Best of
Plants

2019

The New Plant Parent: Develop Your Green Thumb and Care for Your House-Plant Family


Darryl Cheng - 2019
    He teaches the art of understanding a plant’s needs and giving it a home with the right balance of light, water, and nutrients. After reading Cheng, the indoor gardener will be far less the passive follower of rules for the care of each species and much more the confident, active grower, relying on observation and insight. And in the process, the plant owner becomes a plant lover, bonded to these beautiful living things by a simple love and appreciation of nature. The New Plant Parent covers all of the basics of growing house plants, from finding the right light, to everyday care like watering and fertilizing, to containers, to recommended species. Cheng’s friendly tone, personal stories, and accessible photographs fill his book with the same generous spirit that has made @houseplantjournal, his Instagram account, a popular source of advice and inspiration for thousands of indoor gardeners.

The Garden Jungle: or Gardening to Save the Planet


Dave Goulson - 2019
    Wherever you are right now, the chances are that there are worms, woodlice, centipedes, flies, silverfish, wasps, beetles, mice, shrews and much, much more, quietly living within just a few paces of you.Dave Goulson gives us an insight into the fascinating and sometimes weird lives of these creatures, taking us burrowing into the compost heap, digging under the lawn and diving into the garden pond. He explains how our lives and ultimately the fate of humankind are inextricably intertwined with that of earwigs, bees, lacewings and hoverflies, unappreciated heroes of the natural world.The Garden Jungle is at times an immensely serious book, exploring the environmental harm inadvertently done by gardeners who buy intensively reared plants in disposable plastic pots, sprayed with pesticides and grown in peat cut from the ground. Goulson argues that gardens could become places where we can reconnect with nature and rediscover where food comes from. With just a few small changes, our gardens could become a vast network of tiny nature reserves, where humans and wildlife can thrive together in harmony rather than conflict.For anyone who has a garden, and cares about our planet, this book is essential reading.

The Magic and Mystery of Trees


Jen Green - 2019
    Discover how they communicate and warn each other of predators, how they nurture their networks, record the past, and anticipate the future to ensure their survival. There's so much more to trees than meets the eye.Learn about the amazing natural science of trees in this nature and science children's book. From the highest branches, all the down to the complex wood wide web of roots, every part of a tree plays an important role. Not only in its own growth but that of the whole ecosystem of the forest or woodland. Did you know that trees take care of each other and that a whole forest is connected?A truly delightful non-fiction read that is suitable for all ages - each page of this nature book is nothing short of astonishingly beautiful. Enjoy a mixture of real images, vibrant illustrations, and patchwork-layering, making each page feel like a nature scavenger hunt.You'll learn unbe-leaf-able tree facts, see extraordinary trees from around the world, and the animals that call them home. Find out what trees do for us and how we are damaging them with pollution and deforestation. This book will show that it's not too late to do something about it, and you'll find out how you can help with instructions on how to plant your very own tree!When you get to know these silent giants, you'll never look at trees the same way again.Discover The Secret World Of TreesDo you know that trees send underground messages? Have you heard that they take care of their families? A tree is so much more than it seems.The Magic And Mystery of Trees is the perfect introduction to the world of trees - above and below ground. Combining stunning photography with beautiful illustrations, turn the pages to find out how trees help prevent soil erosion, mark the seasons, and provide a habitat for wildlife - amongst other fun facts and amazing information about their role in nature.There are also some super fun, practical activities for kids! From planting your own tree to how to measure a tree's age, this book highlights the importance of trees to our planet through exciting hands-on activities. Children will begin to understand the importance of trees to our planet and take their first steps towards safeguarding them for future generations.Explore the secret lives of trees learning:- What they are- How they live- About their animal assistants- How to help trees- Tree defenses and senses, and much more!

The Forager's Calendar: A Seasonal Guide to Nature’s Wild Harvests


John Wright - 2019
    ...[This book] is a treasure. It is beautifully produced, designed and illustrated.' - John Carey, The Sunday TimesShortlisted for the Andr� Simon Food and Drink Book Awards for 2019BEST NATURE BOOK OF THE YEAR, THE TIMESLook out of your window, walk down a country path or go to the beach in Great Britain, and you are sure to see many wild species that you can take home and eat. From dandelions in spring to sloe berries in autumn, via wild garlic, samphire, chanterelles and even grasshoppers, our countryside is full of edible delights in any season.John Wright is the country's foremost expert in foraging and brings decades of experience, including as forager at the River Cottage, to this seasonal guide. Month by month, he shows us what species can be found and where, how to identify them, and how to store, use and cook them. You'll learn the stories behind the Latin names, the best way to tap a Birch tree, and how to fry an ant, make rosehip syrup and cook a hop omelette.Fully illustrated throughout, with tips on kit, conservation advice and what to avoid, this is an indispensable guide for everyone interested in wild food, whether you want to explore the great outdoors, or are happiest foraging from your armchair.

How to Houseplant: A Beginner's Guide to Making and Keeping Plant Friends


Heather Rodino - 2019
    Her accessible advice on handling pests and diseases, troubleshooting problems, and assessing your growing conditions, will give novices the confidence they need to begin nurturing their own collection. Tips and list detail everything from which plants are pet-friendly to the top five plants for frequent travelers.

Veg in One Bed: How to Grow an Abundance of Food in One Raised Bed, Month by Month


Huw Richards - 2019
    There is nothing more fulfilling than growing your own home produce. You don't have to be a seasoned gardener to produce a healthy, flourishing garden - all you need is a few seeds, water, sunlight, good advice and patience!In just one raised bed, author Huw Richards, shows you exactly how to grow vegetables organically, abundantly and inexpensively so you have something to harvest every month of the year. Here's what you'll find inside:- A month-by-month guide showing you what to do and how to do it, including what pests to look out for, and what can be harvested- Covers the first year in detail, with the final chapter on 'Next Steps' providing suggestions of what to do in years two and three- Illustrations show you what the bed should look like from month to month- Includes instructions on assessing your site and building a 1.2m x 3m raised bed- Alternative vegetables are recommended, allowing readers to tailor their bed to their tasteMonth by month, discover what you need to do and how to do it. Try becoming more self-sufficient in your allotment, a small garden, or even on a roof terrace. Veg In One Bed shows you that you can have a small thriving garden and still be able to maintain it, yielding fresh vegetables all year round. Learn what to do each month on your windowsill, where you'll raise seedlings, and in your raised bed, where your plants will grow to maturity. Everything is explained in clear, illustrated steps: building your bed, growing from seed, planting, feeding, and harvesting.This gardening book not only guides you through the whole process of building your raised bed through to harvesting your vegetables but also provides sustainable gardening practices, which will resonate with all gardeners committed to protecting our planet. This makes for the perfect book for new gardeners who want to grow their own produce, as well as the new generation of gardeners who are seeking a gardening guru of their own age.Veg in One Bed goes beyond the inspiring demonstrations on his YouTube channel " Huw Richards - Grow Food Organically ". In this book he organises all his ideas and suggestions into a blueprint for growing your own vegetables month by month. Little growing experience? Only a small space? No matter - with Veg in One Bed, you can still eat food you have grown all through the year.

Evolutionary Herbalism: Science, Spirituality, and Medicine from the Heart of Nature


Sajah Popham - 2019
    Organized in five parts moving from the microcosmic to the universal, this work explores a unique integration of clinical herbalism, Ayurveda, medical astrology, spagyric alchemy, and medical and esoteric traditions from across the world into a truly holistic system of plant medicine. A balance of the heart and the mind, the science and spirit of people and plants, Evolutionary Herbalism provides a holistic context for how plants can be used for transformational levels of healing for the body, spirit, and soul. For both the student herbalist and experienced practitioner, Popham's original perspectives guide readers to a more intimate, synergistic, and intuitive relationship with the plant kingdom, people, and Nature as a whole.

Growing Perennial Foods: A Field Guide to Raising Resilient Herbs, Fruits, and Vegetables


Acadia Tucker - 2019
    Sturdy and deep-rooted, perennials can weather climate extremes more easily than annuals. They can thrive without chemical fertilizers and pesticides. And they don’t need as much water, either. These long-lived plants also help build healthy soil, turning the very ground we stand on into a carbon sponge.In this book, Tucker lays the groundwork for tending an organic, sustainable garden. She includes practical growing guides for 34 popular perennials, among them, basil, blueberries, grapes, strawberries, artichokes, asparagus, garlic, radicchio, spinach, and sweet potatoes, and wraps in a recipe for each of the plants profiled. Growing Perennial Foods is for gardeners who want more resilient plants. It’s for people who want to do something about climate change and the environment. It’s for anyone who has ever wanted to grow food, and is ready to begin.

Trees, Leaves, Flowers and Seeds: A Visual Encyclopedia of the Plant Kingdom


D.K. Publishing - 2019
    We need them for food, shelter, and even the air we breathe, yet we know surprisingly little about them. Why do thistles bristle with spines? How do some plants trap and eat insects? Did you know there are trees that are 5,000 years old? Trees, Leaves, Flowers & Seeds explores the mysterious world of plants to find the answers to these and many more questions.Each type of plant--such as a flowering plant, tree, grass, or cactus--is examined close up, with an example shown from all angles and even in cross section, to highlight the key parts. Then picture-packed galleries show the wonderful variety of plants on different themes, perhaps the habitat they grow in, a flower family, or the plants that supply us with our staple foods. But the book also takes a fun look at some truly weird and wonderful plants, including trees with fruits like a giant's fingers, orchids that look like monkey faces, seeds that spin like helicopters, and trees that drip poison.So open this beautiful book and find out more about amazing Trees, Leaves, Flowers & Seeds.

Wild LA: Explore the Amazing Nature in and Around Los Angeles


Lila M. Higgins - 2019
    You just need to know where to find it!  Equal parts natural history, field guide, and trip planner, Wild LA has something for everyone. It looks at the factors that shape local nature—including fire, floods, and climate—and profiles over 100 local species, from easy-to-spot squirrels and praying mantids to more elusive green sea turtles, bighorn sheep, and mountain lions. Also included are descriptions of day trips that help you explore natural wonders on hiking trails, in public parks, and in your own backyard.

In Bloom: Growing, harvesting and arranging flowers all year round


Clare Nolan - 2019
    This gem is sure to delight any flower lover.' - Erin Benzakein of Floret Flower Farm Planting cut flowers brings that 'grow-your-own' excitement to a whole new level - being able to step out of the back door and pick a single stem for beside the bed or pull together a posy for a friend is a joy. In this beautifully designed book, brimming with inspirational photographs, Clare Nolan reveals her secrets for growing a bountiful harvest as well as styling spectacular homegrown displays that will fill your home with colour and the gorgeous scent of the garden year-round. She takes the mystique out of what to grow and guides you through the entire process - from choosing the plants to suit both your garden and home décor and laying out your cutting patch, to planning ahead so you get your perfect palette of colour, texture and shape to play with at the right time. A whole chapter on arranging will inspire you to create spectacular arrangements for your home without the need for complicated floristry techniques.

Flower Talk: How Plants Use Color to Communicate


Sara Levine - 2019
    A fun nonfiction presentation of science info that may be new to many kids--and adults!

The Meaning of Trees


Robert Vennell - 2019
    Beautifully illustrated with botanical drawings, paintings and photographs, it shows us how a globally unique flora has been used for food, medicine, shelter, spirituality and science. From Jurassic giants to botanical oddballs - these are our wonderful native and endemic plants, in an exquisite hardback edition.

Nature All Around: Trees


Pamela Hickman - 2019
    The book first explores the parts of trees, their life cycles, the difference between deciduous and evergreen trees, leaf types and the processes of photosynthesis and respiration. Then it takes readers through a year in the life cycle of trees, describing what happens during each of the four seasons. Readers will discover the many ways trees are vital to the environment and how various animals can share one tree as a home.A two-page spread contains a map of forest regions across the United States and Canada. And there's even a section for ?budding? tree-watchers, with fun questions to help identify trees in their neighborhoods.Combine bestselling author Pamela Hickman's child-friendly, informative text with Carolyn Gavin's whimsical, painterly illustrations and you get both a complete reference tool and a book that children will be drawn to for its enticing visual appeal. This book has strong curriculum applications in grades two through five, when children are learning about the characteristics of living things. It works specifically for life science lessons on the growth and changes in plants, and on the interdependence of living things. End matter includes information about endangered trees and how readers can help, as well as an activity, glossary, and index.

The Almanac 2020: A Seasonal Guide to 2020


Lia Leendertz - 2019
    It gives you the tools and inspiration you need to celebrate, mark and appreciate each month of the year in your own particular way. Divided into the 12 months, a set of tables each month gives it the feel and weight of a traditional almanac, providing practical information that gives access to the outdoors and the seasons, perfect for expeditions, meteor-spotting nights and beach holidays. There are also features on each month's unique nature, such as the meteor shower of the month, beehive behaviour, folklore and stories, seasonal recipes and charts tracking moon phases and tides. You will find yourself referring to the almanac all year long, revisiting it again and again, and looking forward to the next edition as the year draws to a close.

Draw Like an Artist: 100 Flowers and Plants:Step-by-Step Realistic Line Drawing * A Sourcebook for Aspiring Artists and Designers


Melissa Washburn - 2019
    Designed as a contemporary, step-by-stepguidebook for artists who are learning to draw botanical forms, Draw Like An Artist: 100 Flowers and Plants features an inclusive array of florals, ferns, succulents, and more, all shown from a variety of perspectives. Each set of illustrations takes you from beginning sketch lines to a finished drawing. Author Melissa Washburn is a skilled illustrator whose clear and elegant drawing style will make this a go-to sourcebook for years to come.

Field Guide to Urban Gardening:How to Grow Plants, No Matter Where You Live: Raised Beds • Vertical Gardening • Indoor Edibles • Balconies and Rooftops • Hydroponics


Kevin Espiritu - 2019
      If you think it’s impossible to grow your own food because you don’t have a large yard or you live in the city…think again. There is a plethora of urban gardening options to create beautiful, productive edible gardens no matter where you live. The key to succeeding as an urban gardener is to choose the method(s) that make sense for your unique living situation and then give your plants what they need to thrive. Kevin helps you do just that.   But he doesn’t stop there. He also provides in-depth garden plans, from upcycled DIY projects and intensive hydroponic systems to beautiful and functional raised beds. Urban gardening is a real, growing, and important movement in today’s world. This fact-packed book is your roadmap to get growing today.   Urban gardening techniques featured include: Container Gardening Raised Beds Indoor Edibles Balconies and Rooftops Hydroponics

Emily Dickinson's Gardening Life: The Plants and Places That Inspired the Iconic Poet


Marta McDowell - 2019
    At her family home, she tended both a small glass conservatory and a flower garden.   In Emily Dickinson’s Gardening Life, award-winning author Marta McDowell explores Dickinson’s deep passion for plants and how it inspired and informed her writing. Tracing a year in the garden, the book reveals details few know about Dickinson and adds to our collective understanding of who she was as a person. By weaving together Dickinson’s poems, excerpts from letters, contemporary and historical photography, and botanical art, McDowell offers an enchanting new perspective on one of America’s most celebrated but enigmatic literary figures.

The Backyard Herbal Apothecary: The Definitive Guide to Growing and Foraging Herbs with Recipes for Effective Medicinal Remedies


Devon Young - 2019
    Readers learn how to safely identify and forage for healing plants growing wild, or how to cultivate them easily in their yard (or even on a windowsill or balcony).Herbalism has gained popularity in recent years as more people turn to alternative and holistic health methods for natural healing—sans medications—with a hands-on approach. Those just starting out and experienced herbalists alike will enjoy learning about the healing properties of commonly found herbs such as burdock, comfrey, rosemary, dill, milk thistle, chickweed, dandelion and nettle. Each herb features a recipe that readers can make right away, such as Working Hands Salve, Antioxidant Facial Serum, Dandelion Digestive Bitters, Pleasant Dreams Incense and Gut Healer Tea. Readers become empowered to formulate their own home remedies safely and confidently to hone their practice. This book covers 50 herbs with 50 recipes and more than 100 photos.

A Literary Field Guide to Southern Appalachia


Rose McLarneyLee Ann Brown - 2019
    The natural environment of Southern Appalachia, with habitats that span the Blue Ridge to the Cumberland Plateau, is one of the most biodiverse on earth. A Literary Field Guide to Southern Appalachia--a hybrid literary and natural history anthology--showcases sixty of the many species indigenous to the region.Ecologically, culturally, and artistically, Southern Appalachia is rich in paradox and stereotype-defying complexity. Its species range from the iconic and inveterate--such as the speckled trout, pileated woodpecker, copperhead, and black bear--to the elusive and endangered--such as the American chestnut, Carolina gorge moss, chucky madtom, and lampshade spider. The anthology brings together art and science to help the reader experience this immense ecological wealth.Stunning images by seven Southern Appalachian artists and conversationally written natural history information complement contemporary poems from writers such as Ellen Bryant Voigt, Wendell Berry, Janisse Ray, Sean Hill, Rebecca Gayle Howell, Deborah A. Miranda, Ron Rash, and Mary Oliver. Their insights illuminate the wonders of the mountain South, fostering intimate connections. The guide is an invitation to get to know Appalachia in the broadest, most poetic sense.

Decorating with Plants: What to Choose, Ways to Style, and How to Make Them Thrive


Baylor Chapman - 2019
    Whether it’s a statement-making fiddle-leaf fig or a tiny tabletop succulent, a houseplant instantly elevates the look of your home. But where to begin? In Decorating with Plants, Baylor Chapman walks readers through everything they need to know to bring houseplants into their home. First, there’s Plant Care 101: from how to assess light conditions to tricks for keeping your plants alive while on vacation, Chapman gives readers the simple, foundational info they need to ensure their plants will thrive. Then she introduces us to 28 of her favorites—specimens that are tough as nails but oh-so-stylish, from the eye-catching Rubber Tree to the delicate Cape Primrose. Finally, she guides readers through the home room by room: Place an aromatic plant like jasmine or gardenia to your entry to establish your home’s “signature scent.” Add a proper sense of scale to your living room with a ceiling-grazing palm. Create a living centerpiece of jewel-toned succulents for a dining table arrangement that will last long after your dinner party. From air purification to pest control, there’s no limit to what houseplants can do for your home—and Decorating with Plants is here to show you how to add them to spaces big and small with style.

The Organic No-Till Farming Revolution: High-Production Methods for Small-Scale Farmers


Andrew Mefferd - 2019
    Farming without tilling has long been a goal of agriculture, yet tilling remains one of the most dominant paradigms; almost everyone does it. But tilling kills beneficial soil life, burns up organic matter, and releases carbon dioxide. If the ground could instead be prepared for planting without tilling, time and energy could be saved, soil organic matter increased, carbon sequestered, and dependence on machinery reduced. The Organic No-Till Farming Revolution is the comprehensive farmer-developed roadmap showing how no-till lowers barriers to starting a small farm, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, increases efficiency and profitability, and promotes soil health. This hands-on manual offers:Why roller-crimper no-till methods don't work for most small farmsA decision-making framework for the four no-till methods: occulation, solarization, organic mulches grown in place, and applied to bedsIdeas for starting a no-till farm or transitioning a working farmA list of tools, supplies, and sources.This is the only manual of its kind, specifically written for natural and small-scale farmers who wish to expand or explore chemical-free, regenerative farming methods.

When Plants Attack: Strange and Terrifying Plants


Rebecca E. Hirsch - 2019
    Hirsch presents fun and gross facts about a variety of plants along with explaining the science behind why they do what they do. Featured plants include the Venus Flytrap, an African tree that houses stinking ants to protect itself from hungry animals, a vampire vine that sucks nutrients from other plants, and fiendishly invasive kudzu.-- "Journal"

Free Plants for Everyone: The Good Guide to Plant Propagation (The Good Guide to Gardening Book 4)


David The Good - 2019
    Gardening expert David The Good takes the mystery out of plant propagation and shares propagation secrets from the nursery business as well from his many years of experience. Whether you're interested in starting a plant nursery, saving money on gardening, saving old fruit tree varieties or simply want lots of plants to give away, this book is for you. Start plants from cuttings, seeds, division and more. Includes information on propagating and saving seeds from 101 different species, as well as pen and ink illustrations by the author.

The Easy Way to Start a Home-Based Plant Nursery and Make Thousands in Your Spare Time


David The Good - 2019
     In The Easy Way to Start a Home-Based Plant Nursery and Make Thousands in Your Spare Time, gardening writer and nursery owner David The Good shares how he created a profitable backyard nursery operation on a tight budget. In it you'll learn how to propagate plants quickly, work with wholesale nurseries, find your niche, find places to sell, market your plants, deal with accounting - and most of all, turn your plant hobby into a ready stream of cash, almost overnight. You can start a nursery without business experience, without fear of complicated regulations, without miles of irrigation tubing and without buying new land. Unlock the secrets of a successful nursery business today!

New York in Bloom


Georgianna Lane - 2019
    With sumptuous photography, the unexpected, softer side of New York is revealed by juxtaposing floral beauty with exquisite botanical details found in the city’s iconic architecture. Also included are field guides to locating and identifying common spring blooms, a list of recommended locations and vendors, and a tutorial on how to create your own New York–style floral bouquet. For anyone who loves New York City, flowers, and photography, New York in Bloom is a gorgeous gift and an essential addition to one’s library of fine books.

A Little Book of Magical Plants


Ruskin Bond - 2019
    Meet the resilient rubber, the tantalizing tomato, the generous grass, the dainty dahlia, the nifty neem and many others. Bond’s simple and descriptive prose brings these apparently inanimate beings alive—each with a distinct identity, a singular quirk. A Little Book of Magical Plants is a handy guide to discover more about this often ignored world of ‘green growing things’.

The Wonders of Nature


D.K. Publishing - 2019
    With 100 remarkable items from the natural world, from orchids to opals and lichens to lizards, everyone will find something to be captivated by. Each plant, animal, and rock is shown both photographically and illustrated, and children will love poring over the detailed close-up images.The storybook descriptions let you discover the myths and legends surrounding both organisms and gemstones, as well as key facts about their natural history. Find out how the prowling jaguar uses spots to avoid being spotted, why a sticky sundew means big trouble for insects, and what on Earth a radiolarian is. This beautiful treasury lets you find the things that interest you and uncover new favourites along the way. With reference pages packed with information you'll go away knowing something you didn't before, and you'll return time and again.An attractive gift for children who can't get enough of nature, The Wonders of Nature: A Treasury is perfect for kids to explore by themselves or for bedtime stories.

Root to Stem: A seasonal guide to natural recipes and remedies for everyday life


Alex Laird - 2019
    The root to stem philosophy means using all of the plant, vegetable or herb, to maximise the health benefits found in the ingredient, whilst also simultaneously reducing your carbon footprint and the amount of food wastage.Set out in four chapters, Root to Stem shares each of the four seasons' celebrations and health challenges, which natural ingredients are available, simple delicious recipes and easy to make herbal remedies, plus steps for how to beautify and support the environment. It will also include tips for foraging, growing a kitchen pharmacy, movement and exercise, and creative ways to reconnect with others and nature.Root to Stem is about discovery, pleasure, traditions, celebration and - ultimately - about how our eating choices can actually help to sustain the natural balance of our world.

Grace's Mystery Seed


Juliet M. Sampson - 2019
    ‘What are they from?’‘Let’s find out,’ said Mrs Marino.Grace and her neighbour plant a mystery seed. They wait and wait for ages. Then a little green shoot starts to grow . . . and grow . . . and grow . . . until, at last, Grace discovers the truth about her amazing mystery seed.

RHS The Magic and Mystery of Trees


Royal Horticultural Society - 2019
    Discover how trees communicate and warn each other of predators, how they nurture their networks, record the past, and anticipate the future to ensure their survival. There's so much more to trees than meets the eye. Delve into the amazing natural science of trees in this nature and science children's book. From the highest branch all the way down to the complex "wood wide web" of roots, every part of a tree plays an important role. Not only in its own growth, but that the ecosystem of the whole forest or woodland. Did you know that trees take care of each other and that whole forests are connected?A truly delightful non-fiction read that Is suitable for all ages - each page of this fabulous nature book is nothing short of astonishingly beautiful. Enjoy a mixture of real images, vibrant illustrations, and patchwork-layering, making each page feel like a nature scavenger hunt. You will learn unbe-leaf-able tree facts, see extraordinary trees from around the world, and the animals that call them home. Find out what trees do for us and how we are damaging them with pollution and deforestation. This book will show that it's not too late to do something about it, and you'll find out how you can help with instructions on how to plant your very own tree!When you get to know these silent giants, you'll never look at trees the same way again.Discover The Secret World Of TreesDo you know that trees send underground messages? Have you heard that they take care of their families? A tree is so much more than it seems. Produced in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the UK's leading gardening charity, this extraordinarily beautiful illustrated kid's book is the perfect introduction to the world of trees - above and below ground. Combining stunning photography with beautiful illustrations, turn the pages to find out how trees help prevent soil erosion, mark the seasons, and provide a habitat for wildlife - amongst other fun facts and amazing information about their role in nature.There are also some super fun, practical activities for kids! From planting your own tree to how to measure a tree's age, this book highlights the importance of trees to our planet through exciting hands-on activities. Children will begin to understand the importance of trees to our planet and take their first steps towards safeguarding them for future generations. Explore the secret lives of trees learning:- What they are- How they live- About their animal assistants- How to help trees- Tree defences and senses, and much more!

Earth And Spirit: Medicinal Plants And Healing Lore From Puerto Rico


Maria Benedetti - 2019
    This lively and deeply personal glimpse of Caribbean healing presents the voices of dozens of people who knew, loved and worked with medicinal plants and island earth lore. Ten interviews feature traditional curanderos, a granny midwife, spiritual healers, natural beauticians and others. Remedies are presented in an extensive recipe section organized by health condition, ranging from Alcohol Addiction to Warts. The author's foreword and epilog place the work in cultural and ecological contexts, and all plants are cross referenced with their English, Puerto Rican and scientific names. Rich in practical wisdom, anecdotes and humor, Earth and Spirit inspires love and respect for the living world of plants and for the resourceful people of Puerto Rico who have helped keep this tradition alive. A timeless and beautiful experience, a thought-provoking, fun and useful reference. For your kitchen. For your bedroom! Salud!

Wild at Home: How to style and care for beautiful plants


Hilton Carter - 2019
    As the owner of over 200 plants, Hilton feels strongly about the role of plants in one’s home—not just for the beauty they add, but for health benefits as well: ‘having plants in your home not only adds life, but changes the airflow throughout. It’s also a key design element when styling your place. For me, it wasn’t about just having greenery, but having the right variety of greenery. I like to see the different textures of foliage all grouped together. You take a fiddle leaf fig and sandwich it between a birds of paradise and a monstera and…. yes!’ You will be armed with the know-how you need to care for your plants, where to place them, how to propagate, how to find the right pot, and much more, and most importantly, how to arrange them so that they look their best. Combine sizes and leaf shapes to stunning effect, grow your own succulents from leaf cuttings, create your own air plant display, and more.

Why Evergreens Keep Their Leaves


Annemarie Riley Guertin - 2019
    As he slept, a strong gust of wind shook him from his cozy nest . . .. . . Little Redbird hurts his wing and misses his chance to fly south for the winter. As he searches for a new home amongst the trees, he begins to realize that not all trees are fit for the winter cold. As more and more trees refuse him shelter, too preoccupied with their preparations for the frost, Little Redbird fears the worst. That is, until he comes across a friendly bunch of evergreens.In the spirit of Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince, Why Evergreens Keep Their Leaves is a timeless story of kindness and why the fir, spruce, and juniper trees are evergreen all winter long.

Raising Butterflies in the Garden


Brenda Dziedzic - 2019
    Starting in her own garden she set out to learn why and what she could do to fix this. Raising Butterflies in the Garden is the outcome of what she learned about these fascinating insects and the native plants they depend on. In this book, Dziedzic shares the vast experience she gained in helping butterflies thrive through all stages of life. She shows readers how they can do the same -- no matter the time of year or the size of their property -- by providing all of the information and practical guidance they need.The book features more than 500 color photographs showing the life cycles of over 35 butterflies and moths -- from egg to adult -- as well as the host and nectar plants they rely on. Each profiled species also includes a North American range map.Featured butterfly and moth species include:Swallowtails -- Black Swallowtail, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and Spicebush Swallowtail Whites/Sulphurs -- Cabbage White, Great Southern White and Clouded Sulphur Blues -- Eastern Tailed-Blue, Karner Blue and Summer Azure Brushfoots -- American Lady, Monarch and Red Admiral Skippers -- Common Checkered-Skipper, Silver-Spotted Skipper and Wild Indigo Duskywing Silk Moths -- Cecropia Moth, Luna Moth and Polyphemus Moth Sphinx Moths -- Hummingbird Clearwing Tussock Moths -- Gypsy Moth. Like the highly successful How to Raise Monarch Butterflies, Raising Butterflies in the Garden is bound to become an excellent seller in retail settings as well as a popular reference in libraries and schools.There is no better way to develop an emotional connection with the little things that run the world than to nurture butterflies and moths from egg to adult as if they were your own children. With necessary details and lavish illustrations, Brenda Dziedzic shows us how! -- Dr. Doug Tallamy, professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware and author of Bring Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens

Little Lift and Look Garden


Anna Milbourne - 2019
    Gorgeously and brightly illustrated by Sarah Allen. Following on from successful 'peep inside series' this new series for younger children and babies has sturdy, shaped gatefold flaps for younger readers. First look at nature at a very young level. Die-cut, shaped, robust gatefold flaps to encourage the child to engage with the book.

The Whole Okra: A Seed to Stem Celebration


Chris Smith - 2019
    Despite that dismal introduction, Smith developed a fascination with okra, and as he researched the plant and began to experiment with it in his own kitchen, he discovered an amazing range of delicious ways to cook and eat it, along with ingenious and surprising ways to process the plant from tip-to-tail: pods, leaves, flowers, seeds, and stalks. Smith talked okra with chefs, food historians, university researchers, farmers, homesteaders, and gardeners. The summation of his experimentation and research comes together in The Whole Okra, a lighthearted but information-rich collection of okra history, lore, recipes, craft projects, growing advice, and more.The Whole Okra includes classic recipes such as fried okra pods as well as unexpected delights including okra seed pancakes and okra flower vodka. Some of the South’s best-known chefs shared okra recipes with Smith: Okra Soup by culinary historian Michael Twitty, Limpin’ Susan by chef BJ Dennis, Bhindi Masala by chef Meherwan Irani, and Okra Fries by chef Vivian Howard.Okra has practical uses beyond the edible, and Smith also researched the history of okra as a fiber crop for making paper and the uses of okra mucilage (slime) as a preservative, a hydrating face mask, and a primary ingredient in herbalist Katrina Blair’s recipe for Okra Marshmallow Delight.The Whole Okra is foremost a foodie’s book, but Smith also provides practical tips and techniques for home and market gardeners. He gives directions for saving seed for replanting, for a breeding project, or for a stockpile of seed for making okra oil, okra flour, okra tempeh, and more. Smith has grown over 75 varieties of okra, and he describes the nuanced differences in flavor, texture, and color; the best-tasting varieties; and his personal favorites. Smith’s wry humor and seed-to-stem enthusiasm for his subject infuse every chapter with just the right mix of fabulous recipes and culinary tips, unique projects, and fun facts about this vagabond vegetable with enormous potential.

Propagating Plants: How to Create New Plants for Free


Alan Toogood - 2019
    A horticulturist's delight, this new edition features more than 1,800 detailed illustrations and photos that show both practical step-by-step gardening techniques and the plants themselves.How long do your seedlings need to germinate? What makes a healthy stem cutting? How do you know what type of rootstock to use when grafting plants? Find out the answer to these questions and more in the most comprehensive guide to propagating plants ever published.From palms and roses to culinary herbs and conifers, each chapter contains popular and botanically interesting plant groups. Explore the modes of propagation that are unique to the featured plants. Learn about their characteristic ways of reproduction and how these are exploited in various techniques. The techniques are fully illustrated with step-by-step photographs and explanatory artworks. The plants' special needs are discussed, with expert tips on how to achieve success. This gardening book is crammed with hundreds of step-by-step tutorials and clear advice, ranging from straightforward and simple to more in-depth. The rating system in the plant-by-plant A-Z dictionaries provides you with a quick reference to the relative ease or difficulty of each method of propagation.Fill Your Garden with Beautiful Plants for Next-To-NothingPlant propagation is a fun, rewarding and inexpensive way to add shrubs to your garden or multiply your collection of houseplants. This book helps you successfully reach your goals while steering you clear of common mistakes. It's an indispensable reference book for every propagator's bookshelf.Use this comprehensive gardening guide to:- Find out how to propagate more than 1,500 garden plants. - A-Z dictionaries of different genera of plants, like perennials, vegetables, or bulbous plants. - Follow the visual step-by-step guides and authoritative advice on cutting, layering, sowing, grafting, and more.

In Bloom: Growing, Harvesting, and Arranging Homegrown Flowers All Year Round


Nolan Clare - 2019
    Clare takes the mystique out of the growing process—from choosing the plants to suit both your garden and home and laying out your cutting patch, to planning ahead so you get your perfect palette of color, texture and shape to play with at the right time. An entire chapter on arranging will inspire you to create spectacular arrangements for your home without the need for complicated floristry techniques. Being able to step out of the back door and pick a single stem for beside the bed, pull together a posy for a friend or create a colorful centerpiece is an exciting and rewarding addition to the whole “grow your own” experience. Grow your own flower shop at the bottom of your garden!· Comprehensive guide to planning, planting, and maintaining a bountiful home flower garden· How to choose your plants, position your patch and grow luxurious flowers· Cultivation tips for annuals, biennials, bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes, perennials, shrubs, trees, climbers, foliage and fillers· When and how to harvest—and how to make your flowers last longer· Styling guide for stunning arrangements that look like they came from a shop· Expert advice from an experienced interiors stylist and lifestyle editor

The Planthunter: Truth, Beauty, Chaos, and Plants


Georgina Reid - 2019
    All the featured gardeners are committed to the cultivation of the earth and the human spirit. They’re landscape architects, artists, garden designers, plant collectors, wanderers, big thinkers, florists, and writers. The Planthunter is for the plant curious, the plant killer, the plant lover, and everyone in between. Jam-packed with soulful stories and hundreds of eye-opening photographs, this must-read will inspire contemplation, curiosity, care, and action.

The Hedgerow Apothecary: Recipes, Remedies and Rituals


Christine Iverson - 2019
    Discover how to make delicious preserves, healing balms, soothing toddies and cures for colds with nature’s jewels such as rose hips, elderberries and mugwort. This sustainable and ethical art is also laced with fascinating folklore and steeped in history. With photographs to help you safely identify edible plants, advice on what is available each season and how best to prepare and preserve your finds, this is the essential guide to enjoying the bountiful delights of the hedgerows.

A World of Plants


Martin Jenkins - 2019
    From the domestic to the international, there is something for the whole family here. Whether you want to learn the basics of photosynthesis, or explore the hidden world of Victorian plant hunters, this is a lively, engaging and visually stunning look at the world of plants.

Never Get Bored Outdoors


James MacLaine - 2019
    Whether you’re in a garden or at the park, up a hill or by the sea, walking through a forest or down a city street, there’ll never be a dull moment outdoors again if you have this book.

Wildflowers of the Atlantic Southeast


Laura Cotterman - 2019
    This comprehensive guide describes and illustrates more than 1,200 species, including perennials and annuals, both native and naturalized non-native. More than 1,300 superb color photographs, 1,200 range maps, and a user-friendly organization by color and other observable traits make identification easy.Covers Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and southeastern PennsylvaniaDescribes and illustrates more than 1200 speciesIncludes perennials and annuals, both native and naturalized non-native1337 superb color photographs, 1218 range maps, 1 regional mapUser-friendly organization by flower color and other, easily observable plant features

Beauty and the Beast: California Wildflowers and Climate Change


Rob Badger - 2019
    "Beauty and the Beast: California Wildflowers and Climate Change," co-published with the California Native Plant Society, is a thoughtful collaboration of many hearts and minds dedicated to protecting Nature's beauty. This 12 x 12,” 264 page coffee table book features 190 portrait and landscape images by internationally acclaimed photographers Rob Badger and Nita Winter alongside 18 thought-provoking short stories. Authors include Jose Gonzalez of Latino Outdoors, Robin Wall Kimmerer (Braiding Sweet Grass), Mary Ellen Hannibal (Citizen Science), and other leading voices in today’s environmental movement. Experience for yourself why Nina Simons, author and founder of Bioneers, calls this book “potent medicine for our souls.”

Practical Cactus & Succulent Book: How to Choose, Nurture, and Display more than 200 Cacti and Succulents


Fran Bailey - 2019
    An extensive illustrated plant directory profiles more than 200 succulent and cactus varieties, with instructions on how to grow each one, while information dashboards offer fascinating facts and quirky stats about different plant families, such as Euphorbia and Echinopsis. Show off your plants with inspirational display ideas and step-by-step projects. Follow the simple propagation instructions to increase your cacti and succulent collection without spending money. Keep your plants healthy with advice and tips for care and cultivation.Practical Cactus and Succulent Book is everything a cactus lover needs.

The Complete Book of Ferns: Indoors • Outdoors • Growing • Crafting • History Lore


Mobee Weinstein - 2019
    This gorgeous book is authored by Mobee Weinstein, the Foreman of Gardeners at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx and a veteran guest on the Martha Stewart Living TV show and other media outlets. Houseplants in general are in ascendance, but no category is hotter than ferns. From the otherworldly Staghorns—mounted like antler trophies in homes throughout the world—to the classic Boston Ferns and newer varieties like Crispy Wave, ferns are definitely back in fashion. And to no one’s surprise. After all, ferns are among the very oldest plants on the planet, with a long and storied history. There are tens of thousands of known varieties of ferns. In the Victorian Era, ferns created an absolute craze for more than 50 years. They re-emerged as integral home décor accessories in the '50s and '60s, and who didn’t spend time in a "Fern Bar" back in the '80s? And they are back again. This comprehensive reference starts its examination of ferns 400 million years ago, when the first species of this group of spore-reproducing plants appeared on Earth, exploring their evolution and eventual incorporation into human culture, including the powers associated with them and their practical and ornamental uses. Then, after an exploration of fern botany—its parts, how it grows, its variability in size and form, habitats, propagation, etc.—you'll learn how to green your indoor and outdoor environments with ferns. Every aspect of fern care is covered: potting/planting, watering, fertilizing, pest and disease control, and more. With this knowledge absorbed, explore creative planting projects, like terrariums, vertical gardens (living walls), mixed tabletop gardens, and moss baskets. To make your survey of ferns complete, create pressed fern art, fabric wall hangings with chlorophyll-stained designs, cyanotypes, and hand-made fern-decorated paper. In the end, you will understand why this ancient plant class continues to be all the rage.

The Forest in the Trees


Connie McLennan - 2019
    In fact, they are the tallest trees in the world. What most people don't know is that there is a whole other forest growing high in the canopy of a redwood forest. This adaptation of The House That Jack Built climbs into this secret, hidden habitat full of all kinds of plants and animals that call this forest home.

Growing House Plants: Kew Mini


Kay Maguire - 2019
    Each project is described and illustrated with step-by-step photographs. Starting from the premise that we want to show how to grow the right plant in the right place, we demonstrate the benefits of all common house plants and how to care and curate them in the home. Includes cacti, succulents, bromeliads including air plants, foliage house plants, flowering house plants, house plants for scent and air freshening.

The Big Thaw: Ancient Carbon, Modern Science, and a Race to Save the World


Eric Scigliano - 2019
    It exists in places that seem otherworldly and unimaginably remote to most of us, but the changes taking place in the permafrost layer may ultimately affect the lives of every person on Earth.In The Big Thaw, readers meet a diverse team of scientists and students who have been studying the permafrost and what lies beneath: a vast store of ancient carbon, more than four times the quantity found in all of today's forests, which is releasing carbon dioxide and methane as the permafrost melts. The release of all this carbon would alter Earth's climate forever. Braving endless hordes of mosquitoes, quicksand, and extreme temperatures, the researchers are racing against the clock to educate us all about the changes we must make in order to preserve Earth's carbon balance.

The Apprehensive Gardener: Managing Garden Plants


Griselda Kerr - 2019
    No coffee table book this, it is designed for constant quick reference, to be used, perhaps as a stand-in for a knowledgeable friend, for advice on specific plants. Look up each plant in a specially formatted index spread across the year and a page reference will take you to a short, clearly written entry on what to do in a particular month—whether to clip, deadhead or divide, cut right down, feed, mulch or leave well alone. Each of these gardening techniques is also explained in a comprehensive glossary.The Apprehensive Gardener is an attractive, durable, easy-to-use guide to plant care which will be referred to over and over again and will stand the test of time.

The Ladybird Big Book of Dead Things


Ned Hartley - 2019
    Your expert guides are here to introduce you to the exhibits, from fierce dinosaurs to exploding dead stars.The Big Book of Dead Things is a funny, stylishly-illustrated non-fiction guide to all things dead and gone. The stylish illustrations and engaging animal characters bring a broad range of topics alive, from dinosaurs and prehistoric animals to astronomy and ancient history. Meet Ancient Egyptian mummies and learn their secrets; romp through prehistoric worlds with dinosaurs, and learn all about the death of stars.

Vickery's Folk Flora: An A-Z of the Folklore and Uses of British and Irish Plants


Roy Vickery - 2019
    Unlike many plant-lore publications Vickery's Folk Flora tells us what people currently do and believe, rather than what Victorians did and believed. The result is a vivid demonstration that plant folklore in the British Isles is not only surviving but flourishing; adapting and evolving as time goes by, even in urban areas.Each entry includes:- The plant's English and scientific (Latin) name, as well as significant local names.- A brief description of the plant and its distribution, and, in the case of cultivated plants, a history of their introduction to the British Isles- Information on the folklore and traditional uses of the plant, arranged where possible in a sequence starting with general folk beliefs (superstitions), use in traditional customs, use in folk medicine, other uses, and legends concerning individual representatives of the plant.In addition to the major entries there are a number of minor entries for feast days, diseases and other subjects which direct readers to relevant major entries, e.g. St. George's Day, on which red roses are worn; dandelions are gathered; and runner beans are planted.

Poison: The History of Potions, Powders and Murderous Practitioners


Ben Hubbard - 2019
    Profiles of the most commonly used toxins of each era reveal how the power-hungry, the dangerous and the desperate have harnessed these natural killers to achieve their ends.Poisoning is a dark art as old as human history itself. The Roman emperors used poison liberally to dispose of rivals, guests at Renaissance dinner parties were quietly assassinated with adulterated wine, and professional poisoners equipped murderous wives with toxic tonics for their husbands. In twentieth-century warfare, poisonous substances were used in new and awful ways to terrorize and obliterate both civilians and enemy forces. Today, in the search for the perfect covert weapon, shadowy figures deploy pernicious poisons which are almost impossible to trace. They are only the latest in a long line of experimenters: for the same poisons used to kill or injure others have been used throughout history as intoxicants, aphrodisiacs and even elixirs of life. As every amateur toxicologist knows, the difference between a poison and medicine is often simply the dose.

Crazy Plant Lady


Isabel Serna - 2019
    You know you’re a crazy plant lady when watering is a hobby, you can’t resist a cute pot, and just looking at succulents and monsteras makes you smile. This charming celebration of the plant lady lifestyle proves that plant love is the joy that keeps growing. There are sweet puns: Aloe you vera much. Plant lady dreams: thrifting the perfect vintage mister. Relatable mantras: Every day is a good day to go plant shopping. All featuring vibrant art by Isabel Serna throughout—plus, a bonus sheet of plant-themed stickers!

Your Wild Imagination: nature play activities for kids


Brooke Davis - 2019
    Less screen time.Full of engaging activities for kids aged 2-10 years, 'Your Wild Imagination: nature play activity book for kids' is beautiful, practical and easy to use.You will discover new ideas for outdoor play, and also find ways to bring nature indoors - perfect for those times when you’re stuck inside.'Your Wild Imagination' includes more than 150 stunning full colour photographs, accompanied by simple and easy to follow instructions.The activities are open-ended, meaning that children can use their imaginations and create dozens of things from one activity prompt. This book shows actual creations made by children and does not encourage all crafts to turn out looking the same. Instead the activities can boost creativity, problem solving and persistence. Nature play also improves fine motor skills, physical strength and coordination.The book allows you to easily adapt the activities to suit your location. For example, if you don’t have a pine cone, you can just use what you can find. This also reduces the need for craft purchases, making the activities very inexpensive to implement.Inside the book you will find more than 20 nature play activities that are practical and easy to implement, including:Flower crownsFabric printingWood whittlingPocket pressStick peopleMagic potionsNature masksMud cakesChristmas wreathNature paintbrushes and many more.Also included are ‘School Holiday Projects’ that combine a number of activities and take longer to complete, as well as photocopy pages and top activities for each season.The hardcover, full colour book measures 6” x 9” (16cm x 24cm) and is printed on sustainably sourced paper. It’s the perfect backpack size and easy to manage with little hands.This book is a wonderful resource for early years and primary teachers, home schoolers, parents and grandparents seeking more nature play ideas.

The Wonder of Trees


Nicola Davies - 2019
    There is something to delight on every page with fascinating facts and figures. This exquisite book will encourage children to treasure the world's biodiversity and help to stop it slipping away.With fascinating facts and figures and sections on:- Wood, Trunks and Branches- Leaves- Roots Bark - Tree Skin - Flowers & Cones - Seeds - Plants on Trees- Insects in Trees- Reptiles & Amphibians in Trees- Birds and Trees Mammals in Trees- Communities of Trees- Taiga- Temperate Woodlands- Dry Gum Forest- Cloud Forest - Tropical Rainforests - Forest Relationships - Gifts from Trees - People of the Forest - Forest Destruction - How to Plant a Tree

Radical Botany: Plants and Speculative Fiction


Natania Meeker - 2019
    Modernity, the book claims, is defined by the idea of all life as vegetal. Meeker and Szabari argue that the recognition of plants' liveliness and animation, as a result of scientific discoveries from the seventeenth century to today, has mobilized speculative creation in fiction, cinema, and art.Plants complement and challenge notions of human life. Radical Botany traces the implications of the speculative mobilization of plants for feminism, queer studies, and posthumanist thought. If, as Michael Foucault has argued, the notion of the human was born at a particular historical moment and is now nearing its end, Radical Botany reveals that this origin and endpoint are deeply informed by vegetality as a form of pre- and posthuman subjectivity.The trajectory of speculative fiction which this book traces offers insights into the human relationship to animate matter and the technological mediations through which we enter into contact with the material world. Plants profoundly shape human experience, from early modern absolutist societies to late capitalism's manipulations of life and the onset of climate change and attendant mass extinction.A major intervention in critical plant studies, Radical Botany reveals the centuries-long history by which science and the arts have combined to posit plants as the model for all animate life and thereby envision a different future for the cosmos.

Seeds Move!


Robin Page - 2019
    But how do seeds get to the perfect place to grow? This exploration of seed dispersal covers a wide range of seeds and the creatures that help them move, from a coconut seed floating on waves to an African grass seed rolled by a dung beetle, to a milkweed seed floating on the wind.