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

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

    Fewer and fewer of us get the chance to flex our green fingers, but gardening is not just for the Titchmarshes and the Dimmocks. If you fancy a flat full of greenery, homegrown fruit and veg, a window box that's the envy of the street, or you've just acquired your first, much coveted Outside Space but don't have a clue what to grow, this is the book for you. THE VIRGIN GARDENER is a jargon-free plant recipe book divided into five sections: Grow, Decorate, Eat, Drink and Luxuriate. Would you like to sip homemade elderflower bubbly, grow your own garlic, or distil your own rosewater? With simple, step-by-step advice, Laetitia explains how. For the busy and stressed, find quick ideas for turning garage flowers into the perfect posy and tips on which herbs to harvest all year from your windowsill. For the more adventurous, learn how to grow chillies, pineapples and jungle greens. For the perfectionist, discover the secrets to ageing terracotta pots and having bulbs in flower on Christmas Day. And whose flat wouldn't be transformed by mossy pots, a mini alpine meadow or a chocolate bower? Irresistibly sassy, stylish and beautifully illustrated throughout with full-colour photography, THE VIRGIN GARDENER will seduce you into a life of roots and shoots. As Laetitia says, 'Go forth and grow!'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    In addition to providing year-round beauty with relatively little maintenance, landscaping with native plants contributes to the repair of the natural ecosystem and brings us closer to our environment. With such a diverse and spectacular array of native plant material available to gardeners in the costal and desert climates of Southern California, the opportunities for creative and attractive landscapes are seemingly endless. In Landscaping with Native Plants of Southern California, George Oxford Miller offers the definitive guide to choosing the best of the best among the native plants of the region. Covering wildflowers, shrubs, trees, vines, cacti, and groundcovers, this comprehensive, richly illustrated book selects the species that combine ornamental qualities, growth habits, adaptability, low maintenance, and beauty for the highest landscape value. The illustrations, maps, and charts provide guidelines for species selection and planting, ongoing maintenance, landscape design, and water and energy conservation. In-depth plant profiles describe the habitat requirements for nearly 300 native plant species, subspecies, and varieties, with stunning photographs illustrating how each plant looks and responds to landscape conditions. As the interest in native-plant landscaping and xerscaping continues to expand, this is a book that belongs on the shelf of every gardener and landscaper in Southern California. Environmental photojournalist George Oxford Miller is a writer, photographer, and third-generation nurseryman. He is well known for his photography and his many magazine articles and books on the plants and animals of Texas and the Southwest. His work has appeared in periodicals Like Living Bird, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and Wildlife Conservation and in publications of the National Wildlife Federation and the Sierra Club. He is author or co-author of several books, including Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas, Landscaping with Native PLants of the Southwest, A Field Guide to Wildlife of Texas and the Southwest, and The Ozarks: The People, the Mountains, the Magic. Miller resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

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

    For instance, slugs and snails having spine-tingly good sex and mosquitoes dodging raindrops.

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

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

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

    A stunning, beautifully illustrated guide to more than 800 rose varieties with hundreds shown in glorious photographs.