Best of
Plants

2017

Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden: Grow, Harvest & Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms


Erin Benzakein - 2017
    It makes a beautiful gift for any occasion, for friends, loved ones and gardening lovers alike!Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden:Cut Flower Garden is equal parts instruction and inspiration—a flower gardening book overflowing with lush photography of magnificent flowers and breathtaking arrangements organized by season. Find inspiration in this lush flower book:• Irresistible photos of Erin's flower farm that showcase exquisite blooms• Tips for growing in a variety of spaces and climates• Step by step instructions for lavish garlands, airy centerpieces, and romantic florist design and décor for every seasonA perfect gift: Flower lovers, avid and novice gardeners, floral designers, wedding planners, florists, small farmers, stylists, designers, crafters, home decor aficionados, and those passionate about the local floral movement will love this book.• For those who loved Floret Farm's A Year in Flowers by Erin Benzakein, The Flower Recipe Book by Alethea Harampol, Seasonal Flower Arranging by Ariella Chezar, and The Flower Chef by Carly Cylinder.

The Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife


Nancy Lawson - 2017
    Through engaging anecdotes and inspired advice, profiles of home gardeners throughout the country, and interviews with scientists and horticulturalists, Lawson applies the broader lessons of ecology to our own outdoor spaces. Detailed chapters address planting for wildlife by choosing native species; providing habitats that shelter baby animals, as well as birds, bees, and butterflies; creating safe zones in the garden; cohabiting with creatures often regarded as pests; letting nature be your garden designer; and encouraging natural processes and evolution in the garden. The Humane Gardener fills a unique niche in describing simple principles for both attracting wildlife and peacefully resolving conflicts with all the creatures that share our world.

How Not to Kill Your Houseplant: Survival Tips for the Horticulturally Challenged


Veronica Peerless - 2017
    You need this book. Give plants a chance.Help your plant live with survival tips and learn the simple ways not to kill your plants.With over 50 different types of popular houseplants, How Not to Kill Your Houseplant summarizes what type of care your plants do (or don't) need. Be on the lookout for warning signs of a sick plant, from brown spots to crispy leaves, and make sure you take the proper action to rescue your plant.Learn the basics of horticulture, from watering your plant to what kind of soil it should be placed in to how much light it needs every day to if a certain type of plant will thrive in your living space. Find out how to keep a cactus alive, where to hang air plants, and how to repot succulents.Full of helpful tips, pictures, and informational panels, How Not to Kill Your Houseplant will turn your home into a beautiful greenhouse of healthy, happy plants.

Midwest Medicinal Plants: Identify, Harvest, and Use 109 Wild Herbs for Health and Wellness


Lisa M. Rose - 2017
    You’ll learn how to safely and ethically forage and how to use wild plants in herbal medicines including teas, tinctures, and salves. Plant profiles include clear, color photographs, identification tips, medicinal uses and herbal preparations, and harvesting suggestions. Lists of what to forage for each season makes the guide useful year-round. Thorough, comprehensive, and safe, this is a must-have for foragers, naturalists, and herbalists in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Wise Trees


Diane Cook - 2017
    Supported by grants from the Expedition Council of the National Geographic Society, Cook and Jenshel spent two years traveling to fifty-nine sites across five continents to photograph some of the world’s most historic and inspirational trees. Trees, they tell us, can live without us, but we cannot live without them. Not only do trees provide us with the oxygen we breathe, food gathered from their branches, and wood for both fuel and shelter, but they have been essential to the spiritual and cultural life of civilizations around the world. From Luna, the Coastal Redwood in California that became an international symbol when activist Julia Butterfly Hill sat for 738 days on a platform nestled in its branches to save it from logging, to the Bodhi Tree, the sacred fig in India that is a direct descendent of the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment, Cook and Jenshel reveal trees that have impacted and shaped our lives, our traditions, and our feelings about nature. There are also survivor trees, including a camphor tree in Nagasaki that endured the atomic bomb, an American elm in Oklahoma City, and the 9/11 Survivor Tree, a Callery pear at the 9/11 Memorial. All of the trees were carefully selected for their role in human dramas. This project both reflects and inspires awareness of the enduring role of trees in nurturing and sheltering humanity. Photographers, environmentalists, history buffs, and nature-lovers alike will appreciate the extraordinary stories found within the pages of Wise Trees! Also Available: Wise Trees 2020 Wall Calendar

Gardens of the High Line: Elevating the Nature of Modern Landscapes


Piet Oudolf - 2017
    . . this is the next best thing.” —The Washington Post   Before it was restored, the High Line was an untouched, abandoned landscape overgrown with wildflowers. Today it’s a central plaza, a cultural center, a walkway, and a green retreat in a bustling city that is free for all to enjoy. This beautiful, dynamic garden was designed by Piet Oudolf, one of the world’s most extraordinary garden designers. Gardens of the High Line, by Piet Oudolf and Rick Darke, offers an in-depth view into the planting designs, plant palette, and maintenance of this landmark achievement. It reveals a four-season garden that is filled with native and exotic plants, drought-tol­erant perennials, and grasses that thrive and spread. It also offers inspiration and advice on recreating its iconic, naturalistic style. Featuring stunning photographs by Rick Darke and an introduction by Robert Hammond, the founder of the Friends of the High Line, this large-trim, photo-driven book is a must-have gem of nature of design.

Incredible Wild Edibles: 36 Plants That Can Change Your Life


Samuel Thayer - 2017
    The plants chosen represent every habitat and every region in North America, from the northern forests to the southwest deserts, from the largest cities to the wildest mountains. Rather than cover hundreds of species in brief accounts that leave the reader unsure of how to proceed, Samuel Thayer encourages readers to thoroughly learn one plant at a time. Each of these traditional foods has a rich culinary and cultural history―a wholesome past that is still relevant for our health and happiness today. The text is fully accessible to the novice, but remains botanically accurate and has the in-depth information that seasoned foragers crave.

The Witching Herbs: 13 Essential Plants and Herbs for Your Magical Garden


Harold Roth - 2017
    His new book, The Witching Herbs, is an in-depth exploration of 13 essential plants and herbs most closely associated with witchcraft--13 because it's the witching number and reflects the 13 months of the lunar calendar. The plants are poppy, clary sage, yarrow, rue, hyssop, vervain, mugwort, wormwood, datura, wild tobacco, henbane, belladonna, and mandrake.Roth writes simply and clearly on a vast amount of esoteric information that is not easily found elsewhere and will be greeted enthusiastically by those who already have extensive experience and libraries. It is unique in that it combines mysticism with practical instructions for growing each plant, based on Roth's 30 years of gardening expertise. Each chapter focuses on one plant and includes information on its unique plant spirit familiar, clear how-to instructions for magical projects, and pragmatic information on growing and cultivating.Roth writes, "This book is a great choice for intermediate-to-advanced witches who would like to work more closely with the traditional witching herbs, especially the baneful plants with their rather difficult spirits. Working directly with spirits is one of the fundamentals of the Craft."The Witching Herbs is the essential plant-worker's guide. Roth is not only a successful gardener, but also a magician and scholar of the occult. No other book blends clear, practical gardening techniques with equally lucid and sophisticated plant magic so successfully.

Plant Families: A Guide for Gardeners and Botanists


Ross Bayton - 2017
    In reality, there are hundreds of different plant families, each grouped logically by a unique family history and genealogy. This brings sense and order to the more than a quarter of a million different plant species covering a diverse spectrum that includes soaring sequoias (Cupressaceae), squat prickly pear (Cactaceae), and luxuriant roses (Rosaceae).Plant Families is an easy-to-use, beautifully illustrated guide to the more than one hundred core plant families every horticulturist, gardener, or budding botanist needs to know. It introduces the basics of plant genealogy and teaches readers how to identify and understand the different structures of flowers, trees, herbs, shrubs, and bulbs. It then walks through each family, explaining its origins and range, and describing characteristics such as size, flowers, and seeds. Each family is accompanied by full-color botanical illustrations and diagrams. “Uses For” boxes planted throughout the book provide practical gardening tips related to each family. We have much to gain by learning about the relationships between plant families. By understanding how botanists create these groupings, we can become more apt at spotting the unique characteristics of a plant and identify them faster and more accurately. Understanding plant families also helps us to make sense of—and better appreciate—the enormous biological diversity of the plant kingdom.

Natural History of the Pacific Northwest Mountains


Daniel Mathews - 2017
    It includes details about and identification tips for the flora, fauna, and geology of the region. If you are looking for a simple way to discover the great outdoors, this is the perfect overview of the Pacific Northwest.Covers the Coastal and Cascade Mountain Ranges, as well as the Olympic Mountains and Coast Mountains of southern British ColumbiaDescribes more than 950 species of plants, animals, and mushrooms with helpful keys for easy identificationUser-friendly, color coded layout Compelling stories of the region’s plants, animals, and people bring the mountains aliveThe essential trailside reference for naturalists, hikers, and campers

The Japanese Garden


Sophie Walker - 2017
    Author and garden designer Sophie Walker brings fresh insight to this subject, exploring the Japanese garden in detail through a series of essays and with 100 featured gardens, ranging from ancient Shinto shrines to imperial gardens and contemporary Zen designs. Leading artists, architects, and other cultural practitioners offer personal perspectives in newly commissioned essays.

Houseplants: The Complete Guide to Choosing, Growing, and Caring for Indoor Plants


Lisa Eldred Steinkopf - 2017
    Well-chosen, well-cared-for houseplants bring life to a room, both literally and figuratively. They add color, texture, motion, uniqueness, beauty—and they even improve air quality. They also fulfill our need to nurture and care for other living things. In Houseplants, expert grower Lisa Eldred Steinkopf gives you the advice and information you need to confidently bring a plant (or two, or more!) home and find joy in keeping it lush and healthy. Achieve success with your houseplants by:Making smart selections: Choose plants that are suited for your space and conditions.Savvy siting: Where the plant is placed is as important as what it is.Taking care: Proper maintenance goes far beyond watering; learn how to fertilize, groom, troubleshoot, propagate, and more.Becoming an educated owner: The book includes 125+ profiles of the most popular, cutting-edge plant species.Organized by relative ease of care, the plant profiles offer the common and botanical names, light preference, watering guidelines, whether and under what conditions it flowers, its size and growth potential, propagation tips, and available cultivars. Featuring stunning photography and a modern design, Houseplants is a must-have resource for every houseplant parent.

A Beginner's Guide to Recognizing Trees of the Northeast


Mark Mikolas - 2017
    His method, which centers on the northeastern United States where 20 species make up the majority of trees, will prepare readers to recognize trees at a glance, even in winter when leaves and flowers are not present. Mikolas’s secret is to focus on the key characteristics of each tree—black cherry bark looks like burnt potato chips; beech and oak trees keep their leaves in winter; spruce needles are pointed while balsam fir needles are soft and rounded at the ends. Some trees can even be identified by scent. Location maps for each of the 40 species covered and more than 400 photographs illustrating key characteristics make the trees easy to identify. Mikolas also explains how to differentiate between similar and commonly confused trees, such as red maple and sugar maple.  A Beginner’s Guide to Recognizing Trees of the Northeast is a book to keep close at hand wherever trees grow.

The Frightened Little Flower Bud


Renée Paule - 2017
    There is a British version hereThe story begins with a seed landing in a pretty garden where it starts to grow and eventually forms a little flower bud. But, the little flower bud becomes frightened of things she 'hears on the wind'; such as the sun that might scorch her petals, the rain that might spoil them, the wind that might blow them away - so the flower doesn't want to bloom. However, all flowers must bloom, and as the little flower bud opens her petals she overcomes her fears one by one.The more we think about our fears, the more they overwhelm us. This book teaches children (of all ages) that fear is just a feeling that holds them back from living their lives to the full. To add to the fun and develop observational skills there's a 'Did You See' activity page at the back with objects from the book that children may not have noticed whilst reading it. There are also some simple questions that can be asked of children, encouraging them to think about what they’ve read. The skill level required is 'easy'.

Mushrooms of the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada: Timber Press Field Guide (A Timber Press Field Guide)


Timothy J. Baroni - 2017
    Mushrooms of the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada is a compact, beautifully illustrated guide packed with descriptions and photographs of more than 400 of the region's most conspicuous, distinctive, and ecologically important mushrooms. The geographic range covered by the book includes Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Ontario, and most of Quebec. In addition to profiles on individual species, Mushrooms of the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada also includes a general discussion and definition of fungi; information on where to find mushrooms and guidelines on collecting them; an overview of fungus ecology; and a discussion on mushroom poisoning and how to avoid it.

What Will Grow?


Jennifer Ward - 2017
    They can become flowers, trees, fruits, or vegetables, and they grow all times of year, during spring, summer, fall, and winter.But all seeds have one thing in common--inside each is a new plant life waiting to emerge. What kind of plant will bloom? Wait and see what will grow!This jacketed companion picture book to What Will Hatch? features all kinds of seeds, from flowers and trees to fruits and vegetables. Along with lyrical text and beautiful illustrations, the book includes four pull-out gate-folds and fascinating back matter about plants!

Peony: The Best Varieties for Your Garden


David C. Michener - 2017
    You'll learn the history of the plant, discover the different types of peonies available, and enjoy profiles of the best 194 varieties. Growing information includes details on climate, soil, light, planting, and water needs. Helpful lists detail the best peony varieties for specific needs, and a resource listing shares the best places to buy peonies and the best public gardens to see them in.

Indoor Edible Garden: Creative Ways to Grow Herbs, Fruits, and Vegetables in Your Home


Zia Allaway - 2017
    Inspiring from the start, this book shows off its lush garden projects through beautiful design and full-color photographs.Reference more than 30 profiles of the top herbs, edible flowers, fruiting plants, and vegetables, then, follow DIY project templates to grow your gardens into beautiful home decor. The step-by-step instructions include how to create a hanging garden -globe- with chili and basil plants, how to make the growing area for herbs just right so they will flourish, and more. Plus, Indoor Edible Garden includes straightforward explanations of scientific methods such as artificial lighting and hydroponics and key techniques for planting, drainage, and harvesting.Indoor Edible Garden helps create stunning and edible home decor so your living space will be fruitful--and beautiful--all year round.

Tree


Melina Sempill Watts - 2017
    Tree uses magical realism as a key to access the interrelated emotional realities of the many species that share one pristine valley in Topanga, California. Grass, birds, other trees and animals come to life on the pages, while one 19th century Mexican woman and one 20th century school boy, hearts opened by grief and loneliness, come to know one California live oak whose 229 years span the evolution of four human civilizations, Chumash, Spanish/Mexican, Yankee and new money Hollywood, which each leave their mark upon the landscape and upon Tree. The author's obsessive botanical, scientific and historical research give substance to a world that feels both as real as last weekend's dust on hiking boots and as mind altering as a fully fledged mystical experience. Take a journey into the heart of the woods where every plant shines: Tree will change how you see nature.

Heartwood: The art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit


Rowan Reid - 2017
    In his latest book, Heartwood: The art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit, Rowan proposes a radical new approach to forestry and Landcare that challenges the idea that harvesting trees for timber is always bad for the environment. In fact, using real examples from his own farm and others around Australia and overseas, he proves that cutting down trees for firewood, furniture and building timbers can not only be good for the environment, it can also help pay the cost of large-scale landscape restoration. This book offers landholders, governments and the conservation movement a practical commercial solution to their environmental problems.Signed copies available from the author (Australian only): www.agroforestry.net.au

Klee Wyck Journal: The Making of a Wilderness Retreat


Lou McKee - 2017
    During the first trip that Pacific Northwestern summer, they chanced upon an enchanting stretch of beach and spent several days collecting stones polished by the ocean, exploring the nearby creek, and breathing in the wonder of untamed water and wilderness.This remote coastal beach drew them back year after year, though the coastal rains become almost too much to endure. Thus, the Klee Wyck Cabin, as it came to be named, was borne from found cedar beach logs and other reclaimed wood to shield the travelers from summer storms. For a few weeks each year, friends and family came together to share stories, heartaches, celebrations, and the building of the tiny wilderness retreat cabin.Lou took her journal and sketchbook with her to the cabin, documenting the construction and rendering local flora and fauna in colored ink and pencil drawings. Collected together in print for the first time, Klee Wyck Journal showcases the cabin and Lou's remarkable lifetime on and near the water in exquisite, full color sketches.

Cannabis Revealed: How the world's most misunderstood plant is treating everything from chronic pain to epilepsy


Bonni Goldstein - 2017
    Although 28 states have medical cannabis laws, most physicians are reluctant to discuss how this plant may be beneficial to health. Over 4 million people in the U.S. are healing difficult-to-treat illnesses with cannabis medicine. This book is an educational tool for patients and their loved ones who have not found answers with conventional medicines. Written by Bonni Goldstein, M.D., a well-respected practicing physician in California, and owner and Medical Director of Canna-Centers, this book explains the scientific research for over 28 chronic medical conditions for which cannabis is being used with positive results. Having helped thousands of suffering patients – including children – find relief with cannabis, Dr. Goldstein shares her expertise and years of clinical hands-on experience in chapters like How to Use Cannabis as Medicine, The Safety Profile of Cannabis, and Medical Risks of Using Cannabis, as well as true stories of how cannabis medicine has improved the lives of her seriously ill patients. As medical cannabis laws continue to evolve, it is more vital than ever for patients suffering from life-changing medical conditions to understand the benefits of this plant in an honest, medicine-based perspective. Educational, practical and comprehensive, Cannabis Revealed exposes the truth behind cannabis so patients can make informed decisions and improve the quality of their lives. "A major contribution from a leading physician on the front lines of the medical marijuana revolution. Dr. Bonni Goldstein's book is a must-read for anyone who seeks to understand the healing potential and practical application of therapeutic cannabis." – Martin A Lee, director of Project CBD and author of Smoke Signals

Woods: A Celebration


Robert Penn - 2017
    The National Trust manages hundreds of woods, covering more than 60,000 acres of England and Wales. They include many of the oldest woodlands in the land and some of the oldest living things of any kind—trees that are thousands of years old. From Dean to Epping, from Hatfield to Sherwood, this book covers the natural history of Britain's forests and how they have changed the face of a landscape. Covering the different species of trees that give these woods their unique characters, the plants and animals that inhabit them, and the way their appearance changes throughout the seasons, Woods is a fascinating and beautifully illustrated celebration of Britain's trees and the ancient stories that surround them.

Botanical Sketchbooks: {Over 500 years of beautiful botanical sketches by 80 artists from around the world, from Leonardo da Vinci to John Muir}


Helen Bynum - 2017
    While there are many histories of botanical art featuring beautiful paintings and finished drawings, the artists' preparatory sketches, first impressions, and scribbled notes on paper are rarely seen. But it is often these early attempts that give us real insight into the firsthand experiences and adventures of the botanists, artists, collectors, and explorers behind them.This exquisite visual compendium of botanical sketches by eighty artists from around the world brings these personal and vividly spontaneous records back into the light. Filled with remarkable images from the fifteenth to the twentieth centuries, sourced from the unparalleled collections of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Library, Art & Archives, and other libraries, museums, and archives, Botanical Sketchbooks also provides fascinating biographical portraits of the intriguing characters featured within, including such renowned artists, scientists, and amateur botanists as Leonardo da Vinci, Georg Dionysius Ehret, Carl Linnaeus, Maria Sibylla Merian, Mark Catesby, and Helen and Margaret Shelley (sisters of the novelist Mary Shelley), among many others.

The Little Book of Cacti and Other Succulents


Quadrille Publishing - 2017
    The book focuses on their propagation and care. As well as a section of handy tips, there will be a ready reference on dealing with common problems and pest control.

The Word for World is Still Forest (Intercalations)


Anna-Sophie SpringerYanni A. Loukissas - 2017
    in response to their violent destruction, which characterizes the Anthropocene, these pages traverse various woodlands by way of their semiotic, socio-political, historical, and epistemic incitements in order to reveal how practices of care, concern, and attention also enable humans to inhabit and flourish in this world as forest.Taking its title from Ursula K. Le Guin’s 1972 novella, The Word for World is Still Forest curates an homage to the forest as a turbulent, interconnected, multinature. Moving from concepts of the forest as a thinking organism to the linear monocultural plantations that now threaten the life of global forests, the volume includes interviews, a photo essay, case studies, reflections, drawings, essays and more. Contributors: Sandra Bartoli, Kevin Beiler, Shannon Castleman, Dan Handel, Katie Holten, Elise Hunchuck, Silvan Linden, Yanni A. Loukissas, Eduardo Kohn, Pedro Neves Marques, Abel Rodríguez, Carlos Rodríguez, Suzanne Simard, Anna-Sophie Springer, Paulo Tavares Etienne Turpin, Catalina Vargas Tovar

Native: Art and design with Australian Plants


Kate Herd - 2017
    When Kate Herd started experimenting with how she pruned and trained the native plants in her riverside garden in Melbourne, she made some amazing discoveries. A eucalyptus shrub she had cut right back to the ground reappeared as the most beautiful sprawling ground cover. Westringia was shaped to impersonate perfect English Box balls. And she found that Tasmanian beech trees could grow as a copse in small city courtyards. Jela had similar experiences in her own garden design practice and together Kate and Jela have explored the unique beauty and resilience of Australia’s native plants. Known for their absolute versatility and hardiness in the garden, native plants also offer up original forms for cut flowers and sculpture. Garden designers Fiona Brockhoff and Sue Barnsley, Sculptor Tracey Deep and Artist Janet Lawrence all share their own love of Australian plants and how they incorporate them into their work. Chapters cover topics such as: Feature Foliage, Sculptural Forms, Pliability, Shady Spaces and Flowering Meadows.

Plant Magic: A Year of Green Wisdom for Pagans & Wiccans


Sandra Kynes - 2017
    Plant Magic presents a unique approach to working with plants in concert with the cycles of nature. Learn which ones best align with the sabbats on the Wheel of the Year and which are most useful for the time between them.Sandra Kynes guides you through a year of plant magic, providing significant dates and detailed information on garden, wild, and household plants associated with each month. Discover activities to grow your connection with nature, such as plant-based rituals to celebrate the seasons and incense burning to attract love and prosperity. Explore ways to develop your self-expression in the craft, from placing flowers on your altar to using herbs in your divinatory practices. Featuring lore, recipes, spells, and more, Plant Magic helps you better understand and be inspired by the green world.

Botanical Inspirations Deck & Book Set


Lynn Araujo - 2017
    Botanical Inspirations Deck & Book Set brings together the Secret Language of Flowers with the treasured artwork of Pierre-Joseph Redout. Each Botanical Inspirations card features a thoughtful quotation that alludes to the symbolism of the flower. The accompanying guidebook presents inspirational affirmations and narrative vignettes culled from history, mythology, lore and legend. From the demure violet to the noble magnolia, all flowers have stories to tell and lessons to share.This charming gift set includes:44 cards with quotations and flower meanings100-page illustrated guidebook with messages of insight and inspirationFold-out guide to the Secret Language of FlowersDrawstring organza pouch

Kumeyaay Ethnobotany: Shared Heritage of the Californias


Michael Wilken-Robertson - 2017
    Today, many Kumeyaay Indians in the far-flung ranches of Baja California carry on the traditional knowledge and skills for transforming native plants into food, medicine, arts, tools, regalia, construction materials, and ceremonial items.Kumeyaay Ethnobotany explores the remarkable interdependence between native peoples and native plants of the Californias through in-depth descriptions of 47 native plants and their uses, lively narratives, and hundreds of vivid photographs. It connects the archaeological and historical record with living cultures and native plant specialists who share their ever-relevant wisdom for future generations.

The Gardener's Companion to Medicinal Plants: An A-Z of Healing Plants and Home Remedies


Monique Simmonds - 2017
    Every day sees a discovery in the press about the new uses of plants, and it's certain that most of our most important drugs are derived from plants. From willow (used to procure aspirin) to periwinkle (used in chemotherapy to treat lymphoma) many common garden plants have provided cures in modern medicine. In this book readers can discover more than 200 life-saving plants and 25 home-grown remedies to make themselves. Each home cure is described and illustrated with step-by-step photographs to show how you can be a gardener and heal yourself.

Britain's Wildflowers


Rosamond Richardson - 2017
    In this book, journalist and garden writer Rosamond Richardson traces the history and myths behind each flower to discover the fascinating ways in which the plants were used. Discover which flower used as a medieval lie-detector to test the innocence of suspected criminals, or stuffed in the shoes of Roman centurions to prevent damage to their feet as they marched. From periwinkles, beloved of Chaucer, and the oxlips and "nodding violet" growing in the forest of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the book celebrates the important role wildflowers have played in literature, as well as their uses in food and medicine, and the history, myths, and tales behind each species. The 19th-century poet John Clare wrote, "I love wildflowers (none are weeds with me)." This book is a celebration of the bountiful history behind Britain’s beloved wildflowers and is perfect for anyone with an interest in gardening, history, or the natural world.

Smithsonian Kids A Walk in the Forest: Wheel of Wonder Interactive Board Book (Wheels of Wonder)


Jaye Garnett - 2017
    

The Year Of Talking To Plants: The plants and fairies talk in their own words


Sarah Rajkotwala - 2017
    Learn about what they think of our gardens. An exciting read for all those curious about the spiritual side of nature.- Learn fairy wisdom- Discover how the power of love can be used in your garden for all of our benefit- Find out about the different energies of plants and how they can be used for peace, healing etc- Read dialog straight from the fairies themselves- Learn about how Mother Earth knows each and every one of us and gives us gifts- What is a wise plant? Can fruit talk? Learn all sorts of fascinating fairy facts!There is a fairy at the bottom of the garden, and it loves you so.

DKfindout! Earth


D.K. Publishing - 2017
    Learn why we have seasons, how the water cycle works, and why our population is growing.What is Earth? Why do we need soil? DK findout! Earth presents key geography facts in a fun and exciting way so young readers can dive into the wonders of planet Earth. From earthquakes to mountains, volcanoes to rivers, and ecosystems to the rock cycle, this book tackles core curriculum and STEAM topics with content that is accessible and appropriate for children 6-9 years old.Series Overview: The DK findout! series helps kids ages 6-9 become experts on their favorite subjects--from dinosaurs to Ancient Rome to computer coding. Each book focuses on a specific topic and makes learning fun through amazing images, stimulating quizzes, and cutting-edge information kids are eager to know.

Sowing Beauty: Designing Flowering Meadows from Seed


James Hitchmough - 2017
    His signature style can be seen in prominent places like London’s Olympic Park and the Botanic Garden at the University of Oxford. Using a distinct technique of sowing meadows from seed, he creates plant communities that mimic the dramatic beauty of natural meadows and offer a succession of blooms over many months—a technique that can be adapted to work in both large-scale public gardens and smaller residential gardens. Sowing Beauty shows you how to recreate Hitchmough’s masterful, romantic style. You'll will learn how to design and sow seed mixes that include a range of plants, both native and exotic, and how to maintain the sown spaces over time. Color photographs show not only the gorgeous finished gardens, but also all the steps along the way.

The Appalachian Trail: Hiking the People's Path


Bart Smith - 2017
    Now, eighty years after its completion, the A.T. remains America's premier hiking trail and is known as "the People's Path."This beautifully illustrated book officially published with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy highlights this legendary footpath with more than 170 spectacular contemporary images taken by the foremost hiking photographer in America. The photographs allow readers to experience the trail as if their boots were on the path--passing by the iconic white trail blazes, taking in the surrounding wilderness at scenic overlooks, meeting other hikers at lean-tos or shelters, and freezing at the sight of a black bear, moose, or other majestic wildlife. This book is perfect for anyone interested in conservation, outdoor recreation, or American history, or for those who dream of one day becoming thru-hikers themselves.

School of the Elemental Beings


Karsten Massei - 2017
    

Plants Are Magic (Vol. 1 Well Being)


Rebecca Desnos - 2017
    

Plant Horror: Approaches to the Monstrous Vegetal in Fiction and Film


Dawn Keetley - 2017
    From medieval manuscript illustrations to modern works of science fiction and horror, plants that manifest monstrous agency defy human control, challenge anthropocentric perception, and exact a violent vengeance for our blind and exploitative practices. Plant Horror explores how depictions of monster plants reveal concerns about the viability of our prevailing belief systems and dominant ideologies as well as a deep-seated fear about human vulnerability in an era of deepening ecological crisis. Films discussed include The Day of the Triffids, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Wicker Man, Swamp Thing, and The Happening.

Secret Gardens


Claire Masset - 2017
    This book includes secret mazes, hidden corners, walled gardens, lost gardens, gardens that are only open one day a year, follies, orchards, dens, memorials, strange statues, stumperies, huts, ice houses, wendy houses, fairy gates, and pixie houses. The gardens featured include the palm-filled Overbeck’s in Devon; Peckover House in Cambridgeshire, which bursts with exotic specimens found on Victorian plant-hunting expeditions; and Monk’s House in East Sussex, where the garden proved a refuge for Virginia Woolf.

The Permaculture Student 2: A Collection of Regenerative Solutions


Matt Powers - 2017
    

Tasting Cider: The CIDERCRAFT® Guide to the Distinctive Flavors of North American Hard Cider


Erin James - 2017
    Flavor profiles and tasting guidelines highlight 100 selections of cider — including single varietal, dessert, hopped, and barrel-aged — plus perry, cider’s pear-based cousin. A perfect addition to any meal, cider pairings are featured in 30 food recipes, from Brussels sprouts salad to salmon chowder, brined quail, and poached pear frangipane. An additional 30 cocktail recipes include creative combinations such as Maple Basil Ciderita and Pear-fect Rye Fizz.