Home & Garden Books

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Book Synopsis Brimming with botanical information, indoor and outdoor growing advice, details on propagation, display ideas, and even craft projects, this book is a petite but complete tribute to the mighty fern.Part of the Cool Springs Press “mini” series of garden-related books, Ferns offers the same inspirational and useful content as The Complete Book of Ferns in a smaller, giftable format.From the classic Boston Fern to newer varieties like trendy Crispy Wave, ferns are back in fashion and in demand for both indoor and outdoor planting. Among the very oldest plants on the planet, ferns have a long and storied history and there are thousands of known varieties globally. Authored by Mobee Weinstein, the Foreman of Gardens at the New York Botanical Garden in Brooklyn and a veteran guest on the Martha Stewart Living TV show and other media outlets, the book covers everything from the powers associated with ferns

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Book SynopsisBeautifully presented coffee table book showcasing 17 new contemporary residences, each one designed by renowned architects and interior designers from all over the world.

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Book SynopsisAn illustrated study of the ongoing career of the iconic B-52, chronicling its frontline service after Operation Desert Storm in 1991.First flown in 1955, the B-52 has become an icon of deterrence and the long reach of American air power. The aircraft was conceived as a long-range nuclear bomber, but its versatility saw it used as a heavy-weight bomb truck' in Vietnam and a launcher of stand-off air-to-ground missiles during Operation Desert Storm. Following the First Gulf War, B-52s have continued to see combat, undertaking close air support missions during patrols above Al-Qaeda insurgents and Taliban forces in Afghanistan from 200103 for example, and have upheld their reputation as America's Big Stick' by acting as a deterrent in situations such as the Chinese friction with Taiwan in 2023.In this illustrated volume, combat aircraft expert Peter E Davies draws on fresh research and first-hand accounts to tell the story of the later career of this iconic and enduring aircraft, examining its service from Operation Desert Storm onwards. Twenty-two newly commissioned profile artworks complement a variety of photographs from both official and private collections, demonstrating the colour schemes, nose art and new weapons that have become features of late-20th and 21st-century B-52 units.

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Book SynopsisToby Faber was born in Cambridge in 1965 and now lives in London with his wife and daughter. This is his first book.Trade Review"'fascinating, accessible and enjoyable' - Tracy Chevallier"

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Book SynopsisChiltern Publishing creates the most beautiful editions of the World's finest literature. Your favourite classic titles in a way you have never seen them before; the tactile embossed layers, fine details and beautiful colours of these remarkable covers make these titles feel extra special and will look striking on any shelf.

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Book SynopsisRoger Phillips is an award-winning photographer with a reputation spanning thirty years. He has consistently pioneered the use of colour photography for the reliable identification of natural history subjects, and has written numerous books dedicated to this purpose, including Roses and Herbs. Described as Mr Mushrooms because of his expertise in the field, Roger has written and presented two major six-part TV series on gardening (BBC & Channel 4). Famed for his ebullient personality and garish red glasses, he has become a well-recognized figure in the world of gardening.Trade ReviewRoger Phillips has written the best mushroom book I know: the sublime taxonomic accuracy of his descriptions and photographs, combined with an evangelical and infectious passion for the subject, will make an instant mycophile of anyone who picks it up. -- Hugh Fearnley-WhittingstallA masterpiece of identification. -- David BellamyTable of ContentsIntroduction - i: Introduction Index - ii: Visual Index Section - iii: Glossary Section - iv: BASIDIOMYCETES Chapter - 1: Mushrooms with Gills Chapter - 2: Mushrooms with Primitive Gills Chapter - 3: Mushrooms and Fungi with Pores Chapter - 4: Fungi with Spines Chapter - 5: Stomach Fungi Chapter - 6: Bird's Nest Fungi Chapter - 7: Stinkhorns Chapter - 8: Club and Spindle Fungi Chapter - 9: Coral Fungi Chapter - 10: Jelly Fungi Section - v: ASCOMYCETES Chapter - 11: Morels Chapter - 12: Saddle Fungi Chapter - 13: Cup Fungi Chapter - 14: Ear Fungi Chapter - 15: Club-shaped Fungi Chapter - 16: Finger & Disc Fungi Chapter - 17: Truffles Chapter - 18: Spots and Crusts Index - vi: Index

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Book SynopsisIncludes capsule biographies of eleven different vegetables - artichokes, beans, parsnips, cabbage, cardoons, carrots, chili peppers, Jerusalem artichokes, peas, pumpkins, and tomatoes. This title explores the world of vegetables in all its facets, from science and agriculture to history, culture, and, of course, cooking.Trade Review"This allusive, impressionistic tour of the kitchen garden takes us from aphrodisiac artichokes to Zola's gritty market stalls, with many a literary and gustatory detour. Lazy summers in grandmother's garden, the frenzy for fresh winter peas that gripped the court at Versailles in 1660, the global travels of the chili pepper, the contested history of Cinderella's pumpkin-it's all here, and it's all fun." -Jane S. Smith, author of The Garden of Invention: Luther Burbank and the Business of Breeding Plants"

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Book SynopsisDiscover the beauty secrets of Hollywood's most beautiful stars and unlock your true beauty in this classic #1 bestseller."I believe that we are here on this planet to make the most of what we've got and who we are, and contribute to the world so it's a little better when we leave it. I'm not saying that putting on makeup will change the world or even your life, but it can be a first step in learning things about yourself you may never have discovered otherwise." - Kevyn Aucoin, from his introductionKevyn Aucoin is one of the beauty industry's most innovative makeup artists. Over his decades-long career, he's created iconic looks for everyone from Julianne Moore to Gwyneth Paltrow to Mary J. Blige and Cher. With clear step-by-step illustrations and instructions for creating hundreds of makeup looks for any occasion, Face Forward lets readers bring Aucoin's expertise with them wherever they go.More than merely a how-to guide, this gorgeTrade ReviewThere is an engaging familiarity about Aucoin's anecdotal introduction to each of his subjects... And Aucoin offers a similarly personal and captivating note about each icon whose look he has chose to mirror in this re-invention process... Amazing, really, what can be achieved with some carefully applied powder. When, that is, you have the Aucoin know-how. * GLASGOW HERALD *

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Book SynopsisA fully revised and updated edition complete with a new foreword by the author of the best-selling meditation book for women that The New York Times says “should be put at the top of the stack.”Take a deep breath and step back from the overload - that exhausting combination of work, chores, caring for children and meeting everyone’s needs but your own- and let the warm-hearted humor, inspirational wisdom, and reassuring reminders from women around the world help to create a much deserved relief from the whirlwind of everyday life. These 365 enduring meditations provide all the inspiration and guidance necessary to relax, refuel and, most importantly, celebrate all that you do.

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Book SynopsisWhatever the size of your garden or allotment, you can grow your own vegetables. Even if you only have a balcony or a small paved area outside your kitchen, you can grow more than you ever thought possible in pots, containers and raised beds.Experienced vegetable grower John Harrison takes you through the entire vegetable year so that, for all the main vegetables, you''ll know exactly when you should sow your seeds, dig your plot and harvest your crops.Choose the most appropriate vegetables for your particular soil and select the right position so that they flourish. Discover how to make your own compost and organic fertilisers, as well as the best methods of controlling pests. Find out how to extend the season by buying or building your own cloches and cold frames.Put an end to worries that your shop-bought vegetables contain chemical residues or to concerns about the air miles such vegetables have flown en route to your table!Trade ReviewA great value no frills book packed with knowledge. Written by a genuine kithchen gardener. As a horticultural lecturer this is one book I would recommend to those new to vegetable gardening. * J. Trim, Amazon.co.uk *This book gets down to basics, is well set out and you can get to where you want to easily. Worth every penny. * Mr. R Cannon, Amazon.co.uk *The bestselling gardening book ... information-packed and down-to-earth * Mail on Sunday *This book is a bit like having the most experienced veg grower from the local allootments in your pocket. * Gardening Which? *

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Book SynopsisFilled with practical advice for every occasion, business and pleasure, this updated and revised edition is the most complete and authoritative guide to living well. First published in 1952, this classic guide has been fully updated to reflect the concerns of the modern reader. The advice that has made Amy Vanderbilt the first name in etiquette remains pertinent today. Here is the final word on buying and using stationery, responding to dinner invitations, hosting a party, and attending religious ceremonies. The chapter of the most enduring popularity is, of course, the one on weddings. From addressing invitations to sending thank you notes, everything a bride needs to plan the perfect wedding is easily accessible. In addition to the time-honored guidance that has made this book a treasured reference, this updated edition contains information that addresses modern concerns of every kind. Here is advice on answering cellular phone calls in public, behaving courteo

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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 SynopsisInNaturally Sustainable Style, interiors stylist and author Selina Lake reveals how to create a beautiful and stylish home that is kind to the planet, using organic materials and preloved items.

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Book SynopsisEasy-to-follow instructions and diagrams for building dozens of attractive, practical birdhouses from a one-room house for bluebirds to a forty-two-room structure for purple martins. Also contains a supplement with easy projects for novices, among them houses made from such common objects as gourds, flower pots, and tin cans. 56 plates; 4 figures.

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Book SynopsisSpiky, smooth, round, long or thin, cacti and succulents come in all shapes and sizes. This book will help you to know, enjoy and care for these striking decorative plants. The introduction explains the botany and classification of cacti and succulents, and an inspirational design section includes ideas for display in the home, from growing them in grand outdoor jardinières to pretty painted pots on a kitchen windowsill. Following this is a photographic directory of over 400 varieties of cacti and succulents, alphabetically organized by genus, and with at-a-glance information on growing habit, spread, size, flowering and the most suitable habitat for each variety. The book concludes with a section on care and cultivation providing step-by-step guidance on all aspects of buying, planting and maintaining cacti and succulents.

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Book SynopsisBeautifully presented coffee table book showcasing 14 new mountain residences and retreats from renowned architects and interior designers.

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Book SynopsisSteven and Susan show how to create a range of useful structures and furnishings, both large and small, at relatively little expense by using mostly recycled materials. The book then showcases a variety of projects, each project includes step-by- step construction techniques with illustrations.

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Book SynopsisThe easy way to succeed at urban gardening A townhouse yard, a balcony, a fire escape, a south-facing window even a basement apartment can all be suitable locations to grow enough food to save a considerable amount of money and enjoy the freshest, healthiest produce possible.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Conventions Used in This Book 2 What You’re Not to Read 2 Foolish Assumptions 3 How This Book Is Organized 3 Part I: Urban Gardening 101 3 Part II: Gardening Basics 4 Part III: Places and Ways to Garden 4 Part IV: Growing Plants in the City 4 Part V: Growing to Perfection 5 Part VI: The Part of Tens 5 Icons Used in This Book 5 Where to Go from Here 6 Part I: Urban Gardening 101 7 Chapter 1: Gardening in the City 9 Knowing the Basics of Soil Prep 9 Finding the Many Places to Garden the City 10 Growing All Kinds of Plants in The City 11 Trees and shrubs 12 Edibles 12 Annual flowers 13 Perennial flowers and roses 13 Lawns and groundcovers 14 Exploring the Down and Dirty of Growing 14 Weeding and mulching 15 Watering 15 Pest patrol 15 Chapter 2: Reaping the Benefi ts of Urban Gardening 17 Enjoying Local Produce from Urban Food Gardens 18 Looking at places to grow food 18 Checking out urban food gardening projects 19 Creating Healthy Cities 22 Reducing pollution 22 Making cities more livable 25 Improving the neighborhood 26 Chapter 3: The Urban Microclimate 27 The Sunny City: Working with the Sun and Warmer Urban Temperatures 27 Taking advantage of seasonal solar angles 28 Dealing with solar glare 29 Minimizing the Heat Island Effect 29 The Windy City: Working with Seasonal Urban Wind Patterns 32 Taking Macroclimate and Microclimate Conditions into Account in Your Garden 34 Knowing your hardiness zone 34 Considering your own microclimatic conditions 35 Part II: Gardening Basics 37 Chapter 4: Getting to Know Your Soil 39 Determining Your Type of Soil 40 Understanding the different soil types 40 Figuring out what you have 41 Checking Your Soil’s Drainage 42 Performing a percolation test 43 Mastering the metal rod test 43 Discovering Your Soil’s pH Level 44 Finding Out What Lies Beneath the Soil 45 Doing a little digging (literally and fi guratively) 46 Protecting yourself from soil contaminants 46 Chapter 5: Feeding and Fertilizing Your Soil 51 Organics 101: Plant Matter 52 Adding a Little Something Extra to Build Soil Fertility: Animal Manure 54 Making Compost and Growing Soil 56 Composting safely in the city 56 Choosing a container 57 Building your pile 58 Troubleshooting common composting problems 59 Composting with worms 60 Giving Your Plants and Soil a Boost with Fertilizers 62 Getting to know the “big three” in commercial fertilizers 62 Wet versus dry fertilizers 63 Applying a side dressing of fertilizer 65 Chapter 6: Getting Your Hands Dirty: Planting How-To 67 Planting Annual Flowers and Veggies 67 Starting with a raised bed 68 Deciding whether to buy seeds or transplants 70 Making a seed-starting schedule based on frost dates 71 Growing your own seedlings 73 Picking out transplants 74 Planting your annual or vegetable garden 75 Planting Trees and Shrubs 78 Buying a tree or shrub 78 Digging the hole and planting 79 Getting your trees and shrubs off to a good start 82 Planting Perennial Flowers, Bulbs, and Roses 83 Buying and planting perennial flowers 84 Buying and planting bulbs 84 Buying and planting roses 86 Part III: Places and Ways to Garden 89 Chapter 7: Creating an Outdoor Room 91 Analyzing Your Outdoor Space 92 Fencing In Your Space 92 Planning Your Outdoor Room 93 Creating Your Garden Entrance 93 Installing moon gates for a Zen-like feel 94 Showing off your space with garden arbors 95 Opting for other types of entry features 96 Defining the Uses for Your Outdoor Room 96 Creating a Focal Element 97 Using a unique plant 98 Creating serenity with a water feature 99 Going with a man-made feature 100 Turning Recycled Materials into Chic and Useful Garden Art 101 Using yard sale items 101 Repurposing materials (Reusing junk) 103 Considering Interactive Garden Art 104 A garden sundial 104 Music in the garden 105 Chapter 8: Containing Your Gardening 107 Surveying Container Options 107 Cool commercial containers 109 Hanging, balancing, and other interesting containers 110 Bathtubs, birdcages, bicycles, and more 111 Selecting Soil for Your Container 112 Planting a Container 113 Prepping your pots 114 Planting your containers properly 114 Jazzing Up Your Containers 116 Placing containers for visual interest 116 Coordinating colors 117 Cool container combos 117 Taking Care of Your Container Plants 119 Watering 119 Maintaining your containers 120 Moving containers 122 Chapter 9: A Garden with a View: The Rooftop Garden 123 Finding Out the Rooftop Gardening Basics 124 Why grow up? Reviewing reasons for planting on the roof 124 What’s your type? Choosing a green roof or roof garden 125 How much is enough? Looking at your limits 126 What’s next? Getting started and developing a plan 129 Designing a Rooftop Garden or Green Roof 131 Structural considerations: Making sure your roof won’t cave in 132 Managing rainwater 133 Deciding what to grow 135 Planning electrical service and lighting 137 Transporting materials 137 Staying In Bounds with a Rooftop Container Garden 138 Chapter 10: Going Vertical in Your Garden 141 Discovering the Benefits of Growing Vertical 141 Facing the Challenges of Growing Vertical 142 Rethinking Your Space: Up, Down, and All Around 143 Getting Plants to Grow Up 144 Vertical structures: Providing a place to climb 144 Growing vertical veggies and fruits 150 Giving Containers a Lift 151 Understanding the special considerations for vertical container gardening 151 Choosing vertical containers 151 Chapter 11: Apartment Gardens 155 Balcony Gardens 155 Using containers on your balcony 156 Creating a picture frame garden 158 Using flowerbox planters 159 Indoor Gardening 161 Creating an indoor herb garden 161 Growing under lights indoors 163 Practicing indoor plant care and watering 164 Chapter 12: Community Gardening and Urban Farming 165 Community Gardening 101 165 A brief history of community gardening 166 How community gardening works 167 Starting a Community Gardening Program 167 Selecting a site 168 Developing your site 168 Organizing the garden 169 Managing the garden 169 Urban Farming = Urban Renewal 169 Benefits of gardening together 171 Avoiding down zoning 171 Marketing Locally 172 Selling produce at farmers’ markets 172 Participating in farm-to-school initiatives 172 Selling to local restaurants 173 Hosting harvest festivals 173 Creating community gatherings and celebrations 173 Sharing a Garden 174 Gardening with roommates 174 Volunteering for others 175 Hiring out as an urban farmer 175 Planting a row for the hungry 175 Going from Pavement to Parks 176 Reclaiming urban green space 176 Creating urban parklets 178 Part IV: Growing Plants in the City 179 Chapter 13: City Setting, Country Food 181 Making a Veggie Garden Plan 181 Choosing a site for your vegetable garden 181 Sizing up your garden: How big is big? 182 Laying it all out 183 Keeping Your Veggies Happy 183 Feeding 184 Weeding, mulching, and watering 185 Raising the Top City Vegetables 185 Leafy greens 186 The tomato family: Eggplants, peppers, and other relatives 186 Melons, squash, and other vining vegetables 188 Root vegetables 189 Peas and beans 190 Cabbage, broccoli, and more 192 Easy herbs 192 Extending the Season 194 Succession planting: Lettuce forever! 195 Intercropping: The space between 195 Protecting plants in cool weather 196 Chapter 14: The Annual Flowering of the City 199 Understanding Annuals 199 Siting Your Annual Flower Garden 200 Figuring out whether your garden can support sun- or shade-loving annuals 200 Prepping and planting 201 Considering color 201 Thinking about texture and fragrance 202 Growing flowers for cutting 203 Growing Annuals in Containers 203 Choosing Annual Flowers for All Seasons and Soils 205 Cool spring and fall flowers 205 Summer flowers 207 Flowers for every soil 209 Caring for Your Annuals to Keep a Continuous Flower Show 210 Watering 210 Weeding 211 Fertilizing 211 Deadheading 212 Pruning 212 Keeping them up 213 Using Succession Planting to Maintain Your Annual Flowers 213 Chapter 15: Perennial Flowers, Roses, and Bulbs in the City 215 Getting to Know Perennials, Roses, and Bulbs 215 Finding a Permanent Planting Spot 216 Considering sun, soil, and exposure 216 Going with containers 217 Choosing Perennials Fit for City Living 218 Sun-loving perennial fl owers 219 Shade-loving perennial fl owers 221 Growing and Maintaining Perennial Flowers 222 General care and maintenance 222 Providing a little extra support 223 Divide and multiply 224 Enjoying La Vie en Rose 224 Selecting the best city roses 225 Growing and caring for roses 226 Lighting Up Your Garden with Bulbs 227 Finding a spot for bulbs 228 Finding the best spring flowering bulbs for the city 228 Determining the best summer flowering bulbs for the city 229 Caring for bulbs 229 Chapter 16: Growing a Tree in Brooklyn 231 Selecting City-Friendly Trees 231 The best deciduous trees 232 Evergreen tree options 234 Growing Some Shrubbery 235 Looking at ways to use shrubs in your yard 235 Discovering some great city shrubs 236 Keeping Your Trees and Shrubs Fit 239 Watering and fertilizing 239 Pruning 101 240 Growing City Fruits 242 Finding the best fruit trees for the city 243 Keeping those tree fruits growing 244 Keeping Berry Bushes in the City 245 Choosing the best city berries 245 Staying berry healthy 248 Chapter 17: Lawns and Ground Covers 249 Selecting the Right Grass 250 Cool-season grasses 250 Warm-season grasses 252 Seed versus sod 253 Caring for Your Lawn 255 Looking at city mowers 255 Mowing correctly 256 Maintaining your lawn 257 Patching up paradise 259 Ground Cover Alternatives 259 Lawns versus ground covers 259 Cityside ground covers 260 Planting and caring for your cover 261 Part V: Growing to Perfection 263 Chapter 18: Weeding and Mulching Your Plants 265 Winning the War on Weeds 265 Identifying weeds and knowing why you should care 266 Stopping weeds before they’re a problem 267 Controlling weeds once they’re large 269 Mulching 101 269 Types of mulch 270 Mulching correctly 273 Chapter 19: Watering Your Garden 275 Conserving Water 275 Knowing how much you need to water 276 Using less water 277 Harvesting Water 278 Installing a rain barrel 279 Utilizing gray water 279 Creating a rain garden 280 Delivering Water to Your Plants 282 Hoses and cans 282 Watering wands 282 Trigger nozzles 283 Soaker hoses 283 Drip irrigation 284 Sprinklers 286 A few other watering methods to try 287 Chapter 20: Controlling Urban Garden Pests 289 Knowing the Good Guys 290 Bringing in beneficial insects 290 Attracting birds to your yard 291 Encouraging bees to stick around 292 Being Proactive to Control the Bad Guys 293 Designing your garden to prevent problems 294 Deciding whether you really have a problem 294 Dealing with Insect Pests in Your Garden 295 Know your bug 296 Managing your pests without sprays 300 Using safe sprays 303 Spotting and Treating Diseases 304 Knowing whether you’re really dealing with a disease 304 Preventing damage in the first place 305 Being aware of some common diseases 306 Finding the safest sprays for diseases 308 Critters in the Bean Patch 309 Identifying animal damage 309 Figuring out which common city animals to watch for 310 Part VI: The Part of Tens 311 Chapter 21: Ten Tools for Urban Gardeners 313 Chapter 22: Ten Kid-Friendly Ways to Garden in the City 319 Chapter 23: Ten Tips to Manage a Sustainable Urban Garden 325 Index 331

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Book SynopsisThe essential guide to scented plants to bring colour and interest to your gardens.

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Book SynopsisA real-time, fully illustrated, step-by-step personal account of an amateur enthusiast creating a cottage garden - at the same time showing you how you too can create the garden of your dreams.

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Book SynopsisThe Avro Vulcan is one of the most striking aircraft ever made its enormous wing stretching back from an improbably thick leading edge marked by cavernous wing root engine intakes. Perhaps even more incredible, its first flight was made just over ten years after the introduction of the piston-engined Lancaster during the Second World War. Within a decade, technology had taken a giant leap from straight-winged slow-moving conventional bombers to this vast delta designed to carry a nuclear payload. But what led to such a radical configuration and what was the technology that enabled such an ambitious design? What possessed Avro to offer the Air Ministry such a futuristic aircraft and what prompted the Ministry to approve its development and entry into service? Formula 1 racing team aerodynamicist and Vulcan to the Sky trustee Stephen Liddle presents a full history of the Vulcan's development and assesses the technological and engineering breakthroughs which underpinned the construction of this unparalleled aircraft.

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Book SynopsisA vibrant collection of 100 postcards featuring affirmations on self-love, inner peace, and healing, from WE THE URBAN founder Willie Greene.A platform that celebrates self-love, inclusivity, and empowerment, WE THE URBAN shares signature affirmations that have resonated with millions of people, many of whom share posts with friends on social media and use them to guide their personal journeys.Now, fans can share WE THE URBAN?s magic with this collection of 100 postcards that bring to life the powerful quotes the platform is famous for. Exploring inner peace, self-love, healing, growth, and more, these colorful postcards feature 50 original affirmations, each repeating once, that capture and validate our shared humanity. Whether you?re mailing a postcard to lift the spirits of a loved one or framing one for a daily dose of empowerment, these postcards offer 100 vibrant opportunities to share joy and positivity with someone who needs it.

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Book SynopsisLandscape as Dialogue redefines the process of understanding landscapes for students and practi tioners so they can create more integrated, healthy places. Traditional site analysis sees the landscape as a series of components, evaluated individually, before being put back together. This perpetuates existing social hierarchies, maintains the need for high energy inputs and trumpets iconic designs that contribute to gentrification. This book examines the process of landscape dialogue as a natural give and take with the environment, drawing on diverse and challenging writings from design, geography, philosophy and ecological sciences to probe the relationship between humans and landscape. Each chapter begins with a discussion of a theoretical approach to landscape dialogue, such as perception, information or critique, before offering a series of practical steps and representation techniques that designers can use in understanding the landscape. Detailed illustrated case studies

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Book SynopsisEach year the average woman spends hundreds of pounds on skincare products, only to be disappointed when the hype outplays the performance. Empowering women to break this cycle, Dr Jessica Wu shares the secrets to transforming your skin from the inside out.Feed Your Face is an easy-to-use, 28-day diet plan that will help you banish blemishes, wipe out wrinkles, shed unwanted pounds and generally feel better - in your clothes and in your skin. Along the way, you will learn how to separate skincare fact from fiction, as Dr Wu explains why:* A slice of pizza and a glass of Cabernet can prevent an impending sunburn* Milk doesn''t always do a body good - dairy products are a major cause of acne* Almonds can ward off grey hairsPacked with patient testimonials, entertaining illustrations and celebrity anecdotes from stars including Katherine Heigl, Feed Your Face is as entertaining as it is informative.Trade ReviewThe key to looking younger is not copious amounts of Botox or plastic surgery, it's a diet that will naturally hydrate and improve your skin's texture, as Dr Wu's Feed Your Face Diet has done for me * Maria Bello, actress *Feed Your Face is an indispensable guide to maintaining glowing skin and more importantly a healthy body. It's refreshing to see a dermatologist highlighting nutrition so prominently. This clear, concise guide offers a wealth of information on the right foods to tackle skin problems and prevent aging. There are also some fabulous tips on natural beauty solutions and how to avoid sun-damaged skin. I will certainly be following some of Dr Jessica Wu's advice * Dawn Mellowship, author of Toxic Beauty and freelance journalist *In the entertaining and informative Feed Your Face, Dr. Jessica Wu, a dermatologist, discusses what to eat, and what not to eat, for various skin problems. Want, say, stronger hair? Make sure to get enough cysteine (a building block of keratin) from sources like pork, egg yolks, onions, garlic, broccoli and wheat germ; and silicon, found in pill form or in green beans and spinach -- Hilary Howard * New York Times *Dermatologist to the stars, Dr Jessica Wu, reveals how to achieve glowing skin without breaking the bank . . . Featuring stories from celebrities as well, it's an eye-opening read * Star magazine *Filled with tips on what foods can help banish wrinkles, acne and blemishes, this beauty bible won't disappoint * Woman *

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Book SynopsisThe sequence here shows a MK.I Vickers centrefire automatic machine gun being fired. Sequence shot at the National Firearms Centre in Leeds.

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Book SynopsisA distinctively designed, beautifully photographed interior design book that showcases the incredible spaces and stories of creative desert dwellers by writer-photographer duo Molly Mandell and James Burke From tips on cultivating the unpretentious, highly functional aesthetic environment synonymous with the desert to images evoking mindful living, the book is both a celebration of a uniquely inspiring climate, its spaces, and most memorable personalities as well as a manual for adopting elements of this lifestyle—no matter your location—through intentional design.Desert by Design explores the spaces and stories of those who live in the desert, from Marfa, Texas, residents and writer-photographer duo Molly Mandell and James Burke. From West Texas and Southern California to Chile, South Africa, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates and more, this comprehensive, global look at desert living offers insight into extraordinary ar

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Book SynopsisThe first two chapters provide a resume of how the coinage of the central Roman state changed, developed and stumbled. In Britain most coins in museums and collections come from hoards (coins deposited in a group) or from coins found singly during excavation or walking over fields. These two classes are very different and are examined separately. The author then looks at how coins were used in Roman Britain, and finally explains the differences between Britain and the rest of the Roman Empire. Despite the need for quantitative as well as well as qualitative analysis, Richard Reece has - for the benefit of those who are understandably put off by reams of statistics - banished all numbers and numerical methods to a single short Appendix. The result is a book sparkling with Dr Reece''s characteristically incisive insights that can be appreciated by anyone interested in Britain''s past.

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Book SynopsisPresents diverse examples by the hundreds, from pouches worn in the Dark Ages and early chatelaines and pockets of the Middle Ages to contemporary handbags. The trail follows the handbag's evolution as it has related to fashion and influenced by history. For the collector current prices are provided with each item pictured.

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