Gardening Books

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Book SynopsisA fascinating look at the history and legacy of Roman gardens, focusing on Great Britain. The author is a board member of the Association for Roman Archaeology and a prolific writer of papers on Roman art and architecture and has lectured on the subject of Roman gardens.

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Book SynopsisWhether your aspirations are simply to sell a selection of home grown plants from the boot of your car or to establish a succesful all-year-round gardening business, this book will show you how. It covers: preparing your business plan; getting kitted out; how to find work - and keep it; what services to offer; book-keeping for gardeners; planning the gardening year; how to get commercial contracts; providing estimates; the top ten most profitable gardening jobs.Trade ReviewA remarkably practical and helpful guide... Every subject from your business plan to tax legislation is covered here in straightforward and encouraging terms making you realise just what is possible. A life-changing book. * Permaculture Magazine *Excellent, down-to-earth advice and information on every aspect of the gardening business ...encouraging, supportive and very practical. * Herb *A practical and informative guide. * Royal Horticultural Society *

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Book Synopsis*SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE 2021* 'A wholly original, semi-autobiographical book on how to live, how to be calm and content with only a little, in a quietly humming garden' Daily MailBeautifully illustrated, Seed to Dust is a reflective and restorative account of a life lived in harmony with nature. Marc Hamer has nurtured the same twelve acres of garden for decades. It's rarely visited so he is the only person who fully knows its secrets. But it's not his garden, and his relationship with its owner is at once distant and curiously intimate. In Seed to Dust, Marc takes us month-by-month through his experiences both working in the garden and outside it. We encounter new plants and wildlife, gardening folklore and the joys of manual work; we learn, too, about Marc's path from homelessness to family contentment, and the cycles of change that run through both the garden's life and our own.'An absorbing combination of memoir, gardening folklore and natural history' Country Life'Life-affirming... Absorbing' Sue Stuart-Smith, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Well-Gardened MindTrade ReviewWritten as a monthly journal, this is more memoir and philosophical meditation than gardener's manual... Hamer uses the material all around - robins and crows, beeches and cherry trees, jasmine, daffodils and soil - as the springboard for reflections on how to live a small-scale, spiritually aware life. ...making the case for seeing our place within nature, and relishing our contact with it. * Herald *Hamer takes the reader through his gardening year... Marc Hamer's gardening memoir offers an insight into what it is like to tend somebody else's plot, and how an unusual relationship blossomed...Seed to Dust is a bodily book. Hamer lets us in; we learn what his tools feel like in hands hardened by decades of manual labour...But it is also an unlikely love story: Hamer is happily married to Peggy, who we hear about, too, but his affection for Miss Cashmere, his elderly employer, is clear - and infectious. * Telegraph *[A] life-enhancing book * Eastern Daily Press *Inspirational... An invaluably original view of one man in his garden...noticing the tiny things that the busy world ignores... A wholly original book on how to live, how to be calm and content with only a little, in a quietly humming garden * Daily Mail *Seed to Dust draws on Hamer's deep sense of connection with plants and the earth as well as a lifetime of experience. Beautifully observed and quietly reflective, this is an absorbing and life-affirming read -- Sue Stuart-Smith, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Well-Gardened Mind

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Book Synopsis'Charming miscellany of rhymes and reflections celebrating the garden'CHOICE***The perfect bedside book for the green-fingered - hilarious and touching poems on a gardening theme written and introduced by the nation's favourite gardener and presenter of ITV's Grow Your Own At Home and Love Your Garden, Channel 5's Secrets of the National Trust and with his own show on Classic FM.From touching poems on the peony, the snowdrop and the sweet pea to hilarious verse on Emily the Gardener and the Garden Design Course, this is Alan Titchmarsh's heartfelt and entertaining celebration of his favourite space - the garden.Trade Review'Charming miscellany of rhymes and reflections celebrating the garden' * Choice *

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Book SynopsisAn excellent resource showing how to take a small space garden and maximize it into a wonderfully diverse and productive slice of mother nature. In this guide, author Christy Wilhelmi shares her easy-to-follow low effort, scientific approach and tips she's learned for cultivating crops in small or unconventional spaces.

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Book SynopsisNo-till — a method of growing crops and providing pasture without disturbing the soil — has become an important alternative to standard farming practices. In this comprehensive guide to successful no-till vegetable farming for aspiring and beginning farmers, author Daniel Mays, owner and manager of an organic no-till farm in Maine, outlines the environmental, social, and economic benefits of this system. The methods described are designed for implementation at the human scale, relying primarily on human power, with minimal use of machinery. The book presents streamlined planning and record-keeping tools as well as marketing strategies, and outlines community engagement programs like CSA, food justice initiatives, and on-farm education.

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Book Synopsis“Bursting with useful advice, especially for new gardeners.” —Booklist To be a successful gardener, you need to know two things: how to do something and when to do it. Both concepts are thoroughly tackled in The Month-By-Month Gardening Guide. This comprehensive approach to gardening guides home gardeners—whether you are growing vegetables, flowers, or houseplants—through a year of growing. Throughout, the emphasis is on organic, wildlife-friendly techniques. By following the guidance detailed in this hardworking primer, you’ll be well on your way to a beautiful and bountiful garden that will provide pleasure throughout the year.

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Book Synopsis***'So you know you want to start gardening but you have no idea where to begin? ... Simon Akeroyd gives step-by-step guidance on everything from creating a cactus collection to growing fruit in hanging baskets. The book turns what is often a daunting task into bite-size steps that can often be done in an afternoon.' George Hudson, Evening Standard, favourite garden publications of the yearAimed at first-time gardeners, those in rented accommodation or anyone with limited outdoor space, this book teaches how to take stock of an environment and start a garden. With ideas for gardens, patio spaces, courtyards, balconies and interiors, these 50 easy-to-adopt ideas provide the steps to success for even the most inexperienced gardeners. Contents include: - Create a floral display with bulbs that last all year - Grow pet-friendly plants- Create a vegetable harvest in pots - Add height in flat spaces- Make a mow-free lawn - Hang plants around your home

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Book SynopsisTop Tips is a charming accompaniment to the daytime Gardeners' World strand that collects the most fascinating and useful hints and tips from 40 years of Gardeners' World, to help you make the very best of your garden.Divided into chapters covering Flowers, Food, Containers, Design and a miscellaneous 'Something For the Weekend' section, Top Tips will teach you how to make the most of classic British blooms, how to propagate exotic plants in our cool climate, the pots to plant them in and the food they'll need to help them grow. It will help you make the most of small gardens and tackle wide open spaces, to attract ladybirds and slugs as an organic army to fight flies and aphids, and to grow the plumpest, juiciest fruits and vegetables on your doorstep.All this is presented in a classic, elegant format, with fine line drawings illustrating the snippets of invaluable gardening know-how that will make the perfect gift for your green-fingered friends to dip into.

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Book SynopsisDiscover how to awaken the magic of the elements in your outdoor space through thoughtful planting, careful planning of features and simple spells and rituals. Modern witchcraft is a nature-based discipline, harnessing the power of plants, the spirit of the land, the benefits of each season and the cycle of nature. Inspired by the Five Elements – Spirit, Air, Fire, Water and Earth – and based on author Clare Gogerty's own experience, Your Magical Garden will encourage you to look at your outdoor space with a witch’s eye. Each chapter is based on one of the Five Elements and offers details about the element and its potency, how to work with it in your garden, what plants are associated with it, and corresponding remedies, rituals and spells. You will learn how to create spiritual features, such as a moon gate, leaf mandala, scrying pool and fire pit, as well as ways to care for nature, such as rewilding to create a haven for plants and wildlife. Discover the wonder of re-enchanting your garden, however small, and creating a place of contemplation, meditation and connection with the earth.

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Book SynopsisA brilliant new book especially for the gardeners of the North West! Full of Grow Your Own (GYO) information and tips for growers across the old county of Lancashire, covering everything, including ...soil & sun plants & pests tubs & trenches fertilisers & failures weeds & watering seasons & sogginess equipment & ecology triumphs & tastiness ...and much more! The first Grow Your Own book to help North West gardeners grow successfully in the specific soils & climate What grows well in the gardens of the south and middle of England will not necessarily grow well up here Aimed at all ages and abilities Suggests ways of growing organically, & how to include children & grandchildren For growing spaces of all shapes & sizes, including, yards, pots and window sills. Includes some newly rediscovered old Lancashire varieties of fruits & veg Also includes recipes & ideas to maximise usefulness & enjoyment

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Book SynopsisDiscover the joys of gardening using traditional plants and planting methods that have withstood the test of time. Create and maintain a garden filled with hues and scents of old-fashioned plants. This book includes everything from natural horticultural methods of propagation, soil fertilization, care and cultivation, to period garden design and layout. This is an absorbing reference for all those wishing to garden the traditional way.

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Book SynopsisThe Curious Gardener's Almanac contains over 1000 entries of remarkable information about flowers, vegetables, fruits, trees, herbs, insects, birds, water, soil, tools, composts, climate, recipes, gardens and gardeners, myths, superstitions, biodynamics..In short it is a collection as profuse and variegated as gardening itself. Woven into this wealth of knowledge are famous quotations, anecdotes, traditional sayings, lines of verse, and words of rural wisdom. The spirit and focus of the Almanac is British but the wider picture is international as so much of our gardens originated from overseas.Dry or dull information has no place in the almanac and its presentation is as appealing as the content.Trade ReviewPacked full of recipes, sages, tips and histories, it is a perfect addition to any greenhouse collection... this book has the capacity to encourage, inform and inspire... A perfect present for the green-fingered * The Ecologist *Crammed with weird facts and ephemera, time-honoured tips and old sayings... this charming book defies categorisation. It'll come in handy for the pub quiz, though * Daily Mail *Collection of nuggets and ancient wisdom related to gardening * The Sunday Times *The Curious Gardener's Almanac is a beautifully written and produced gem of a book. Just the right size to fit into the pocket of a raincoat it is full of helpful hints garnered over the ages * Living North *This is a joyous book * Nottingham Evening Post *

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Book SynopsisThis title features: over 50 glorious gifts and ideas to create from the natural produce grown in your own garden; how to create a wonderful variety of practical and ornamental garden items, both for your garden and as gifts for fellow enthusiasts; over 50 ideas, gifts and projects, illustrated step by step with beautiful photographs; create lovely decorative items like customized garden furniture and containers, painted pots, a decoupage seed box, and a lavender and herb garland. Try making useful tools and accessories such as a gardener's first aid kit, citronella candles, hand-painted plant labels and fruit-picking bags. It includes a seasonal checklist of activities, and planting practicalities such as growing from seed and potting on, to keep you busy in the potting shed through the year. This book takes its inspiration from the potting shed, the practical refuge that provides the perfect space in which to enjoy the potential of your garden. Here are dozens of projects to make, from decorated gift boxes and themed plant baskets to all manner of ornamental garden accessories. Ideas include items that you'll be tempted to keep for yourself, as well as for gifts any gardener would be delighted to receive, such as candle holders, a plant theatre, and a potted Mediterranean herb garden. All the projects are shown with easy-to-follow instructions. With over 350 glorious photographs by well-known, award-winning photographer, Michelle Garrett, this book captures and celebrates the creative spirit of gardening.

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Book Synopsis‘To see a meadow in bloom is a great delight – it’s alive and teeming with life, mysterious, dynamic . . .’ So Christopher Lloyd began his much-admired instructive and celebratory account of meadows, first published in 2004. Few people knew more about meadow gardening than Lloyd, who spent much of his long life developing the flowering tapestries in his garden at Great Dixter, creating scenes of great beauty and a place of pilgrimage for lovers of wildflowers and wildlife. In Meadows he imparted that lifetime’s learning, exploring the development and management of meadow areas, explaining how to establish a meadow in a garden setting, describing the hundreds of beautiful grasses, bulbs and perennials and annuals that thrive in different meadow conditions and detailing how to grow them. Lloyd's classic text remains at the heart of this new book, which also includes – as well as much stunning new photography – an extensive introduction by Fergus Garrett, Lloyd's head gardener.Trade Review"For anyone caring for an existing meadow, or thinking of taking one on, the information contained here is priceless." * Professional Gardener *"Packed with practical tips....This breezy mix of gardening, appreciation of natural processes and symbioses with other species makes the book very engaging and enjoyable. These evolving meadow diaries are set to become classics." * World of Interiors *"A new look at Meadows, in an updated edition, is as timely as ever. In this comprehensive book, every type of meadow is discussed, from bulbs to the “cornfield scene.”" * Gardenista *“Meadows is an inspiring book, factual and enchanting. Whether you have vast acres or a tiny suburban plot, it will encourage you to look at meadows with a new awareness and tempt you to try converting an area of your garden into your own wildlife haven, full of natural and unpretentious beauty. A highly recommended read.” * Cottage Gardener *‘Inspiring imagery.’ * The English Garden *‘Ideal for those wanting their own wildflower patch’ * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisThe focus of this book is on the classic, ageless, and enduring flowers, which we have dubbed Vintage roses. This user-friendly term encompasses both the true Old roses and the best of the Modern roses. All Vintage roses have one thing in common; they are garden-friendly roses that celebrate the style and grace of the old. Vintage roses can be overblown, multi-petalled or deliciously simple, and this sumptuous tome is a love letter to these beautiful blooms. Unearth the hands-on know-how and history of the world's favourite flower. This book will appeal to the armchair gardener, gardening novice and seasoned expert alike. At the heart of the book are over 60 specially selected specimens – including those that have the best visual appearance, the most fragrant perfume, are easy to grow and produce beautiful flowers for cutting. The book covers not just original varieties such as Rosa Mundi (with its beautifully variegated stripes of deep pink and white), but also the wonderful new varieties that have been developed over the last 20 years. The no-fuss notes on pruning and care and the straightforward advice that accompanies each variety completely dispel the myth that roses are difficult or time-consuming to grow – proving that you can just as easily grow roses in a pot on your front steps as you can in a large country garden. Covering the best rambling, climbing and shrub roses, from bourbon to tea and floribunda to polyantha, you’ll be sure to find your new favourite variety. Plus, tips and tricks on arranging your cut roses makes it even easier to enjoy these fabulous flowers at home. With contemporary commentary on each bloom, easy-to-follow advice and glorious photography, this book will appeal to everyone who appreciates the classic beauty of the vintage rose.

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Book Synopsis'A brilliant and inspirational starter kit for anyone who wants to make a garden to suit their own needs.' - Alan TitchmarshAlthough excited by the prospect of moving into their own home for the first time, many people are mystified at the thought of what to do with their outdoor space. Frances Tophill's fuss-free, practical guide shows you how to create a space outside your own back door that's designed by you, built by you and enjoyed by you. Beginning with advice on getting to know your garden - what type of soil you have, what the drainage and light is like - then on getting to know yourself as a gardener - do you want a vegetable patch, an abundance of flowers or simply an extension of your indoor living space? - and then moving on to the practical design, including hard and soft landscaping and building materials and guidance, Frances guides you through different types of plants and how to source and plant them. There is also a section on aftercare, telling you the best way to keep your garden well cared for and easy to maintain throughout the year.

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Book SynopsisEdible Forest Gardens is a groundbreaking two-volume work that spells out and explores the key concepts of forest ecology and applies them to the needs of natural gardeners in temperate climates. Volume I lays out the vision of the forest garden and explains the basic ecological principles that make it work. In Volume II, Dave Jacke and Eric Toensmeier move on to practical considerations: concrete ways to design, establish, and maintain your own forest garden. Along the way they present case studies and examples, as well as tables, illustrations, and a uniquely valuable "plant matrix" that lists hundreds of the best edible and useful species. Taken together, the two volumes of Edible Forest Gardens offer an advanced course in ecological gardening--one that will forever change the way you look at plants and your environment.Trade ReviewBookwatch- Don't expect the usual light gardening guide reading, Volume 1 of Edible Forest Gardens: Ecological Vision and Theory for Temperate Climate Permaculture packs in serious surveys of the ancient practice of forest gardening, which offers homeowners and gardeners a new way of viewing modern home landscaping and nature. Useful plants can be blended to supply daily needs, the land can be 'untamed' to return support to healthy populations of plant and animal species. Years of experience goes into Edible Forest Gardens; this first volume provides a review of the ecological and cultural foundations for recognizing forest gardening as a viable ecological alternative in modern North America. Dave Jacke runs his own ecological design firm consulting on permaculture and landscapes around the world; his co-author Eric Toensmeier founded the former Perennial Vegetable Seed Company and has worked with the New England Small Farm Institute. A highly recommended pick; especially for college-level and serious collections on permaculture and horticulture.Plants and Gardens News--Patricia Jonas, Brooklyn Botanic Garden- But even if you grow enough organic food to feed yourself, are you doing what's best for the ecosystem? "Many drawbacks of modern agriculture persist in organic farming and gardening," Dave Jacke and Eric Toensmeier write in Edible Forest Gardens, because they do not "mimic the structure of natural systems, only selected functions." Even Quail Hill Farm members are still harvesting mostly annual crops grown in plowed fields. Jacke and Toensmeier offer a radical vision for stepping out of the conceptual continuum of conventional agriculture and organic farming. They point to the productivity of temperate forests--which is twice that of agricultural land in terms of net calories--and take that as their design model. Building on Robert Hart's classic book, Forest Gardening, and incorporating permaculture practice, Jacke and Toensmeier propose a garden where many species of edible perennial plants are grown together in a design that mimics forest structure and function. Edible Forest Gardens is an ambitious two-volume work whose influence should extend well beyond ecologists and permaculturists and, in the best of all outcomes, reach into the mainstream. Volume one lays out the "Ecological Vision and Theory for Temperate Climate Permaculture," and it also includes a very useful analysis of existing forest gardens (one only 50 by 90 feet) and a tantalizing 30-page appendix of "top 100" species. As of this writing, volume two, which focuses on practical design and maintenance considerations, is just being released, but on the evidence of volume one, I have no doubt the set will be an indispensable reference for gardeners and farmers for decades. "When people have food gardens," the authors write, "they usually are tucked out of sight and out of view of the neighbors. They rely on external inputs of energy, nutrients, insect and disease controls, and water and are based primarily on annual plants. For some reason, growing food is considered unsightly, unseemly, possibly antisocial, and in some towns and cities, illegal! The tremendous infrastructure we have built in our cities and towns reflects a culture and horticulture of separation and isolation." The consequences of such attitudes about growing food have been disastrous, and each of us can contribute to the repair effort. Jacke and Toensmeier say that the principles of forest gardening can be applied even in a tiny urban yard or on a rooftop. Containers of edible perennials and annuals on a rooftop are not most farmers' idea of agriculture, but I grow nearly 20 percent of the authors' top 100 species and intend to look for ways to take this small start much further. And what about chocolate and oranges? Clearly there are foods that cannot be grown in a temperate forest. "We do not expect forest gardening to replace regular gardening or the foods we know and love," the authors admit. "Just how far we can take forest gardening in supplying food for ourselves is not yet determined." Finding the answer may be the most optimistic work gardeners and farmers can do."These will be the benchmark works in the field for many years. The level of scholarship and meticulous footnoting is unsurpassed by anything I've seen in permaculture literature."--Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia's GardenTable of ContentsList of Tables and Figures Preface Introduction: An Invitation to Adventure What Is an Edible Forest Garden? Gardening LIKE the Forest vs. Gardening IN the Forest Where Can You Grow a Forest Garden? The Garden of Eden: It Sounds Great, But Is It Practical? An Invitation to Adventure 1: The Forest and the Trees The Primal Forest: A Remembrance Gardening the Forest Forest Remnants Feature Article 1: Natives and Exotics: Definitions and Questions Suburban Ecology Gardening in the Industrial Image Lessons Learned Box 1-1: Shifting the Burden to the Intervenor 2: Visions of Paradise Study of the Household: Ecology Defined Tales of Mimicry Advantages of Forest Mimicry The Limitations of Forest Mimics Spanning the Gamut: Images of Forest Gardens Goals of Forest Gardening Revision--the Garden of Eden? Box 2-1: The Principle of Functional Interconnection Case Study 1: Charlie's Garden Part Two: Ecology: Form and Function in the Forest Garden 3: The Five Elements of Forest Architecture Vegetation Layers Feature Article 2: With All These Layers, What Do I Grow in the Shade? Soil Horizons Density Patterning Diversity Summary Case Study 2: Robert's Garden 4: Social Structure: Niches, Relationships and Communities Species, Species Niches, and Species Relationships Multi-Species Interactions: Frameworks of Social Structure Feature Article 3: Natives and Exotics, Opportunists and Invasives Social Structure Design: Strategies and Anchors Chapter Summary 5: Making A Living In The Dark: Structures of the Underground Economy The Anatomy of Self-Renewing Fertility Feature Article 4: Parent Materials: The Soil's Nutritional Constitution Plant Roots: Engines of the Underground Economy The Soil Food Web Summary: Dabbling In The Underground Economy 6: Succession: Four Perspectives on Vegetation Dynamics Classical Linear Succession and Climax Progressive Succession to Shifting Mosaic Steady State Patch Dynamics: Out of Line and Out of Balance A "Unified Oldfield Theory": Successional Causes Feature Article 5: "Invasive" Plants and the Unified Oldfield Theory Succession Design: Using the Four Models Summary: The Simultaneity of the Four Models Case Study 3: E.F. Schumacher Forest Garden Conclusion: Elements, Dynamics, and Desired Conditions Appendices Appendix 1: Forest Gardening's "Top 100" Species Appendix 2: Plant Hardiness Zone Maps Appendix 3: Publications and Organizations Bibliography Glossary General Index

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Book SynopsisThis book takes the houseplant look outside by exploring the wonders of lush, green, foliage plants that are hardy in the garden. Unlike flowers which fade, these big-leaved, larger-than-life plants provide year-round impact for decades and small, urban gardens that are well protected are the perfect home for them. Expert horticulturist Philip Oostenbrink has been an enthusiastic grower for years and in this book recommends the best hardy, foliage plants for texture, leaf shape and colour. Jungle gardens can be shady and immersive, sunny and open or somewhere in between and there are plants suited to all these environments including purple-leaved bananas, desert-island palms, spiky agaves, architectural Pseudopanax and succulents such as Echeveria and Aeonium. Beautiful special photography by Sarah Cuttle features standout jungle gardens that demonstrate how to combine foliage plants effectively and create backdrops and container displays that make the plants pop. This book is the irresistible next step for all houseplant addicts and for all who are ready to embark on their very own jungle adventure.

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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

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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.

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

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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

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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 *

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Book SynopsisIncreasingly, outdoor spaces are becoming our haven – somewhere to breathe again, heighten our senses and escape the onslaught of noise, clutter and technology. This book offers ideas and inspiration for making the most of any outdoor space we might have – whether it is a garden, a patio, balcony, or even just a window box – and for bringing touches of nature indoors for mindful enjoyment. Bestselling author Jane Cumberbatch's 'Pure Style' philosophy is all about making the most of what’s around you and finding beauty in the simple and everyday as an achievable alternative to the stressful demands of consumer society. In this book, which was put together over the course of 2020, she draws on the inspiration of her own home and garden to supply ideas for life-affirming colour, scent and texture, and to show how even the most unpromising outdoor space can be a source of sensuous renewal. Viewing the garden as an extension of the home, and with ideas for all seasons, this beautiful and inspiring book is illustrated with glorious photographs and enchanting paintings by the author herself. A book for dipping into or enjoying as one long read, or both.Trade Review"With the health benefits of gardens and gardening becoming more widely accepted over the last troubled months, this is just the book for our time...she packs in information, with practical gardening tips such as hints on the thorny subject of rose pruning, imaginatively simple recipes for home-grown produce, and suggestions for home decorations that bring the outside indoors." -- Vanessa Berridge * The Garden * "A moment of joy in a difficult world." * The Blackberry Garden - blog *"A gorgeous celebration of gardening and growing. Jane Cumberbatch manages to convey the joy - the very essence - of gardening." * Reclaim magazine *"An evocative garden diary studded with nuggets of helpful information." * The English Garden *"Part diary, part notebook, part recipe book and part photo album, reading the four seasonal chapters is like going to stay with someone and gradually finding out the story of their garden and what makes it so special." * Waitrose Weekend *"The rich tapestry of garden journaling, horticultural advice, nature-inspired recipes and home-styling tips, illustrated with photographs and Jane's own paintings...will strike a chord with those of us who turned to gardening, journaling, art or cooking as therapy during uncertain times." * Gardens Illustrated *"A study in understated but elegant style." * The Gloss Magazine *"Muted colours, natural textures, and vintage touches have all been a part of interior designer Jane Cumberbatch’s ‘Pure Style’ philosophy and in this book she addresses the outdoor spaces which are our retreats. Expect simple, stylish ideas on how to use plants and accessories to achieve ‘Pure Style’ and ultimately furnish a garden like a room. Whatever its size, a garden can be a source of visual and mindful pleasure all year round." -- Independent"I love books you can dip into over a cup of coffee and find a snippet of information or an idea and Pure Style in the Garden is just that...richly illustrated and very much a visual notebook with excellent photographs and the added bonus of Jane’s own paintings." * Reckless Gardener *'A book packed with inspiration - not just for the overall aesthetic and philosophy of gardening - it encourages you to pay more attention, to observe your ever-changing space and perhaps to create a scrapbook of your own.'Table of ContentsIntroduction The garden is a place to be as much as a place to grow things in. Winter The time for planning and dreaming. And what to do in winter. Spring First shoots. What to do in spring. Summer Summer of colour and scent. What to do in summer. Autumn Long shadows and vivid plants. What to do in autumn. Glossary, sources of inspiration, places to go, index, acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisThe complete beginner's guide to selecting and maintaining the right plants for all of your spaces!Plants are like people they feel at home in certain spaces and not in others. House Plants for Every Space explains how to select the right plants for your home or office depending on the available light, the design you want, the size of the space, and the amount of time you have to maintain your greenery. Authors Etsuhiro Mashita and Momoko Sato, collectively known as Green Interior, provide you with dozens of options for various types of spaces, then show you how to match your containers to the plants, how to arrange and display them to maximize their beauty, and how to keep the plants healthy so you won't lose them!This complete all-in-one guide provides green solutions for every space imaginable, for example:Low-light spaces far from windows, where ferns are the perfect solutionLarge rooms where the plants can dominate, with generous groupings of succulents, air plants and MonsteraTrade Review"The guidance on caring for plants will be a boon to first-time plant owners and stylish photos of houses decorated with greenery spark the imagination (one residence uses hanging plants in place of curtains). Even readers without a green thumb will feel inspired to add some plants to their living space." --Publisher's Weekly"In this poetic yet practical survey of plants to suit any room, Mashita Etsuhiro and Sato Momoko, the owners of Tokyo plant shop Green Interior appeal to both readers' senses and their minds." --Booklist

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Book SynopsisOur planet, the Earth, is under threat, with potentially catastrophic consequences for ourselves and the other lifeforms it sustains. Yet Nature itself can still rescue us - with plants playing a pivotal role, in the countryside - and everywhere. In gardens and parks, plants are the mainstay of our relationship with the natural world, and we celebrate them for the pleasures they bring. However, that can be part of the problem: too often we value plants for their aesthetic qualities rather than the vital role they play in the ecology of the Earth. In Gardening in a Changing World Darryl Moore explores how gardens can be better for human beings and for all the other lifeforms that inhabit them. Recent developments in horticulture and plant science show us that we need to rethink our attitude to plants beyond purely aesthetic concerns, and to adopt more holistic approaches to how we design, inhabit and enjoy our gardens. He looks at the history of garden design, to show how we got to where we are today, and recommends ways of changing to new principles of sustainable ecological horticulture. This challenging and important new book will be essential reading for professionals and students of horticulture and garden and landscape design, as well as for anyone interested in making gardens part of the solution to the future of life on Earth.Trade Review‘The most illuminating book on this very important subject.’ -- Cleve West, multi-award-winning garden designer and popular author of books including Our Plot and The Garden of Vegan"I can't recommend this new book enough...a comprehensive and deeply researched account of humans' relationship with plants. The depth of the book is quite extraordinary. It's not a glossy image-led garden book, it's a serious text. And it is a fantastic and up-to-date overview of current trends and approaches in planting design." -- Nigel Dunnett, academic, plantsman, Olympic Park planting designer, author'This book not only acknowledges some of our greatest plantspeople, but ensures that we must always remember plants are front and centre stage on Earth . . . always!' -- Arit Anderson, garden designer, presenter Gardeners' World"The book every gardener needs." -- Claire Masset * Author, Secret Gardens of the National Trust, via Twitter *"Darryl Moore has been revolutionising how we grow in cities for the past decade and picked up a medal for his city-friendly design at RHS Chelsea this year. Here he galvanises readers to make meaningful change - whether in their gardens or beyond." * Sunday Times Best Gardening Books Autumn 2022 *"If there were a prize for most timely publication of the year, this would be a contender...This must-read book is expertly divided into neat, digestible sections that are jam-packed with fascinating and vital information." * Gardens Illustrated Books of the Year *"The premise of this book is simple. To avert further climate crisis and biodiversity loss, we need to rethink our relationship with plants. Gardening in a Changing World covers many complex topics, but it does so in short, digestible chapters and a lucid style...It will alter the way you garden." * Garden Design Journal *"The book forms a new intellectualism towards the use of plants. Moore's book cites more than 300 sources showing how recent developments in horticulture and plant science show how gardens can be better for humans and other lifeforms." -- Matthew Appleby * Horticulture Week *"Darryl Moore explores how our humble gardens could be key to saving us all from the climate crisis. He turns our enjoyment of plants on its head, showing how their vital importance to the future of the planet is even more beautiful than their aesthetic appeal. The book also draws on recent scientific research to offer guidance into changing our gardening habits and rethinking the design and use of our outside spaces for sustainable, future-proof gardens." * Evening Standard *"Hugely informative" * Amateur Gardening *"Gardening in a Changing World sets a new high-water mark in our individual and collective understanding and appreciation of the art and science of ecological planting design. A book for any ecologically-minded gardener or design professional looking to seriously sharpen and elevate their knowledge, awareness, and skill levels." * The New Perennialist *"A fascinating exploration of how gardens can be better for human beings, with reference to recent plant science that demonstrates the need to have a new attitude to plants beyond aesthetics. This book provides an introduction to taking a holistic approach when designing, inhabiting and enjoying our gardens." -- The Garden (RHS)Table of Contents Preface Introduction - A Changing World: Life in the Anthropocene; the climate and extinction crises 1. Plants as Producers: In Praise of Plants; Plants and a Changing Planet 2. Plants as Panacea: The Unseen Green- Plant Blindness; Health and Well-being; The Nature Disconnect; Managing the Environment; Ecosystem Services; Environmental Practice; Novel Ecosystems; Urban Ecology; Garden Ecology; Cleaning up the Garden 3. Plants as Pictures - Historical Planting Styles: Growing the Idea of the Garden; The Colourists (Gertrude Jekyll, the Garden Club of America, Lawrence Johnston, Vita Sackville-West, Margery Fish, Rosemary Verey, Penelope Hobhouse, etc.); Planting Through the Lens of Modernism (Garrett Eckbo, Thomas Church, Roberto Burle Marx, John Brookes, etc); The Zenith of Pictorial. Planting and the Path to Biodiversity (Christopher Lloyd and Fergus Garrett at Great Dixter); Right Plant, Right Place (Beth Chatto) 4. Plants as Processes - The ecological alternative: Ecological Planting; Plant Communities; The Competitive Edge and Beyond; Ecological Developments in the United States; Growing Wild in the Netherlands; Ecological Developments in Germany; New Directions in Britain; France: All Change 5. Plant as Possibilities: Ecotypes; The Rhizosphere; Mutualisms; Microbiomes; Biocenology; Plant Intelligence (Thinking Like a Plant) 6. Plants as Partners Traditional Ecological Knowledge; The Law of the Land; A Plantcentric Perspective Notes, Resources, Index, Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Gardening Book of the Year 2019 In Scent Magic, a book which is at once romantic and extremely practical, plantswoman, designer and garden-maker extraordinaire Isabel Bannerman immerses the reader in the luscious smells of the fragrant garden through a warmly written account of her year’s gardening; and combines this with an encyclopaedic reference work of the best aromatic plants to grow throughout the seasons. Whether evoking the freshly baked sponge smell emanating from wisteria, describing ‘Stanwell Perpetual’ as "the kind of rose that would taste of apricot and raspberries swirled together", or championing the magic of the Himalayan cowslip, "scented profoundly and deliciously like the dark vault of a Damascus spice merchant’" the glorious poetry of her descriptions is here joined with personal memories and a lifetime’s experience of gardening and plant cultivation.Trade Review"Essentially Scent Magic is a series of musings: lyrical, intimate, unique, often random, always interesting...part private reflection, part plant history. In her preface Bannerman warns: 'information is everywhere, information is cheap, so this book is not really about information...the intention is simply to encourage curiosity.' In that she succeeds brilliantly." -- Katie Campbell * Hortus *"A gloriously sensual diary of her garden’s smells, magically charting the turning of a growing year from the intense frankincense-like perfume of the winter-flowering witchhazel, Hamamelis ‘Advent’, to the sweet summer fruitiness of honeysuckle. A book to treasure." * Irish Times Gardening Books of the Year *"There's a runaway winner among the gardening books this year: Scent Magic: Notes from a Gardener. It's intoxicating; there's never been a book quite like it...Any gardener will come away from this book full of excited plans for planting but it is no less enthralling for those who merely enjoy gardens, those who have sensuality in life, which is to say, this book would make a genuinely life-enhancing present for almost anybody." -- David Sexton * Evening Standard Best Gardening Books for 2019 *"Highly poetic...Isabel Bannerman has written a book that almost incidentally describes plants' perfumes while giving a massively informative tour of her garden and of garden plants in general. She is the perfect hostess - intelligent, travelled, well-connected, charming, intimate, wry, a hard-drinking and altogether delightful character." * The Times *"In this lyrical book, [Bannerman] leads us by the nose...writing the way she plants, to lush effect. The photographs...and plant portraits are wondrous." * Saga magazine *"The author explores the smells of the plant kingdom in her own inimitable style, combining poetic descriptions with hands-on, practical knowledge." * Irish News Best Gardening Books of the Year *"Sumptuous." * The Herald (Scotland) *"I was thoroughly transported...it’s as much a memoir through a lifetime of appreciating the fragrance of the seasons as it is a plant guide. This is a beautiful and moving book, something to linger over, to cherish — and to remind us, as Bannerman writes, 'this is a great day to inhale'." * The New York Times Book Review *"Part diary and part practical guide to perfumed plants, illustrated with [the author's] own photographs, it is a dream of a book, wandering off down scented pathways of memories, moods and moments past." * Sunday Times - Gardening Book of the Year *"Follows its nose to some intriguing places." * Evening Standard *"Evocative descriptions of favourite scented plants are interspersed through the diary-like text, with the author's own photographs lighting up the pages. A book to lose yourself in." * House & Garden *"There hasn't been a decent book on the notoriously elusive and subjective topic of garden scents for more than 20 years, so it is pleasant to be able wholeheartedly to recommend Scent Magic...a stylish, highly personal, scientifically illuminating account - part diary, part plant description - of her encounters with scented plants, both actual and in memory, through the course of one year." -- Ursula Buchan * Spectator *"Part-practical handbook, part-autobiography, part-philosophical reflection on art and Nature...this book is an absolute feast, not only for gardeners, but for anyone interested in art and Nature and in living well." -- John Hoyland * Country Life *"A collection of notes, memories and beautifully detailed observations of fragrance throughout the year....This has to be one of the most beautifully written pieces I have read in a long time...it brings to mind the writing of Vita Sackville West. The book is illustrated with gorgeous garden photography by the author and many of Isabel's striking botanical portraits. Scent Magic is a wonderfully romantic book and should sit on the book shelf of anyone who likes to sit and bask in the seasons as they pass. It is a love letter to the easily missed details in the gardening year and shows how plants can seep into every corner of life." * Gardens Illustrated *

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Book Synopsis"[T]he genius of Hanson's fascinating, inspiring, and entertaining book stems from the fact that it is not about how all kinds of things grow from seeds it is about the seeds themselves."-Mark Kurlansky, New York Times Book ReviewTrade Review"For the past fifty seven years I have relied on seeds for food and, throughout much of my horticultural career for earning a living. This new book has re excited my fascination for these wonderful living structures... [I]nformative, yet readable... [A] fascinating book." --Chris Allen, The Gardening Times (UK) "In The Triumph of Seeds, Thor Hanson offers the reader a smorgasbord of the science and lore of seeds... Hanson, following the recipe developed in his acclaimed book Feathers, breathes life into the sometimes dry topic of seed biology by weaving a colorful tapestry of stories that entertain as well as inform... The Triumph of Seeds is eminently readable. Hanson is a great story teller and writes in a conversational style, so reading the book is like having an extended conversation with an entertaining friend... The Triumph of Seeds is a thoroughly fun read, perfect for anyone wanting an introduction to seeds or for those who enjoy lively natural history." --Douglasia (Washington Native Plants Society journal) "Hanson's highly readable The Triumph of Seeds is replete with fascinating facts, including the development of caffeine in coffee beans." --Texas Gardener's Seeds "Thor Hanson has taken the history and science of these little marvels and drawn out a fascinating account of seed culture. We should not forget the importance of seeds in the liquor cabinet, as well. From rye whiskey, to wheat vodka, to barley beer, it would be a lot harder to get drunk without our friends in the grain world." --Home Wet Bar blog "[Hanson's] luck for finding then writing about the magic in something common continues with The Triumph of Seeds." --Seattle Times "Lest you get the impression that Hanson's book is all academic grit and gruel, be advised that he has thoroughly leavened his narrative with odd facts and fascinating digressions." --Natural History "This is a charming book, inspired by Hanson's forays into seed identification and dispersal with his young, seed-obsessed son... Hanson's twist of looking at human interactions with plants in their embryonic stage is new... The Triumph of Seeds will engender thoughtful consideration of our joint future." --Nature "Hanson's writing is lively, inquisitive, and knowledgeable. He draws on his own knowledge and that of a wide field of experts, writing a clear, comprehensible book that covers a wide range of topics." --Fangirl Nation "[Hanson is] jocular and entertaining in his dispensing of remarkable facts about these little vessels of life-to-be... From high-tech, high-security seed banks bracing for climate change to the story of the gum extracted from guar seeds that is used in everything from ice cream to fracking, this upbeat and mind-expanding celebration of the might of seeds is popular science writing at its finest." --Booklist, starred review "[A] delightful account of the origins, physiologies and human uses of a vast variety of objects that plants employ to make more plants... A fine addition to the single-issue science genre." --Kirkus Reviews "Hanson writes in that breezy, enthused, confident way of good American science writers, scattering stories and analogies like dandelion seed-puffs... [The Triumph of Seeds] is a good example of extrovert nature writing, weaving together biology, human history and 'juicy seed lore'." --British Wildlife (UK) "Who knew that seeds could be so thrilling and dangerous? Thor Hanson is a lively storyteller, a lyrical writer, and a quick wit. The Triumph of Seeds is more than an engrossing work of natural history. It's a compelling and highly entertaining journey, populated by scientists and historians, criminals and explorers, aviators and futurists. Following Hanson's global voyage is the best sort of armchair travel, because it is filled with wonder, poetry, and discovery." --Amy Stewart, author of The Drunken Botanist: The Plants That Create the World's Great Drinks, a New York Times Bestseller "This beautifully written book is a magnificent read. Every page is full of surprises and illuminating insights, illustrating the fascinating evolution of seeds, and their extraordinary impact on humans, past and present. A master storyteller, Hanson has created a first-rate natural history. When you reach the end of this page-turner, you will wish there were more ... and you will never look at seeds in the same way." --Eric Jay Dolin, author of Leviathan: The History of Whaling in America and When America Met China: An Exotic History of Tea, Drugs, and Money in the Age of Sail "Written in an engaging style, the book flows nicely; each chapter leads into the next, so the book is hard to put down." --Choice "Hanson's cinematic accounts of his own research and his interactions with the experts behind his stories set this apart from other era-hopping historical narratives." --The American Gardener "Hanson does his job well. And in the end becomes one of my favorite kind of writers -- the kind who can take something so seemingly (and perhaps deceptively) simple and so oven overlooked and make it not only relevant, but fun... People who want to get students more interested in science would do well to read The Triumph of Seeds and take note: tell stories, combine science and technology with pop culture, art, and literature, have a sense of humor, be enthusiastic." --Catherine Ramsdell, Pop Matters "A beautifully written story of seeds. The author has a gift for explaining science in an engaging manner. Despite this lightness of touch, the book is deeply researched and explores a breadth of horticulture, history and ecology."--Garden News "[The Triumph of Seeds] successfully blends natural history, personal anecdotes, and 'proper' science and ties them all together seamlessly with lovely writing. Although often over-used, I think Seeds can be summed up appropriately in one word: Charming."--Nigel Chaffey, Annals of Biology blog "[A]n intriguing look at the acorns that grow into oaks, the orchid beans that flavor vanilla extract, and other ordinary seeds that affect the world, often in extraordinary ways... [The Triumph of Seeds] is a mix of lively stories, adventure, natural history, botany and ecology... Hanson's book isn't a 'how-to,' but it is a 'don't miss' for naturalists, from amateurs to experts, or for anyone who enjoys growing plants from seeds." --HGTVGardens.com "How do you summarize a book that traverses every continent, plumbs the depths of human and paleontological history and skims both the ocean waves and the dead silence of outer space? The Triumph of Seeds does just that, tracing the journey of seeds and making a case that he world as we know it is saturated with, and impossible without, seeds." --Deseret News "[A] delight. Composed in charming and lively prose, the book introduces readers to a variety of quirky figures -- biologists, farmers, archaeologists and everyday gardeners -- who have something profound to say about a seemingly mundane topic: those little kernels that, against tremendous odds, have managed to take root all around us... The Triumph of Seeds is a remarkable, gentle and refreshing piece of work that draws readers further into the wide arms of the world and makes them grateful for it." --BookPage "Conservation biologist Hanson's new book showcases an even more approachable style than his 2011 Feathers. Using a personalized viewpoint derived from his backyard lab and dissertation research in Costa Rica with the almendro tree, as well as visits with specialists worldwide, he describes how seeds nourish, unite, endure, defend, and travel." --Library Journal "[F]ast and fascinating prose... Hanson, who has also chronicled feathers and gorillas, is a conservation biologist and Guggenheim fellow, and an ace dot-connector: He can draw a line between all the grain panics and crises and the tiny, miraculous structure of the seeds themselves, because he dives deeply into botany, economy and history. Also, he's just plain fun." --Denver Post "[A] rip-roaring read." --Robert Krulwich, National Geographic's Curiously Krulwich blog "With light, engaging prose Hanson shows how the little spheroids we tip out of a packet are in fact supremely elegant genetic time capsules. The Triumph of Seeds takes you past the casing into the extraordinary inner workings of objects without which our landscapes, dinner plates, and gardens would be unrecognisable. You will never be able to look at an orange pip or a sunflower seed in the same way again." --New Scientist "[An] engaging book... What makes The Triumph of Seeds more than a routine pop botany book is the way Mr. Hanson teases out the resonances between the ways that plants and humans use seeds... [A] lively and intelligent book." --Richard Mabey, Wall Street Journal "[T]he genius of Hanson's fascinating, inspiring and entertaining book stems from the fact that it is not about how all kinds of things grow from seeds; it is about the seeds themselves. Hanson...takes one of the least-impressive-looking natural objects and reveals a life of elegance and wonder... Although he is a storyteller by nature, he also charms us with an infectious enthusiasm. The reader feels that Hanson cannot wait to tell us what comes next... Like all good writers, he understands narrative -- that a book, at its best, is a story, and that this one is built by spinning stories within stories. They are fun, sometimes they are funny, and they are always fascinating and readable... [An] engaging book." --Mark Kurlansky, New York Times Book Review "Hanson delivers botanical information with wit and imagination. How seeds nurture themselves with starch, proteins, and oils may be a prosaic affair, but Hanson enlivens the explanation of their diverse nourishment strategies by examining the components of an Almond Joy candy bar: coconut palm, cacao beans, almond, corn." --Orion "Hanson, a wide-ranging naturalist and writer, explores, chapter by chapter, the many faceted aspects of seeds... And throughout, he weaves his own tales from his gardening. I loved this book and learned a lot." --Carol Savonen, Statesman Journal PRAISE FOR THE HARDCOVER EDITION Winner of the 2016 PNBA Book Award A finalist for the 2016 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books, Young Adult Science Book category "This is the kind of accessible science writing that keeps readers engrossed, never realizing how much knowledge they're picking up along the way. Who knew that seeds could be so fascinating? Hanson's narrative voice and personal anecdotes make for easy and enjoyable reading--and learning." --Judges' citation, 2016 PNBA Book Award "San Juan Island conservation biologist Hanson explores the easily-overlooked but fascinating key to much of life on Earth, from coffee beans and the nut in Almond Joys to ancient grasses and sticky burdock seeds, which inspired Velcro" --Seattle Times, Best Books of 2015 "Combining personal anecdotes with rich historical examples, conservation biologist Thor Hanson delves into the origins and evolution of seeds, explains their unique ability to equip new plants with the nutrients they need to gain purchase in their respective ecosystems, and describes their host of formidable defenses. Drawing connections between, for example, coffee beans and the Enlightenment and wheat shortages and the Arab Spring, Hanson deftly shows how seeds have also played an important role in human history." --Science PRAISE FOR THE PAPERBACK EDITION "[Seeds'] ubiquity has often meant that their evolutionary solutions are overlooked, but the author appraises them with a keen and appreciative eye." --New York Times Book Review, Paperback Row "Biologist Thor Hanson sows the ultimate celebration of seeds and how they conquered the earth." --Nature "[The Triumph of Seeds] explores the importance of seeds, with scientific explanations, humorous first-person accounts and historical anecdotes." --Alaska Beyond "Hanson's style is that of a well-honed raconteur... For every point he makes, there's a tale (or two) that illustrates, and connects, and invites us explore the idea further. We begin to realize the amazing impact seeds have had on development of civilizations." --Connie Bennett, KLCC-FM (Eugene, OR) "A delightful work of natural history by San Juan Islands writer Hanson, about seeds, their role in nature's life cycle and in our lives." --Seattle Times "Imbued with open-eyed, childlike passion for his subject, conservation biologist Thor Hanson celebrates the triumph of seeds... Hanson is a genial and poetic guide, cleverly weaving together biology and culture." --Galapagos Matters (UK)Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Fierce Energy Seeds Nourish 1. Seed for a Day 2. The Staff of Life 3. Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut Seeds Unite 4. What the Spike Moss Knows 5. Mendel's Spores Seeds Endure 6. Methuselah 7. Take It to the Bank Seeds Defend 8. By Tooth, Beak, and Gnaw 9. The Riches of Taste 10 The Cheeriest Beans 11. Death by Umbrella Seeds Travel 12. Irresistible Flesh 13. By Wind and Wave Conclusion: The Future of Seeds

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Book SynopsisPonds and water features have been popular in gardens for thousands of years. This book is aimed at anyone who is thinking of building a pond, anyone who has bought some of the materials but doesn't know how to start or anyone who has a pond and needs to know how to keep it at its best.The book starts with the basics of assessing the garden, checking the site, planning and preparation, tools and materials and electrical wiring and safety. With the basics established the authors introduce the many different types of pond and how they can be created, maintained and enhanced.From split-level ponds to wildlife ponds, plant and fish and adding sculptures, bird houses, stones and bridges, each subject is presented in a clear way with box features, lists and questions and answers. The final chapter looks at water features - a rock pool or stream for a large garden or a small wall mask or trough for a tiny back garden.

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Book SynopsisTrying to understand the wonders and mysteries of the natural world has been a human preoccupation since the earliest times. Myriad myths and legends have subsequently evolved to explain the existence and power of our fertile planet. At the same time, the knowledge of which plants to use as essential foods, remedies, and for construction was of obvious importance, not only to learn but also to pass on and remember. It is therefore hardly surprising that from all corners of the globe a wealth of stories, myths and legends about plants has been passed down to us, gathered together in this fascinating volume. Here you will discover sound principles in some of the traditional advice, and wisdom in many of the observations of the plant world. However there are also highly fanciful superstitions, intriguing tales and amusing anecdotes, which any plant lover will truly relish. Discover which trees are believed to have healing powers? How, in legend, the white rose turn red? Why the lily is a symbol of purity? Any why is it considered unlucky to bring some flowers indoors? Table of Contents1 Introduction 8 2 The wonder of flowers 12 3 Modesty and chastity: floral virtues 14 4 Degrees of passion - the language of flowers 15 5 Flowers and their meanings 16 6 Flower 'mania' 18 7 Cherry blossom beauty 19 8 Faces to the sun 20 9 The rose of love 21 10 The pure lily 22 11 Flowers arranged 24 12 Flowers that tell the time 25 13 Petal power 27 14 Liquid roses 28 15 The poppy of oblivion 29 16 Foxglove to strengthen the heart 31 17 Efficacious chamomile 32 18 The May, a flower of mixed fortunes 33 19 Flowers of fate 34 20 Bringing home the May 35 21 Floral pick-me-ups 36 22 Flowers of St John's Eve 37 23 Dreams of flowers 38 24 Fairy flowers 39 25 The lotus: flower of creation 40 26 In floral form 41 27 The lore of trees 42 28 The wild wood 44 29 The apple of immortality 45 30 The powerful divining rod 46 31 The prophetic oak 48 32 The ash: tree of life 49 33 Wand of wood - and magic 50 34 Branches in flight 51 35 Branches of the gallows tree 52 36 Trees of wisdom and curiosity 53 37 The mysterious upside-down tree 54 38 The immortal olive 55 39 Victory bay and palm 56 40 The useful coconut 57 41 The precious vine 58 42 Tree cures 60 43 Healing branches 61 44 Remedies from bark 62 45 Fruits for fertility 64 46 Around the maypole 65 47 O Christmas tree! 67 48 Trees of the graveyard 68 49 Trees of immortality 69 50 In the form of trees 70 51 The power of plants 72 52 The green, green grass 74 53 The wonder of wheat 75 54 Precious rice grains 77 55 Potato lore 78 56 Mystery maize 80 57 Harvest time 81 58 Witches' plants 82 59 Deadly insect-eaters 84 60 Tobacco smoke - wafting up to heaven 86 61 Mind-changing hemp 87 62 Sacred fungi 88 63 Plants of remembrance 89 64 Painting with plants 91 65 Plant music 92 66 The garden of delights 93 67 The story of incense 94 68 What's in a name? 95 69 The living pharmacy 97 70 Soothing seeds 98 71 Root cures: ginger and liquorice 100 72 Herbs for a better night's sleep 101 73 Full of (coffee) beans 102 74 Tea: the cup that heals 104 75 The blessed garlic bulb 105 76 Plant purges - nasty medicine 106 77 Healing essences 108 78 Easing the toothache 110 79 Against the gout 111 80 Hair tomorrow? 112 81 Pain from plants 113 82 Deadly vegetation 114 83 Nature's pick-me-ups 116 84 Passing water 118 85 Against unwelcome warts 120 86 For problem skin 121 87 To cool a burn 122 88 Better memories 123 89 Coping with alcohol 124 90 Safe at home 125 91 Lucky leaves 126 92 Reading the leaves 128 93 Ensuring conception 130 94 Who'll be my love? 131 95 Nature at Halloween 132 96 Christmas evergreens 134 97 New Year, new start 136 98 Index 138

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Book SynopsisAn insider's guide to the world's greatest 'secret' gardens, green spaces, and pocket parks tucked away in cities around the globeTrade Review"Leads us down the garden path to more than 260 charming but little-known green spaces where urbanites and travelers can linger... One of our favorite spring picks... Go forth and garden gaze."—MOTTO/TIME"The perfect tool for busy urbanites looking to discover tranquil spaces within their city. Featuring 150 metropolises, it showcases quiet courtyards and lawns, contemplative rooftop terraces and conservatories, and spirited community gardens."—First Magazine"The first 'secret garden' city guide to feature a groundbreaking range of over 260 gardens in more than 150 cities worldwide. A treasure map of charming little-known gardens and hidden spaces, this amazing guide is your key to discovering leafy gems."—Project Calm"[A] travel guide, but with a twist."—New York Magazine Online"From pocket parks to rooftop terraces and greenhouses galore - secret gardens can be found in the wildest of urban jungles... Packed with quirky trivia and stunning photography, Toby Musgrave's latest coffee-table book, Green Escapes: The Guide to Secret Urban Gardens, shows where you can find an oasis in some of the world's busiest cities."—TheClub BA"An oasis amidst the hardscape of a large city is like a breath of fresh air... The little known, rarely visited and most beautiful green escapes in our busiest global centres... Toby Musgrave, a historian of gardens, has complied 260 of these green escapes... While working on a book about large private gardens in rural settings [...] Musgrave started thinking of the small, publicly accessible spaces tucked away in major cities, the kinds of havens he seeks out when travelling."—Australian Financial Review Magazine"Sized perfectly to toss into a backpack... Wanderlust-inspiring."—Garden & Gun Online"[Toby Musgrave] has given residents and visitors alike a lifeline with a guide not to the obvious green spaces in cities across the world but to the "compact hidden gems and secret oases" that are little known... It's a comprehensive list... What I particularly liked was the classification of the gardens with symbols alongside the garden giving an idea of its type."—TheChattyGardener.com"An encyclopaedia of gardens that are open to the public, but not (yet) famous."—Elle Decoration"If you like to discover hidden green spaces, keep this book close at hand when planning your next city break... This is a guide focused on the unfamiliar and the intimate, places often unknown even to many of the local residents... I know I'll be packing the book when I head off on any city breaks."—Gardens Illustrated"If garden tourism used to be exclusively for budding botanists, well, no more."—Atlas (Etihad Airways in-flight magazine)"Captivating."—Town & Country"Heads off the beaten track to unearth the world's finest hidden spaces. Covering 260 gardens in more than 150 cities worldwide, this new travel guide will be the key to seeking out leafy gems away from tourist hotspots."—TheCultureTrip.com"If you look for them, cities around the world are full of secret gardens and green spaces, many of which are unknown even to locals. New book Green Escapes explores these hidden courtyards, former industrial lands and reclaimed rooftops."—Hawkins"The book that show[s]... in any busy global city, green is good."—Atlas Obscura"It's a small book you can easily take on a trip, and you'll be using it for years as you travel the globe."—Garden Design Online"A perfect guide for kicking off any urban adventure this summer."—Surface"From walled garden oases to window boxes, city dwellers have a talent for making the most of small plots... [Green Escapes] is a guidebook to more than 250 little-known green spaces from across the world that vary in size, landscaping and purpose; the pocket-sized drama of Seattle's Waterfall Garden Park is in there, but so is the quietly haunting expanse of Warsaw's Jewish Cemetery."—Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisThe debut book in the internationally successful No-Waste Gardening series, No-Waste Kitchen Gardening is a fun and colorful exploration of the amazing results you can get by re-growing vegetable cutoffs and scraps into harvestable, edible plants. Stop tossing your carrot stumps, loose cilantro sprigs, lettuce and cabbage stalks, and apple cores in the trash! The expert advice in No-Waste Kitchen Gardening, gives you all the instruction and tricks you’ll need to grow and re-propagate produce from food waste. You’ll be astonished at how much food waste you can re-grow. You’ll also find some helpful general information about growing indoors and maintaining your re-grown plants. Two-part photo instructions show first what the root, chunk seed, or leaf should look like when you re-plant it, and second, when to harvest or re-plant it in soil to continue growing. Trade ReviewNo-Waste Kitchen Gardening is a valuable resource for people who are concerned with living a more frugal lifestyle...and it's an added bonus that's it's also fun to read! * CrystalMcCann.com *Author Katie Elzer-Peters provides expert advice on how to use your scraps to re-grow almost an entire garden right on your kitchen counter, or from a small piece of your yard * Earthformed *

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

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

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