Gardening: plants and cultivation guides Books

Book SynopsisAn easy-to-follow manual for successful pruning without stress, from basic principles to more advanced techniques. Here is pruning guidance for every type of plant, from roses and climbers to hedges, fruit trees, cordons and esapaliers, shrubs and fruit bushes. Step-by-step photographic techniques and artworks make it simple.

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Book SynopsisStep-by-step instructions for choosing and planting herbs, taking cuttings, harvesting, drying and storing.

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Book SynopsisThe ultimate plant guide, updated to include current RHS Awards of Garden Merit so you know which plants are RHS recommended.Whether you are growing roses or growing French beans, choose plants with confidence with the RHS Good Plant Guide. This book recommends over 3,000 trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs, bedding plants, fruits and vegetables for every garden situation - all readily available from nurseries and garden centres - and with more than 1,500 photos and illustrations, it will ensure your garden flourishes all year round.Whether you are a green-fingered guru or just starting out, enjoy good plants throughout the year with the RHS Good Plant Guide, now in paperback (previous ISBN 9781405362986).

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Book SynopsisThis title is an illustrated guide to varieties, cultivation and care, with step-by-step instructions and over 160 beautiful photographs. Everything you need to know at a glance in one handy and stunningly illustrated practical guide. It offers full photographic directory of over 50 of the most common varieties of heather from the three genuses of Calluna, Doboecia and Erica. For each variety, full botanical information is provided on history, growth, hue, height, spread and suitability. It offers step-by-step guidance on planting, propagation and pruning, and how to deal with common pests and diseases. It includes instructions on growing heather in outdoor borders, raised beds, containers, hanging baskets and indoors. It is a highly accessible guide to some of the most popular flowering plants, celebrating their year-round beauty. Heathers are not only able to survive and flourish in even the most severe climates, but they also provide bright flowers throughout the year, with many that also boast attractive year-round foliage. This combination of hardiness and beauty, along with relative ease of cultivation and care, makes heathers a wonderfully versatile feature in any garden. This book explains how to use heathers to their best advantage, from achieving seasonal interest to combining with other plants. A fully illustrated directory of 50 recommended varieties, together with professional advice on where to plant them, will help you to create pretty displays in beds, borders, containers and indoors.

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Book SynopsisThe Herb Gardening Handbook gives you the know-how of what herbs to buy, what to plant them with, how to use them and even how to make herbs look good, no matter the space available. Beginning with a simple guide of how to get started and the best growing conditions for herbs, The Herb Gardening Handbook is a stylish guide to 12 herb projects that will suit everything from indoor window ledges to balconies and gardens. From the Cocktail Herb Garden, which focuses on the botanicals that will make summer cocktails and drinks all the more fragrant to the Pizza Pantry Garden where readers will grow everything needed to create delicious pizza toppings. There are also projects looking to make a positive impact on the environment, such as the Bee Buffet, which will feature tasty herbs that pollinators will love to be a part of. Using widely accessible herbs as well as suggestions for more interesting varieties and including stunning photography, this book is perfect for gardening beginners, as well as seasoned pros looking to learn some new tips and tricks on how to make the most of herbs.

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Book SynopsisJenny Joseph was no ordinary poet - and Led by the Nose is no ordinary memoir. Shaped around the smells of the English countryside, it is full of the wilful personality and the sly humour that characterised the purple-clad old woman in her iconic poem 'Warning'. Joseph's eccentricities permeate each chapter as she flows through the gardening year with its chores and blossoms, frequently leading the reader off the garden path to stop, smell the roses, and ignore the world for a while. Full of the sensual awareness of Jenny Joseph's poetry, Led by the Nose is a singular memoir: a work of delicious diversion and literary flair, horticultural anxieties and countercultural tendencies, providing a glimpse - or sniff - of the landscape of this treasured poet's life.Trade ReviewA gardening book for the literary-minded. -- Woman’s Hour * Radio 4 *A treat for the sensual gardener. -- Alan Titchmarsh * Daily Express *Led by the Nose looks and feels like the perfect present for a favourite gardening aunt. Small and chunky, beautifully illustrated with darkly floral woodcuts by Yvonne Skargon, it charts the changing seasons in Jenny Joseph's "rural slum" * Times Literary Supplement *If you have had enough of gaudy melon flowers, try the poet Jenny Joseph's little paperback, Led by the Nose: A Garden of Smells. It will give you just the right shot of romantic Englishness as you sniff your way through the author's gardening year ... poetic, as you would expect from Joseph, but not soppy -- Stephen Anderton * The Times *Combining the knowledge of a seasoned gardener with the writing power of a poet * Mail on Sunday *You may not think that you know the work of Jenny Joseph, but you do. She is the author of 'Warning: When I am an old woman I shall wear purple' - once voted the nation's favourite poem and a worldwide bestseller. Now she has written this year's most unusual gardening book. * The Times *This little book, covering a year in her own garden, is much more than an account of what borders she dug and when she planted her sweet peas ... the poet's sensitivity comes through in the details ... for those who want to evoke similar Proustian memories * Sunday Times *This book would make a good present for a thoughtful, sensitive gardener, especially an elderly one who is tempted both to wear purple and to pick flowers in other people's gardens * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisWritten by RHS experts with more than 50 years of combined growing experience, RHS Grow Your Own Veg & Fruit Year Planner provides the life-changing advice that gardeners need to grow a year-round supply of healthy fruit and vegetables for their table. The book starts with planning what to grow and where to grow it, whether that's an allotment, a series of containers, raised bed or veg patch, then how to get the best from your soil, and how to get started. Next, in season-by-season chapters, the book takes the reader from sowing to harvesting with simple, clear instructions that will help them stay on top of the challenges and joys of a productive garden. From apples to asparagus, raspberries to radishes, this book will show how to apply age-old techniques to get the most from your plot.Table of ContentsForeword INTRODUCTION Growing in a small space know your plot prepare the plot All about growing Extending the season Coping with problems Planning what to grow THE GARDENING YEAR Early spring Mid spring Late spring Early summer Mid summer Late summer Early autumn Mid autumn Late autumn Early winter Mid winter Late winter REFERENCE SECTION Sowing/harvesting calender Pest/disease directory Glossary Index Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis is a seminal piece of work on truly sustainable gardening, written with great spirit and soul. * Alys Fowler, TV presenter and author of The Edible Garden *The ultimate book on the subject… extremely thorough and beautifully illustrated. * Let's Talk (East Anglia) *A magnificiently produced tome that is sure to become every forest gardener's horticultural toolkit and bible. * Grow It! *Martin has produced a book that is not only visually beautiful but very practical, offering advice on planning, designing, planting and general maintenance. * Positive News *Visually stunning with beautiful photography and illustrations, accompanying very informative and well constructed text. * Self Sufficient-ish Website *This book offers bountiful food for thought. If you are considering the creation or maintenance of a forest garden, then you would do well to have this book on your shelves. * Green Prophet *This book is a must if you are interested in producing food from your garden, becoming more self-sufficient or just curious about plants and their uses. * The Cottage Gardener *This seminal piece of work is not only visually enthralling, it's incredibly easy to use. It contains a level of detail and explanation that makes it a must read for anyone who is serious about building a truly sustainable forest. * WWOOF Ireland *Table of ContentsForeword by Rob Hopkins Introduction Part 1: How forest gardens work 1. Forest gardens 2. Forest garden features and products 3. The effects of climate change 4. Natives and exotics 5. Emulating forest conditions 6. Fertility in forest gardens Part 2: Designing your forest garden 7. Ground preparation and planting 8. Growing your own plants 9. First design steps 10. Designing wind protection 11. Canopy species 12. Designing the canopy layer 13. Shrub species 14. Designing the shrub layer 15. Herbaceous perennial and ground-cover species 16. Designing the perennial/ground-cover layer 17. Annuals, biennials and climbers 18. Designing with annuals, biennials and climbers Part 3: Extra design elements and maintenance 19. Clearings 20. Paths 21. Fungi in forest gardens 22. Harvesting and preserving 23. Maintenance 24. Ongoing tasks Glossary Appendix 1: Propagation tables Appendix 2: Trees and shrubs for hedging and fencing Appendix 3: Plants to attract beneficial insects and bees Appendix 4: Edible crops by month of use Resources: Useful organisations, suppliers and publications

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Book SynopsisWinner of the American Horticulture Society Book Award "Phillip’s first-hand knowledge anchors this innovative and highly readable book in practical wisdom that both beginner and long-time fruit growers will find invaluable."—Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia’s Garden Many people want to grow fruit on a small scale but lack the insight to be successful orchardists. As The Holistic Orchard illustrates, growing tree fruits and berries is something virtually anyone can do. A holistic grower knows that producing fruit is not about manipulating nature but more importantly, fostering nature. The Holistic Orchard demystifies the basic skills everybody should know about the orchard ecosystem, focusing on: Orchard design Soil biology Organic health management Grafting Planting Pruning Choosing the right varieties for your climate Includes a step-by-step instructional calendar to guide growers through the entire orchard year! Fruit profiles include: pome fruits (apples, pears, asian pears, quinces) stone fruits (cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums) berries (raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, gooseberries, currants, and elderberries) Phillips completely changed the conversation about healthy orcharding with his first bestselling book, The Apple Grower, and now he takes that dialogue even further by exploring: The connections between home orcharding and permaculture The importance of native pollinators Plantings with shade-tolerant berry bushes and other insectary plants Information on cover crops and biodiversity Safe, homegrown solutions to pest and disease challenges All along the way, Phillips' expertise and enthusiasm for healthy growing shines through, as does his ability to put the usual horticultural facts into an integrated ecology perspective. With The Holistic Orchard in your hand you have every reason in the world to confidently plant that very first—or next—fruit tree!Trade ReviewBooklist- With the rising popularity of farmers’ markets and ever-increasing availability of organic foods in mainstream grocery stores, more and more gardeners are catching the urge to go pesticide-free. For fruit lovers wanting to tend an orchard on a small scale, Phillips, author of the gardening best-seller The Apple Grower (2005), offers a wealth of tips and tricks here on growing berries and tree fruits without resorting to toxic sprays. Eight information-packed chapters cover such basics as orchard design, seeding and growing schedules, and soil varieties, all using natural methods of cooperating with nature to resist attacks by garden pests and plant diseases. Phillips also provides an exhaustive directory of fruit varieties, from pome fruits, such as apples and pears, to stone fruits, such as cherries and nectarines. Although the guide is aimed primarily at home growers with a little yard space and a yen for organic produce, professional orchard managers can certainly benefit and will hopefully be prompted to shy away from pesticides as well.Choice- The Holistic Orchard is a breath of fresh air in a genre too often characterized by occult mysticism and/or an air of moral superiority. Phillips (The Apple Grower, 2005), a farmer/orchardist with many years of experience, is a pragmatist, not a polemicist; he successfully covers topics ranging from plant biology and ecology to the realities and economics of niche markets. The author presents a challenge to backyard fruit growers and community orchardists to produce healthy, quality fruits organically. Phillips begins by discussing the soil and finishes with marketing his fruit at the production site. The text reflects his infectious enthusiasm, his deep understanding of the positive and negative impacts of natural organisms on his trees, and his commitment to hard work and critical thinking. The author addresses the challenges of dealing with disease and insect and animal pests along with the need to accommodate trees' annual needs for nutrients; he uses approaches that seek to promote within orchards a diversity of beneficial organisms as well as methods that promote the plant's immunological response via phytoalexins. This book is richly photographed and contains well-placed sidebars with pertinent information. It was a delight to read. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All undergraduate students, general readers, and professionals/practitioners. ForeWord Reviews- Despite a wealth of information available about grafting, soil health, tree planting, and pruning, there’s one major area of orchard management that’s tough for any beginner to learn: confidence. That’s where Michael Phillips comes in. As a farmer in northern New Hampshire, and author of The Apple Grower, he provides gentle-but-sure advice on holistic orchards in a way that’s encouraging and valuable. Beginning with a fascinating explanation of forest-edge ecology—which defines where fruit trees thrive best—Phillips moves into topics like fungal dominance, haphazard mulching, pulsing agents, and more. For those moving to the next level of orchard management, Phillips delves into the specifics of three major categories of fruits: pome, which includes apples and pears; stone, which encompasses cherry, peach, plum, and apricot; and woody berries, including blackberry, currant, gooseberry, and raspberry. Throughout, Phillips adopts a genial tone that blends farmer-next-door friendliness with a more academic approach. The mix works, giving the scientific descriptions more weight while keeping the material accessible. In general, the sheer breadth of information presented can seem overwhelming, particularly for a beginner, but it’s likely that those who are interested in getting started in holistic orchard practices will appreciate having such a thorough reference guide.Publishers Weekly- The author of the classic guide for small-scale fruit cultivation, The Apple Grower, returns to the orchard. Phillips, who grows apples and herbs in New Hampshire, concedes early on that growing fruit that is both attractive and delicious is more challenging than cultivating vegetables and herbs. What distinguishes this book from other organic guides is the author's ecological approach. He argues that orchard success begins with a deep understanding of soil health and forest-edge ecology. The chemistry lessons may challenge many, but he translates most of the science basics into practical routines that any gardener could use. Straightforward information on selecting trees and horticultural basics such as pruning and pest management follows. For those who intend to invest significant time and resources into growing fruit, this is a comprehensive guide to managing a healthy and bountiful orchard. Color photographs and illustrations throughout.Amazon.com Editorial Review- The demand for high-quality, organically grown food is skyrocketing with people's gradual understanding of the health risks and dangers of chemical pesticides and "industrialized" farming, yet good organic apples are still hard to find in many places. Phillips has employed hard work and keen observation of nature to make the best use of our great-grandparents' experiences and techniques. He then examines the latest scientific knowledge of apple pests and their life cycles to produce a thorough guide to growing wonderful, delicious varieties of apples in an orchard that is safe for animals, birds, and children playing under its tree branches. Each chapter has practical advice for the backyard fruit grower, and while this book is filled with useful facts and tactics, Phillips also adds a gentle, Earth-friendly, philosophical writing style that makes for quite an enjoyable read."Rooted in the author's many years of organic orcharding experience, this book blends ideas from soil science, holistic health, permaculture, and traditional fruit growing into a powerful new approach to orchard design and care. Phillips' first-hand knowledge anchors this innovative and highly readable book in practical wisdom that both beginner and long-time fruit growers will find invaluable."--Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture"Michael Phillips' Holistic Orchard is a seminal work, to be compared with Sir Albert Howard and J.I. Rodale's classic books on soil and organic gardening. This is deep horticulture at its best, showing just how and what we must do to orchard sustainably and ecologically."--Bill MacKentley, St. Lawrence Nurseries"The words 'holistic' and 'comprehensive' barely do honor to Michael Phillips' scope in The Holistic Orchard. The author has woven multiple strands of orchard knowledge -- based on his expansive vision and a lifetime of experience, together with the wisdom of researchers and fellow fruit growers -- into a brilliant web that captures the wonderful complexity of the orchard ecosystem. A sparkling joy to behold!"--Guy Ames, orchardist and tree fruit specialist with ATTRA, the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service"The Holistic Orchard is a stimulating account of fruit production from a biological rather than chemical approach. Phillips' orchard philosophy- learned from keen observation and reflection- will fall and clobber you like a giant Newtonian apple; then, your walk through the orchard will never be the same. Digesting this book is like tasting a delectable new apple variety for the first time."--Tom Burford, Orchard Consultant, Author, Apple Historian"For decades experts have insisted that organic orcharding is an impossibility. Michael Phillips has led the effort to show that the truly sustainable, organic orchard is something we all can have. His example has been an inspiration. His tireless research has provided a road map to creating our own holistic orchards."--John Bunker, apple historian and author, Not Far from the Tree"Michael Phillips does it again! His ability to understand and explain the parts, interactions and emergent properties of orchard systems is unparalleled. The Holistic Orchard integrates fundamental biology with the practical realities of ecologically sound management. The book describes the trek from healthy soil to healthy people, with great fruit all along the way. This is done in a way that can only be achieved by a highly experienced orchardist-practitioner-author-philosopher."--George W. Bird, Professor of Nematology, Michigan State University "A new way of thinking is called for given the failure of chemicals to solve problems and feed the world. Mixing up dozens of organic thoughts, Michael Phillips ushers us into the 21st century and virtually creates a new language so we can really understand what is happening in our orchards. Shake off those 20th century blues and let's move on with The Holistic Orchard as a guiding light."--Tim Bates, biodynamic orchardist, The Apple Farm, Philo, California

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Book SynopsisThis book explains everything you need to know to grow a low maintenance edible polyculture. Do you dream of a low maintenance perennial garden that is full to the brim of perennial vegetables that you don't have to keep replanting, but only have a small space? Do you struggle with too little time for gardening or controlling the pests and diseases that eat your crops? Do you want to grow unusual vegetable varieties? You can do all of this with Edible Perennial Gardening. Anni Kelsey has meticulously researched the little known subject of edible perennials and selected her favourite, tasty varieties. She explains how to source and propagate different vegetables, which plants work well together in a polyculture, and what you can plant in small, shady or semi-shady beds as well as in sunny areas.Trade ReviewThe best books on food growing are those written with a 'warts and all', practical perspective. Edible Perennial Gardening is an important book to help us to understand this vital topic. This wonderful guide is a bible. Michael Kelly, journalist, broadcaster, author and founder of GIY (Grow it Yourself)

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Book Synopsis(new edition) A clear and expert how-to guide to pruning and training ornamental and fruiting plants, with 970 informative photographs and illustrations, and a directory of plants and how to prune them (new edition).

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Book SynopsisTrade Reviewa handy little guide to prickly conundrums and packed with plant profiles and cute photographs * S Magazine (Sunday Express) *

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Book SynopsisThis is an illustrated guide to varieties, cultivation and care, with step-by-step instructions and more than 130 beautiful photographs. Everything you need to know about hostas at a glance in one handy practical gardening guide. It includes a beautiful photographic directory of over 40 types, including yellow, green, blue and variegated hostas. For each variety, full botanical information is provided on the plant's history, growth, size and flowering. It offers a step-by-step guidance on choosing, planting, propagating and caring for hostas, and dealing with pests and diseases. It features superb planting ideas for growing hostas in troughs, as ground cover, as edging plants, in mixed borders, in containers and for flower arrangements. It is the definitive handbook for one of the most popular and best-loved garden plants. The versatility and beauty of hostas makes them one of the most popular and rewarding foliage plants. Whether you use larger hostas to create a stately summer border or dwarf varieties to enliven a rocky or aquatic environment, they are reliable, attractive and relatively low-maintenance. Flourishing even in containers, hostas are truly plants for every situation. This beautiful book explains how to use hostas to their best advantage, as well as providing a fully illustrated directory of over 40 types. With expert advice on selecting varieties, planting and growing hostas, the book will help you to create a wonderful display of these popular shrubs.

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Book SynopsisCharles Darwin is best known for his work on the evolution of animals, but in fact a large part of his contribution to the natural sciences is focused on plants. His observations are crucial to our modern understanding of everything from the amazing pollination process of orchids to the way that vines climb. Darwin and the Art of Botany collects writings from six often overlooked texts devoted entirely to plants, and pairs each excerpt with beautiful botanical art from the library at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, creating a gorgeously illustrated volume that never existed in Darwin's own lifetime, and hasn't since. Evolutionary botanist and science historian James Costa brings his expertise to each entry, situating Darwin's words in the context of the knowledge and research of the time. The result is a new way of visualizing Darwin's work, and a greater understanding of the ways he's shaped our world.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewNikki is passionate about propagating plants. Her vast practical, academic and advisory experience is captured and distilled in this easy-to-read, essential guide for gardeners. -- Claire Lakey, RHS * Claire Lakey, Project Lead, RHS *There are a lot of worthy resources available discussing plant propagation. This book, however, offers a fresh perspective, as rather than taking a general approach, the author narrows down the best technique and environment required for individual plant species to achieve commercial success in propagation. This wouldn’t be possible without Nikki Barker’s vast knowledge of ornamental/crop plants and skill in propagating them, as well as her experience teaching and training the next generation of horticulturists. Plant propagation and people with proper skill is becoming immensely important again and this book addresses this issue directly. -- Dr Kambiz Baghalian – Senior Lecturer in Crop Production and MSc Course Manager, Writtle University College * Senior Lecturer in Crop Production and MSc Course Manager, Writtle University College *

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Book SynopsisBig Flavor from Small Spaces! This book will show you how to use the latest practices of high-density patio gardening to grow delicious vegetables, herbs and fruits in containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets. Imagine the satisfaction of diving into a plate full of food that you grew yourself. Stepping out onto your patio and picking fresh ingredients for a meal is a special experience that is possible almost all year long. Whether you want to learn how to grow lemon trees in pots or to create your very own salsa window box with chilies, dwarf tomatoes, scallions, and coriander--Container Vegetable Gardening will show you how! Inside Container Vegetable Gardening - 35 illustrated, easy-to-follow projects for terrific container gardens - Instructions on how to grow 34 crops that look as good as they taste - How to choose appropriate containers and maintain a productive patio garden - The best strategies for watering, composting, propagation, and fertilizing in small spaces - Detailed advice on what to grow and advice on how to store and preserve your bounty

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Book SynopsisA clear and beautifully illustrated guide to gardening techniques and plants for your allotment by the award-winning gardeners.

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Book SynopsisFor fifteen years, The Savage Garden has been the number one bestselling bible for those interested in growing carnivorous plants. This new edition is fully revised to include the latest developments and discoveries in the carnivorous plant world, making it the most accurate and up to date book of its kind. You may be familiar with the Venus flytrap, but did you know that some pitcher plants can—and do—digest an entire rat? Or that there are several hundred species of carnivorous plants on our planet? Beautiful, unusual, and surprisingly easy to grow, flesh-eating plants thrive everywhere from windowsills to outdoor container gardens, in a wide variety of climates. The Savage Garden is the most comprehensive guide to these fascinating oddities, gloriously illustrated with more than 200 color photos. Fully revised with the latest developments in the carnivorous plant world, this new edition includes:   •  All the basics—from watering and feeding to modern advances in artificial lighting, soil, and fertilizers.   •  Detailed descriptions of hundreds of plants, including many of the incredible new species that have been recently discovered and hybridized.   •  Cultivation and propagation information for all the plant families: pitcher plants, Venus flytraps, sundews, rainbow plants, bladderworts, and many other peculiar plants from the demented mind of Mother Nature.Whether you’re a beginner with your first flytrap or an expert looking for the latest exotic specimen, this classic book has everything you need to grow your very own little garden of horrors.

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Book SynopsisThis is an illustrated guide to varieties, cultivation and care, with step-by-step instructions and over 150 beautiful photographs. It features full photographic directory of over 40 varieties, including cluster-flowered roses, miniature roses, ground-cover roses, large-flowered roses and rugosa roses. For each variety, full botanical information is provided on history, growth, hue, height, spread and suitability. It offers step-by-step guidance on planting, propagation and pruning, and how to deal with common pests and diseases. It includes instructions on using roses for hedging and ground cover, and combining them with other plants. It is a highly accessible guide to some of the world's best-loved plants, celebrating their diversity and beauty. It offers everything you need to know at a glance in one handy and superbly illustrated practical guide. The rose is the quintessential flower of the summer, and apart from the beauty of the flowers, many modern varieties have the twin advantages of a long flowering season and disease resistance. With hues ranging from delicate pastels to glowing reds, yellows and oranges, the range has never been wider, encompassing roses for growing en masse or in conjunction with other plants, as hedges, ground cover or in containers. This beautiful book explains how to use modern roses to their best advantage, and features a directory of over 40 varieties. There are practical instructions for planting, propagating and pruning roses, ensuring a magnificent display in all types of garden.

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Book SynopsisThis is an illustrated guide to varieties, cultivation and care, with step-by-step instructions and over 150 inspiring photographs. It is a full photographic directory of over 50 varieties of ivy, such as 'Ambrosia', 'Buttercup', 'Goldheart', 'Kolibri', 'Merion Beauty', 'Romanze' and 'Silver King'. For each variety, full botanical information is provided on leaf characteristics, growth, spread and size. It offers practical step-by-step photographic guidance on cultivating and caring for ivies, including training tree ivies, making topiary shapes, planting hanging baskets and window boxes, and propagating ivies with cuttings. Ivy has an ancient history and has been used for decorative, symbolic and medicinal purposes. Hardy and versatile, it will often prosper where other plants fail. The wide range of leaf shapes, types of variegation, shades of green and ability to climb and trail make it ideal for any garden. This book shows how ivy can be used for a multitude of gardening purposes, from providing excellent ground and wall cover to being trained into topiary shapes and used in containers.A fully illustrated directory covers 50 beautiful varieties within the Hedera genus, each demonstrating the understated charm of this hardy and accommodating plant.

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Book SynopsisFrom the experts at Gardeners' World comes the essential guide for budding gardeners, explaining how to garden in ten easy steps. Do you have an outside space that you're not sure what to do with? Or want to feel the benefits of getting out into nature, but don't know where to start?Gardening: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide is your key to unlocking the world of gardening, created especially for beginners. The team of experts at Gardeners' World have identified ten easy steps to help you get stuck into gardening, giving you:Hands-on guidance on selecting the right plants for your space, and the right time to plant themStep-by-step methods guiding you through every gardening jobThe skills to create the perfect growing conditions for your plants to thriveThe confidence to tackle any garden problem, with easy troubleshooting solutionsThe tools to create an oasis for butterflies, bees, and wildlifeConfidence in taking care of your garden in every seasonExpert advice on watering, weeding, a

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Book SynopsisThere's no denying that growing your own food is good for the pocket, good for the environment and hugely rewarding for the soul. In The Edible Garden, Gardeners' World's Alys Fowler will take you one step closer to self-sufficiency by showing how to grow edible crops and flowers in any garden - even a small suburban back garden! 'Quirky is the word that springs to mind when leafing through this book ... it is for anyone who has dreamt of the Good Life but despaired at their lack of land' -- Countryfile Magazine'A handsome book' -- The Times'An indispensable go-to gardening book' -- ***** Reader review 'I absolutely love this book and it's just my sort of gardening' -- ***** Reader review'Beautiful and inspiring' -- ***** Reader review'The best gardening book I have ever read - so useful for a beginner!' -- ***** Reader review'Inspirational' -- ***** Reader review**********************************************************************In this timely book, Gardeners' World's thrifty and resourceful Alys Fowler shows that there is a way to take the good life and re-fashion it to fit in with modern day living.Abandoning the limitations of traditional gardening methods, she has created a beautifully productive garden where tomatoes sit happily next to roses, carrots are woven between the lavenders and potatoes grow in pots on the patio.And all of this is produced in a way that mimics natural systems, producing delicious homegrown food for her table. And she shares her favourite recipes for the hearty dishes, pickles and jams she makes to use up her bountiful harvest, proving that no-one need go hungry on her grow-your-own regime.With beautiful, specially commissioned full colour photography, step-by-step recipes, directories of crops and flowers to grow and accessible, practical advice, The Edible Garden will encourage everyone to chuck out the old gardening rules and create their own haven that's as good to look at as it is to eat! Trade ReviewTurning the pages of the book will make new gardeners sigh with pleasure and give old-timers much to think about. * Daily Telegraph *Quirky is the word that springs to mind when leafing through this book ... it is for anyone who has dreamt of the Good Life but despaired at their lack of land. **** 4 stars * Countryfile Magazine *a handsome book * The Times *How to garden in a tea dress and wellies from the new style queen of the do-it-yourself lifestyle. * Image magazine *

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Book SynopsisGrowing vegetables can be a tricky business, and even the most experienced of gardeners will occasionally need to turn to a trusted tome for some handy advice. The Veg Grower’s Almanac is just such a book – a compendium of month-by-month tips, advice and items of interest. With sage advice from old Gardeners’ World hands coupled with tips on the best varieties to grow and timely advice on how best to look after your plot, this attractive collection blends practical advice with evocative writing and fascinating facts. Illustrated throughout with charming drawings and sketches, The Veg Grower’s Almanac is a welcome additional to any gardener’s shelf – from hands-on instructions for preparing a seed bed or trying new varieties of tomato to fascinating little-known facts about our favourite crops.

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Book Synopsis ‘Garden Book of the Year’ – Garden Media Guild Awards 2022 Discover Britain’s most beautiful and inspiring wild gardens, and how you can make your own. Winner ‘Best Garden Book of the Year’ Garden Media Guild Awards 2022 Despite our best efforts, and no matter how much we prune, tidy and shape our gardens, they are inherently wild. In fact, it is often the most unrestrained and untamed areas that add drama and romance. In this glorious celebration of exuberant, naturalistic planting, we take a walk on the wild side. Be transported to lush valleys and tropical jungles with exotic gardens shaped by Victorian plant hunters. Wander through beautiful bluebell woods, blossoming orchards and magical wildflower meadows, and explore prairie-style gardens inspired by North American grasslands. Discover special places influenced by natural landscapes, and sustainably managed spaces designed with wildlife in mind. You’ll find out how wild play areas can help children to connect with nature and how immersing yourself in quiet woodland can immediately benefit your sense of well-being. A helpful guide also offers advice and tips on how to create and manage your own wildlife-friendly garden so that you can attract birds, bees, bats, bugs and many other wild and wonderful creatures.Trade ReviewFrom the orchid-studded wild flower meadows of Stowe and the artful gardens that Dan Pearson recently designed around the picturesque ruins of Lowther Castle, to the tree fern glades of Trengwainton in Cornwall, the exotic “jungle” of Glendurgan (also in Cornwall), and the “nature on steroids, visual suckerpunch” that is Bodnant, Mahon paints a vivid, immersive picture of these “wild” gardens and how they support a complex, biodiverse range of vulnerable habitats. The Irish Times

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Book SynopsisWhether you love growing, love creating, or just want to liven up your outdoor space, a container garden is just the answer. So many of us nowadays are crammed into our homes and a garden is a luxury that few can afford. But there is always room for a bit of greenery; whether it's herbs and spices to add fresh flavour to your food, or putting a jungle on your windowsill, a container can enable growers to bring nature to the most inhospitable and smallest spaces. Frances Tophill covers the sustainable, crafty and culinary aspects of container gardening. From urns and troughs to chimney stacks and hanging baskets alongside what to grow inside them - bonsai to annuals, bulbs, grasses and bamboos, tumbling and creeping plants and flowers - there are also 40 ideas on how to pair plants and pots, including upcycling existing items and creating your own containers.

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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.

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Book SynopsisFind inspiration for reconnecting to the earth by creating the garden-based handicrafts, edible and medicinal recipes, and beauty care products found in A Woman's Garden. Trade Review‘ A celebration of femininity in the garden and an innovative and important book, this will expand the horizons of seasoned gardeners, while being accessible for beginners.’ -- Jack Wallington * RHS The Garden *Table of ContentsIntroduction THE EDIBLE GARDEN 1 | The Kitchen Garden Deanna’s Garden Gallery of Homegrown Produce Creating a New Vegetable Garden Pallet Strawberry Planter Growing Salad Greens A Berry Delicious Garden Low-Maintenance Edibles 2 | Edible Flowers Jan’s Garden Gallery of Edible Flowers Edible Flowers in Your Garden Edible Flower Planter Floral Ice Cubes Edible Flower Frittata Lavender Shortbread 3 | Culinary Herbs Rekha’s Garden Gallery of Culinary Herbs Growing Culinary Herbs DIY Herb Spiral Herb-Infused Oil Three-Mint Mojito Herb-Embedded Pasta HEALTH AND BEAUTY 4 | Plants For Skin care Tanya’s Garden Gallery of Skin Care Plants Growing Plants for Skin Care Creating Botanical Extracts Rose Petal Facial Mist Herbal Bath Fizzies Lavender and Alkanet Soap 5 | Herbal Medicine Giovanna’s Garden Gallery of Medicinal Plants A Home Herbalist’s Garden Growing Chamomile for Tea Chamomile Tincture Calendula Skin Salve Lemon Balm Cold Sore Balm HOME AND CRAFTS 6 | Herbs For The home Ashlie’s Garden Gallery of Plants for the Home Growing a Home Garden Raised Garden Bed Rosemary and Citrus Kitchen Spray Natural Wood Furniture Polish Soapwort Multipurpose Cleaner 7 | Natural Plant Dyes Teresinha’s Garden Gallery of Plants with Natural Color Growing a Dye Garden Using Dye Plants Dyeing Yarn with Onion Skins Naturally Coloring Handmade Soap 8 | The Crafty Garden Melissa’s Garden Gallery of Creative Garden Makes A Creative and Low-Cost Garden Fossil Imprint Stepping-Stone Pressed Flower Candles Papier-Mâché Leaf Lanterns A Word of Thanks About the Author Index

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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

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Book SynopsisTerrariums are the ultimate way to bring the natural world indoors! The art of terrarium making is back in vogue and better than ever. Growing collections of adorable miniature plants in glass vessels is a great way to bring the indoors out and get back in touch with nature—no matter where you live and what time of year it is. Whether you reside in a tiny apartment, spend the bulk of your hours at an office desk, or just want to be better connected to green, living things, terrariums are the ticket. A wondrous combination of nature, gardening, and home decor, terrarium building and tending is both therapeutic and inspirational. Terrarium expert and teacher Maria Colletti makes designing your very own interior gardens easy with step-by-step photos of over twenty of her own terrarium designs. Plus, you'll get all the information you need about popular terrarium plants, such as tillandsias (air plants), orchids, mosses, cacti, succulents, and ferns. ​Transform basic glass containers, including vases, jars, vertical planters, hanging globes, tabletop greenhouses, and more, into miniature worlds of green. Once you know the basics (the plants, the vessels, and a basic understanding of soil, water, and humidity), you can mix and match for an endless exploration of your own creativity!Trade Review"Maria Colletti is no ordinary gardener. Instead, her green designs are small and portable. Hers is the domain of the terrarium--she creates miniature landscapes thriving in a world of glass, sunlight and minimal intervention. Known as the "terrarium savant" by a legion of fans, she has cultivated both expertise and a following that, like her creations, has grown organically with time." - Edible Manhattan"Other books on this subject verge into kitsch, with authors ornamenting their terrariums with miniature people, furnishings, and animals, but Colletti happily avoids this detour and focuses purely on plants" * Better Homes & Gardens Country Gardens *"Maria Colletti is no ordinary gardener. Instead, her green designs are small and portable. Hers is the domain of the terrarium--she creates miniature landscapes thriving in a world of glass, sunlight and minimal intervention. Known as the "terrarium savant" by a legion of fans, she has cultivated both expertise and a following that, like her creations, has grown organically with time." * Edible Manhattan *

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Book SynopsisCatalog and track the various herbs, flowers, and plants you’re growing in your magical space and how you intend to use them in your witchcraft practice with this companion journal to The Green Witch’s Garden. Every green thumb needs a place to write their garden secrets, even green witches! A green witch embraces the power of nature, draws energy from the Earth and the Universe, and relies on stones, plants, flowers, and herbs for healing. With The Green Witch’s Garden Journal, you can record all of your garden progress and secrets, making a log of how you’ve cultivated your magical space. With easy checklists, garden grids, and template pages, you will easily be able to keep a magical record of what you’ve planted, when it’s bloomed, how much water and light it needs, what it’s magical use is, and more. Your witchcraft practice has never been greener!Trade Review"Perfect for any witch that currently grows a garden or is looking to start one of their own in the future." —Flying the Hedge

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewIt’s hard to imagine any gardener who wouldn’t benefit from reading this book – and heeding its advice -- Ken Thompson, Professional Gardeners' Guild * Professional Gardeners' Guild *

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Book SynopsisFrom back-of-an-envelope list to flower-filled paradise - Brilliant and Wild: A Garden from Scratch in a Year gives even the most inexperienced gardener the chance to create a beautiful and wildlife-friendly outdoor space - from nothing - in just twelve months. Award-winning photographer, Jason Ingram, followed the author over the course of a year, as she created the garden shown in the book for her sister. This highly practical book provides new gardeners with step-by-step instructions on how to create a low-maintenance, wildlife-friendly perennial garden that will bloom within months and be fully established within a year. Trade Review"Beautiful." * The Lady Books of the Year *"This charming book is aimed squarely at inexperienced gardeners with a modest budget who want quick results. Like all the best gardening books this one leaves you itching to get out in your own patch." * Daily Mail *"Anyone faced with a small, empty garden could design and plant their borders using just this book for guidance." * The Garden *"I approve of the way Lucy flags up flower shape and height as being key to a successful border...there's lots of information about individual plants...a useful 'flower calendar'...lovely photos by the brilliant garden photographer Jason Ingram really bring it all to life, too." -- Alan Titchmarsh * Waitrose Weekend *"Feeling inspired by Chelsea Flower Show? Novice gardeners can take heart with this new book that shows you how to create a beautiful and wildlife-friendly space in just twelve months." * A Little Bird *"An encouraging book, especially for the beginner." * The Irish Garden *"A great practical manual for the novice gardener. A great guide to making an easy, low-maintenance, wildlife-friendly perennial garden." * Garden Heaven *"Help is on hand from this delightful new book that gives a step-by-step guide on how to start from scratch and get your garden blooming within a year." * Daily Mail *"Both practical and inspirational." * Country Living *"There’s a wealth of inspiration, practical guidance and passion for an environmentally sympathetic model of gardening that leaps off the pages and will have you skipping merrily down your own garden path, well on the way to constructing your own brilliant and wild garden, in no time at all. " * Garden Weeds and Words *"An infectious approach...Urban gardening has long ignored the nature around it, but even if one garden in every street adopted Bellamy's plan, our cities would be more buzzing and beautiful. Brilliant and Wild makes that seem enticingly possible." * Gardens Illustrated *"Bellamy makes gardening simple, expressive and joyful. Anyone can do it cheaply and with little spare time." * Evening Standard *"Required reading...a simple guide for total beginners who want to achieve a wildlife friendly haven rich in color and form." * Gardenista.com *

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Book SynopsisThe Complete Language of Herbs is a comprehensive encyclopedia providing the meanings, powers, facts, and folklore for over 500 herbs and spices. Along with a beautiful visual depiction, each entry provides the herb or spice’s scientific and common names, characteristics, and historic meanings and powers from mythology, medieval legends, folklore, and flower poetry. Did you know that allspice can be added to herbal mixtures to attract money or luck? Or that sprinkling arrowroot at the doors of your home will keep guests’ negative energy from entering? Reaching the height of popularity during the Victorian era, floriographies—dictionaries of symbolic flower meanings—were an amusing pastime and art to subtly communicate unspoken emotions. To complement the success of The Complete Language of Flowers, author S. Theresa Dietz has scoured historic sources and compiled an equally beautiful compendium in The Complete Language of Herbs, revealing the secrets and powers of hundreds of common and forgotten herbs and spices from around the world. Together with stunning full-color illustrations and two indexes, one for searching by common herb and spice name and the other organized by meaning, this beautiful reference is a must-have for gardeners, chefs, party planners, and food enthusiasts. Elegantly designed and beautifully illustrated, the Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia series offers comprehensive, display-worthy references on a range of intriguing topics, including birthday astrology, dream interpretation, astrological self-care practices, techniques for harnessing the power of dreams, and the stories behind signs and symbols.Table of ContentsContents Introduction How to Use This Book A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W-Z Works Consulted Acknowledgements About the Author Photo Credits List of Culinary Herbs Index of Common Herb Names Index of Common Meanings & Powers

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Book SynopsisTurn the outdoor space you may not own into one that makes you feel at home.A gardening book unlike any other, RHS How to Garden When You Rent brings together projects, inspiration, and handy know-how specifically tailored to people who rent. With chapters designed around lease lengths, readers will find something for their outdoor space, whether they plan to rent for just a few months or expect to stay in their home for a several years or more. Written by Matthew Pottage, this must-have book combines creative ideas with serious gardening expertise - all without breaking the bank or needing countless hours of hands-on work. Keep your landlord happy and your garden in good shape with plenty of tips, tricks, and techniques for good garden maintenance, and discover ways of turning even the most unloved balcony, yard, or urban garden into a lush, welcoming space that you, your flatmates, and your friends can enjoy for as long as you choose to live there.

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Book SynopsisFrom diggers and weeders, to artists and colourists, writers and dreamers to trend-setters, plantswomen to landscape designers, women have contributed to the world of gardening and gardens. Here Deborah Kellaway, author of The Making of an English Country Garden and Favourite Flowers , has collected extracts from the 18th century to the present day, to create a book that is replete with anecdotes and good-humoured advice. Colette, Margery Fish, Germaine Greer, Eleanor Sinclair Rohde, Vita Sackville-West, Rosemary Verey, Edith Wharton and Dorothy Wordsworth are some of the writers represented in this book.Trade ReviewA glorious and fertile compendium. - INDEPENDENTBoldly editied, the equivalent of a well-planted border with not a gap of bare earth, all season-colour interest, and no visible pea-sticks. - Lynne Truss, SUNDAY TIMESKellaway's intelligent and tender book enlarges the sense of human possibility. - OBSERVERGreen thoughts from Gertrude Jekyll to Germaine Greer- a delight for lovers of gardening and literature. - WOMAN AND HOME

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Book SynopsisA glorious garden filled with fragrance can affect our mood and wellbeing. Make the most of scented bulbs, annuals, perennials, herbs and small trees with this practical and accessible handbook.

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Book SynopsisPlant parsley and asparagus together and you’ll have more of each, but keep broccoli and tomato plants far apart if you want them to thrive. Utilize the natural properties of plants to nourish the soil, repel pests, and secure a greater harvest. With plenty of insightful advice and suggestions for planting schemes, Louise Riotte will inspire you to turn your garden into a naturally nurturing ecosystem.Table of ContentsThe ABCs of companion planting; pollination of fruits and nuts; nut trees; fruit tree culture; poisonous plants.

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Book Synopsis“A sweeping history of the origins, development, and future of herbaria and their role in plant consternation.” —The American Gardener Since the 1500s, scientists have documented the plants and fungi that grew around them, organizing the specimens into collections. Known as herbaria, these archives helped give rise to botany as its own scientific endeavor.Herbarium is a fascinating enquiry into this unique field of plant biology, exploring how herbaria emerged and have changed over time, who promoted and contributed to them, and why they remain such an important source of data for their new role: understanding how the world’s flora is changing. Barbara Thiers, director of the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium at the New York Botanical Garden, also explains how recent innovations that allow us to see things at both the molecular level and on a global scale can be applied to herbaria specimens, helping us address some of the most critical problems facing the world today.

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Book SynopsisA gorgeously photographed new take on flower arranging using local and foraged plants and flowers to create beautiful arrangements, with ideas and inspiration for the whole year.Roadside fennel, flowering fruit trees, garden roses, tiny violets; ingredients both common and unusual, humble and showy, Foraged Flora is a new vision for flowers and arranging. It encourages you to train your eye to the beauty that surrounds you, attune your senses to the seasonality and locality of flowers and plants, and to embrace the beauty in each stage of life, from first bud to withering seedpod. Organized by month, each chapter in this visually arresting and inspiring book focuses on large and small arrangements created from the flowers and plants available during that time period and in that place, all foraged or gleaned nearby. The authors reflect on surprising and beautiful pairings, the importance of scale, the scarcity or abundance of raw materials, and the environmental factors that contribute to that availability.  Whether picking a small tendril of fragrant jasmine, collecting oversized branches of flowering quince, or making a garland of bay laurel, Foraged Flora is an invitation to seek out the beauty of the natural world.

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Book SynopsisUnlock the power of one of nature's most beneficial herbs--and explore the many modern applications of lavender. Learn to make nourishing, all-natural, and affordable remedies for mind and body, as well as home cleaning products. Plus, discover lavender as a culinary ingredient and whip up delcious cocktails and more! Here, you'll find simple herbal remedies, tips, and projects for inspiration, relaxation and well-being, as well as info for growing and cultivating your own lavendar plants. Harness the natural power of lavender with recipes for: * Lavender Matcha Latte * Yoga Mat Freshening Mist * Dried Lavender Fire-Starter * Lavender Frose * Day's End Tea * Blue Day Lavender Roll-Away * Nourishing Lavender Makeup Remover * Lavender and Rose Fizzy Bath Salts * Sweet Dreams Diffuser Oil * Soothing Eye Pillow The book covers gardening (favorite varieties and pollinators); preserving (harvesting, drying, and extracting culinary oil); body care (essential oils, aromatherapy, oral remedies); the mind (stress relief and sleep); skin care (including allergens); cleaning (antiseptic and antifungal properties); food (pantry essentials); and projects (including gifts).Trade Review"[A] well-rounded book on lavender . . . From gardening to oil-making to cooking up foods and teas, this book has a little something lavender for everyone." -Booklist

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