Best of
Plants

2020

Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers


Jessica Roux - 2020
    The book explores the coded significances associated with various blooms, from flowers for a lover to flowers for an enemy.The language of flowers was historically used as a means of secret communication. It soared in popularity during the 19th century, especially in Victorian England and the U.S., when proper etiquette discouraged open displays of emotion. Mysterious and playful, the language of flowers has roots in everything from the characteristics of the plant to its presence in folklore and history. Researched and illustrated by popular artist Jessica Roux, this book makes a stunning display piece, conversation-starter, or thoughtful gift.

Wild Remedies: Plant Medicines That Heal You, Your Family, and the World


Rosalee de la Foret - 2020
    Experts Rosalee de la For�t and Emily Han explain the benefits of 25 commonly found wild plants, many of which are also easy to grow. Readers will also find a wealth of recipes, remedies, crafts, and activities to bring the healing and transformative powers of these herbs to life.After reading Wild Remedies, readers will view their lawns, parks, community gardens, and other natural spaces in a whole new way. Instead of "weeds," they will see delicious foods like Dandelion Maple Syrup Cake, Nettle Frittata, and Mallow and Quinoa Patties. They will also begin to revel in nature's medicine chest as they make remedies like herbal oils, salves, teas, and more.

The Complete Language of Flowers: A Definitive and Illustrated History


S. Theresa Dietz - 2020
    Along with a visual depiction, each entry provides the flower's name, characteristics, and historic meanings from mythology, medieval legends, folklore, and flower poetry. For centuries, symbolic flower meanings have fascinated readers, writers, poets, and suddenly smitten couples alike. Extremely popular during the Victorian era, these floriographies flourished and versed the public on the hidden meaning of popular flowers like peonies (bashfulness) and tulips (passion).Coupled with stunning full-color illustrations, this beautiful reference is a must-have for gardeners, florists, and flower enthusiasts. Whether you're looking to arrange the perfectly bespoken wedding bouquet or to understand what the yellow rose you just received from an admirer means (friendship), this updated floriography is a visual delight.

Wild Interiors: Beautiful plants in beautiful spaces, and how to look after them


Hilton Carter - 2020
    Hilton doesn’t just teach you how to get your plants to thrive—he teaches you how to bond with them.” Apartment TherapyBestselling author Hilton Carter brings his unique eye and love of plants to show you how to create luscious interiors that not only look amazing but are good for your well-being, too. Showcasing all-new photography, Hilton gives you inspiration on how you can use plants to decorate your home. In the first part of the book, he guides you through every part of the home, demonstrating the plants that are most suited to each room, those that thrive in the tropical humidity of bathrooms, the erratic heat changes of kitchens, and plants that can live happily in indirect light. Then, in the second section, Hilton takes you on tours of 12 inspiring homes that show the versatility of decorating with plants, with ideas for all types of spaces, from small urban apartments to balconies, terraces, and backyards. Packed full of interior design advice such as using dramatic plants like fiddle-leaf figs to create a focal point, and how to assemble the perfect plant shelf with succulents and cacti. Hilton will show you how bringing houseplants into your home creates instant impact and has health benefits such as cleaner air and an improvement in stress levels. Be inspired to create your own Wild Interiors with Hilton’s expert styling advice, his hints and tips on plant care that take the mystery out of looking after your new plants, plus his top ten favorite house plants.

The Big Adventures of a Little Tree: Tree Finds Friendship (A Tree's Life, #1)


Nadja Springer - 2020
    Seuss with its ear-tickling flow." -Indies Today"As we navigate climate change and its effects, it's more important than ever to engage kids with nature. With its poetic style and beautiful illustrations, The Big Adventures of a Little Tree: Tree Finds Friendship is sure to delight and inspire the next generation of conservationists!" -Meaghan Weeden, Forest Whisperer, One Tree Planted**Over 100 positive reviews****Finalist of the Indies Today Award 2020****Finalist of the Wishing Shelf Book Award 2020****Kidsshelf Book Cover Award Winner 2020**If no tree has ever tried to set out and explore - is it even possible at all? In a world, where everyone dreams about possibilities, Tree gets up and lives them.Tree's curiosity about the unknown, the power of friendship and love, and an open heart come together to make the impossible possible!An adventure awaits in this story of a little tree who changes its mindset and shows how kindness, inclusion and an open heart will make all the difference. A reading experience that focuses on - love and friendship- inclusion- open-mindedness- curiosity- empathy-and the beauty and importance of caring about nature.Buy your copy today and enjoy reading "The Big Adventures Of A Little Tree: Tree Finds Friendship"; find out what happens when you leave your beaten path and overcome obstacles to do the impossible - and when we take care of each other.---"Tree's adventures are inspired by the love and respect for all the courageous children growing up in a world during the crisis 2020." Nadja Springer, February 2021

Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden


Jessica Walliser - 2020
     Plant Partners delivers a research-based rationale for this ever-popular growing technique, offering dozens of ways you can use scientifically tested plant partnerships to benefit your whole garden. Through an enhanced understanding of how plants interact with and influence each other, this guide suggests specific plant combinations that improve soil health and weed control, decrease pest damage, and increase biodiversity, resulting in real and measurable impacts in the garden.

Iwigara: The Kinship of Plants and People


Enrique Salmón - 2020
    Enrique Salmón reveals how the plants were traditionally used, why they were used that way, what their health and medicinal applications and benefits are, and basic scientific data about each plant. An added layer of meaningful context comes via traditional stories and myths the author shares about these plants and images of the plants appearing in different forms of Native American art, craft, and homes.

Plant Witchery: Discover the Sacred Language, Wisdom, and Magic of 200 Plants


Juliet Diaz - 2020
     Drawn from traditional ancestral practices passed down by generations of indigenous teachers, plant whisperer and herbalist Juliet Diaz guides readers along a journey far beyond the basic medicinal and magical properties of plants in this deep dive into Mother Earth's drumming heart. Become a powerful healer and a child of nature, learning to hear, see, and understand the sacred vibrations of plant language to heal not only yourself but our earth as well with this illustrated guide.In Plant Witchery you will discover how to: - Work with the magickal and medicinal properties of over 200 species of plants - Speak and listen to plants through powerful communication techniques - Determine properties both medicinal and magical for a collection of plants - Grow and care for plants, even how to heal them when they are dying - Create your own potions, elixirs, tinctures, oils, and spells - Dry and store herbs, plants, and flowers for medicinal and magickal workings - Choose the best times astrologically to work with different plants

Folk Magic and Healing: An Unusual History of Everyday Plants


Fez Inkwright - 2020
      Plants have always played a vital role in our existence, revered for their healing and nutritional properties and entwined with ancient legends, local spirits, and deities. Folk Magic and Healing gathers many of these beliefs, aiming to inspire a deeper appreciation of our flora and countryside. Stunningly illustrated, this treasury is packed with insight about everyday plants and their magic and mysteries. It covers trees such as beechwood, birch, and fir, and provides an A to Z that ranges from agrimony, boneset, and chamomile to dandelions, lady’s mantle, laurel, and wild strawberry. With folkloric and literary quotes throughout, and background on each plant’s history, Latin name, and medicinal uses, this lovely guide is perfect for plant lovers, gardeners, writers, folklorists, witches, and everyone!

The Earth in Her Hands: 75 Extraordinary Women Working in the World of Plants


Jennifer Jewell - 2020
    Working in wide-reaching fields that include botany, floral design, landscape architecture, farming, herbalism, and food justice, these influencers are creating change from the ground up. Profiled women include flower farmer Erin Benzakein; codirector of Soul Fire Farm Leah Penniman; plantswoman Flora Grubb; edible and cultural landscape designer Leslie Bennett; Caribbean-American writer and gardener Jamaica Kincaid; soil scientist Elaine Ingham; landscape designer Ariella Chezar; floral designer Amy Merrick, and many more. Rich with personal stories and insights, Jewell’s portraits reveal a devotion that transcends age, locale, and background, reminding us of the profound role of green growing things in our world—and our lives.

Plantopedia: The Definitive Guide to House Plants


Lauren Camilleri - 2020
    

Kew: The Witch's Garden: Plants in Folklore, Magic and Traditional Medicine


Sandra Lawrence - 2020
    Witch’s Garden describes over 50 of the world’s most powerful magical plants and their uses, mythical and proven. From the screaming Mandrake to calming St John’s Wort, the history of these esoteric species is often as dark and elusive as the art of herbalism itself. Including tales of remedies for everything from bad weather and broken hearts to protection from evil and the invocation of immortality, the book features exquisite botanical illustrations and fascinating specimens held within the archives of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, while archival images depicting occult practices evoke the bewitching nature of these mysterious species.

Herbarium: The Quest to Preserve and Classify the World's Plants


Barbara M. Thiers - 2020
    Known as herbaria, these archives helped give rise to botany as its own scientific endeavor.Herbarium is a fascinating enquiry into this unique field of plant biology, exploring how herbaria emerged and have changed over time, who promoted and contributed to them, and why they remain such an important source of data for their new role: understanding how the world’s flora is changing. Barbara Thiers, director of the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium at the New York Botanical Garden, also explains how recent innovations that allow us to see things at both the molecular level and on a global scale can be applied to herbaria specimens, helping us address some of the most critical problems facing the world today.

The No-Till Organic Vegetable Farm: Human-Scale Methods for Intensive Commercial Production and Ecological Health


Daniel Mays - 2020
    No-till — a method of growing crops and providing pasture without disturbing the soil with tillage — has become a proven and enormously important alternative to standard farming practices. In this comprehensive guide to no-till vegetable farming for aspiring and beginning farmers, author Daniel Mays — himself the owner and manager of a no-till farm in Maine — details the many benefits of this system, along with how to establish no-till beds, intensive crop planning, mulching strategies, techniques and timing of occultation and solarization, selection and timing of no-till cover crops, holistic approaches to weed management, and efficient methods of harvest and post-harvest handling. The book presents innovative labor structures that replace reliance on expensive machinery, as well as streamlined planning and record-keeping tools, marketing strategies, and the value of community engagement through programs like CSA, food justice initiatives, and on-farm education. It shows farmers concerned about the future of their profession and the planet that, together, all of these elements form a cohesive system that works toward the health of the soil, the farm as a whole, the natural environment, and the people it feeds and employs.

A Family Guide to Terrariums for Kids: Imagination-inspiring Projects to Grow a World in Glass - Build a mini ecosystem!


Patricia Buzo - 2020
    Nothing fulfills all three of those desires quite like designing and planting a terrarium. With the step-by-step project instructions found in A Family Guide to Terrariums for Kids, the results are beautiful, inspiring, and confidence-building. Making these little landscapes develops motor skills, spacial awareness, and provides a wealth of sensory input. The science behind the art is included with quick and simple lessons on ecosystem functions, the water cycle, and plant nutrition. But for kids, it's all about being active and building something cool! Plus, when the project is complete, there's a piece of living art to share with family and friends or display on a bedroom shelf. With the terrarium plans found in A Family Guide to Terrariums for Kids, everyone in the family can tap their inner “science geek” to:Use multi-colored sand and succulents to craft a desert terrariumPlant, trim, and tend a terrarium bonsai treeBuild a peat bog filled with carnivorous plantsMake an aquatic terrarium, complete with a marimo moss ball “pet”Design a prehistoric garden of air plantsCreate a plant-filled habitat for a praying mantisGrow a Japanese garden with living rocks With information on selecting the best terrarium container, growing materials, decorative elements, tools, and plants, readers are primed for success that lasts long after the terrarium has been built. Terrariums combine imagination and creativity with a dash of hands-on science. And you get to play in the dirt! What could be better than that?

The Forests of California: A California Field Atlas


Obi Kaufmann - 2020
    

A Perfect Planet


Huw Cordey - 2020
    Everything about our planet - its size, its distance from the Sun, its spin and tilt, its moon - is perfectly suited to our existence, and our planet's forces serve to nurture its spectacular biodiversity. A Perfect Planet shows in stunning detail how Earth has always been more than the sum of its parts. Unlike any other astronomical body, it is a living world.Focusing on four key natural forces - global weather systems distributing fresh water to all corners; marine currents delivering nutrients to the deepest reaches of the ocean; solar energy warming and electrifying everything it touches; and volcanic activity fertilising the earth's surface - Huw Cordey reveals to us new levels of this living world, a place populated with astonishing characters living remarkable lives. From Arctic wolves prowling moonlit landscapes or wood frogs, frozen in winter and magically thawing back to life, to flamingos flying thousands of miles to a vast volcanic lake in Africa to breed, we see time and again how animals are perfectly adapted to whatever the environment throws at them.Packed with over 250 full-colour images, and including a foreword by Alastair Fothergill and stills from the BBC series' spectacular footage, A Perfect Planet is a stunning exploration of life on Earth - life that is increasingly precious and rare.

Plants for the People: A Modern Guide to Plant Medicine


Erin Lovell Verinder - 2020
    This book is a celebration of plants and an introduction to their healing powers. An exploration of the plant world through the eyes of master herbalist Erin Lovell Verinder, her expert advice weaves ancient traditional knowledge with a modern approach to plant medicine.Including dozens of medicinal plants—from aloe vera to turmeric—this volume introduces readers to each plant’s unique personality, story, characteristics, quirks, and strengths. Verinder explains how to use these herbs in tinctures, teas, balms, essences, lotions, and more. From gathering to storing, Plants for the People is filled with captivating visuals and informative text to give readers an understanding of plant medicines.This herbal compendium encourages readers to explore the world of plant medicine and expand their journey to health and wellness through nature’s bounty.

Plant Magic: Herbalism in Real Life


Christine Buckley - 2020
    It's about making friends with these amazing plants through herbalism: not only the world's oldest, but also the most widely practiced system of healing. It answers questions you may have had forever, but were too embarrassed to ask, like: What is herbalism? Where is it practiced? What can I put in my mouth and where do I find it? Can I still go to my doctor? Got you. With twenty plant profiles highlighting healing herbs from catnip and plantains to nettles and rosemary, you'll have the information you need to assemble your herbal arsenal to combat any ailment or anxiety attack--including how to make lube tea for sexual health or a smoking herbal blend to quiet a busy mind. This book will not only teach you how to make your own salves, tinctures, syrups, and herbal infusions (like peppermint leaf + lemon balm + lemon verbena + maybe some green tea if you're feeling wild), it will show you where to find, cultivate, and harvest those very ingredients. You don't even have to ingest a plant in order to reap its benefits. Cozy up to the base of an oak tree, kneel in a field of yarrow (check for ticks if you're on the northeast), sit cross-legged in the red clover, or look closer at that plant growing in a sidewalk crack if you're an urban hipster. This sexy book will give you a new appreciation for all plants and provide the knowledge, tools, and resources you need harness the healing power of herbalism.

Wild Your Garden: Create a sanctuary for nature


Jim and Joel Ashton - 2020
    

The Southeast Native Plant Primer: 225 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden


Larry Mellichamp - 2020
    The rewards will benefit you, your yard, and the environment—from reducing maintenance tasks to attracting earth-friendly pollinators such as native birds, butterflies, and bees. Native plant experts Larry Mellichamp and Paula Gross make adding these superstar plants easier than ever before, with proven advice that every home gardener can follow. This incomparable sourcebook includes 225 recommended native ferns, grasses, wildflowers, perennials, vines, shrubs, and trees. It’s everything you need to know to create a beautiful and beneficial garden. This must-have handbook is for gardeners in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Psychedelic Consciousness: Plant Intelligence for Healing Ourselves and Our Fragmented World


Daniel Grauer - 2020
    In contrast to our innate humanity, which is rooted in unity, these ideologies have led us to believe that we are separate from each other, separate from nature, and separate from the results of our actions. Such a worldview encourages individuals to maximize self-interest, which then causes fragmentation, conflict, pollution, and the depletion of natural resources. Offering practical steps that we can take to heal ourselves and our fragmented world, author Daniel Grauer explores the use of sacred tools and technologies, such as natural psychedelics, meditation, and yoga, in order to reestablish an ideology of unity, work in symbiotic harmony with the Earth, and restore our world as a sustainable and prosperous whole. Grauer explains how individuals--and by extension societies--benefit from safely accessing transcendent states of consciousness, such as those provided by psychedelics. He explores how psychoactive substances have been used throughout history all over the world for healing, personal growth, spiritual development, and revealing hidden truths, such as in the Eleusinian Mysteries, Soma practices in Vedic India, and rituals in several South American indigenous cultures. Drawing on the plant intelligence work of Paul Stamets and Stephen Buhner, Grauer shows that the growth of individual and collective intelligence is hindered by the prohibition of psychedelics, which naturally foster humanity’s capacity for analysis, innovation, and cooperation. In addition to creating a sense of unity with all things, psychedelics offer the mind a new perspective from which to analyze its experience and heighten its awareness. Drawing on his own experience and research, Grauer provides guidelines for how to safely use natural plant/fungi psychedelics in order to access the unified consciousness of our ancestors and induce the states of awareness we need to restore natural harmony to our world.

Rewilding: The Radical New Science of Ecological Recovery


Paul Jepson - 2020
    Instead of conserving particular species in nature reserves as 'museum pieces', frozen in time, the thinking now is that we should allow landscape-sized areas to 'rewild' according to their own self-determined processes. By fencing off large areas and introducing large herbivores, along with apex predators such as wolves, dynamic new habitats are already being created.These 'self-willed' areas will develop in ways that cannot always be predicted, and they may not conform to our traditional ideas of wildlife habitats, but they will form a robust and rich ecology which will be strong enough to withstand future climate changes and species shifts.In this highly topical book, the first popular account of rewilding, practising ecologists Paul Jepson and Cain Blythe explore the ongoing scientific discoveries that are emerging from this fascinating field.

Southwest Medicinal Plants: Identify, Harvest, and Use 112 Wild Herbs for Health and Wellness


John Slattery - 2020
    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 Arizona, southern California, southern Colorado, southern Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, western and central Texas, and southern Utah.

The Bloom Book: A Flower Essence Guide to Cosmic Balance


Heidi Smith - 2020
    "This book will be a comprehensive guide to achieving mental and physical health, internal balance, and overall wellness through the healing vehicle of flower essences, what many in the health and wellness community are calling the next wave coming after the huge popularity of essential oils"--

First 1000 Nature Words


Marie-Elise Masson - 2020
    This helps children retain what they're learning by presenting words in thematic groups and in context. With new topics on every page, along with riddles, games to play, and puzzles to solve, First 1000 Nature Words is the perfect way for growing minds to engage and learn.Every word and term has a full-color illustration!Includes flowers, weather, habitats, animals, plants, seasons, volcanos, continents, and so much more!Includes activities for further engagement and learning opportunitiesCollect the other book in the series: First 1000 Words

Wild Magical Soul: Untame Your Spirit & Connect to Nature's Wisdom


Monica Crosson - 2020
    Within these pages, you will discover how to connect to the energy where you live and develop your skills as a healer, storyteller, and advocate for the earth. Monica Crosson's powerful rituals support the transformation of your spirit while helping you pass ancient knowledge to new generations that will inherit our world. Wild Magical Soul includes enchantments for you to try, like a family protection ritual and the sailor's knot spell, as well as crafting instructions for incense blends, animal spirit meditation beads, a traditional besom (broom), and much more.Written for those who want to live in balance with the land once again, this book guides you on a deep dive into the elemental magic of the wild places as you set your soul free and find your inner wild.

The Ultimate Guide to CBD: Explore The World of Cannabidiol


Jamie Evans - 2020
    Whether you are seeking information on making your own CBD self-care products, how to cook with CBD, or how to administer CBD to your pet, this book makes for the perfect introduction.  In The Ultimate Guide to CBD, you'll start by learning the basics—including the most current science in the field of CBD research. Since there are many ways to use cannabidiol, you'll also learn the differences between each application, with a detailed look at CBD oils, flower, ready-made beverages, tinctures, isolates, concentrates, capsules, salves, balms, face oil, vaping, and more. A discussion on homemade versus professional-made products is included, along with tips on how to pick a trustworthy brand. In the chapters that follow, you'll be able to explore CBD in a variety of ways:Wellness: Self-care is the ultimate practice that can benefit your life, your relationships, and your overall happiness. This chapter will encourage the reader to evaluate their own personal wellness and hygiene routines, providing information on how to best use CBD-rich skincare, bath, and body products. An overview of other complimentary soothing herbs is provided, as well a “how-to” guide for crafting CBD face masks, salves, and massage oil.Beverages and Food: Find your inner mixologist with CBD beverages, from CBD mocktails and cocktails to CBD coffee, matcha, and more. Learn how to make your own CBD oil at home and go gourmet with CBD honey, olive oil, butter and other infusions to craft delicious CBD cuisine. Fitness: With opioid addiction on the rise, athletes are looking for new ways to manage pain, reduce anxiety, alleviate stress, and enhance performance. This section focuses on CBD and fitness by exploring the different ways that CBD may benefit the body during physical activities, such as yoga, running, skiing/snowboarding, and contact sports. An overview of CBD supplements and relief balms, as well as a “how-to” guide to making a post-workout balm to relieve sore muscles.Pets and Other Uses: It turns out that our four-legged friends may also benefit from CBD. Learn how to safely share CBD with dogs and cats for anxiety reduction and pain management. With all this and more, including expert spotlights featuring some of the top names in CBD-related businesses, this is the go-to resource you've been looking for.

Everlastings: How to Grow, Harvest and Create with Dried Flowers


Bex Partridge - 2020
    Throughout the book Bex Partridge takes you on a journey, starting with practical advice on how to grow dried flowers, with in-depth descriptions of the many methods available for drying and preserving blooms, seed heads and foliage, before sharing her favorite ways to style with dried flowers in the home.Everlastings is so much more than a 'how-to' book, with knowledge shared on the ecological benefits of dried flowers, a chapter on foraging which goes to great lengths to show that this kind of flower arranging can be accessible to us all, as well as an inspiring chapter on the meditative benefits of working with dried flowers. The main section of the book features a number of projects to try at home, all accompanied with beautiful photography. Suitable for both those that have never worked with dried flowers before and the seasoned professionals, the projects span many levels of experience. Bex finishes this section by sharing ideas on how to capture the memories and moments of special days, though the gathering and preserving of flowers, to be treasured for years to come. Everlastings encourages the reader to embrace the ebb and flow of the seasons, with seeds sown in spring, producing flowers in the summer to be dried and arranged in the house as a stunning winter display.Filled with the stunning imagery that Bex has become known for, Everlastings presents a modern take on an age old pastime.

通往世界的植物:臺灣高山植物的時空旅史: Worldviews: The Origin and Journey of the Montane Plants in Taiwan (Traditional Chinese Edition)


游旨价 - 2020
    

Self-Sufficient Herbalism: A Guide to Growing and Wild Harvesting Your Herbal Dispensary


Lucy Jones - 2020
    Practical herbal skills are traditionally passed down from teacher to student, yet opportunities for learning in this way are very limited. This book is an important contribution to preserving fundamental aspects of traditional herbal medicine.It is divided into three sections:The first section explains why self-sufficiency in herbal practice is beneficial, with chapters on environmental benefits, quality, connection with plants, and continuity of supply and business implications.The second section explains how to achieve self-sufficiency, with chapters on wild crafting, growing, harvesting, drying, storage, and processing.The third section is a glossary with detailed notes on the cultivation, harvesting, and processing of 108 particular herbs, arranged by season. Besides being a practical guide, this book explores the deeper implications of self-sufficient herbalism. When we move toward herbal self-sufficiency, we become more closely connected with and respectful of the plants we work with and their environment. We reduce our environmental impact, and contribute to the conservation of scarce and endangered species. The process of growing and gathering herbs nourishes us and provides balance as we face the demands and challenges of treating patients, enabling us to help more people. All in all, the process of self-sufficient herbalism is much more than just sourcing herbs locally; it can be totally transformative personally and professionally.Medical herbalist Lucy Jones shares her own personal experiences of following this path and shows how working closely with herbs has changed her. It is a must-read for practicing herbalists, herbal students, herb gardeners, and anyone who loves herbs.

Pretty Tricky - The Sneaky Ways Plants Survive


Etta Kaner - 2020
    But in this nonfiction book, readers are introduced to the tricky techniques some plants use to defend themselves, reproduce, or acquire food. From the copycat Boquila vine that changes shape to match its host plant to the pungent carrion flower that lures pollinating flies with the scent of rotten meat, plants across the globe have adapted to survive all kinds of threatening fauna.Each amazing plant adaptation is described through fact bubbles and easy-to-grasp blocks of text. End matter includes a list of sources for kids to explore, a glossary defining scientific terms, and an index.Brought to life with eye-popping cut-paper collage illustrations, this book is a garden of knowledge that will leave kids with a better understanding of how living things adapt to their environments.

Soil Science for Gardeners: Working with Nature to Build Soil Health


Robert Pavlis - 2020
    Yet untangling the soil food web and optimizing your soil health is beyond most gardeners, many of whom lack an in-depth knowledge of the soil ecosystem. Soil Science for Gardeners is an accessible, science-based guide to understanding soil fertility and, in particular, the rhizosphere - the thin layer of liquid and soil surrounding plant roots, so vital to plant health.Robert Pavlis, a gardener for over four decades, debunks common soil myths, explores the rhizosphere, and provides a personalized soil fertility improvement program in this three-part popular science guidebook. Coverage includes:Soil biology and chemistry and how plants and soil interactCommon soil health problems, including analyzing soil's fertility and plant nutrientsThe creation of a personalized plan for improving your soil fertility, including setting priorities and goals in a cost-effective, realistic time frame.Creating the optimal conditions for nature to do the heavy lifting of building soil fertilityWritten for the home gardener, market gardener, and micro-farmer, Soil Science for Gardeners is packed with information to help you grow thriving plants.

Nature All Around: Plants


Pamela Hickman - 2020
    From crowded cities to open prairies, deserts to wetlands, plants grow everywhere! This comprehensive introduction will open children's eyes to the plants that surround them every day and how important they are to life on our planet. It covers the basics of plants, such as their parts, life cycles and growing zones. Then it takes readers on a season-by-season tour of what a plant-watcher can expect to discover throughout the year. There are sections on strange plants and those that are endangered, and how readers can help. And for hands-on experience, there's an interactive Q&A for learning how to identify plants, and an activity for growing your own plants. With the perfect balance of child-friendly facts and colorful illustrations, this book encourages children to actively engage with the natural world. Bestselling and award-winning author Pamela Hickman covers all the essential science about plants --- including photosynthesis and pollination --- in clear and easy-to-digest text. And Carolyn Gavin's colorful illustrations bring it all to life, with accurate and inviting representations of the information. This book has strong curriculum applications for life science and earth science lessons in grades two through five, particularly for the characteristics of living things. Rounding out its usefulness are a full-spread growing zone map, an index and a glossary.

The Secret Garden


Claire Freedman - 2020
    As Mary works hard to bring the garden back to life, its magic begins to work on her too . . .This classic and beloved story has been beautifully retold by Claire Freedman and brought to glorious visual life by new illustration talent Shaw Davidson

Hidden Prairie: Photographing Life in One Square Meter


Chris Helzer - 2020
    During his year-long project, he photographed 113 plant and animal species within a tiny plot, and captured numerous other images that document the splendor of diverse grasslands. Even readers familiar with prairies will be fascinated by the varied subject matter Helzer captured with his camera. In addition, his captivating and accessible natural history writing tells the story of his personal journey during the project and the stories of the characters he found within his chosen square meter of prairie. This book is packed with gorgeous full-page close-up photos of prairie plants and animals, interspersed with a dozen short essays that include both ecology and natural history tidbits and enthralling and gently humorous anecdotes about Helzer’s experi­ence staring into a tiny bit of prairie for one year. Helzer writes eloquently about the conservation value of prairies and uses his photos and stories to reinforce a conservation ethic among his readers.

Planting for Butterflies: The Grower's Guide to Creating a Flutter


Jane Moore - 2020
    A summer's day wouldn't be the same without the gentle fluttering of delicate wings. They connect us with living and breathing nature and are an essential part of a dynamic ecosystem. However, in the past forty years, these insects, which were once a common sight in our gardens, are now in decline thanks to habit loss, climate change and the use of pesticides. But do not despair – there is a lot you can do to help improve their numbers! Planting for Butterflies will show you how you can attract these beautiful insects and help them to flourish by creating a butterfly-friendly garden. No matter how small or large your space – from a window ledge in the city to a country garden – Jane Moore offers advice on the nectar-rich blooms to grow, and when and where to plant them.This charmingly illustrated, practical guide will set your garden aflutter.

Plants, People, and Places: The Roles of Ethnobotany and Ethnoecology in Indigenous Peoples' Land Rights in Canada and Beyond


Nancy J. Turner - 2020
    While the First Peoples of Canada and other parts of the world have developed deep cultural understandings of plants and their environments, this knowledge is often underrecognized in debates about land rights and title, reconciliation, treaty negotiations, and traditional territories. Plants, People, and Places argues that the time is long past due to recognize and accommodate Indigenous Peoples' relationships with plants and their ecosystems. Essays in this volume, by leading voices in philosophy, Indigenous law, and environmental sustainability, consider the critical importance of botanical and ecological knowledge to land rights and related legal and government policy, planning, and decision making in Canada, the United States, Sweden, and New Zealand. Analyzing specific cases in which Indigenous Peoples' inherent rights to the environment have been denied or restricted, this collection promotes future prosperity through more effective and just recognition of the historical use of and care for plants in Indigenous cultures. A timely book featuring Indigenous perspectives on reconciliation, environmental sustainability, and pathways toward ethnoecological restoration, Plants, People, and Places reveals how much there is to learn from the history of human relationships with nature.

Alaska's Wild Plants, Revised Edition: A Guide to Alaska's Edible and Healthful Harvest


Janice Schofield Eaton - 2020
    Now reorganized to be more user friendly with a new introduction to foraging, this informative book will help you discover the bounty of the land and its plants around you.Understand basic principles to foraging and easy plant preparations. Learn about each plant's nutritional content, and medicinal and culinary uses. Discover the habitats where the plant can be found and how to harvest it correctly. Identify the plant's physical characteristics with an accompanying color photograph. Find more expert sources to continue your plant education.For explorers, foragers, harvesters, or just the casually interested, this book will help readers recognize Alaska's most common edible plants, including chickweed, high bush cranberry, crowberry, sweet gale, and more.

A Year in the Wild


Ruth Symons - 2020
    

Plant Therapy: Why an Indoor Green Oasis Can Improve Your Mental and Emotional Wellbeing


Katie Cooper - 2020
    We all know that being in or surrounded by nature is good for our health, but few of us take the time to understand why. As urbanization swallows up ecosystems, and humans move away from the environments they've adapted to, it has never been more important to understand the relationship between plants and people.Broken down into three chapters: The Human-Nature Relationship, Living with Plants and an informative 'Plantopedia', the book first explains how we have come to exist in an environment that is at odds with our mental, emotional and physical needs, then explores how we can readjust this balance, before showcasing plants that help us to breathe, restore balance, and boost our wellbeing.A stylish yet practical book, Plant Therapy brings together two major trends – house plants and wellbeing – and enhances the value of both through making clear their connection with one another. When research has shown that the presence of plants can decrease blood pressure, increase productivity, and calm anxiety, both at home and at work, why wouldn't you pick up this book and create your own calming oasis?

Grow Your Own Tea: The Complete Guide to Cultivating, Harvesting, and Preparing


Christine Parks - 2020
    Tea farmer Christine Parks and enthusiast Susan Walcott cover it all from growing tea plants and harvesting leaves, to the distinct processes that create each tea’s signature flavors.   In this comprehensive handbook, you’ll discover tea’s ancient origins, learn about the single plant that produces white, green, oolong, and black teas, and discover step-by-step instructions for plucking, withering, and rolling. Simple recipes that highlight the flavor of tea and creative uses for around the home round out this must-read for tea fans.

Who Makes a Forest?


Sally Nicholls - 2020
    Who makes a forest? A wizard, a giant, an emperor? Come on a walk with Grandpa to discover how a forest is made, and see how a thousand tiny things can come together to change the face of the earth…Poetically written by award-winning Sally Nicholls and beautifully illustrated by Carolina Rabei, this gorgeous book features a non-fiction section about the different types of forests around the world, their importance to our ecosystem and the impact of deforestation on our planet.

Little Sunflower


Suzanne Fossey - 2020
    Have you ever wondered what happens to a seed when it is planted in the ground? Read along as a small seed grows up into a beautiful sunflower, meeting bees and learning a little about pollination on the way.