Monty Don's personal chronicle of a year in his garden, including both successes and failures, shows how an organic lifestyle can be adopted by anyone, and organic gardening can be practiced in a yard of any size.

    This resource is a prime reference for the many who are growing or wanting to grow their own vegetables, herbs and fruits.The book features superb full-color photographs and illustrations and an easy-to-use A-Z directory. Comprehensive growing, harvesting and preserving tips and a wealth of recipes are a boon to gardeners and cooks alike.Practical aspects of gardening are explained in detail, with in-depth sections on creating a garden, pollination, soil fertility and greenhouse growing. Some of the topics covered are:Nutritional values The most useful and most recommended varieties Plant hardiness, propagation and growing guidelines Cropping, harvesting and storing Weed, pest and disease control Ornamental and wildlife value Pruning and training Companion planting Container growing. A yearly maintenance calendar, glossary, further reading section, seed sources list and detailed index round out this outstanding book.

    Dave Joyce has devoted his life to growing, researching, and photographing natural bonsai, and his wisdom and artistry are showcased in this full-color volume packed with advice and breathtaking images of trees maturing. Illustrated case histories offer details on the preferences and requirements of various species. Every task and technique is explained, from choosing a container and watering to wiring and pruning. Helpful tips explain using garden-center stock, starting trees from seed, collecting from the wild, or taking cuttings.

    Dutch garden designers offer plant descriptions, color photos, tips, and resources for natural-looking, l

    The text also includes a directory of more than 2000 species and cultivars.

    Salvia is derived from the Latin word salvare, "to heal," and for centuries salvias have been valued for their medicinal and culinary qualities. Salvias, commonly known as sages, grow throughout the world. They occur in many forms: perennial, biennial, annual herbs, and evergreen or deciduous shrubs. These amazingly varied plants are also noteworthy for their remarkable resistance to pests and diseases, their drought tolerance— and their beautiful flowers. In The New Book of Salvias: Sages for Every Garden, Betsy Clebsh highlights 150 beautiful, gardenworthy species and significant hybrids. She documents them alphabetically and includes botanical descriptions, information on habit, blooming cycle, recommended companion plants, and delightful historical tidbits of discovery and usage. In her ardent pursuit of salvias, Clebsch has explored the wild to collect plants and seeds to test in her garden. The resulting wealth of cultural information in The New Book of Salvias ensures that our gardens will not only be exquisitely aromatic but also wonderfully picturesque.

    The aquarium enthusiast who takes his hobby seriously reproduces a part of the aquatic natural environment in miniature inside his home. Author Peter Hiscock offers practical instructions on setting up a freshwater tropical aquarium. He describes substrate, aquarium plants, and appropriate combinations of fish. Much of this book focuses on fish and plant life in nature, and then offers details on replicating natural settings in the aquarium. Both plants and fish varieties are shown in vivid color photos and described in detail. More than 450 color photos and illustrations.

    Riveting texts, which convey much more than just factual knowledge, are a harmonious counterpart to the opulent visual component. Charlotte Seeling explains what is meant by a "Mallorcan-style garden" and which plants are original to the island and which have been imported. Along with the gorgeous foliage, the history of the island and its people are also treated in depth, and anecdotes about the gardens' owners give this luxurious illustrated book a particular, and very personal, Mallorcan charm.

    More than 3300 species of wild plants survive, and mostly flourish, in our backyards, city parks and remaining bushland.Our wild plants are the green thread that binds us to the natural world across thousands of years of human history. They provided Aboriginal Australians and European settlers with food, shelter and raw materials. Today, they soften the outline of the city's built environment and stimulate our senses with an endless variety of colour, shape and form.More than 500 species of our most familiar wild plants, and a few that are less well known, are featured in over 1100 colour photographs; along with brief, easy-to-read, descriptions of the plants and their habitats. This book is an essential companion to the best-selling Wildlife of Greater Brisbane, Wild Places of Greater Brisbane and Wild Guide to Moreton Bay.Published by the Queensland Museum in partnership with the Brisbane City Council and with generous assistance of the Queensland Herbarium and Greening Australia.

    Over 20 plant families are profiled including cacti, daffodils, iris, magnolia, poppies, roses, tulips, conifers, hibiscus, palms and waterlilies.Throughout history, plants have dramatically affected the lives of individuals and society as a whole. Holland's infamous tulip craze is now legend. The 17th century spice trade was so profitable that stevedores who unloaded nutmeg from the boats were obliged to wear coveralls without pockets since only a few nutmegs were worth a fortune.The natural history of the plants themselves is an engrossing topic. The book suggests that plants take a more active role in their survival than commonly assumed. It discusses how plants have adopted remarkable strategies for survival in a variety of harsh habitats. One such plant is the dead horse arum -- a putrid-smelling plant that adapted to compete with dead birds to attract pollinating carrion flies.Plants that gardeners now take for granted once could only be found in remote and hostile regions. Plant Discoveries tells the fascinating story of the adventurous botanist explorers who braved disease, slave traders, war, jungles and other dangers to collect plants now commonly grown in our own backyards.These pages are graced with hundreds of stunning color illustrations selected from the vast collection of botanical paintings archived at the Natural History Museum, London. Plant Discoveries is an exciting voyage of discovery and a must-have volume for lovers of art, botany, and adventure.

    The Rose tells the fascinating story of this treasured flower accompanied by lively text and sumptuous full color illustrations. The book is divided into three sections: Roses of Nature, Roses of History and Roses by Design. Each section traces the links that tie the wild roses of nature to the earliest roses of civilization. It also explodes a few myths along the way and tells how the tireless efforts of horticulturists from many nations have brought into being the full-petalled beauties of today.The captivating archival illustrations are from the Royal Horticultural Society's collection, home to one of the world's finest archives of horticultural art. This spectacular collection of roses of every description is certain to capture the hearts of gardeners and art lovers alike.

    Cultivation and propagation information is provided for each plant, together withsuggestions for plant groupings. Basic cultivation information on container plants, pruning and shaping of plants, watering, fertilizing, mulching, and pests and diseases.

    This illustrated guide offers detailed information on all aspects of geranium care, including how to choose the best variety for your soil and situation, planting and propagation, and recommended varieties and cultivars for best results.