Garden design and planning Books

Book SynopsisUpdated with new projects, information on climate change, and tables and sections detailing commonly used landscape sand, gravel, and stone materials, this new edition offers a complete and accessible guide to landscape design and outdoor projects for the home and garden. Featuring a framework for stone landscaping ideas and designs including an overview of the different types of stone, sources of inspiration, and ways to use stone with other landscape elements you'll also learn need-to-know tips for working with stone. Also includes 12 step-by-step projects for some of the most popular stone projects: patios, fire pits, fountains, walls and rock gardens.

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Book SynopsisAn exploration of the balance between the hand of the gardener and the power of nature in the New York Botanical Garden landscape

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Book SynopsisLearn how to craft breathtaking fairy homes exclusively from elements found in nature, step by step, from master fairy house architect Sally J. Smith—photos of her creations provide abundant inspiration.Imagine a fairy home that has dragonfly wings as stained-glass windows, twigs for window frames, birch bark for walls, and dried mushrooms for shingles—with Fairy Houses, you can create one in your own garden. Browse gorgeous photographs of fairy houses in nature, then: Design your home following the outlined steps Gather tools and materials Create magical fairy house components, including intricately detailed doors and windows Put it all together to create your own unique fairy house Add lighting and interiors Add finishing touches, like a bark roof covering or a stone pathway The final chapter gives step-by-step photo instructions on how to construct two different fairy homes.Both an inspiring gallery of art and a practical how-to guide, Fairy Houses will open new doors of creativity for you as you are transported to the magical realm where fairies live.Trade Review"...this recommended title is fun and unique." * Library Journal *"this adorable book will leave even the most sceptical of readers chanting: ‘I do believe in fairies, I do!' " -- Katya Edwards * Daily Mail *Gather your imagination and some bits and pieces from the forest or garden around you. These will be needed as you fall head over heels into the pages of Fairy Houses * Country Gardens *

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Book SynopsisIn her latest book, Garden Style, Selina Lake reveals how to make the most of any outdoor space, no matter what size or shape. Selina begins by describing her sources of inspiration – famous gardens, nurseries and garden centres, plant catalogues and botanical prints. Armed with ideas, she moves on to Chapter Two, Decorating your Garden, which is packed with suggestions for container gardening and introducing decorative features. In the next chapter, Bringing the Outside In, she harvests flowers and foliage from the garden to provide seasonal adornment for her home. Chapter Four, Garden Rooms, Greenhouses and Sheds, taps into the current trend for garden buildings that allow you to make the most of your outdoor space. Next, in Relaxing Outdoors, Selina explains how to transform your garden into a stylish space for entertaining, with ideas on furniture, lighting and more. Finally, in Eating Outdoors, Selina offers advice on creating an inviting outdoor room for eating alfresco. The book is peppered with styling ideas and simple projects. There are also tips on choosing easy-to-grow garden plants and even growing your own produce. Perfect for anyone who wants to make the most of their own little patch of green, Garden Style will also appeal to those who might have neglected their outdoor space and need help to see the potential in their plot. Garden Style will allow readers to transform even the smallest scrap of outdoor space into a lush green retreat.

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Book SynopsisZen Buddhist priest Shunmyo Masuno understands that today's busy world leaves little time or space for self-reflection, but that a garden—even in the most urban of spaces—can provide some respite. In his words, "The garden is a special spiritual place where the mind dwells." With this in mind, Masuno has designed scores of spectacular Japanese gardens and landscapes with the aim of helping people achieve a balanced life in the 21st century.This book explores Masuno's design process and ideas, which are integral to his daily Zen training and teachings. It features 15 unique gardens and contemplative landscapes completed in six countries over as many years—all thoughtfully described and documented in full-color photos and drawings. Readers will also find insights on Masuno's philosophy of garden design and a conversation between the designer and famed architect Terunobu Fujimori.Zen Garden Design provides an in-depth examination of Masuno's gardens and landscapes—not just as beautiful spaces, but as places for meditation and contemplation.Trade Review"…a deeper dive into Masunos design process and ideas, so if you're after something that's instructional as well as inspirational then this is [an] option for you." -- Flowers Across Melbourne blog"The text is superb--very complex thoughts written in an almost readily understandable fashion, and most enjoyable to read. And the illustrations are even better--assisted, I am certain, by the quality of the gardens being illustrated." --Shakkei Journal"[Masuno's] ideas and design process, which are fundamental to his daily Zen practice and teachings, are explored through photographs, drawings and descriptive narrative." --ABC Gardening Australia magazine

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Book SynopsisGo beneath the soil with this hand-drawn guide!This book is sure to become your go-to reference for all things bonsai. Beautifully illustrated with details and views a camera simply can't show, Introduction to Bonsai offers a unique and insightful look at these mini ecosystems.This complete guide contains all the information you need to create and maintain your own bonsai: Handy monthly bonsai maintenance schedules detail proper watering, pruning, wiring, transplanting and other upkeep activities throughout the year Leaves, fruits, flowers, and processes are presented up-close to help make growing and upkeep as successful and simple as possible Diagrams show where, how much, and in what direction pruning, wiring, watering and other maintenance should be performed Clear, detailed illustrations of every part of the bonsai ensure that you'll see everything you need to see, exactly as you need to see it—making this a great resource for collectors and enthusiasts at all levels Learn the specific ways to care for more than 40 types of popular bonsai trees, including: Flowering Bonsai—cherry blossom, dogwood, azalea and lilac Fruiting Bonsai—crab apple, persimmon, Chinese quince and burning bush Coniferous and Deciduous Bonsai—maple, Japanese beech, black pine and salt cedar Prepared by the editors of Japan's popular Bonsai Sekai (Bonsai World) magazine,this handbook is designed to make care and maintenance easy for bonsai beginners—from seeds to root systems and from basic watering to your first transplant.

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Book Synopsis100 Japanese Gardens is an ambitious attempt to profile the finest gardens in Japan, while also highlighting lesser known, but equally accomplished landscapes in less-visited parts of the country. A celebration of Japanese landscape design, this book features gardens from Kyoto and Tokyo, as well as from the sub-arctic island of Hokkaido and the semi-tropical islands of Okinawa. Author Stephen Mansfield travelled the length and breadth of Japan on a quest to identify the most impressive gardens in this vast and culturally varied archipelago. His erudition and love of the Japanese garden shines through on every page, making this the perfect primer for travel to Japan or an enjoyable armchair read for gardening enthusiasts. Mansfield's insightful descriptions of each garden examine design concepts and principles, space management, compositional elements, and the iconographic and metaphysical role of Shinto and Buddhist influences. Through his exquisite visuals and engaging stories, we experience Japanese garden designs not merely as landscapes, but as large-scale art installations.Trade Review"Is it a garden book? A travel guide? Pure eye candy? This visual romp across Japan, which explores some of its most serene and green spaces and includes addresses, visiting hours, and other practical details for each, is all of the above. Locales include the grounds at Shisendo (a 17th-century Kyoto hermitage) and Tokyo's Nezu Shrine, site of the Bunkyo Azalea Festival." --Publishers Weekly"…the book is far more than a travel guide. It is an ideal read for all lovers of Japanese gardens. Highly recommended!" --Shakkei Vol. 25 No. 4. Spring 2019"…It would be well worth having if you were going to Japan to view gardens…" -- Washington Gardener Magazine"…if there's [little room] in my suitcase, I can take Tuttle Publishing's pocket sized 100 Japanese Gardens by photojournalist Stephen Mansfield." --Hortus Journal

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Book SynopsisA forest garden is a place where nature and people meet halfway, between the canopy of trees and the soil underfoot. It doesn't have to look like a forest - what's important is that natural processes are allowed to unfold, to the benefit of plants, people and other creatures. For three decades experimental forest gardens have been planted in temperate cities and rural sites, in households, neighbourhoods, community gardens, parks, market gardens and plant nurseries. Forest Gardening In Practice is the first indepth review of forest gardening with living, best practice examples. It highlights the four core skills of forest gardeners: ecology, horticulture, design, cooperation. It is for hobby gardeners, smallholders, community gardeners and landscape professionals. Forest Gardening In Practice features: A history of forest gardening; Step-by step guide to creating your own edible ecosystem; 121 in-depth case studies of established forest gardens and edible landscapes in Europe and the USA; Chapters on integrating animals, learning, enterprises, working in community and public settings.

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Book Synopsis“Eye-popping proof that water-wise gardens are bold, beautiful and brilliantly hued.” —San Diego Home and Garden Dry weather defines the Southwest, and it's getting dryer. As water becomes more precious, our gardens suffer. If we want to keep gardening, we must revolutionize our plant choices and garden practices. Hot Color, Dry Garden provides a joyful, color-filled way to exuberantly garden in low-water conditions. Garden expert Nan Sterman highlights inspiring examples of brilliant gardens filled with water-smart plants. You'll find information about designing for color using plants, architecture, and accessories, along with a plant directory that features drought-tolerant plants that dazzle.

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Book SynopsisThe first in-depth guide for farmers and gardeners who have access to an established woodland and are looking for productive, innovative ways to create a natural forest ecosystems that produces a wide range of food, medicinals, and other non-timber products. "What a joy to read! Nice pictures, great case studies, and well organized. . . . Farming the Woods is the source for temperate climate agroforestry."—Jonathan Bates, Owner of Food Forest Farm While this concept of “forest farming” may seem like an obscure practice, history indicates that much of humanity lived and sustained itself from tree-based systems in the past; only recently have people traded the forest for the field. The good news is that this is not an either-or scenario; forest farms can be most productive in places where the plow is not: on steep slopes, and in shallow soils. It is an invaluable practice to integrate into any farm or homestead, especially as the need for unique value-added products and supplemental income becomes more and more important for farmers. Farming the Woods covers in detail: How to cultivate, harvest, and market high-value non-timber forest crops Comprehensive information on historical perspectives of forest farming How to mimic the forest in a changing climate Cultivation of medicinal crops How to create a forest nursery Harvesting and utilizing wood products The role of animals in the forest farm How to design and manage your forest farm once it’s set up Forest crops covered include: American ginseng Shiitake mushrooms Ramps (wild leeks) Maple syrup Fruit and nut trees Ornamental ferns And many more! This book is a must-read for farmers and gardeners interested in incorporating aspects of agroforestry, permaculture, forest gardening, and sustainable woodlot management into the concept of a whole-farm organism. Trade ReviewChoice- "This excellent book by Mudge (Cornell Univ.) and Gabriel (educator, forest farmer, and ecologist, Finger Lakes region, New York) highlights the diverse income streams that forest landowners or individuals who want to design a forested environment on their land can cultivate. The book begins with clear definitions of forest farming, agroforestry practices, and a historical perspective on cultivating crops in the forest. A foundational understanding of forest ecology is presented, including forest food webs, succession and disturbance, nature mimicry, and adaptation as the climate changes. Later chapters focus on cultivating trees for fruits, nuts, or syrups; using nontimber forest products; growing mushrooms for food and medicine; gathering high-value medicinal plants; producing forest products in nurseries; harvesting wood products; and incorporating animals in the system as possible forest farm endeavors. The discussions of crops suggested in this detailed text are supported with diverse charts and interesting case studies to help readers find the path that best suits their interests. The conclusion provides guidelines for success in the design of forest farms. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries.”Permaculture- Forests, Ken Mudge and Steven Gabriel write, have long been humanity’s pantry, where our species and many others have found the food, medicines and materials needed for survival. It is only within the last few hundred years, that we have become, as the saying goes, unable to see the forest for the trees. Land populated primarily with trees often only means lumber or an uncleared building site. Farming the Woods seeks to remind readers of those days, encouraging and enticing future forest farmers with thoughts of savory mushrooms, sweet saps, hearty nuts, and the rich meat of animals raised under the leaves, presenting all a farmer needs to begin making that dream a reality. Farming the Woods is sure to become a trusted companion for all farmer types. Whether one plans to solely work the forest or to use forested ground as a working farm, Ken Mudge and Steve Gabriel have crafted a tome destined to become a classic. The calm, friendly and knowledgeable voices of experience present a well-written book that will be useful for generations.”Booklist- "It seems that the only thing farming and forestry have in common is that they both take place outdoors. Yet, according the authors of this unorthodox but exceptionally useful handbook, 'forest farming,' which involves gathering a wide variety of plants, from mushrooms to medicinals, predates agriculture. Aiming their advice at readers living in temperate climate zones, including the upper half of North America, Mudge and Gabriel draw on their expertise in the rapidly emerging field of agroforestry to provide in-depth tips on cultivating mushrooms, gathering fruits and nuts, harvesting popular herbs such as ginseng, and even managing goats for maintaining canopy sheltered grasses and ornamentals. Along with sumptuous illustrations and invaluable case studies, their work provides a wealth of information for anyone with wooded land looking for ways to better manage it as well as reap a little extra profit from its rich agricultural potential.”“What a joy to read! Nice pictures, great case studies, and well organized. I can tell the authors put their heart and soul into this book. Farming the Woods is the source for temperate climate agroforestry, particularly for Northeast permaculture designers and teachers.”--Jonathan Bates, Owner of Food Forest Farm & contributing author of Paradise Lot“My particular focus of research is in mushrooms, and Farming the Woods not only offers detailed methodology and techniques for woodland mushroom cultivation, but also adds insight on scheduling and calendars to help orchestrate yields in seasonal climates. I have always wanted to find this information on forest farming bundled together into a collaborative matrix with nut, berry, and rhizome production, and this book helps bridge sustainable agriculture and a healthy, circular systems approach. The authors urge us to take advantage of forested acreage we may have thought was unusable. Fill your forests with food!”--Tradd Cotter, author of Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation“At last, a comprehensive forest farming guide for cool temperate climates! The authors have done a superb job explaining forest ecology and describing how to integrate fruits, nuts, mushrooms, medicinals, animals, and more into forest systems. A must-read for anyone interested in agroforestry, forest gardening, or utilizing forests for specialty crops.”--Martin Crawford, author of Creating a Forest GardenPublishers Weekly- "In this latest of the publisher’s serious, readable, and eminently useful books on cutting-edge permaculture practices, Cornell University professor Mudge and Fingerlakes forest farmer and horticulturalist Gabriel take a step outside the permaculture trend toward forest gardening—gardening that emulates forest patterns—and focus on farming in the woods by maintaining a healthy forest 'while growing a wide range of food, medicinal, and other non-timber products.' Beginning with a nuanced cultural history of forest farming, Mudge and Gabriel share their expertise on an abundance of woodland products: pollination techniques for paw-paws; the comparative economics of shiitakes and ginseng; maple, birch, and walnut sugaring methods; hazelnut breeding; and the safe use of a chain saw, to name but a few. A thoughtfully speculative but practical section on the possible effects of climate change reflects the authors’ humble and hopeful perspective that 'much of the trouble in the world today is due to disconnection from ... larger cycles. Forest farming invites us to change these cycles and to offer a gift for generations to come.’”

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Book SynopsisTurn your garden into a bright summer paradise with a collection of 35 projects to create stylish, fragrant and abundant displays. There are gorgeous flowering plants, lush foliage, special occasion displays, and edible fruit and vegetable harvests. The projects in Small Summer Gardens include hanging baskets, window boxes, beautiful flower beds, large and small pots, and pretty recycled containers. Create a display of foxgloves and woodland plants in a rusty trunk, scented sweet peas in a tub, a mini water garden with flowering water lilies, a wreath made from alpine flowers, fruit bushes in pots and much more. With Emma Hardy’s expert advice, you will learn everything you need to know about growing annuals from seed, growing bulbs, using inexpensive bedding plants in interesting ways, combining perennials and small shrubs and growing and maintaining fruit and vegetable plants.

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Book SynopsisAppreciate your garden from a whole new light. A complete guide to creating a stunning white garden, Offering tons of tips to cultivate a beautiful night garden. Fill your garden with white flowers and native plants that reflect the light of the moon or even only bloom at night! so you can enjoy the beauty of your outdoor space long into the evening.. Featuring detailed overviews on gardening basics, elements of a moonlight garden, garden design guidance, and profiles of white annuals, perennials, shrubs, vines, tender bulbs, and tropical flowers. Includes a section on hardscaping for even more night-time enhancements, from light, fire, and water to arbors, pergolas, trellises, and more. Perfect for discovering new and unique gardening ideas, this inspiring guide is a curation of flowers that truly shine at night!

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewWhile this Gardeners Guide would be perfect for anyone faced with a difficult gradient, it also includes a lot or more general gardening information such as how to choose plants and look after them for the good results. Gardens that are simply flat are boring she delares, suggesting that introducing changes in level will give any garden more appeal -- The Chatty Gardener * The Chatty Gardener *

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Book SynopsisSmall gardens can be as versatile as their gardeners - personal, peaceful havens, sophisticated spaces for entertaining or bold showcases for plant displays.

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Book SynopsisA plant a day brings beauty your way. So why not make the most of your garden with 365 of the very best plant varieties - one for every day of the year!From spring blooms to winter interest and everything in between, each plant has been personally selected by expert horticulturist Phil Clayton, who draws on his nearly 20 years of RHS experience, along with his own garden favourites, to showcase a vast array of planting choices. With a range of plants as broad as Phil''s knowledge is vast, A Plant for Every Day of the Year is like taking a walk with an accomplished gardener as they show you their favourite plants. Each profile comes complete with stunning photography and an at-a-glance guide to height, spread, hardiness, and other must-know information, so you too can make the most of every season in your own garden.Turn the pages of this plant book to discover: - Unique structure gives the reader a whole year of plants, day by day.- Phil Clayton''s unrivalled knowledge and personal approach are apparent throughout, allowing the reader to absorb his experience and expertise.- Easy-to-follow text and clear photography present the plants in an accessible and enjoyable format. A must-have volume for existing gardeners and plant lovers who want to enjoy Phil''s personal and insightful commentary on a wide range of plants, alongside individuals who don''t know what plants to grow and want to seek advice from a reputable gardener such as Phil. Doubling up as the perfect gardening book for budding botanists, who are looking to achieve their garden or indoor space''s fullest potential all year round, A Plant For Every Day of the Year is sure to delight.Trade ReviewA delight for every gardener, whether experienced or novice. * Garden News *... personal and insightful commentary alongside stunning photography and at-a-glance growing guides. * The Garden *

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Book SynopsisDiscover how to assess, grow and maintain a shady garden.Ideal for first-time gardeners, Grow Shade Garden contains everything you need to create a flourishing garden full of colour, texture and scent in a shady space. Learn how to grow and care for various shade-loving plants with tips on selecting the right site and varieties. Once you understand different types of shade and have assessed your space, select the best plants for your garden with the help of handy directories that profile different shrubs, perennials, bulbs, and trees and provide key growing information. Projects on tree planting, container displays, and creating a fernery also get you started on planting techniques and ideas to make the most of a shaded space.Whether you are an avid gardener or want to create an easy-to-maintain garden, this book can guide you and answer important questions like how plants react to shade. And How do I check my soil and climate?With this b

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Offering a wealth of inspiring examples and also available in a digital book format (…) an ideal DIY guide to creating interior enhancing, plant based creations drawn from traditional Japanese home and office decorating traditions. Exceptional and 'user friendly' in commentary, organization and presentation, Nature Crafts: Japanese Style Plant & Leaf Projects is highly recommended for personal, professional, and community library Interior Design and DIY Crafting collections."-- Midwest Book Review

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Book SynopsisRosalind Creasy, a guru of edible landscaping, does it again with The Italian Vegetable Gardenan invitation to grow and prepare some of the exceptional varieties of produce for which Italian cooking is so justly famous. This beautifully illustrated guide to growing Italian vegetables gives you tips for planting and preparing fantastic varieties of tomatoes, greens, beans, eggplants, artichokes, peppers, herbs and more! Readers will find suggestions on how to grow Italian vegetables in most North American climates, and how to prepare these fresh veggies with more than 25 recipes for antipasti, soups, sauces and sidesfrom a delicious classic marinara to bread pudding with artichokesand even preserves. Mouthwatering photos throughout evoke the flavors of these delectable vegetables and dishes, and highlights Italian specialties, such as the greens that grow wild on Italy's hillsides. With a new preface by Creasy, as well as updated recommendations, this book continues to be a trusted rTrade Review"Gorgeous full color photos throughout evoke the flavors of these delectable vegetables and dishes, and highlights Italian specialties, such as the greens that grow wild on Italy's hillsides. With a new preface by Creasy, as well as updated recommendations, The Italian Vegetable Garden continues to be a trusted and treasured resource for gardeners and kitchen cooks alike!" -- Midwest Book Review"…a great garden book to get you well on your way to creating a garden filled with vegetables used in Italian cookery." -- SensibleGardening.com

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Book SynopsisExplore the stunning private tropical gardens created by award-winning landscape designer Fernando WongThe Young Man and the Tree is gorgeous proof of Elle Decor?s claim that Fernando Wong is ?one of the most influential landscape designers in America.? As the luxuriant private gardens featured in this sumptuously illustrated book reveal, Wong has become renowned for designing not only landscapes of lushly layered foliage and flowers but also elaborate garden follies, pools, pool pavilions, outdoor kitchens, fountains, sculpture gardens, and hardscapes. Trained in architecture and interior design in his native Panama, Fernando Wong turned to landscape design after moving to the United States in 2001, and along with his partner, Tim Johnson, founded Fernando Wong Outdoor Living Design in 2005. All the projects featured here are located in tropical climes, including Miami, Palm Beach, and Lyford Cay on Nassau. With a foreword by Martha Stewart and commentary by noted interior designers including David Netto, Miles Redd, and Amanda Lindroth, who decorated some of the homes for which Wong created the gardens, this book provides gardeners and garden lovers everywhere with fresh inspiration.

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Book SynopsisStart a peaceful revolution by planting an edible ecosystem and sharing the experience with your neighborsHumans have always thrived in rich, diverse, edible ecosystems. Yet most cities and suburbs are blanketed by lawns, ornamentals, and a lack of biodiversity, let alone anything edible. It is within these sterile landscapes that seeds of an edible ecosystem lie. The Edible Ecosystem Solution is a comprehensive, practical guidebook that looks at underutilized spaces to reveal the many opportunities for landscape transformation that are both far-reaching and immediately beneficial and enjoyable. Contents include: Hundreds of full-color infographics, illustrations, and photographs that clearly outline the principles and concepts of edible landscape design and benefits How to get started with as little as 25 square feet of land How to transition a garden plot into a place of edible abundance and an edible biTable of ContentsDedicationThesis About This Book Section 1: The Ecology of Humanity Precious Place in Space Biodiversity Ecosystems Human Habitat Ancestral Ecosystems Section 2: Solutions and Opportunities Habitat Lost Modern Ecosystem Services Big-Picture Services Opportunities Livable Community Benefits Common Lines Micro-Landscapes Ecosystem Spot Section 3: Edible Ecosystem Design Inspiration to Act Site Selection and Micro-Environment Build a Permabed Site-Suitable Plant Selection Design an Ecosystem Guild Plant a Micro-Landscape Modular Ecosystem Landscape Section 4: Educate, Propagate, Inspire Ecosystem Dispersal Edible Ecosystem Qualities Catalyzing Land Transition EPI Is a Model for Success Section 5: Ecosystem Culture Transitioning Our Habitat Land, People, Culture Change Has Many Stakeholders Leadership Regenerative Wealth Security Habitat Is a Human Right Endnotes Index About the Author A Note about the Publisher

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Book Synopsis''I like that you call brussel sprouts w*nkers'' - DIANE MORGAN/PHILOMENA CUNK''Your book was our bible all summer'' - PEARL LOWE''As a gardening beginner/twit I''m a huge fan'' - KEELEY HAWESThis is the gardening book reimagined for a new generation. A book for people who want to learn how to grow things, but haven''t got a clue where to start.With the average person now spending an enormous 8 hours and 41 minutes in front of a screen every day, gardening is an easy way to escape for half an hour. Whether on a rented balcony or a sunny kitchen windowsill, it turns out growing something with your own two hands can make you feel better. Which is where HOW TO GROW comes in. Irreverent and inspiring, this book will equip you with all the know-how and confidence you need to take your first steps into a lifelong gardening love affair - trowel in one hand, drink in the other.From growing yTrade ReviewPractical advice and problem-solving all round, with recipes to boot. For city-dwellers in need of greenery. * GUARDIAN COOK *Gardening? It's not just for OAPs, you know! Glossy and gorgeous. * GLAMOUR MAGAZINE *Beautiful * GARDENS ILLUSTRATED *Filled with beautiful photography and easy steps for every type of task... it's a coffee table book that will actually get some use. * IMAGE MAGAZINE *Hollie Newton's inspiring writing and accessible instructions are an illuminating entry point for those with the barest of gardening knowledge. * ENGLISH HOME *The ideal one-stop book for people with lots of enthusiasm for gardening but without the knowhow yet... There is stacks of valuable content but the book is bursting with personality too. -- Nic Bottomley * BATH LIFE *It's not quite spring, but gardening books - a genre that has lain somewhat dormant in recent years - are set to bust out all over in the coming months thanks to a hygge-like new trend for getting cosy with your trowel. Hollie Newton's How To Grow: A Guide For Gardeners Who Can't Garden Yet paves the way this month. Seed trays are the new baking trays, it seems. -- Caroline Sanderson * THE BOOKSELLER *Direct, fun, infectious, utterly practical and best of all - it's for a beginner. * IRISH EXAMINER *

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Book SynopsisSelected as one of the Sunday Times best gardening books of 2023Discover the lavish beauty and fascinating history of the 40 most important and inspiring botanic gardens from across the globe.From the Renaissance gardens of Italy to the futuristic botanic gardens of Singapore, this gorgeous book tells the story of these unique institutions. It is a history of science and learning, of politics and national interests, of societal concerns and conservation. But, most of all, it is a compelling exploration of the power and possibility of the natural world, that we are still merely scratching the surface of.Expert garden historian Deborah Trentham has selected the world's most important gardens and delves deep into the history of these horticultural institutions - sharing stories of exploration, extraordinary plants and the scientific breakthroughs which have shaped these stunning gardens.Filled with rare and beautiful plants and incredible locations from around the globe - from Norway to Morocco, Kyoto to Kew, Brooklyn to Buenos Aires, and Madrid to Malaysia - this book will transport you to far-flung places and bygone eras, and consider the future of our botanical havens and the natural wonders they protect.

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Book SynopsisPermaculture is a movement that is coming into its own, and the concept of creating plant guilds in permaculture is at the forefront of every farmer’s and gardener’s practice. One of the essential practices of permaculture is to develop perennial agricultural systems that thrive over several decades without expensive and harmful inputs: perennial plant guilds, food forests, agroforestry, and mixed animal and woody species polycultures. The massive degradation of conventional agriculture and the environmental havoc it creates has never been as all pervasive in terms of scale, so it has become a global necessity to further the understanding of a comprehensive design and planning system such as permaculture that works with nature, not against it. The guild concept often used is one of a “functional relationship” between plants–beneficial groupings of plants that share functions in order to bring health and stability to a plant regime and create an abundant yield for our utilization. In other words, it is the integration of species that creates a balanced, healthy, and thriving ecosystem. But it goes beyond integration. A guild is a metaphor for all walks of life, most importantly a group of people working together to craft works of balance, beauty, and utility. This book is the first, and most comprehensive, guide about plant guilds ever written, and covers in detail both what guilds are and how to design and construct them, complete with extensive color photography and design illustrations. Included is information on: • What we can observe about natural plant guilds in the wild and the importance of observation; • Detailed research on the structure of plant guilds, and a portrait of an oak tree (a guild unto itself); • Animal interactions with plant guilds; • Steps to guild design, construction, and dynamics: from assessment to design to implementation; • Fifteen detailed plant guilds, five each from the three authors based on their unique perspectives; • Guild project management: budgets, implementation, management, and maintenance. Readers of any scale will benefit from this book, from permaculture designers and professional growers, to backyard growers new to the concept of permaculture. Books on permaculture cover this topic, but never in enough depth to be replicable in a serious way. Finally, it’s here!Trade Review"Integrated Forest Gardening is an evolution from Bill Mollison’s original teachings, built upon by countless designs and a straightforward process. Both the seasoned and new designer can use this work to confidently approach a project, weaving land, client, and vision into an abundant and joyful reality.”--Javan K. Bernakevitch, Educator and Agroecology DesignerPublishers Weekly- "Weiseman, Halsey, and Ruddock define integrated forest gardening as the 'integration of all aspects of a land base into the development of healthy food, medicinal, and utility landscapes,' giving equal importance to the built environment, the waste stream, animals, plants, and stones. Drawing on their extensive design, consultation, and teaching experience, these three Midwestern permaculturalists discuss plant guilds ('a beneficial grouping of plants that support one another in all their many functions') and their design, optimal species integration, and plant propagation; profile four trees, which are the centerpieces of polycultures; outline the process of implementing a forest-garden design; and detail fifteen plant-guild case studies across hardiness zones 3–9, illustrated with helpful anecdotes. This passionate and practical manual gives landscapers, landscape architects, and householders enough in-depth information and methodology to begin their own experiments with an emerging, ecologically sensitive alternative to conventional horticulture.”"Reading Integrated Forest Gardening was like taking a walk through a well-orchestrated whole systems design! As a plant enthusiast and systems thinker this book spoke my language. It is rare to find in one book such depth of user-friendly detail. It demystifies the mythical nature of the “Forest Garden’’ and brings its strategies to easy application. This book is a must for all plant lovers."--Jude Hobbs, Cascadia Permaculture"Integrated Forest Gardening fills a major gap in the canon of permaculture books, giving us, at last, a detailed guide to guild and polyculture design. No longer is this subject mysterious and daunting; in this book we now have specific instructions for designing and installing multi-species plant groups. Chapter 7, which describes 15 guilds and their plant members, is a golden nugget worth the price of the book alone. This is an essential book for all food foresters and ecological designers."--Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture"This rich feast of nature love by three experienced and working permaculture designers pushes into the hard task of creating recombinant ecosystems, a field where few have gone before. The authors expose the logic and lore of working guilds, the symbiotic plant assemblies of productive landscapes. Full of design insight into the needs and opportunities of both plants and the people who live with them, Integrated Forest Gardening offers a panoply of example guilds, work procedures, and luscious images to inspire and guide the perennial food gardener onto a path of ecological renewal.”--Peter Bane, author of The Permaculture Handbook and publisher of Permaculture Activist magazine"For the design work we do at Midwest Permaculture, when we need experienced advice on planting systems we turn to the three gentlemen who collaborated on this impressive work. The book is thorough, accessible, and timely. So wish we had this insightful compilation when we first started. It’s a gem!"--Bill and Becky Wilson, Midwest Permaculture“This is an intimate insight into the world of plant guilds. The authors have taken the broad land based overview and zoom the reader into the micro detail of these plant polycultures. Details of root structure, seeding patterns, and relationships with the surrounding environment have been carefully observed and are well laid out in the plant guild lists. This book is an important contribution to every permaculture designer’s library and will appeal to all those wishing to grow sustainable polycultures whether broadscale or in the garden.”--Ben Law, author The Woodland Way and Roundwood Timber Framing"We stand at a new threshold. The history of food production has tended ever more narrowly towards monoculture, whereas a sustainable future can only be based on polyculture. But we're desperately short of knowledge on polycultures. While mainstream research still chases the chimera of fossil-fueled monoculture, a small band of visionaries is working to develop the knowledge we need to carry us forward to the future. Just such are the authors of this book and the wisdom it contains is part of that movement."--Patrick Whitefield, permaculture teacher and author of The Earth Care Manual“Integrated Forest Gardening makes the process of creating complex agroecosystems more understandable and achievable. It is a fine guide to designing forest garden and polycultural systems using Permaculture principles.”--Martin Crawford, author of Creating a Forest Garden

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Book Synopsis“This permaculture primer is fresh and vibrant. Bring it on!” —Permaculture Magazine Permaculture is more popular than ever, but it can still be a daunting concept. If you are new to permaculture and interested in learning more, Practical Permaculture offers authoritative, in-depth, and hands-on advice for a more holistic approach to sustainable living. Jessi Bloom and Dave Boehnlein, two dynamic leaders in the permaculture community, explain the basics of permaculture, share their design process, and explore various permaculture systems including soil, water, waste, energy, shelter, food and plants, and animals and wildlife. They also profile the fifty most useful plants for permaculture landscapes.

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Book Synopsis“Shows us that guiding natural processes rather than fighting them is the key to creating healthier landscapes and happier gardeners.” —Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home Larry Weaner is an icon in the world of ecological landscape design, and now his revolutionary approach is available to home gardeners. Garden Revolution shows how an ecological approach to planting can lead to beautiful gardens that buck much of conventional gardening’s counter-productive, time-consuming practices. Instead of picking the wrong plant and then weeding, irrigating, and fertilizing, Weaner advocates for choosing plants that are adapted to the soil and climate of a specific site and letting them naturally evolve over time. This lushly-photographed reference is for anyone looking for a better, smarter way to garden.

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Book Synopsis“A practical guide to maintaining a shade garden with a useful calendar of seasonal tasks, plant directory and inspiring design ideas.” —Gardens Illustrated Shade is one of the most common garden concerns homeowner’s have, but with the right plant knowledge, you can learn to embrace shade as an opportunity instead of an obstacle. In Glorious Shade, Jenny Rose Carey celebrates the benefits of shade and shows you how to make the most of it. This information-rich, hardworking guide is packed with everything you need to successfully garden in the shadiest corners of a yard. You'll learn how to determine what type of shade you have and how to choose the right plants for the space. The book also shares design and maintenance tips that are key to growing a successful shade garden. Stunning color photographs offer design inspiration and reveal the beauty of shade-loving plants.

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Book Synopsis“Designing with Succulents is inspiring, practical, and complete—a treasure for any gardener who loves these otherworldly beauties.” —Kathleen N. Brenzel, Sunset Succulents offer dazzling possibilities and require very little maintenance to remain lush and alluring year-round. No one knows them better than the Queen of Succulents, Debra Lee Baldwin. This new, completely revised edition of her bestselling classic is a design compendium that is as practical as it is inspirational. Designing with Succulents shares design and cultivation basics, hundreds of succulent plant recommendations, and 50 companion plant profiles. Lavishly illustrated with 400 photographs, you’ll find everything you need to visualize, create, and nurture a thriving, water-smart succulent garden.

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Book Synopsis“In this beautiful, inspiring, and practical book we are invited to look deeply at the landscape around us and create sacred respites from our busy worlds.” —Rosemary Gladstar, herbalist and author We all need a personal sanctuary. A place where we can be in harmony with the natural world and nurture our bodies, minds, and souls. And this sanctuary doesn’t have to be a far-away destination—it can be in your own backyard. In Creating Sanctuary, natural living expert Jessi Bloom taps into multiple sources of traditional plant wisdom to help you find a deeper connection to the outdoor space you already have—no matter the size. You will learn how to design a healing space, how to harness the power of 50 sacred plants, and how to create recipes and rituals that soothe and calm. Hands-on, inspiring, and packed with gorgeous photography, Creating Sanctuary will help you find new ways to revitalize your life.

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Book Synopsis“A magnificent resource for transforming backyards into stimulating environments which enhance children’s creativity, learning, and fun.” —Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, The Nature Principle, and Vitamin N Access to technology has created a generation of children who are more plugged in than ever before—often with negative consequences. But there is a solution. Unrestricted outdoor play helps reduce stress, improve health, and enhance creativity, learning, and attention span. In Nature Play at Home, Nancy Striniste gives you the tools you need to make outdoor adventures possible in your own backyard. With hundreds of inspiring ideas and illustrated, step-by-step projects, this hardworking book details how to create playspaces that use natural materials—like logs, boulders, sand, water, and plants of all kinds. Projects include hillside slides, seating circles, sand pits, and more.

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Book Synopsis“Fear deer no more! The best source I’ve seen on the topic!” —Tracy DiSabato-Aust, award-winning garden designer and best-selling author Deer are one of the most common problems a gardener can face. These cute but pesky animals can quickly devour hundreds of dollars’ worth of plants. And common solutions include the use of unattractive fencing and chemicals. In Deer-Resistant Design, Karen Chapman offers another option—intentional design choices that result in beautiful gardens that coexist with wildlife. Deer-Resistant Design showcases real home gardens across North America—from a country garden in New Jersey to a hilltop hacienda in Texas—that have successfully managed the presence of deer. Each homeowner also shares their top ten deer-resistant plants, all welcome additions to a deer-challenged gardeners shopping list. A chapter on deer-resistant container gardens provides suggestions for making colorful, captivating, and imaginative containers. Lushly illustrated and filled with practical advice and inspiring design ideas, Deer-Resistant Design is packed with everything you need to confidently tackle this challenging problem.

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Book SynopsisBefore picking up the trowel, pick up the stickers! With 150 reusable illustrated stickers — representing dozens of plant cultivars that are versatile, readily available, and suitable for most temperate growing zones — plus a fold-out design board and a book teaching five easy steps of garden design, you’ll have everything you need to create your vision of the perfect garden. The durable cling stickers, with beautiful botanically accurate illustrations, can be layered, arranged, and rearranged to try out every variation before making any plant purchases. This book-and-kit combination makes it possible to create your dream border, bed, or backyard oasis without leaving your kitchen table!

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Book SynopsisAny backyard has the potential to refresh and inspire if you know what to do. Jan Johnsen’s new book, Gardentopia: Design Basics for Creating Beautiful Outdoor Spaces, will delight all garden lovers with over 130 lushly illustrated landscape design and planting suggestions. Ms. Johnsen is an admired designer and popular speaker whose hands-on approach to “co-creating with nature” will have you saying, “I can do that!’ This info-packed, sumptuous book offers individual tips for enhancing any size landscape using ‘real world’ solutions. The suggestions are grouped into five categories that include Garden Design and Artful Accents, Walls, Patios, and Steps and Plants and Planting, among others. Whether you are an experienced gardener or a landscaping novice, Gardentopia will inspire you with tips such as ‘Soften a Corner”, “Paint it Black”, and “Hide and Reveal”.

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Book Synopsis'A thoroughly recommended read if you want your garden to have that designer touch - and to look good all year round' - Alan Titchmarsh 'This book is reassuringly methodical. From the initial survey to the planting palette and how to design for privacy, shelter or noise control. It's a helpful primer for any design project.' - Daily Mail'Inventively presented with a lot of info packed in without seeming deterrently difficult.' - Evening Standard'Great design tips, ideas and planting schemes for year-round interest.' - House BeautifulConfused by the bewildering range of plants on offer at your local garden centre? How do you choose, use and create beautiful planting schemes like the professionals? The book takes you on a structured journey through the design process, from the initial assessment of your existing space, through choosing a theme or style, to putting it all together. Learn what various plant groups can provide and how to problem-solve by selecting the right species. Understand the role that form, colour, scent and texture play in the garden, and how to use focal points and accent plants for added interest. Tiny courtyard gardeners and suburban gardeners alike will learn how to mix plants in pleasing combinations that will provide interest through the seasons and last for years. RHS How to Plant a Garden proves that a good planting scheme can transform your garden from the ordinary to the truly inspirational.

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Book Synopsis***'With an approachable layout and excellent illustrations, including both photographs and line drawings, this book is just the thing for someone discovering the pastime and would be ideal for those who have just acquired a garden of some size. Topics covered range from plant biology and propagation, to everyday garden care, fruit and vegetables and growing under cover.' The English GardenKeen amateur gardeners and aspiring professionals can learn from the expertise of the RHS with this handy guide.It doesn't matter if you're an old hand at gardening or just starting out, there are always things to discover and opportunities to improve, whether it's mastering a new technique or brushing up on your botany.RHS Gardening School is the perfect guide for gardeners who want to learn. Inside you'll find chapters on: Understanding plants Everyday garden care Problem solving Planting design Gardening through the year and much more. Hands-on guidance and step-by-step instructions explain topics such as pruning, pests and diseases, weed removal and caring for lawns. Expert gardeners explain the underlying principles in plain English, while clear diagrams and beautiful photographs inspire and inform.This revised edition will have a fresh new look with new illustrations and photographs and an easy-to-navigate layout making it an ideal handbook for the new gardener.Become a better, smarter, more productive gardener with this complete guide to horticulture in one handy book.

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Book Synopsis'An experienced horticulturist's monthly guide to gardening, with wise, clear and helpful advice on tackling the essential tasks and dealing with problems.' Gardens IllustratedOne of the keys to happy gardening is knowing what to do and when for the best results. In this handy guide, experienced horticulturist Martyn Cox takes you through the gardening year, month by month, offering wise, clear and helpful advice on the essential tasks and how to avoid problems along the way.No matter the size of the plot, nor the expertise of the gardener, The Gardener's Yearbook is the perfect handbook to return to throughout the seasons, with tips including:- How to get your lawn into shape for the summer- When you should plant lilies, roses and sweet peas- How and when to harvest and store your fruit and vegetables- When to prepare containers for winter- How to fit a water butt and start a compost bin- An easy-to-follow crop plannerFeaturing specially commissioned linocuts by artist Heather Tempest-Elliott.

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Book SynopsisDaffodils and tulips herald the arrival of spring, but from the earliest snowdrops to autumn crocosmias, bulbs bring colour and interest to gardens all year round. They can be naturalized in lawns, planted in containers, fill gaps between shrubs or form the basis of stunning borders. This definitive guide gives you Alan Titchmarsh's advice on how to plant bulbs for best effect in your garden.* A-Z directory of Alan's recommended bulbs, corms, tubers and rhizomes* Easy-to-follow plans show how to use bulbs in various situations and at different times of year* Practical tips for growing bulbs in grass, rockeries, containers, indoors and for cutting* Planting and growing techniques* Seasonal planting for year-round colour and scent

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Book SynopsisPlants are a major part of most gardens and fulfil many roles within them, providing colour, shade, scent, form, texture and much more. Choosing the right plants can be a challenge but this book provides a step-by-step guide for successful long-term planting, using design techniques and good horticultural practice.

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Book SynopsisA showcase of Britain's most extraordinary gardens and landscapes from the twentieth century to present day. 100 20th-Century Gardens and Landscapes highlights the evolution of gardens and landscapes over the past century, tracing how these distinctive creations complemented buildings of their period. Entries in this book are grouped in chronological periods, documenting changing styles and techniques in a visual timeline. The examples chosen take the story from the Arts and Crafts garden and the garden city, through the landscapes created for mid-century housing and the new towns, to the low-maintenance gardens of the 1980s and contemporary trends for community and wildlife gardens. Designed landscapes were often integral to the conception of twentieth-century developments; the inclusion of a handful of particularly successful landscapes for memorial gardens, offices, industry, transport and parks demonstrate a changing attitude to public green space during the century and its increasing importance as private gardens have become ever smaller. Designers and architects such as Piet Oudolf, Charles Jencks, Frederick Gibberd, Geoffrey Jellicoe, Vita Sackville-West and Gertrude Jekyll are all featured, alongside more detailed essays on the history of gardens, planting styles, the importance of modern landscapes, and the career of Geoffrey Jellicoe. The text is written by architectural, landscape and garden historians including Elain Harwood, Barbara Simms and Alan Powers. Beautifully illustrated throughout with photography, illustrations and garden plans, this book is ideal for gardeners and landscape lovers alike.Trade Review'Refreshingly wide in scope … intelligent and thought-provoking' -- The Times'This enjoyable and colourful guided tour through landscapes from the Arts and Crafts via the Barbican to Derek Jarman’s Dungeness cottage might make an enticing gazetteer for a summer spent closer to home than usual.' * Financial Times *'A catalogue of private and public gardens that well illustrates how garden design and landscape architecture emerged together during that century.' -- George Plumptre * Daily Telegraph *'A shorthand way to appreciate the way garden designers, town planners, landscape architects and others help shape the world around us. And that is certainly worth celebrating.' * The Garden *'Casts a much needed light on why it is so important now to discuss, protect and preserve these spaces' * Rakesprogress magazine *'An absorbing history of a much-loved but much overlooked part of our lives' * Reclaim Magazine *

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Book SynopsisSince 1997 Luciano Giubbilei has been creating serenely beautiful gardens in locations on three continents. Giubbilei is known for the understated elegance of his designs, but is constantly evolving his style and approach, both in response to individual clients and as his ideas develop. His work draws on his Italian heritage, especially the Renaissance gardens of the Villa Gamberaia in Tuscany, and a distinctively classical combination of restraint and opulent materials. This book – now published in paperback for the first time – explores 12 significant gardens from Giubbilei's portfolio, including the garden that won him a gold medal at the world-famous Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show in 2009. The locations vary from private residences in London and Barcelona to corporate headquarters in Geneva and a holiday home in Morocco. Each project is fully documented, from the preparation of mood boards and initial sketches to final planting and finishing. As Tom Stuart-Smith notes in his foreword, Giubbilei's gardens are characterised by their 'quiet aura of calm and poise' and their 'restful confidence': 'The gardens are like the man, impeccably turned out, suave and urbane in a gentle way, quietly assertive but never bossy. Sophisticated and thoroughly Italian. His style provides a form of instant theatre, where the designer forges places, conjures atmosphere and creates spaces out of nothing. This is great art.' Separate sections on the design process, site development, nursery production and the sourcing of plants, as well as on the artists and craftsmen with whom Giubbilei collaborates, offer a fascinating insight into his working methods and sources of inspiration. Accessibly written by a leading garden professional and fully illustrated with planting plans, behind-the-scenes images and atmospheric photographs by Steven Wooster, this beautiful book is the definitive work on the gardens of an acclaimed designer. AUTHOR: Andrew Wilson is a garden designer, lecturer and writer. He is a founding director of the London College of Garden Design, a director of the McWilliam Studio, a former show gardens judge for the Royal Horticultural Society, and a Fellow and past chairman of the Society of Garden Designers. His previous publications include The Book of Garden Plans (2004), Contemporary Colour in the Garden (2011) and RHS Small Garden Handbook (2013). SELLING POINTS: . A new paperback edition of this essential survey of the work of the award-winning garden designer Luciano Giubbilei . Features in-depth explorations of 12 projects in locations as diverse as London, Geneva and Morocco . With specially commissioned images by the well-known gardens photographer Steven Wooster 326 illustrations, 12 plans

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Book SynopsisRousham in Oxfordshire was one of the first landscape gardens created in England and is, still, one of the most influential. Designed by William Kent in the late 1730s for the Cottrell-Dormer family (who are its owners today) it has become a place of pilgrimage for landscape architects and garden designers worldwide as well as garden lovers. Its magical glades and sculptural set-pieces have long intrigued Francis Hamel, who has lived and worked there for 25 years. Since the beginning of 2020 he has composed an extraordinary collection of paintings that capture the gardens and their magic. With essays by Tom Stuart-Smith, Joanna Kavenna and Christopher Woodward, the reader is led down its mysterious pathways; from tree-shaded walks peopled with statues of Pan, Venus and other immortals to sun-dappled meadows carpeted with wild flowers. It is just as Kent left it– a secret garden that is open to all.

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Book SynopsisWelcome to your essential guide for creating healthy, sustainable, water-wise gardens and landscapes. Futureproof Your Garden is a go-to resource for anyone who wants expert advice on how to use, capture and store water efficiently in times of drought or deluge. Angus and Emma help you to choose plants that not only suit your personal style, but that can adapt to changing environments. A photographic plant directory is packed with information on what to plant where, and the pair share design know-how that's adaptable to outdoor spaces of all sizes. Soil care is considered in comprehensive detail, and photo essays offer step-by-step garden DIY how-tos - including wicking beds, capillary watering, deep irrigation and ollas.Make the most of a guide to plant selection that equips you to create landscapes that are functional, beautiful and resilient, covering techniques for ornamental, habitat and edible gardens. Filled with knowledge and wisdom from two generations of widely respected horticulturalists, this is a must-have for any gardener looking to the future of what to plant and grow.Angus Stewart is a Hobart-based horticulturalist who has spent a lifetime working with plants. He was a long-time presenter on Gardening Australia, and Futureproof Your Garden is his sixth book. Sydney-based horticulturalist Emma Stewart inherited her father's passion and is dedicated to a sustainable gardening future.

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Book SynopsisThe Times Best Gardening Books of 2022 Ornamental plants are the cornerstone of our gardens and we are spoiled for choice with literally tens of thousands of hardy beauties from which to select. But we take them absolutely for granted, not for a moment realising that every plant has a fascinating tale to tell. Wild Edens sets the record straight. With global coverage, each of the nine richly illustrated chapters explores a plant biodiversity hotspot. The reader is transported on a visually stunning and fascinating voyage of discovery which reveals our garden favourites - as well as some species that should be more widely cultivated - in their natural habitats, from daffodils from Andalusia and tulips from the Tien Shan, to monkey puzzles from Chile and rhododendrons from the Himalayas, lilies from Japan and proteas from South Africa.Because the authors have been to the hotspots, each chapter opens with their personal reflections on the landscape and spirit of place, and closes with their selection of prime locations. In between, the informative yet approachable text tells of the plants' 'forgotten stories'. Of the landscapes which are their home, the adventures of how and when they were discovered and by whom, the reasons why they were collected, their impact on garden fashions and trends, etc. Wild Edens brings another dimension of interest and understanding to plants and gardens, as well as being a premium armchair traveller's guide to the natural world of garden plants.

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Book Synopsis'A beautifully photographed guide for gardeners' - Daily Telegraph'Nick offers solutions for every season' - Country Living'A thought-provoking and beautifully written book' - Fergus Garrett, Head Gardener, Great DixterIn 365 Days of Colour in Your Garden BBC Gardeners' World presenter Nick Bailey shows you how to plant and manage your garden, whatever its size, to ensure year-round colour and interest. Initially explaining simple colour theory principles and how to apply them to your garden, the book goes on to highlight beautiful plants and planting combinations for every season no matter what type of garden you have. With chapters covering the longest flowering plants, pot recipes and gorgeous plants for difficult sites, along with a comprehensive seasonal directory, this book will inspire and delight both experienced gardeners and beginners alike.

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Book Synopsis‘In this wide ranging and comprehensive survey of the designed landscapes of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, James Bartos argues convincingly that ornamental wildernesses should be viewed as distinctive design features which, when linked across an extensive terrain, took on the character of the whole landscape. As a result of this striking analysis, our understanding of the celebrated layouts at Wrest Park, Chiswick and Stowe, and many more besides, must be revised. Contrary to the received wisdom that wildernesses led inexorably to the more informal parkscapes associated with William Kent and Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, it was only when they were dismantled in the mid-eighteenth century to provide more loosely controlled, open glades and greensward that the English Landscape Style emerged. This ground-breaking study ranges in its literary compass from classical authors through contemporary writers on gardens and gardening to modern critical authorities, while its visual focus on design manuals and individual gardens and landscapes is presented through a wealth of engraved prints, maps and present day photographs. Bartos considers the making, planting and maintenance of wildernesses, their continental precedents, thematic resonances – Classical, Biblical, Druidic, Patriotic – and the eventual development of these often numinous spaces into mature gardens followed by their inevitable demise. The book has all the attributes of a true wilderness – surprise, variety and, above all, delight – is engagingly written and a tour de force of meticulous scholarship.’ Professor Timothy Mowl FSA The Ornamental Wilderness in the English Garden reinterprets the English formal garden of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries through the perspective of a typical feature of those gardens, the ornamental grove, called a wilderness. In its mature form, the wilderness constituted most of the garden, shady and private, a place for retreat as well as social activity, with a seeming naturalness achieved through artifice, where cultural incident and nature were equally appreciated.Trade Review‘James Bartos, a proper garden historian, leads us along these sanded [wilderness] paths. He has done his homework and discusses various types of wilderness, accompanied by the plans and bird’s eye views that make the study of past gardens such a pleasure … there remain places where we can still experience them, now armed with fresh understanding thanks to this excellent book.’ Steven Desmond, Country Life “A poignant read that details how the concept of wilderness helped shape the formal English garden during the 17th and 18th centuries." Gardens Illustrated ‘For inspiration on wilderness layout, read The Ornamental Wilderness in the English Garden by James Bartos, a scholarly work crammed with maps, plans and bird’s-eye views of historical wildernesses.’ Tilly Ware, Country Life “This handsome and well-illustrated volume offers a detailed appraisal of the ornamental wilderness in England, principally from c.1680 to 1750. This is the first book-length treatment of the wilderness as an important garden feature and presents a highly readable and detailed account of their evolution and eventual decline. … This is a rich and engaging study, which has much to offer garden, landscape and environmental historians as well as the general reader.” Sarah Spooner, Garden History

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