Gardening Books

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe wisest book I've read for many years Much more than a gardening book, much more than a guide to mental health Hugely recommended' Stephen FryTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA Times and Sunday Times Best Book of 2020How can gardening relieve stress and help us look after our mental health? What lies behind the restorative power of the natural world?In a powerful combination of contemporary neuroscience, psychoanalysis and brilliant storytelling,The Well Gardened Mindinvestigates the magic that many gardeners have known for years working with nature can radically transform our health, wellbeing and confidence.With illuminating stories of how people struggling with stress, depression, trauma and addiction can change their lives, this inspiring and wise book of science, insight and anecdote now translated into fifteen languages shows how our understanding of nature and its restorative powers is only just beginning to flower.Trade Review THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER ‘Must be the most original gardening book ever’SUNDAY TIMES ‘Fascinating … Extends the awareness – backed up by compendious and elegant research – of how mentally enriching it is to swap screen for green … [She] renders a very special service with this book’OBSERVER ‘Stuart-Smith’s beautifully written book is filled with insights into the joys but also the therapeutic benefits that tending plants can offer …This is a life-affirming study of the pleasures of growing things’GUARDIAN ‘Combines observation, horticulture, literature and history … it is a book that builds, chapter by chapter … As a reference and an inspiration … There is much here to feed the soul’THE TIMES ‘An impressive achievement … this is an optimistic book’SPECTATOR ‘A truly uplifting book on the power of gardening – and how it can change people’s lives. It’s a prevailing reminder that getting our hands in the soil and helping to grow plants and flowers makes all the difference to our minds and wellbeing’STYLIST ‘A fascinating overlap between the still stumbling science of psychiatry and the ancient art of gardening’FINANCIAL TIMES ‘The wisest book I’ve read for many years … Much more than a gardening book, much more than a guide to better mental health, it is a wholly convincing story of how troubled minds might find a way of reconnecting to themselves and rebuilding confidence and hope by way of nature … I’ve learned so much in the way of the history of psychiatry and psychology as well as practical tips for both mind and garden … Hugely recommended’STEPHEN FRY ‘A compelling and deeply moving account of how profoundly our wellbeing can be affected through contact with gardening and the natural world. This is a timely call of return. Read it.’EDMUND DE WAAL ‘An important and timely book … Beautifully written … I urge everyone to read it’MONTY DON

Read more less

Book SynopsisBirthdays and anniversaries are never easy to remember. The RHS Birthday Book is the place to keep all your important dates together so that you will never have to worry about forgetting them again. This brand new edition of the best-selling RHS Birthday Book features all new illustrations.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisMonty Don has been gardening on TV for over 25 years for ITV, Channel 4 and the BBC, and since 2003 has been the lead presenter on BBC TV's Gardeners' World, which from 2011 has been filmed in his own garden in Herefordshire, Longmeadow. He is an experienced organic gardener and was President of the Soil Association from 2008 to 2017. He has written a weekly gardening column for the Daily Mail since 2004, and published 19 books, including Down to Earth, the top-selling gardening book in the UK from 2017 to 2019.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSimon Akeroyd is a gardener and skilled horticulturist who has written 30 gardening books, many for the RHS and two for DK (Shrubs and Small Trees 2008 and Lawns and Groundcover 2012). He's based in Surrey where he is gardening editor for Saga; prior to that he has worked at RHS gardens and for the National Trust.In 2022 he started a TikTok account dedicated to non-gardeners. His aim was to show just how easy and fun growing plants can be and that it's always worth a go. He's had huge engagement since, with his 'Grow kiwis from the supermarket' video receiving more than 31 million views.

Read more less

Book SynopsisGrowing your own flowers for cutting brings the pleasures of the season indoors and cuts out the air miles associated with many shop-bought blooms. This book turns the spotlight on the best perennials and woody plants which return year after year with little effort or waste, offer valuable habitats to garden wildlife and bring a natural quality to arrangements. Rachel Siegfried, owner of the celebrated Green & Gorgeous flower farm, began her career as an estate gardener and in this book she shares her selection of 128 rigorously trialled plants and her garden-led philosophy that together bring such exceptional results. Cut flower classics such as peonies and dahlias rub shoulders with daisies, climbers, grasses and fruit blossom. Her exquisite arrangements capture the essence each plant making the most of characterful stem twists and branching tendrils - testament to years of expert botanical observation and hands in the soil. Beautiful photographs capture the seasonal diversity and natural ease that are such a hallmark of this thoroughly contemporary approach to cut flowers. Whether your goal is to have something to pick from your garden each week of the year or start a cut flower business, the inspiration to get started and expert advice you need is here.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPolly Wilkinson is one of the UK's leading garden designers. At the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022, she won the People's Choice for her charity garden for Mothers for Mothers. In RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2019, she won a Silver medal and People's Choice for her naturecraft garden.

Read more less

Book SynopsisExplore the beauty and wilderness of the English garden in the RHS Desk Diary 2026. This practical and truly stunning week-to-view diary is illustrated in full colour throughout, with a beautiful selection of botanical illustrations sourced from the collections held in the RHS Lindley Library.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSeed to Seed is a complete seed-saving guide that describes specific techniques for saving the seeds of 160 different vegetables. This book contains detailed information about each vegetable, including its botanical classification, flower structure and means of pollination, required population size, isolation distance, techniques for caging or hand-pollination, and also the proper methods for harvesting, drying, cleaning, and storing the seeds.Seed to Seed is widely acknowledged as the best guide available for home gardeners to learn effective ways to produce and store seeds on a small scale. The author has grown seed crops of every vegetable featured in the book, and has thoroughly researched and tested all of the techniques she recommends for the home garden.This newly updated and greatly expanded Second Edition includes additional information about how to start each vegetable from seed, which has turned the book into a complete growing guide. Local knowledge about seed starting techniques for each vegetable has been shared by expert gardeners from seven regions of the United States-Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast/Gulf Coast, Midwest, Southwest, Central West Coast, and Northwest.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA unique collaboration from two of America's leading artists that explores the fascinating and hidden history of the plant world.In this witty, deeply original book, the renowned novelist Jamaica Kincaid offers an ABC of the plants that define our world and reveals the often brutal history behind them.Kara Walker, one of America's greatest visual artists, illustrates each entry with provocative, brilliant, enthralling, many-layered watercolors.There has never been a book like An Encyclopedia of Gardening for Colored Childrenso inventive, surprising, and telling about what our gardens reveal.

Read more less

Book Synopsis50 illustrated cards covering everything you need to know about collecting, planting and nurturing seeds. Nothing is more satisfying than growing plants from seed yourself. With this unique gardening kit, you can confidently collect the right seeds, watch them germinate, and see them grow to their full glory? whether you?re growing veggies, herbs, or flowers. A beautiful package combining illustrated cards, an information booklet and envelopes for seed collecting, The Seed Collector?s Kit is the ultimate guide to creating a sustainable garden (for free!). FEATURING BEAUTIFUL, ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS from internationally renowned natural history illustrator Rachel Pedder-Smith.INCLUDES EXPERT TEXT by Becky Searle (garden writer, soil expert and co-creator of The Seed Pod).A BEAUTIFUL, UNIQUE GIFT for gardeners of all levels.EACH CARD INTRODUCES A DIFFERENT SPECIES, while the 28-page booklet lays the groundwork for your seed collecting. LEARN how to store seeds so they retain their potency, and plant them so each seed?s chances are maximized. CARDS INCLUDE: Vegetables: Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale, Arugula, Parsnip, Radish, Chard, Tomato, Pepper, Chilli, Lettuce, Kohl Rabi, Luffa (Squash family), Cape gooseberry, Carrot, Peas, Beans, Sweetcorn, Popcorn, Eggplant, Okra, Achocha, OnionHerbs: Basil, Cilantro, Chive, ParsleyFlowers: Rudbeckia, Zinnia, Viola, Nasturtium, Cosmos, Poppy, Marigold, Calendula, Antirrhinum, Dahlia, Sunflower

Read more less

Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITINGSHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKSHOP.ORG INDIE CHAMPION AWARDSSHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKS ARE MY BAG READERS AWARD FOR NON-FICTIONTHE TIMES / WATERSTONES TOP 10 BESTSELLERA RHS TOP 10 GARDENING BOOK TO GIFT THIS CHRISTMASA GARDENS ILLUSTRATED BEST BOOK FOR 2023Women have always gardened, but our stories have been buried with our work. Alice Vincent is on a quest to change that. To understand what encourages women to go out, work the soil, plant seeds and nurture them, even when so many other responsibilities sit upon their shoulders. To recover the histories that have been lost among the soil. Why Women Grow is a much-needed exploration of why women turn to the earth, as gardeners, growers and custodians. This book emerged from a deeply rooted desire to share the stories of women who are silenced and overlooked. In doing so, Alice fosters connections with gardeners that unfurl into a tender exploration of women's lives, their gardens and what the ground has offered them, with conversations spanning creation and loss, celebration and grief, power, protest, identity and renaissance. Wise, curious and sensitive, Why Women Grow follows Alice in her search for answers, with inquisitive fronds reaching and curling around the intimate anecdotes of others.Trade ReviewA compelling, enriching read. Above all, this is a wonderful tribute to the perseverance and tenacity of women . . . a joy, full of restless curiosity about gardening, life, the longing for meaning, and the simple yet quietly feminist act of creating a space for yourself * * Independent * *Why Women Grow shows the beauty and grit of tending the soil in difficult times. Alice Vincent shows us that the cure for uncertainty is to get mud under our nails -- KATHERINE MAY, author of WINTERINGA poignant exploration of the relationship between healing and growing, and the power and mystery of nature * * New Statesman * *Both tender yet fierce, this book is written with an acute sense of women's relationship to the land and how vital that is. I loved it -- RAYNOR WINN, author of THE SALT PATHAlice Vincent delves into what it is that makes women want to garden, uncovering what drives the urge to sow seeds and nurture plants, and by doing so goes on her own journey of discovery * * Sunday Times * *A conversational odyssey from a Canary Wharf balcony to Charleston, the Bloomsbury set's hangout, and a windswept smallholding in Denmark. Why Women Grow is the splendid-looking account of these encounters. The narrative unfurls like a vagabond anthology of potted biographies, confessions jostling alongside social commentary . . . If you enjoy window-shopping other people's lives, you'll relish this staggeringly diverse array of individuals. Vincent's affection for her subject is infectious * * Telegraph * *A beautiful meditation on the overlooked history of female gardeners, tracing how women have drawn strength and power from the natural world * * i * *Alice's writing is sublime. Gentle yet certain, warm yet fierce. Why Women Grow is an exquisite exploration of our many womanhoods and the reasons why some of us find our steadiness and solace in our relationship to the earth. I adored it -- CLAIRE RATINON, author of UNEARTHEDOne of those rare and special books that reminds you why, especially during trying times, you might suddenly find more joy in caring for a plant, or seeing the turn of Spring. Highly recommended! -- EMMA GANNONBeautifully written * * Independent * *Vincent sympathetically draws out the women who speak about loss, abusive relationships and racial prejudice . . . she brings women and their problems to life * * Daily Express * *A glorious, sweet-scented joy of a read, it's the literary equivalent of a stroll through a cornflower meadow on a warm summer's evening * * Buzz Magazine * *Why Women Grow is a wonderful ode to gardening, in which Alice charts her own emotional gardening journey but also that of dozens of other women of all ages and backgrounds. Whether you're a gardener or not, it will make you think about why and how we grow -- SAM BAKERThe history of horticulture has often overlooked the contribution made by women, and this book offers a timely antidote * * ELLE Decoration * *Reading this is pure poetry -- OLIA HERCULES

Read more less

Book SynopsisSmall gardens are a challenge to design and to keep looking good. This title aims to inspire and inform gardeners to make the most of their small spaces by looking at more than 50 contemporary and inspirational gardens. Trade Review'Packed with enticing photographs and case studies.... worth the investment even if you simply enjoy the photographs by Maayke de Ridder. They make the book glow' * The Garden *"An excellent hardback packed with useful ideas" * Garden Answers *"a book you’ll refer to time and time again" -- Alan Titchmarsh * Waitrose Weekend *"A recommended read for any small garden owner" * Gardens Illustrated *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA captivating, beautifully illustrated, one-of-a-kind color compendium of the flowers, fruits, herbs, trees, seeds, and grasses cited in the works of the world’s greatest playwright, William Shakespeare, accompanied by their companion quotes from all of his plays and poems.Trade Review"BOTANICAL SHAKESPEARE [is] a comprehensive guide to the flora that appears in Shakespeare's work." -- The New York Times "The book [has] stunning illustrations paired with beautiful (and, sometimes, downright bawdy) lines from Shakespeare." -- Paste Magazine "Each plant's one-page entry (a few get two) features a lovely full-color drawing and the line(s) where it appears, fully cited ... Nature buffs and general readers as well as students will enjoy this interesting book, which is suitable for both browsing and quick reference." -- Booklist

Read more less

Book SynopsisDick Strawbridge's road to a self-sufficient lifestyle was documented in three series of It's Not Easy Being Green (BBC). He co-wrote the first edition of Practical Self-Sufficiency with his son James, and also It's Not Easy Being Green (BBC Books, 2009). His current TV project is the Channel 4's primetime Escape to the Chateau (March 2016), now in its sixth series. James Strawbridge, Dick's son, co-presented It's Not Easy Being Green and co-wrote the first edition of Practical Self-Sufficiency and It's Not Easy Being Green. James also co-wrote the Made at Home series on artisan skills (Octopus, 2012).

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom taking cuttings to winning new customers, this is the guide to growing beautiful organic flowers for enjoyment or profit Over 75,000 copies sold! The first edition of The Flower Farmer: An Organic Grower’s Guide to Raising and Selling Cut Flowers helped thousands of small growers start successful cut-flower businesses. This expanded and thoroughly revised second edition has become equally influential for backyard novices and experienced growers alike. New sections in this edition include: Utilizing greenhouses Recommendations for flower cultivars Post-harvest handling Also updated is the acclaimed resource directory, complete with sources of seeds, plants and supplies, and expert information on organic production under the National Organic Program. For the beginner and backyard gardener, there is an extensive section on the basics, including: Variety selection Soil preparation Planting, cultivation & harvest Floral design For the commercial grower, The Flower Farmer, 2nd Edition includes information about: Larger-scale production Advice about selling to florists, wholesalers, and supermarkets Understanding the wedding and farmers market customers This updated edition also includes revised profiles of successful growers, offering behind-the-scenes insight into the operation of some of the most cutting-edge flower farmers in the country. Because of the extensive revisions and enhanced content, The Flower Farmer, 2nd Edition is essential reading for those already in the flower business, as well as those who dream of growing flowers for enjoyment or profit. Trade Review"If you ever have plans to become a commercial flower grower, this book will be invaluable. The author provides in-depth information on every aspect of the subject."--Connie Krochmal, BellaOnline Floral Design Editor

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Have I always wanted to garden? What if I didn't have one? It would make life difficult I was going to say unbearable, but perhaps that is unfair to the millions of people throughout the world who cannot garden. Nonetheless, I feel gardening for me is a necessity rather than a luxury. It is part of me; it is what I do and who I am. No doubt I could survive without gardening, but it would be so hard. My family are all I could not live without, but gardening is my next raison d'être...'Carol Klein is one of Britain's best loved horticulturists, and for decades gardening has been at the heart of her extraordinary life. From her childhood adventures in Manchester to her first experiments in plantswomanship at Glebe Cottage, and from training as an artist and a teacher, and then finding an entirely unexpected career as one of Britain's most beloved television presenters, in this long-awaited memoir Carol tells the story of the people, places and plants that have shaped her life. Exploring why our relationship with the natural world is so important, and how it brings joy, creativity and good health to our lives, Carol also offers irresistible insights on her favourite flowers and plants, and how to help them flourish. A story of a life lived happily amongst the greenery, this book is the perfect companion for anyone who has sought solace in the natural world.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThere is a fantastic array of vegetables you can grow in your garden, and not all of them are annuals. In Perennial Vegetables the adventurous gardener will find information, tips, and sound advice on less common edibles that will make any garden a perpetual, low-maintenance source of food. Imagine growing vegetables that require just about the same amount of care as the flowers in your perennial beds and borders—no annual tilling and potting and planting. They thrive and produce abundant and nutritious crops throughout the season. It sounds too good to be true, but in Perennial Vegetables author and plant specialist Eric Toensmeier (Edible Forest Gardens) introduces gardeners to a world of little-known and wholly underappreciated plants. Ranging beyond the usual suspects (asparagus, rhubarb, and artichoke) to include such "minor" crops as ground cherry and ramps (both of which have found their way onto exclusive restaurant menus) and the much sought after, anti-oxidant-rich wolfberry (also known as goji berries), Toensmeier explains how to raise, tend, harvest, and cook with plants that yield great crops and satisfaction. Perennial vegetables are perfect as part of an edible landscape plan or permaculture garden. Profiling more than 100 species, illustrated with dozens of color photographs and illustrations, and filled with valuable growing tips, recipes, and resources, Perennial Vegetables is a groundbreaking and ground-healing book that will open the eyes of gardeners everywhere to the exciting world of edible perennials.Trade ReviewBooklist- Part of the allure of perennial gardening is the fact that a gardener can plant something once and enjoy it for several years, a benefit that has rarely been extended to vegetable gardeners. Save for such stalwarts as asparagus and rhubarb, most edible crops can be used only annually. Thanks to Toensmeier, gardeners need no longer be frustrated by such limitations. From air potatoes to water celery, Turkish rocket to Malabar gourd, there are more than 100 new species of edible plants. After addressing such cultural basics as site selection and preparation, Toensmeier explains why each plant is an excellent perennial vegetable crop. Now that such items are making their way onto trendy restaurant menus and health-store shelves, Toensmeier's groundbreaking guide is destined to become the bible for this new class of edible gardening. -- Carol Haggas"This book is itself a perennial polyculture of multipurpose plants. Toensmeier's adventurous yet sober palate blends with his observant eye and plant-geek mind to yield a varied harvest that should produce for years to come. He is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide for explorations of this largely unmapped territory. Let's hope gardeners everywhere follow his lead and join the fun!"--Dave Jacke, coauthor Edible Forest Gardens"That there are more perennial vegetables than asparagus is no surprise, but that there are more than 100 species we North American gardeners can choose from is news. Toensmeier's Perennial Vegetables, the first comprehensive guide to growing them, will have all of us reexamining our plans for next year's vegetable plot." --Karan Davis Cutler, author of Burpee—The Complete Flower Garden"Eric Toensmeier has comprehensively filled a huge gap in the sustainable landscape. Perennial Vegetables lets you put away your tiller, and covers everything you need to grow, harvest, and eat vegetables and greens that will keep coming back year after year."--Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia's Garden"Toensmeier's knowledge of edible plants is impressive and inspiring. His excitement for a sustainable landscape helps us focus away from buying food to harvesting it naturally. Perennial Vegetables offers an excellent range of edible plants for long-term cultivation and enjoyment."--Ellen Ecker Ogden,co-founder of The Cook's Garden seed catalog, author of From the Cook's Garden"Growing perennial vegetables is a true pleasure. This fine book gives the knowledge to successfully add variety to both the garden and the table while also enhancing the home environment."--Miranda Smith, author of The Plant Propagator's Bible and Complete Home GardeningTable of ContentsPreface Part 1: Gardening With Perennial Vegetables 1. New class of food plants 2. Design ideas 3. Selecting species 4. Techniques Part 2: Species Profiles Using this book -- Alismataceae: the water-plantain family -- Arrowhead -- Alliaceae: the onion family -- Multiplier onions -- Ramps -- Other perennial alliums -- Amaranthaceae: the amaranth family -- Sissoo spinach -- Apiaceae: the celery family -- Arracacha -- Article: Lost crops of the Incas -- Lovage -- Water celery -- Skirret -- Araceae: the aroid family -- Edible aroids (taro, belembe, tannier) -- Article: Calcium oxalate -- Araliaceae: the spikenard family -- Udo -- Asteraceae: the aster family -- Chicory and dandelion -- Globe artichoke -- Okinawa spinach -- Sunchoke -- Article: Inulin -- Fuki -- Scorzonera -- Yacon -- Basellaceae: the malabar spinach family -- Malabar spinach -- Ulluco -- Brassicaceae: the cabbage family -- Perennial brassicas (cabbage, kale, and broccoli) -- Article: Pests and diseases of the brassica family -- Turkish rocket -- Sea kale -- Sylvetta arugula -- Watercress -- Cactaceae: the cactus family -- Nopale cactus -- Cannaceae: the canna family -- Achira -- Caricaceae: the papaya family -- Papaya -- Chenopodiaceae: the goosefoot family -- Saltbush -- Article: Oxalic acid -- Sea beet -- Good King Henry -- Convolvulaceae: the morning glory family -- Water spinach -- Sweet potato -- Cucurbitaceae: the squash family -- Perennial cucumber -- Malabar gourd -- Bitter melon -- Chayote -- Article: Extending the range of chayote and other day-length-sensitive plants -- Cyperaceae: the sedge family -- Chufa -- Water chestnut -- Dioscoreaceae: the yam family -- Air potato -- Article: Air potato: an ecological conundrum? -- Yams -- Dryopteridiaceae: the wood-fern family -- Ostrich fern -- Euphorbiaceae: the spurge family -- Chaya -- Bull nettles -- Cassava -- Katuk -- Fabaceae: the pea family -- Groundnut -- Basul -- Hyacinth bean -- Water mimosa -- Perennial beans -- Winged bean -- Lamiaceae: the mint family -- Chinese artichoke -- Liliaceae: the lily family -- Asparagus -- Yellow asphodel -- Camass -- Daylily -- Giant Solomon's seal -- Malvaceae: the mallow family -- Edible hibiscus -- Cranberry hibiscus -- Musk mallow -- Meliaceae: the neem family -- Fragrant spring tree -- Moraceae: the mulberry family -- Breadfruit -- Moringaceae: the moringa family -- Moringa -- Musaceae: the banana family -- Plantain and green banana -- Nelumbonaceae: the lotus family -- Water lotus -- Oxalidaceae: the wood-sorrel family -- Oca -- Phytolaccaceae: the pokeweed family -- Pokeweed -- Haitian basket vine -- Poaceae: the grass family -- Clumping bamboos -- Running bamboos -- Article: Rhizome barriers for aggressive running bamboos -- Pitpit -- Polygonaceae: the smartweed family -- Rhubarb -- Sorrel -- Solanaceae: the nightshade family -- Wolfberry -- Ground cherry and goldenberry -- Pepino dulce -- Peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, and potatoes -- Article: Pests and diseases of the nightshade family -- Tetragoniaceae: the New Zealand spinach family -- New Zealand spinach -- Tiliaceae: the linden family -- Linden -- Tropaeolaceae: the nasturtium family -- Mashua -- Urticaceae: the nettle family -- Stinging nettle and wood nettle Part 3: Resources Perennial vegetables for each climate type Recommended reading Helpful organizations and Web sites Sources of plants and seeds Sources of gardening supplies and materials Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisLoved Goodbye Christopher Robin? Learn more about the real place that inspired the beloved stories. Delve into the home of the world’s most beloved bear! The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh explores the magical landscapes where Pooh, Christopher Robin, and their friends live and play. The Hundred Acre Wood—the setting for Winnie-the-Pooh’s adventures—was inspired by Ashdown Forest, a wildlife haven that spans more than 6,000 acres in southeast England. In the pages of this enchanting book you can visit the ancient black walnut tree on the edge of the forest that became Pooh’s house, go deep into the pine trees to find Poohsticks Bridge, and climb up to the top of the enchanted Galleons Lap, where Pooh says goodbye to Christopher Robin. You will discover how Milne's childhood connection with nature and his role as a father influenced his famous stories, and how his close collaboration with illustrator E. H. Shepard brought those stories to life. This charming book also serves as a guide to the plants, animals, and places of the remarkable Ashdown Forest, whether you are visiting in person or from the comfort of your favorite armchair. In a delightful narrative, enriched with Shepard’s original illustrations, hundreds of color photographs, and Milne’s own words, you will rediscover your favorite characters and the magical place they called home.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis critically acclaimed and definitive permaculture design book was the inspiration that BBC2's Brigit Strawbridge (of Its Not Easy Being Green) needed to attend her first permaculture design course with Patrick Whitefield, setting her and her family off on a voyage of discovery which is helping to introduce and inspire others. Already hailed in the UK, Europe and America as definitive, and reprinted by popular demand, The Earth Care Manual offers an inspirational yet practical vision of a sustainable future invaluable to those new to the subject as well as to the experienced practitioner. The permaculture movement started in the 1970s as a sustainable alternative to modern industrial agriculture, taking its inspiration from natural ecosystems. It initially placed an emphasis on gardening, with proponents of permaculture since expanding on its principles; addressing all subjects vital to sustainability, from building and community design to food, energy, water, microclimate and shelter. All of these topics and more are addressed in The Earth Care Manual, demonstrating that permaculture is an interconnecting framework linking a diversity of green ideas.Its aims are a low input, high output efficient use of resources, and genuine sustainability. The Earth Care Manual gives a vision of a sustainable future and the practical steps we can take towards it, both large and small, urban and rural. Written by Patrick Whitefield, one of Europes foremost teachers and practitioners of temperate permaculture, it explains in depth how to apply permaculture to any situation, from the smallest of buildings or apartments, to houses, gardens, orchards, farms and woodlands.Trade ReviewThe Earth Care Manual, put simply, is fantastic. It is what I have been waiting for for years, and it is what those of us in temperate climates have urgently needed. Patrick's considerable experience in the fields of woodlands and fruit growing shine through especially strongly, but the whole book is rich with vision and experience. What it offers is common sense solutions rooted in the culture and climate of these islands. This book is a clear and unarguable road map to where we need to go, an A-Z to sanity and common sense. Patrick has created a manual with which we can repair this beautiful jewel of a planet which we are fortunate enough to inhabit, and in so doing has given us a truly precious gift. Rob Hopkins, Co-founder of the Transition Movement

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe title might sound like a bold statement, but you really will be able to garden by the end of this book. Whether you are a budding botanist or just aspire to have greener fingers, this book will hold your 'horticultural hand' and guide you gently through the principles of gardening. Whether you have a tiny courtyard or something a bit bigger, this book will share everything you need to know to create your own patch of horticultural heaven. With 12 easy-to-follow chapters that explore all the basics of successful, stress-free gardening including assessing and designing your garden, how to grow fruit and vegetables, plant maintenance, propagation, lawns and container garden. The 15 step-by-step techniques will teach you how to sow seeds, prune shrubs, cut a hedge, mow a lawn and even how to design your own outside space, plus so much more. Just as important, the book explains how to garden sustainably and encourage wildlife, so that you can make informed decisions when it comes to creating and maintaining your garden.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFor years dahlias have been dismissed for being garish, gaudy additions to gardens and arrangements, but when you find the right variety it's hard to think of a better garden plant or more striking cut flower. The next title in Pavilion's series of stylish floral gardening guides celebrates the diversity and return to fashion of the dahlia. This title explores the history of the dahlia from its Aztec origins and its highs and lows as a cultivated plant, to its current status as one of the most adored flowers on the planet. Pavilion's guide to over 60 beautiful varieties reveals their charms and assets together with practical cultivation tips for any garden. Including classics like Café au Lait and Karma Choc, together with modern, dark-leaved stunners like the Mystic series, the varieties and forms range from perky pompons and lush dinner plates to those that resemble sea-anemones or spectacular fireworks! With contemporary commentary on each bloom, easy-to-follow advice and glorious photography, this book will appeal to everybody who appreciates the glamour and versatility of the dahlia.Trade Review'[H]andsomely produced and lushly illustrated.' * The Irish Times *'[L]avishingly photographed…if you haven’t already fallen in love with dahlias, this book will surely convert you.’ * Daily Mail *'This is a visually stunning book with superb photography, which makes it a beautiful experience to turn each page…a great introduction to the genus.' * Garden Answers *'lively descriptions…and the photographs are simply glorious too.' * Daily Mail Weekend *'A comprehensive, quick-reference guide. This is a visually stunning book with superb photography, which makes it a beautiful experience to turn each page – a great introduction to the genus' * Gardens Illustrated Magazine *'Leaves no question of cultivation unanswered.' * Hortus *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'An amazing read! I galloped through it' Lady Antonia Fraser'Lawrence has done an excellent job of recreating this eccentric gardening guru's life' The Times'My pick for gardening book of the year is this page-turning life story of Ellen Willmott' The Sunday Times'Sandra Lawrence tells her story with brio and affection' Daily Mail'Simply brilliant and a joy to read' The English GardenEllen Ann Willmott was a remarkable woman whose achievements in horticulture, botany, landscape architecture, photography and more, should have made her one of the most well-known trailblazers of her age. Yet, both posthumously and within her lifetime, she instead became known as a bitter, cantankerous and eccentric miser, and her reputation has been forever stained by the image of her maliciously seeding other people's gardens with thorns.The beginnings of this prickly myth can be traced back to her conspicuous absence at what should have been the pinnacle of her career: the Royal Horticultural Society's inaugural Victoria Medal of Honour Award ceremony, at which she was due to be one of only two female recipients. Universally interpreted as the rudest of snubs, nobody has ever stopped to question why Ellen wasn't there, or if she was really as difficult and mean as she has been portrayed ever since. Author, Sandra Lawrence, has been granted unparalleled access to her archives, and with it has uncovered the secrets behind this thorniness. This is a book with it all: gossip, sisters, rivalry, squandered inheritance, forbidden love, bad marriages and, at the heart of it all, trailblazing talent.Trade ReviewAn amazing read! I galloped through * Lady Antonia Fraser *Excellent * The Times *'Simply brilliant and a joy to read' -- Clare Foggett * The English Garden *

Read more less

Book SynopsisMedical doctor turned food scientist and author of DK bestsellers The Science of Cooking (2017), The Science of Spice (2018) and The Science of Living (2020), "Dr Stu" is a science and medical writer, presenter and educator. He makes regular appearances on TV, radio, and at public events, and his writing appears in national and international publications. Stuart is also the founder and editor of online lifestyle-science magazine Guru.Trade Review"If you want to know more abou the natural phenomena that control the world of garden plants, then this book is for you." -- Ian Hodgson * Garden News *

Read more less

Book SynopsisMedicinal plants and plant-derived medicine are widely used in traditional cultures all over the world and they are becoming increasingly popular in modern society as natural alternatives to synthetic chemicals. As more and more natural remedies are being commercialised, there is a need for a user-friendly reference guide to the plants and their products. The book gives the reader a bird's eye view of more than 350 of the best known medicinal plants of the world and their uses, in a compact, colourful and scientifically accurate reference text. It provides quick answers to the most obvious questions: Where does this plant originate? What does it look like? In which culture is it traditionally used? What is it used for? Which chemical compounds does it contain? How safe is it? What is known about its pharmacological activity? What evidence is there that it is effective? The authors also provide short overviews of the various health conditions for which medicinal plants are used and the active compounds (secondary metabolites) found in the plants and their modes of actions. This new edition has an additional 30 plant species, many new and improved photographs and the text has been fully updated to reflect the latest regulatory status of each plant.Table of Contents1: Preface 2: Introduction 3: Medicine Systems of the World 4: Plant Parts Used 5: Dosage Forms 6: Use of Medicinal Plant Products 7: Active Ingredients 8: Quality Control and Safety 9: Efficacy of Medicinal Plant Products 10: Regulation of Herbal Remedies and Phytomedicines 11: The Plants in Alphabetical Order 12: Health Disorders and Medicinal Plants 13: Overview of Secondary Metabolites and Their Effects 14: Quick Guide to Commercialised Medicinal Plants 15: Glossary

Read more less

Book SynopsisFirst published as Beth Chatto's Woodland Garden by Cassell in 2002, this Pimpernel Classic edition includes a new afterword by David Ward, Garden and Nursery Director at Beth Chatto's Garden and a new introduction by Beth Chatto. ‘Most gardens have dark areas – a north-facing border, an area shaded by a hedge, fence or house wall, a bed in the shade cast by shrubs or trees with greedy roots – and for many gardeners these are a challenge, and often a trial. Fortunately there are plants adapted by Nature to a vast range of conditions and, by choosing suitable plants, we can transform almost any problem site into something beautiful.’ In this book legendary plantswoman Beth Chatto shows how the problem of shade in a garden can be turned to advantage. She tells how she transformed a dark, derelict site into a woodland garden that is tranquil and serene yet full of life and interest in every season. She describes, too, a wealth of plants that will thrive in shady beds and borders and on walls.Trade Review"One of [Beth Chatto's] key books has been reissued in a splendidly illustrated new edition." -- David Sexton * Evening Standard *"An updated version of a modern classic. Full of timeless wisdom that will stand any gardener in good stead, it is perhaps the ultimate guide to gardening in the shade...Describing her woodland garden as 'tranquil and yet full of life and interest' this description also perfectly sums up the book." * The English Garden *"As one would expect from Beth Chatto, this book is packed with knowledge, wisdom and common sense. Her guiding principle has always been the right plant for the right place, bringing about a quiet revolution in the gardening world. The writing style is stimulating and personal, her plant descriptions eloquent. Photography for the book is from Steven Wooster, a garden photographer and a graphic designer who won the Garden Media Guild Award for his photographs in Beth Chatto’s Gravel Garden. He has been photographing Beth’s garden for more than 20 years and his intimate knowledge of the garden gives the reader a beautiful insight into this special place." * The Reckless Gardener *"This book is great for anyone who has a shady area that they’re a bit stumped with or just for a good old interesting read that fills you with a rosy glow of well-being. It would make a great gift." * A Pentland Garden Diary *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Garden Apothecary shows us how to harvest and use commonly found plants, weeds and herbs to create our own healing home apothecaries. With tasty recipes, wild skincare, in-depth plant spotlights and a back-to-roots ethos, The Garden Apothecary will encourage the reader to become more connected to the natural world through learning the art of herbalism from plants growing in our gardens. Focusing on 20 herbs and plants, learn how to identify, grow and pick them from your garden or forage them, as well as discovering their medicinal properties. Each plant spotlight includes in depth information on how to use it in a multitude of recipes and remedies. The Garden Apothecary is a safe and mindful approach to the often overwhelming world of foraging and herbalism. Trade ReviewThe book is packed with a wealth of fascinating facts and practical applications, not to mention stunning photographs and beautiful plant illustrations. * Farm Week *

Read more less

Book SynopsisSpecific Models Covered:Models TE-20, TO-20, TO-30

Read more less

Book SynopsisSarah Gerrard-Jones masterfully explores the psychology behind our attraction to houseplants, and the benefits of keeping plants in our homes, from the healing qualities of biophilic design to the philosophy of care.

Read more less

Book SynopsisGain some new ideas along with the principles and history of Japanese stone gardening with this useful and beautiful garden design book.Japanese Stone Gardens provides a comprehensive introduction to the powerful mystique and dynamism of the Japanese stone garden--from their earliest use as props in animistic rituals, to their appropriation by Zen monks and priests to create settings conducive to contemplation and finally to their contemporary uses and meaning. With insightful text and abundant imagery, this book reveals the hidden order of stone gardens and in the process heightens the enthusiast's appreciation of them.The Japanese stone garden is an art form recognized around the globe. These meditative gardens provide tranquil settings, where visitors can shed the burdens and stresses of modern existence, satisfy an age-old yearning for solitude and repose, and experience the restorative power of art and nature. For this reason, the value of the Japanese stone garden today is arguably even greater than when many of them were created. Fifteen gardens are featured in this book: some well known, such as the famous temple gardens of Kyoto, others less so, among them gardens spread through the south of Honshu Island and the southern islands of Shikoku and Kyushu and in faraway Okinawa.Trade Review"This survey of the best of Japan's stone gardens may send you into the sort of fugue state in which you wake up to find yourself floating through the airport, boarding pass in hand." --New York Times"A book that will benefit both the Japanese garden enthusiast and the Zen aficionado alike. One to be dipped into time and time again and absorbed over time." --Diverse Japan

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe ultimate gift for gardeners and art-lovers, featuring 300 of the most beautiful and pioneering botanical images everTrade ReviewAs featured in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, The Daily Telegraph, Garden & Gun, Gardens Illustrated, The Guardian, Martha Stewart Living, Natural History Magazine, New Scientist, Newsweek, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Seattle Times, Smithsonian, The Sunday Times, Tatler, The Wall Street Journal, and on Atlas Obscura, BBC Focus, Goop, and mental floss'The ultimate gift for gardeners and art-lovers.' – Goop'A breathtaking collection of botanical prints, photos, drawings, and even micrograph scans.' – Martha Stewart Living'Plant may start on your coffee table, but it won't stay there for long.' – Flower Magazine'An extraordinary collection.' – Gardens Illustrated 'I am totally mesmerized by the extraordinary range of artists, scientists and technicians represented. Wonderful and absorbing and loving.' – Edwina von Gal, Landscape Designer 'From the winning cover to the beautiful images inside, Plant is a complete pleasure covering centuries of botanical art. Artist information and provenance is dutifully recorded. Inspiration and imagination is there for the taking. This new book is classic Phaidon and bound to be a bestseller.' – David Whitman, Pergola 'The timeless pleasure of looking at plants: a new illustrated book examines mankind's fascination with making images of plants through the ages... Compton's fascination with what different people have done within the remit of botanical art jumps out of every one of Plant's pages. The variety is astounding.' – The Daily Telegraph 'An inspiring delight and great resource for those who cherish all things botany.' – Emily Thompson, Emily Thompson Flowers 'The side by side juxtapositions of images here are brilliant. The clear pencil drawings of Van Gogh and Ellsworth Kelly my favorites, so delicate, just gorgeous.' – Perry Guillot, Landscape Architect 'My award for sumptuous volume of 2016 has to go to Plant: Exploring the Botanical World, 300 works of botanical art from ancient times to the present in every imaginable medium... The images are thought-provokingly juxtaposed.' – The Sunday Times, Move 'Botanical art of all kinds, from a Minoan fresco of swallows billing among ocher red Lilium chalecondicum, painted circa 1600 B.C., to a hand-colored image from a scanning electron microscope of the seed of an alpine pincushion flower, its plum-colored skirts floating like a ballerina mid-jeté. These are things of beauty, but they have a purpose beyond decoration. Plant's editors [...] don't confine themselves to the strictly scientific.' – Newsweek 'Celebrates the beauty and diversity of plants from around the world across all media - from murals in ancient Greece to a Napoleonic-era rose print and cutting-edge scans.' – The Guardian '300 of the loveliest botanical images ever collated.' – Town and Country 'A glorious visual compendium of plants and flowers that spans thousands of years.' – Atlas Obscura 'This beautiful new book is like having a botanical art exhibition on your coffee table.' – Waitrose Weekend 'A glorious presentation of how we've represented flora and fauna in art and photography throughout history.' – Outdoor Photography 'Gorgeous... Fascinating... [An] unprecedented range of artists... A highly nuanced curation of imagery from across the ages. An indispensable coffee table book for the green-fingered and mere admirers alike.' – AnOther Magazine 'It might be a bit early, but this one's already on our Christmas list.' – BBC Focus 'A non-chronological approach illuminates intriguing contrasts and similarities in the artists' approach to capturing vegetation... Each page will surprise.' – Smithsonian 'A lavishly illustrated guide to the fascinating world of plants, this book is a feast for the eyes and will bring joy to anyone with green-fingered tendencies, or simply an appreciation for the diverse beauty of nature.' – theweek.co.uk 'More than 3,000 years of beautiful botanical art... The stories behind the pictures are just as eye-opening... A gorgeously illustrated survey that would make the perfect gift for a plant lover.' – Daily Mail, Weekend 'Here's one you'll have trouble deciding whether to keep or wrap, and as you mull over the decision, each flick to a new page will shift you ever closer to finding some other gift for that art-loving or plant-loving friend... The images and stories are a reminder of our complex love affair with plants, and make for an addictive, page-turning treat.' – The Sydney Morning Herald 'From ancient stone carvings and watercolour illustrations, to the first photography and cutting-edge scans, this history of botanical art explores our endless fascination with nature.' – SA Life 'Plant, Exploring the Botanical World is a seriously beautiful book... The design is beautiful, as expected of a Phaidon publication, and the stories behind each of the artworks are fascinating. What I enjoyed most about it was the range of imagery included - this is not your average botanical illustration book but more a book of art inspired by plants.' – The Planthunter 'What better way to spend a dreary winter afternoon than paging through gorgeous, full-color pictures of flowers? Not just flowers, but roots, stems, leaves, seeds and fruits, too, captured in 300 images of sketches, paintings, photographs, carvings, engravings and pressings that date from 1352 B.C. to the present... The greatest joy comes from stumbling upon the unexpected.' – Atlanta Journal Constitution 'Breathtaking... [This] hefty coffee table book features 300 remarkable pieces of plant-related art.' – mental_floss 'We love this survey of botanical art... Its pages teach you about plants, it reveals much about the time period and culture in which these images were created.' – Real Living 'What is rather lovely about this book, which unites 300 botanical images from ancient stone carvings to vivid micrograph scans, is its non-chronological arrangement. Instead, it mixes botanical art from different periods, charting the depiction of plants through interesting pairings.' – House & Garden 'Botanical beauty... Art and science were often close allies when images of flowers were created centuries ago, and that remains true with the latest photographic technology. ' – Independent 'The rich range of imagery is spectacular.' – Lugene Bruno, curator Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation

Read more less

Book Synopsis''The best informed, liveliest and most innovative gardening writer of our times'' GUARDIAN''Christopher Lloyd ranks with Gertrude Jekyll and Vita Sackville-West as one of the major figures in twentieth-century British gardening'' THE TIMESIn this gardening classic the forever adventurous Christopher Lloyd takes us on a tour through the garden, to encourage, to reveal and to overturn the old and accepted when experience prompts him. He advises on cuttings, pruning, the art of compromise and takes another look at Miss Jekyll. Gardening was a passion, and throughout his life he developed Great Dixter to be one of Britain''s greatest gardens. For Christo gardening is nothing if not fun and - pointing out that ''to be roused into an argumentative frame of mind is in itself no bad thing'' - he makes it equally stimulating and enjoyable for his readers.Trade ReviewA brilliant gardener and a brilliant writer -- Monty DonChristopher Lloyd ranks with Gertrude Jekyll and Vita Sackville-West as one of the major figures in twentieth-century British gardening ... he was known and respected throughout the world as the voice of serious gardening * THE TIMES *He was the best informed, liveliest and most innovative gardening writer of our times * GUARDIAN *He was the most interesting plantsman I have ever known -- Alan TitchmarshChristopher Lloyd taught us that we don't necessarily have to do things very differently - just better, and with all our heart * SPECTATOR *British horticulture is blessed with many inspired plantsmen and elegant writers, but rarely do those qualities combine as seamlessly as in Christopher Lloyd * INDEPENDENT *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn The Cabaret of Plants, Mabey explores the plant species which have challenged our imaginations, awoken our wonder, and upturned our ideas about history, science, beauty and belief. Picked from every walk of life, they encompass crops, weeds, medicines, religious gathering-places and a water lily named after a queen. Beginning with pagan cults and creation myths, the cultural significance of plants has burst upwards, sprouting into forms as diverse as the panacea (the cure-all plant ginseng, a single root of which can cost up to $10,000), Newton's apple, the African 'vegetable elephant' or boabab - and the mystical, night-flowering Amazonian cactus, the moonflower. Ranging widely across science, art and cultural history, poetry and personal experience, Mabey puts plants centre stage, and reveals a true botanical cabaret, a world of tricksters, shape-shifters and inspired problem-solvers, as well as an enthralled audience of romantics, eccentric amateur scientists and transgressive artists. The Cabaret of Plants celebrates the idea that plants are not simply 'the furniture of the planet', but vital, inventive, individual beings worthy of respect - and that to understand this may be the best way of preserving life together on Earth.Trade ReviewEnraptured, visionary, witty and erudite * Daily Telegraph *His language is as rich as the flora he describes ... he makes his case utterly convincingly * Times *A happy tangle of beautiful stories and studies from a career that has stepped between science and poetry ... We are lucky to have him. * Observer *One of this century's most influential passages of natural history writing ... meticulously detailed and rhapsodically narrated ... a magnificent book. -- Mark Griffiths * Country Life *A treat not to miss ... the prose is so gorgeous it makes you want to clap -- Dominic Couzens * BBC Countryfile *The finest current flowering of a great British tradition ... it makes you feel that your home is much bigger and stranger than you ever imagined and it makes you glad -- no, astounded -- to be alive. * The Sunday Times *Mr Mabey is the kind of person you wish you had with you on every country walk, identifying, explaining, deducing, drawing on deep knowledge lightly worn. * Country Life *Wonderfully thought-provoking... of all his 30-plus books this is surely among his finest, an eclectic world-roaming collection of stories... lacing colour, intimacy and emotional texture around the scaffold of hard facts. * The Spectator *Mabey is on eloquent form in this portrayal of plants not as dully functional components of natural capital -- a "biological proletariat" -- but as unruly, autonomous and endlessly fascinating. This engaging scientific and cultural tour takes in ice-age engravings of plant forms; ancients and giants such as bristlecone pines and baobabs; the vast biodiversity of maize (corn); and, as touched on by plant scientist Ian Baldwin (Nature 522, 282-283; 2015), Erasmus Darwin's discovery of "irritability" in Mimosa pudica more than 200 years ago. -- Andrew Jermy * Nature Microbiology *Left me delighted - and seeing the world a little differently -- Robert MacfarlaneThere are so many delights to be found in The Cabaret of Plants - from the hunt for the elusive Amazonian moonflower, to the wonder of self-rejuvenating yews that defy efforts to determine their age, to the sprouting of an extinct Judean palm from a 2,000 year-old excavated seed - and Mabey keeps us enthralled from first to last. -- Jennifer Bort Yacovissi * Washington Independent Review of Books *The summation of a lifetime of looking at plants and reflecting on them ... the book reads as a happy tangle of beautiful stories and studies from a career that has stepped between science and poetry -- Tim Dee * Observer *Mabey's book lets us see plants as subjects rather than objects, arrayed in all their colours, performing miraculous tricks, dances and acrobatics -- Jenny Uglow * Wall Street Journal *

Read more less

Book SynopsisNancy Birtwhistle is a Sunday Times bestselling author of Clean & Green, lifelong gardener and Hull-born baker who won the fifth series of The Great British Bake Off in 2014. Motivated by protecting the planet for her ten grandchildren, Nancy decided to change how she used plastic, single use products and chemicals in her home. Sharing her tips online, she amassed an engaged international following of devoted fans interested not only in her delicious recipes, but also her innovative ideas and time-saving swaps that rethink everyday house and garden tasks to make as little an impact on the environment as possible. Nancy worked as a GP practice manager in the NHS for thirty-six years until she retired in 2007. She lives in Lincolnshire with her husband, dogs and rescue hens.Trade ReviewNancy has done it again! The perfect read taking us back to basics in our gardens. As a beginner gardener I am now excited to get started, I'll be a pro by the end of the year! -- Sophie Liard, The Folding LadyI, like Nancy, am happiest in my garden. But I am yet to properly venture into growing food we actually eat because I am never quite sure if I am doing it right. Having Nancy's reassuring voice guide me through it all will fill me with the confidence needed to give it a whirl! When in a home or garden pickle, I often think, "What does Nancy say about this?" and there is always something to try! Everyone should have her collection of books at home! -- Daisy Upton, The Five Minute MumA readable chomp through the edible garden, this instant bestseller mixes sustainable hints, household tips and, as you’d expect, quick and tasty recipes. Warmly encouraging and bursting with good sense, there’s a lot to take-away from Nancy’s ‘good life’ garden. -- RHS (Royal Horticultural Society)

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisGardens for the Soul shows how a sustainable and eco-friendly ethos can be at the heart of creating a beautiful garden, whatever its location or size. There are a multitude of different ways in which we use our outside spaces, and in Gardens for the Soul Sara Bird and Dan Duchars explore ways to create and style a haven that will suit your lifestyle. Day Dreamers seek solitude and a therapeutic experience, and Home Harvesters use their garden space to grow flowers or fruit and veg; while Garden Partiers put their outside space to work as an entertaining zone for friends and family and Great Escapers aim to recreate a chilled holiday vibe at home. Sara and Dan visit real-life gardens that fall into these categories, from tiny patios to larger spaces, to glean ideas, tips and inspiration. With a focus on sustainability and reclaimed materials, there are suggestions for choosing garden elements, from décor to lighting to furniture and accessories, as well as easy craft projects that add quirky personal touches.Trade ReviewIf you’re looking for ideas to make your garden a more eco-friendly space, this book encourages you to think about how your choices impact your own landscape and the world beyond your garden. Whether you crave a serene urban oasis, cottagecore escape, or place to entertain friends and family, the photos show whimsical gardens of every size and use - Veranda.com

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Waterstones Best Nature Writing Book of 2024 PickA BBC Wildlife Book of the Year 2024 'Delightful ... Mabey is the doyen of UK nature writing' New Statesman'Both instructive and exciting, often ecstatic... Mabey is a great, pioneering nature writer' Irish Times'Our greatest nature writer' New ScientistWe regard gardens as our personal dominions, where we can create whatever worlds we desire. But they are also occupied by myriads of other organisms, all with their own lives to lead. The conflict between these two power bases, Richard Mabey suggests, is a microcosm of what is happening in the larger world. Rooted in the daily dramas of his own Norfolk garden, Mabey offers a different scenario, where nature becomes an equal partner, a 'gardener' itself. Against a background of disordered seasons he watches his 'accidental' garden reorganising itself. Ants sow cowslip seeds in the parched grass. Moorhens take to nesting in trees. A spectacular self-seeded rose springs up in the gravel. The garden becomes a place of cultural and ecological fusion, and perhaps a metaphor for the troubled planet. This is vintage Mabey - maverick, intensely observed, and written with an unquenchable sense of wonder.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAlan Toogood (Editor-in-Chief) is an experienced horticulturist. Having trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, he went on to study at the Royal Horticultural Society's Garden at Wisley, Surrey. He works as a freelance writer and journalist, writing for such magazines as Gardener's Chronicle, Amateur Gardening, RHS's own magazine The Garden, and Greenhouse, of which he was the Editor for many years.With a wealth of expertise behind them, other contributors to this book include the herb expert Jekka McVicar, Vice President of the RHS and President of the Herb Society, known for her organic herb garden in Gloucestershire and renowned orchid expert Wilma Rittershausen.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Wonderfully intense and honest - a poignant manual of how to grow hope against the odds.'' - Chris Packham, TV presenter and author of Fingers in the Sparkle Jar.Finding herself in a new home in Brighton, Kate Bradbury sets about transforming her decked, barren backyard into a beautiful wildlife garden. She documents the unbuttoning of the earth and the rebirth of the garden, the rewilding of a tiny urban space. On her own she unscrews, saws and hammers the decking away, she clears the builders'' rubble and rubbish beneath it, and she digs and enriches the soil, gradually planting it up with plants she knows will attract wildlife. She erects bird boxes and bee hotels, hangs feeders and grows nectar- and pollen-rich plants, and slowly brings life back to the garden.But while she's doing this Kate''s neighbours continue to pave and deck their gardens locking them away, the wildlife she tries to save is further threatened, and she feels she's fighting an uphill battle. Is Trade ReviewShines a light on the simple brilliance of life. -- Chris PackhamA moving, unpretentious account of starting again. -- Patrick Barkham * Guardian, Books of the Year *A truly inspiring account of transformation, The Bumblebee Flies Anyway made me simultaneously want to read on to the final page, and rush out to my garden. -- Melissa Harrison * author of All Among the Barley *Bradbury makes a passionate plea for us all to follow her example - to ditch the decking and fill our own outside spaces, however small, with plants. -- Jane Shilling * Daily Mail *Reading this book made me itch to get out into my own garden and peer under piles of dead leaves to look for beetles. A moving tribute to the space Kate Bradbury creates and her skill as a gardener. -- Alys Fowler * The Garden *A glorious thing that is part autobiography, part gardening book and part fierce invective against the sterilisation of our urban landscapes when they are an increasingly important haven for wildlife. * Amateur Gardening *Quirky, passionate and endearing, an inspiring account of bringing a tiny garden back to life. -- Dave Goulson, author of A Sting in the Tale and Bee QuestA beautiful story of a garden brought back from the dead. -- Eleanor Morton * Countryman *A very personal story of love, loss and rebirth. -- Fionnuala Fallon * Irish Times *It made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me mourn the loss of our green spaces but have hope for the wild places that remain. There is no louder, fresher voice for the value of urban wildlife. -- Jules Howard * zoologist and author of Sex on Earth *Bradbury 'unbuttons the earth' and lets the bumblebees, foxgloves and sparrows return at their own pace. A rallying cry for the wildlife garden. -- Louise Gray * author of The Ethical Carnivore *This is an important and timely book. I defy anyone who reads it not to want to do more to help their local wildlife. -- Brigit Strawbridge, wildlife gardener and bee campaignerA gorgeous - and informative - read. -- Penny McCormick * The Gloss *A wonderful and moving book about how a slice of nature at the backdoor offers refuge not only to the city wildlife but to the garden too. -- Alys Fowler * author of Hidden Nature and The Edible Garden *This is a beautiful, heartfelt book of hopeful wildlife gardening in the face of declining habitats and life's tendency to trip us up when we least need it. * Amateur Gardening *Table of ContentsPrologue: A garden Part One: The Bones, A Skeleton Autumn Winter Spring Summer Autumn Winter Spring Part Two: A Phoenix Spring Summer Species list Author acknowledgements If you want to learn more... Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less