if things go off kilter. Both you and your garden will be able to reap the rewards.

    It is a must-have visual reference for garden owners, with over 600 images of gardens and garden elements along with incisive advice on garden design. Through the pictures and words, it takes readers from concept to execution of a personalized garden built on sound design principles.The sample gardens shown are large and small, urban and rural, and in a wide range of styles. Every aspect of designing a garden is explored, from assessing a property to choosing a style, selecting the right components, such as landscaping and boundaries, and tackling more challenging spaces. A gallery of 22 case studies further illustrates how to design a personal paradise.Each chapter instructs on numerous related topics and presents illustrative case studies:Basics: Where, Why and What: A Question of Style; Contemporary Design; Classical Design; Natural Design The Components Structure: The Backbone of a Garden; Paths and Drives; Patios and Terraces; Enclosure and Barriers Shaping the Garden: Greenery and Flowers; Furnishing the Garden Difficult Plots and Tricks of the Trade.The lavish spreads address topics such as paved patios, and offer a variety of photographs in different styles with concise practical text. Case studies inspire with imagery and information.Garden Design: A Book of Ideas is an ideal resource for the home gardener. It will continue to inspire as the garden matures and changes over the seasons and years.

    Well, unless you're growing fruits, vegetables, or grains for brewing that is. Gardening for the Homebrewer is an introduction to the wide variety of plants that you can use for fermentations or infusions. Learn how to tell if your yard is a perfect site for barley or whether it's better suited to a fragrant collection of herbs. Learn how to grow, dry, and store fresh hops. Or go off the beaten path and grow everything you need for your first gruit, cider, perry, or fruit wine. Have just a balcony or a windowsill? No problem! A variety of plant recommendations will suit gardeners of all types, even ones with limited space.

    The recipes are easy to follow and many give you four seasons of ingredients to choose from making it a snap to adapt as crops come and go. Nothing artificial, just good food to get you cooking again! If you are interested in wholesale pricing or bulk purchase, please contact me directly for details.

    Known world-wide for his connection with God’s world of nature, this authorized work explores the man and his wildly successful garden and orchard…while applying revealed principles to guide our daily lives as well. Home gardeners in 208 countries agree that you can grow better produce with much less cost and less work if you do it God’s way. CAUTION: this book may rock your worldview!

    Garden-pedia is written to fill the need for a clear, concise book of useful terms for the layman gardener. In a friendly, conversational style, the authors give the reader easy access to the what, when, why and how of gardening - with entertaining sidebars, tips and color photos throughout. This authoritative, up-to-date guide is destined to be the reference of choice for gardeners everywhere. Go ahead: impress your friends and family with your newfound knowledge.

     Outline for Pests and Fertilizers! What You May Not Know About the Seeds! How to Deal With Container Gardening Problems… The Mistake You MUST Avoid! 10 Awesome Container Gardening Ideas! Much, much more! What is Urban Homesteading?! Learn the Real Difference Between Urban and Rural Homesteading Permaculture… Discover Why Urban Homesteading is a Lifestyle Choice… How to Start Your Own Garden… Know these Variables for a Survival Garden! Learn to Make Your Own Compost! What to Know About Fertilizers… How to Build a Rain Collection System that Works! Discover the DIY Rain Barrel System! Much, much more! What is Straw Bale Gardening and How to Get Started… Step by Step Guide in Building Your Straw Bale Garden… How to Properly Prepare the Bales! Learn the Best Techniques for Planting, Watering, Weeding and Pest Control... How to Fertilize Properly! Secrets to Weed Control and Pest Control! Straw Bale Compost Bin and How to Build Your Bin... The MUST Know Pros and Cons of Straw Bale Gardening! Tips and Tricks for Straw Bale Gardening! Much, much more! Learn How to Plan Properly for your Square Foot Garden! Step by Step Guide to Building Your Garden Beds… Must Know Details about Specific Compost and Soil Options! Discover the Correct Watering Techniques for the Best Square Foot Garden.. How to Plan the Planting for Square Foot Gardening! Watch Out for these Pesticides! Why Spacing is Important for an Optimal Harvest… Learn the Secrets for a Great Harvest! Discover What to Do During the Winter Months! The Biggest Benefits of a Square Foot Garden! What Really is Vertical Gardening?! What Should Always Be Considered When Growing a Vertical Garden! The Best Structures for Vertical Gardens! How to Build a Vertical Garden… Outline for Vertical Gardening Containers! Discover the Best Plants for Vertical Gardening! How to Guide for Indoor Vertical Gardening… Quick and Easy to Learn Vertical Gardening Overview! Want free books? Go here:

    Each of the trees or tree groups includes details of:- Origin and history- Description and uses- Varieties/cultivars- Cultivation, pests, and diseases- Related species- European and North American suppliers- Color photos with every entry.The appendices make choosing trees for your situation easy, with lists of suitable trees for specific situations, plus flowcharts to guide you. If you want to know about and make use of the large diversity of tree crops that are available in temperate and continental climates, then this book--by an internationally acknowledged expert--is both fascinating and essential reading.

    Novice gardeners, new homeowners, and those new to the area will find it invaluable, but more experienced gardeners and home landscapers will also fall in love with this book.Prairie & Plains States Getting Started Garden Guide features the region-specific plant palette unique to this area, including plants that can withstand cold winters and drying winds. Gardeners in this wide geographic space share many problems and concerns. Annuals, bulbs, groundcovers, lawns, ornamental grasses, perennials, roses, shrubs, trees, and vines are profiled, in detail, with four-color photos showing each plant's attributes. Basic gardening chapters cover the information beginning to intermediate gardeners need to know to garden with confidence.

    Under the leadership of the renowned head gardener Sue Dickinson, this garden works on a scale that is now unique, producing, year-round, all the fruit, vegetables, and flowers for a country house where entertaining still happens on a grand scale and where everything is done to the highest standards. Paradise and Plenty, an in-depth exploration of the garden, opens a window on a garden that has always, until now, been kept intensely private, and a world beyond most gardeners' dreams. But in this book everything shown is useful as well as beautiful. Gregory Long of the New York Botanic Garden points out in his introduction to the book that as more and more people turn to growing their own, books are needed that show the techniques of dedicated cultivation, as well as the results. Many of the techniques used at Eythrope are old and tried, but have fallen out of use almost everywhere else. With glorious colour photography throughout, seven double gatefolds and a ribbon marker, Paradise and Plenty will be the garden book of the year.

    More questions arise when she goes through the contents.What possible significance could some faded pictures and a straggling key hold? Between her floral business and a campaign party at Clydell Manor, Darci already has more than enough to worry about before weird things start happening at the shop. The key keeps vanishing, she's nearly strangled by her own necklace, and the computer crashes after a mysterious message appears on the screen. Miss Addie might act up on occasion, but the resident ghost's antics are never malicious. With Halloween coming up, she figures someone might be playing an elaborate prank, and hopes the crooks responsible for a string of local burglaries don't have their sights set on Petal Pushers. Just when it looks like her questions are doomed to go unanswered, Darci discovers a secret that somebody intends to keep hidden . . . by any means necessary.

    It is a must read for every nature lover, whether birder, butterflier, or gardener, and it belongs on your closest bookshelf.”—Dennis Olle, North American Butterfly Association   “This delightfully witty book will open your eyes to some of the world’s most beautiful flowers.”—Marc C. Minno, coauthor of Florida Butterfly Gardening   “Wonderfully comprehensive. This book will get you started on your own butterfly or hummingbird garden even if you’ve been gardening for years!”—Ryan Fessenden, Florida Museum of Natural History   “Accessible and informative. Hammer instructs home gardeners on the plants they can grow on their property to increase their own personal pleasure while providing a valuable oasis for the region’s colorful hummingbirds and butterflies.”—Rick Cech, coauthor of Butterflies of the East Coast   In this authoritative and friendly guide, Roger Hammer shares more than thirty years’ experience tempting butterflies and hummingbirds into tropical Florida’s gardens. From ground cover to large trees, from soil requirements to effective seeding and frost protection strategies, Hammer catalogues 200 of the best plants for luring these wondrous creatures into even the smallest of yards. He offers helpful tips for beginning and establishing a thriving refuge that is easy to maintain, and his selection of exotic plants are all safe for use in Florida.

    Straw bale gardening allows you to grow splendid vegetation: both flowers and all kinds of vegetables from post-harvest straw, above ground and easy-to-reach for many who find regular gardening uncomfortable. What's more: these straw bales can be positioned anywhere: atop of rocky, inefficient gardening soil; over urban cement or asphalt: anywhere. This means that no matter your location, your need to garden your own plants and provide your own vegetables can be met with the ease of straw bale gardening. This book lends step-by-step tricks and tips to choose your bales, position your bales, cure your bales, and thus help them begin to "decompose" for essential plant growth. It helps you better understand which plants grow BEST in that straw-based environment, and it outlines the many different varieties of plants, based on your specific needs. Furthermore, it outlines specific maintenance techniques, for both the beginner and the longtime gardener. Straw Bale Gardening Made Easy is an essential tool book, ready to enhance your next growing season and harvest. Allow yourself to reap the rewards of this beautiful hobby-beneath the sunshine and in the midst of the earth's bountiful blessings. SCROLL UP AND CLICK BUY TO ORDER YOUR COPY INSTANTLY

    The new edition is a must-have for keen beginners or old hands alike, covering everything today's gardener wants to know, from creating stylish outdoor spaces to growing your own produce, starting a co-op garden and so much more.Australia's bestselling and most trusted gardening guideCompletely revised and updated, the 44th edition is a must-have for keen beginners and green thumbs alike, covering everything today's gardener wants to know, whether your garden is on a tiny balcony or in a big backyard.Fully illustrated and detailing more than 1000 plant species, this book contains everything you need to know about growing trees, shrubs, vines, flowers, vegetables, herbs and fruit.Including new ideas for today's gardener - such as adding chooks to your backyard; establishing a community garden; encouraging bees in the garden; growing microgreens; transplanting established plants with success; and a new herb-planting chart - the Guide also retains all its tried-and-true features. There are useful problem-solving charts to help you identify and deal with pests and diseases, and chapters on planning and preparing a range of styles, from enticing entertainment spaces to organic, low-allergen and water-saving gardens.Australia's most comprehensive, reliable and practical source of gardening advice, Yates Garden Guide is the essential companion for every gardener.

    Grow each recipe in one pot and serve them in another! The container recipes are arranged by eating event from picnics to snacks to main courses and puddings, with drinks and dressings to accompany. Enjoy refreshing chilled Gazpacho, followed by tasty Courgette and Fennel Tart with healthy Micro-Veg Salad, topped off with delicious Summer Pudding, and washed down with Pimms Jelly. The one-pot recipes are for beginners and more experienced gardeners and cooks, and include a full step by step masterclass to sowing, growing and harvesting.  Jason Ingram won Photographer of the Year at the Garden Media Guild Awards, 2014

    And nowhere are those remedies more needed and desired than in our cities. The Permaculture City provides a new way of thinking about urban living, with practical examples for creating abundant food, energy security, close-knit communities, local and meaningful livelihoods, and sustainable policies in our cities and towns. The same nature-based approach that works so beautifully for growing food—connecting the pieces of the landscape together in harmonious ways—applies perfectly to many of our other needs. Toby Hemenway, one of the leading practitioners and teachers of permaculture design, illuminates a new way forward through examples of edge-pushing innovations, along with a deeply holistic conceptual framework for our cities, towns, and suburbs.The Permaculture City begins in the garden but takes what we have learned there and applies it to a much broader range of human experience; we’re not just gardening plants but people, neighborhoods, and even cultures. Hemenway lays out how permaculture design can help towndwellers solve the challenges of meeting our needs for food, water, shelter, energy, community, and livelihood in sustainable, resilient ways. Readers will find new information on designing the urban home garden and strategies for gardening in community, rethinking our water and energy systems, learning the difference between a “job” and a “livelihood,” and the importance of placemaking and an empowered community.This important book documents the rise of a new sophistication, depth, and diversity in the approaches and thinking of permaculture designers and practitioners. Understanding nature can do more than improve how we grow, make, or consume things; it can also teach us how to cooperate, make decisions, and arrive at good solutions.

    If you would like to attract wildlife to your garden, you need to learn which plants to grow, how to provide nesting areas, when to prune shrubs or mow the grass and when to leave well alone, how to deal with weeds, how to create a pond for tadpoles and frogs, and more. The choice of plants is important, including shrubs which provide berries as food for birds, tall plants to attract bees and dragonflies, trees which have nesting areas for birds, flowers which provide pollen for bees, and night-scented plants to attract moths and bats. Follow the insect-friendly ways to keep weeds under control and to deter unwanted visitors such as slugs, and learn how to make organic plant feed. Discover how to turn a pile of logs into a home for ladybugs and other insects, how to plant a hedge to provide cover for small mammals, how to create a pond (no digging involved!), and how to make simple birdhouses and feeders. No matter what size your outside space—from a single windowbox to a full-sized backyard—"The Urban Wildlife Gardener" contains hundreds of easy-to-follow tips and techniques, simple projects, and essential plant know-how.

    Ranging from climate studies to the study of a butterfly’s life cycle, this original and fascinating book examines the scientific quest for order in nature as an offshoot of ordering the garden and field. Laird follows a broad series of chronological events—from the Little Ice Age winter of 1683 to the drought summer of the volcanic 1783—to probe the nature of gardening and husbandry, the role of amateurs in scientific disciplines, and the contribution of women as gardener-naturalists. Illustrated by a stunning wealth of visual and literary materials—paintings, engravings, poetry, essays, and letters, as well as prosaic household accounts and nursery bills—Laird fundamentally transforms our understanding of the English landscape garden as a powerful cultural expression.

    Gardeners of all levels will learn about the types of plants that make their gardens as easy to care for as they are easy on the eyes. The Sunset Western Garden Book of Easy-Care Plantings is a book about smart plants, and smart ways to combine them, focusing on specific plant groups that are especially easy, that belong together, and that take the same conditions. Featuring chapters full of plant charts with photos, brief descriptions, and care advice, readers are sure to glean inspiration, design ideas, and enough tips and tricks to build their own garden that radiates both ease and beauty.