Natural and wild gardening Books

Book SynopsisThis book is a survey of 12 breathtakingly beautiful gardens by award-winning photographer Andre Baranowski, whose eye for beauty will embolden readers the world over to embrace their inner instincts and create their own garden wild.The new movement in contemporary gardening is about going back to the wilderness, creatively landscaping with native plants to enrich their environments and seamlessly merge with their natural surroundings. Politely rejecting traditional manicured, hedged and pruned gardening aesthetics to invite an alternative kind of beauty: wildly bursting with indigenous plants, old-growth trees, vibrant patches of wildflowers and perennials, succulents, un-pruned bushes and ornamental grasses. New York City's Highline is a famous example and this landscaping approach is becoming increasingly popular for private homeowners. This book surveys twelve such breathtaking gardens captured by award winning photographer Andre Baranowski. The featured gardens rangTrade Review "Now comes a new book called Garden Wild: Meadows, Prairie-Style Plantings, Rockeries, Ferneries, and Other sustainable Designs Inspired by Nature, magnificently photographed by Andre Baranowski." —LITCHFIELD COUNTY TIMES

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Book SynopsisCreate an edible garden brimming with wildlife that provides you with food every day of the year Imagine a garden that is as beautiful as it is productive, that gives you fresh, wholesome, chemical-free food with flavors that go beyond anything shops can offer. In Eat What You Grow, Alys shows you how to create a rich, biodiverse garden that feeds not only you, but supports a wide range of pollinators, bees and butterflies, as well as other wildlife. From perennial vegetables that come back year after year, to easy-to-grow delights, she has selected plants that hold their own in both the garden and on the plate. And tells you how to raise these plants, guiding you through the process of feeding your soil, saving seed and taking cuttings to increase your supplies. The book covers every size garden with tips on what can grow in containers (for smaller gardens) as well as harvesting throughout the year.

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Book SynopsisA practical and attractive guide to the many edible varieties of wild plant that grow all around us. Whether you think of them as pretty wildflowers or troublesome weeds, wild plants are invaluable for wildlife. Not only are they an essential habitat and nectar source for insects, they are also beneficial for the soil, accumulating trace elements and acting as hosts for mycorrhizal fungi. Wild plants can be also be included in a variety of tasty recipes as unusual and flavoursome culinary ingredients.Written by qualified dietician and horticulturalist, Gail Garland, Foraging for Edible Wild Plants describes more than 50 edible species, from common species, such as nettle, dandelion, chickweed and ground elder, to the less well-known brooklime and wintercress. Gail also shares advice on how to identify wild plants that are harmful to eat, as well as tips on controlling invasive species such as knotweed . The guide is beautifully designed with illustrated notes on appearancTrade ReviewA delightful read, well organised, informative and easy to use, successfully filling the hungry gap between books on gardening and those on foraging with inspiring recipes, cooking tips and relevant words of caution for each plant profiled. A welcome and valuable addition to the library of any new or more experienced foragers, gardeners, cooks and weeders. Highly recommended. * Fergus Drennan, Forager *A very well written and enjoyable book. Gail Harland is quite obviously passionate about her subject and clearly lives it. Small tit bits such as how Himalayan balsam can be used as an Indian preserve known as gulqand, which literally means sweet flowers indicate she has really done her research. This book would be a welcome addition to the shelf of any forager. * Dave Hamilton, author of The Self-Sufficientish Bible *Table of ContentsIntroduction PART 1: Know your wild plants Wild plants or weeds? Characteristics Achievable weed control: A question of balance How to identify poisonous species PART 2: A–Z of edible wild plants Glossary Notes Bibliography

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 1870, The Wild Garden challenged the prevailing garden style of the day and advocated a naturalistic style, in which hardy plants, both native and exotic, are arranged in groupings that mimic wild landscapes. Thanks to Robinson’s passionate advocacy, the naturalistic style triumphed, and Robinson's urgent message continues to resonate today. For this newly designed edition, Rick Darke has written an introductory essay that not only underscores Robinson’s importance in the evolution of garden design and ecology, but also explains his relevance for today’s gardeners, designers, and landscape professionals. The book contains over 100 stunning photographs taken by Darke, including images of Gravetye and of modern “wild” gardens. Trade ReviewWill truly inspire you. Originally published in 1870, [it] remained in print for more than 50 years with a message that is just as revolutionary today. -- Doug Bergstrom Wenatchee World 20091130 Rick Darke could well be Robinson's reincarnation. -- Ailsa Francis Ottawa Citizen 20091205

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Book SynopsisPlanting for Pollinators is an easy-to-use gardening guide to help you encourage different types of insect pollinators into your garden.Insect pollinators not only bring joy to our gardens, they also provide an essential service for our planet. Without bees, flies, hoverflies, butterflies, moths and beetles, some of our favourite foods, flowers and plants would cease to exist. Whether you have a large garden, an urban balcony or just a window box, planting to encourage pollinators is a fantastic and surprisingly easy first step in creating a wildlife-friendly space. Planting for Pollinators features a wide range of plants, with guidance on the best ways to nurture lawns and verges, pollinator predation and tips on watching and photographing wildlife. Beautifully illustrated throughout with images from award-winning wildlife photographer Heather Angel, this essential guide will show you how plants communicate with insects, and why it''s so importaTrade ReviewI love this book, it's packed with gorgeous photos and practical advice, featuring my favourite plants and my favourite pollinators. * Kate Bradbury, author of Wildlife Gardening *I can fully recommend this book for its wealth of information and for highlighting the importance of pollinators for our planet’s survival. -- Val Bourne * The Garden *[A] beautiful and informative book that focuses on the fascinating relationship between plants and insects. * The English Garden *The author’s photos and illustrations of flowers and insects make this book a delight to peruse for ideas. -- Margaret Heller * Library Journal *If you want to create an abundant habitat for pollinators – and who doesn't – you will be inspired by this gorgeous new book... filled with stunning photos, the book provides insights and inspiration for transforming your garden, balcony or even a modest window box into a buzzing paradise for pollinators. * Writers Voice *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Parts of a flower What is pollination? Types of pollination Why pollinators and flowers need each other How flowers communicate with pollinators Rewards and pseudo-rewards Looking at lawns The decline of pollinators Pollinator predation Redressing the balance Choosing Plants for Pollinators - Spring - Summer - Autumn - Winter Watching pollinators Daytime forays Native versus alien flowers Pollen load colours Nocturnal sorties Photo tips Into the future Glossary Further reading and resources Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive, single source of information on the plants and animals that live alongside us. This updated edition features new material on climate change, recycling and wild spaces in gardens.This friendly handbook is full of practical advice on attracting wildlife to your garden and encouraging creatures to stick around. A helpful introductory section includes expert tips on green gardening, seasonal planting, how to deal with garden predators and how to get children involved in gardening. A DIY chapter, with a step-by-step guide on creating projects for your garden from building nest, bat and hedgehog boxes to making your own pond is also included. From foxes to finches and from lizards to ladybirds, colour photographs illustrate almost 400 garden species, including mammals, birds, insects, invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians, flowers, trees, shrubs and fungi, while the comprehensive text explains everything you need to cultivate a haven for nature.Trade ReviewNature lovers will find this handbook full of great advice, from seasonal planting through to recycling, with lots of information on climate change, too. * People's Friend *Remarkably comprehensive... This is a great book and one that should be on the shelves of all green-fingered naturalists – whether you’ve a few acres or a window box! -- Steve Willis * British Trust for Ornithology *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Foreword The RSPB Introduction Species Accounts DIY in the Garden Glossary Index Image Credits

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Book SynopsisRSPB ID Spotlight Garden Bugs is a reliable fold-out chart that presents illustrations of more than 50 of our most widespread and familiar garden bugs by renowned artist Richard Lewington.Gardens are often crawling with all kinds of garden bugs, and even the smallest plot can be an important haven for wildlife. But can you distinguish between a Garden Snail and a Strawberry Snail? Or can you tell a False Widow Spider from a Harvestman? These are just some of the more than 2,000 different species of garden bugs that are found in the British Isles, many of which we depend on for our own survival. The species are grouped by family and helpfully labelled to assist with identification, while artworks are shown side-by-side for quick comparison and easy reference at home or in the field. The reverse of the chart provides information on the habitats, behaviour, life cycles and diets of our garden bugs, as well as the conservation issues they are facing and how the RSPB and otherTable of ContentsIntroducing the UK’s Garden Bugs Habitat Distribution and Migration General Behaviour, Life Cycle and Diet Conservation Spotlight ID with Artwork Butterflies Moths Dragonflies Crickets Froghoppers Aphids Lacewings Pondskaters Shieldbugs Hoverflies Flies Wasps Hornets Bees Ladybirds Spiders Snails Woodlice Slugs Centipedes

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Book SynopsisRSPB ID Spotlight Ladybirds is a reliable fold-out chart that presents illustrations of 27 of our most widespread and familiar ladybirds by renowned artist Richard Lewington. - Species are grouped by family and helpfully labelled to assist with identification - Artworks are shown side by side for quick comparison and easy reference at home or in the field, or the chart can be fixed to the wall as a beautiful poster - The reverse of the chart provides information on the habitats, behaviour, life cycles and diets of our ladybirds, as well as the conservation issues they are facing and how we can support them The ID Spotlight charts help wildlife enthusiasts identify and learn more about our most common species using accurate colour illustrations and informative, accessible text.

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE WAINRIGHT PRIZE & SHORTLISTED FOR THE RICHARD JEFFERIES AWARD''A daring, delightful and galvanising call to save the world, one plant at a time'' Bookseller, Editor''s ChoiceTEN YEARS AGO, BEN JACOB TURNED OUTLAW TO SAVE OUR RAREST FLOWERS. THIS IS HIS STORY.Obsessed by orchids since childhood, Ben spent years travelling to far-flung jungles to see them in the wild. Then a chance encounter set him off on a journey of discovery into the wonderful, but often forgotten, world of Britain''s fifty-one native species. These include the Bee which looks (and smells) so much like one that even bees are fooled, the Ghost which exists without sunlight, and Autumn Lady''s Tresses which gave Darwin the proof he needed for his theory of evolution.But our orchids are in desperate trouble. Many species are facing extinction. Decimated by changes in land use and climate, inadequately protected by environmental and planning laws, their Trade ReviewA daring, delightful and galvanising call to save the world, one plant at a time * The Bookseller, Editor’s Choice *It's noble work in a time of great change. The Orchid Outlaw urges us to look closer and tread more carefully -- Alice Vincent * New Statesman *If this doesn't turn into one of the most talked about nature books of the year, I'll eat my hat. Brilliantly written, urgent and brave -- Lee Schofield, author of WILD FELLA vivid love letter to Britain's wild orchids . . . Ben Jacob breaks all the rules with enormous success -- FRANCIS PRYOR, Time Team and author of THE MAKING OF THE BRITISH LANDSCAPEThe Orchid Outlaw . . . offers captivating descriptions of pre-dawn forays on to private land where housing developments will soon obliterate colonies of precious orchids * Financial Times, Best new books on climate and the environment *The book is written with a skip and drama, and will leave you furious that these strange and delicate plants have been so neglected * Mail on Sunday *A brave, timely and inspiring example of how to exercise our moral obligation to care for the non-human beings we share the world with. The Orchid Outlaw is an empowering tonic to the environmental despair evoked by the lack of leadership from our lawmakers -- Leif Bersweden, author of Where the Wild Flowers Grow

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Book SynopsisMillions of people are interested in natural and holistic health, yet many are missing out on the key ingredient: Nature itself! Rekindle your connection with the earth as you craft your own herbal medicine with 75 delicious recipes and powerful healing remedies. Herbalists Rosalee de la Forêt and Emily Han expertly guide you through the benefits of two dozen of the most important and commonly found wild plants-many of which you can easily grow in your own garden, if foraging isn''t right for you. Detailed illustrations and beautiful photography ensure that you won''t make a plant-identification misstep as you learn how to tend and properly harvest the plant medicine growing right in your own neighborhood. After reading Wild Remedies, you''ll never look at your backyard, a public park, or any green space in the same way again. Instead of weeds, you''ll see delicious foods like Dandelion Maple Syrup Cake, Nettle Frittata, and Chickweed Pesto. You will reTrade ReviewI was intrigued and captivated from the very first paragraphs. Beautifully written, Wild Remediesabounds with plant lore, wisdom, and instruction. The authors have created a deeply thoughtful, insightful, and interactive book that enables readers to not only identify and forage wild foods but also to create a deepening relationship with nature and the world of plants. As an added bonus, the book is gorgeously illustrated with several photographs of each plant, making it easier to identify them through the seasons. And the recipes provided with each plant are out-of-this-world good! - Rosemary Gladstar, herbalist Wild Remedies is a gorgeous book with tantalizing recipes for healthy foods and healing medicines. The authors go beyond mere consumption of herbs to nurture reciprocal relationships with plants and strengthen community connections. In effect, Wild Remedies is a prescription to heal people and planet together. - Thomas J. Elpel, author of Botany in a Day and Foraging the Mountain West In Wild Remedies, Emily Han and Rosalee de la Forêt accomplish the most important thing a book exploring herbalism can do: framing it not as simply the use of herbs and supplements, but as a craft rooted in a direct relationship between people, plants, and the land they live upon. With this book in your hands, the plants at your feet will open into a whole new world. - jim mcdonald, herbalist, www.herbcraft.orgI've been studying wild edible and medicinal plants for decades, and I learned a lot reading this book. So if you want to use some of our best medicinal wild plants, this book is a great choice.- "Wildman" Steve Brill, author of Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places Rosalee de la Forêt and Emily Han's seasonal, carefully thought out, and practical approach to common backyard wild medicinals will inspire budding and established herbalists alike. It approaches backyard herbalism to a depth rarely covered in herbals. I can't wait to share this book with students as required reading in my herb courses. - Maria Noël Groves, clinical herbalist at Wintergreen Botanicals and best-selling author of Body into Balance and Grow Your Own Herbal Remedies In this must-have herbal resource, you'll find in-depth medicinal uses of two dozen plants, little-known plant-harvesting gems, insightful plant-identification and gardening tips, as well as refreshingly creative remedies and nutrition-packed recipes. Wild Remedies reads like a joyous love poem to the earth and gives us the compass for a much-needed regenerative model of harvesting and working with medicinal plants. - Kami McBride, author of The Herbal Kitchen Wild Remedies is a truly holistic and comprehensive map for the journey of nature connection, people connection, and ultimately ourselves. - Jon Young, author, presenter and founder of 8 Shields Rarely does a book take my breath away, but Wild Remedies had me in full swoon by the Table of Contents. With gorgeous illustrations, scintillating recipes, and detailed plant profiles, you'll be reaching for your harvesting basket with a newfound appreciation for the bounty and beauty of the green world. Emily Han and Rosalee de la Forêt have concocted an herbal tour de force, destined to deepen your connection to backyard plants. - Juliet Blankespoor, director of the Chestnut School of Herbal MedicineWild Remedies is an incredibly thoughtful, seasonally based forager's guide that empowers the reader to connect with plants and build a more reciprocal relationship with nature herself.- Susan Leopold, executive director, United Plant Savers Wild Remedies couldn't come at a more important time, as humanity's connection to nature is essential not only for the health of the planet but also for ourselves. This book is a calling for us to reforge our relationship to the living, healing intelligence of the earth through medicinal plants. Rosalee de la Forêt and Emily Han have gone beyond simplistic laundry lists of what herbs are 'good for' and instead paint a holistic picture for how the wholeness of the plant heals the whole person. - Sajah Popham, author of Evolutionary Herbalism

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Book SynopsisThe ultimate guide to encouraging wildlife into the garden all year round. Taking a month-by-month approach, The Wildlife Gardener's Almanac is packed with ideas, advice, tips and checklists, to give gardener's the best chance to make their contribution to conserving our native flora and fauna, no matter what size their garden.

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Book SynopsisMake your garden a haven for wildlife and a joy for you and your familyWhether you just want to make an existing family space more wildlife friendly or go the whole hedgehog and turn your back garden into a mini nature reserve, The Wildlife Garden will show you how to do it. You will discover:- What plants are best for wildlife- How to make refuges for insects and homes for bats- How to create a pool for frogsThe Wildlife Garden is the essential guide to attracting birds to your bushes, butterflies to your buddleia and a whole array of other creatures into your garden - even if you only have a window box - all whilst adding scent and colour to your surroundings.

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Book SynopsisThis friendly, practical guide includes everything you need to know to help wetland wildlife flourish outside your back door.The Wildlife Pond Book offers a fresh and unique perspective on ponds, encouraging readers of any budget to reach for the spade and do something positive to benefit their shared neighbourhood nature. With up-to-date, clear guidance on a range of innovative pond designs, this new book aims to encourage a wider audience to connect with freshwater habitats and offers readers unique and creative tips on how to observe, study and enjoy pond wildlife through microscopy, dipping, torching and traditional wildlife spotting. Written by zoologist, science writer and conservation practitioner Jules Howard, The Wildlife Pond Book is filled with creative ideas never before put to paper (and not found online) that Jules has trialed over ten years of pond building and kept secret until now. This will be the go-to pond guide for swathes ofTrade ReviewIf you are considering installing a pond this season, this is an invaluable book to hand. - English Garden -- English Garden * English Garden *This is a handy, accessible softback, filled with clear images that illustrate practical concepts. - English Garden -- English Garden * English Garden *Table of ContentsForeword by Kate Bradbury Introduction – the wonder of ponds What makes ponds so special? Prehistoric ponds Ponds and civilisation The birth of the ornamental pond The state of Britain’s ponds Hidden values of ponds The Idea Stage Preparing your pond Managing your pond Planting up your pond Pond animals to look out for Exploring your pond Glossary Useful organisations Taking inspiration from nature Further reading Image credits Index Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisThe definitive go-to wildlife guide for all 16 million British gardens.' Mike DilgerEven the smallest garden can be an important haven for wildlife, and this authoritative guide enables everyone to explore this wealth on their back doorstep. It covers all the main animal groups including pond life likely to be found in a garden in Great Britain and Ireland.Detailed descriptions and information on life history, behaviour and occurrence are provided for more than 500 species, as well as practical information on creating a pond for wildlife, making nestboxes and feeding birds. Richard Lewington, acknowledged as one of the finest natural history artists in Europe, has teamed up with his brother Ian, one of our most respected bird artists, to provide nearly 1,000 superbly detailed colour artworks to complement the text.Presented in an accessible, easy-to-use format, this fully updated and expanded edition covers everything from blue tits to bumblebees and hedgehogs to hawkmoths.Table of ContentsPreface to the second edition Introduction Identification guide to garden wildlife Glossary Top ten tips for wildlife gardening Further reading Further resources Photographic credits Index

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Book SynopsisThere is something uplifting about having butterflies in your flowerbeds, frogs in your water feature and birds in your bushes, and knowing they''re there because of you. Rich in detail and accessible in style, Gardening for Wildlife is the crucial companion to novices and expert gardeners alike. Adrian Thomas dispels myths and offers new insights and ideas, helping everyone understand what to do so gardens, large or small, can become ideal homes for wildlife.Building on the success of the award-winning first edition, this expanded and updated edition reflects the latest research and developments in nature-friendly gardening.The book serves as an expert guide to the practical aspects of this rewarding pastime and educates readers about the ecological principles involved, while exploding commonly held misconceptions that often deter people from pursuing a kinder approach to gardening.Adrian Thomas provides a detailed guide to the many and varied species that caTrade ReviewAdrian Thomas's highly attractive book will inspire all those who pick it up to turn their gardens into wildlife sanctuaries. * Sunday Express *An excellent book that brings together a lot of information in one place, challenges preconceived wisdom and manages to be informative and entertaining. It's possibly the most definitive work on the subject in recent years. * Garden Illustrated *Written in a friendly tone, RSPB Gardening for Wildlife offers a huge amount of information...It will help you make the most of what you've got in your backyard. * BBC Wildlife *...stuffed with hundreds of colour photos and shows how wildlife gardening can fit any garden (and any gardener!) * The Lady *A practical and contemporary look at how to embrace the little pockets of wildlife that exist in every garden, this book teaches you how to create habitats for all manner of butterflies, bees and other creatures. * BBC Countryfile *Gardening for Wildlife is the crucial companion to novices and expert gardeners alike. -- Emily Peagram * Grow Your Own *Table of ContentsForeword Gardening for Wildlife Why Everyone Should Garden for Wildlife Myth-busting So What Is Gardening for Wildlife, Then? How Wildlife Sees Gardens Gardening for Wildlife at a Glance The Right Home for the Right Species Gardening for Birds Gardening for Butterflies Gardening for Mammals Gardening for Reptiles and Amphibians Gardening for Bees Gardening for Dragonflies and Damselflies Gardening for Moths Gardening for Creepy-crawlies Gardening for Primitive Plants and Fungi Creating Different Habitats Making a Woodland Home Making a Scrubland Home Making a Wildflower-meadow Home Making a Heathland Home Making a Cornfield Home Making a Wetland Home Making a Hot-rot Home Gardening for Wildlife in a Big Garden Gardening for Wildlife in a Small Garden Balcony Gardening for Wildlife Low-maintenance Gardening for Wildlife Gardening for Wildlife in the Function Zone Gardening for Wildlife in the Leisure Zone Gardening for Wildlife in the Production Zone Gardening for Wildlife in the Aesthetic Zone Gardening for the Planet The Top 400 Garden Plants for Wildlife Gardening for Wildlife Calendar Measuring Success Acknowledgements Recommended reading Index Photo credits The RSPB

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Book Synopsis A SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER Fill your garden with flowers all-year round with inspiration, planting ideas and expert advice from Sarah Raven. Colour and scent are the hallmarks of Sarah Raven’s style – and they are simple luxuries that everyone can bring into their garden. A Year Full of Flowers reveals the hundreds of hardworking varieties that make the garden sing each month, together with the practical tasks that ensure everything is planted, staked and pruned at just the right time. Tracing the year from January to December at her home, Perch Hill, Sarah offers a complete and transporting account of a garden crafted over decades. Sharing the lessons learned from years of plant trials, she explains the methods that have worked for her, and shows you how to achieve a space that’s full of life and colour. Discover long-lasting, divinely scented tulips, roses that keep flowering through winter, the most magnificent dahlias and show-stopping alliums, as well as how to grow sweet peas up a teepee, take cuttings from chrysanthemums and stop mildew in its tracks. This is passionate, life-enriching gardening; it’s also simple, adaptable and can work for you. Sarah has made the garden central to her life – this book shows you how you can too.Trade ReviewThis book is a superior article – without doubt the best horticultural offering of the year. * Sunday Telegraph *Detailed and inspiring, it’s a must-read for novice and seasoned gardeners alike. * Country Living *A brilliantly helpful guide to filling the garden with successive waves of colour … A great book for resetting jaded palettes * Country Life *Every book by Sarah Raven is a treat * The Times *Informative and companionable ... Most of us aim to have something in flower throughout the year, and this selection should ensure that you succeed. * Sunday Times *Full of inspiration, planting ideas and expert advice for a beautiful garden all-year round * Countryside *Both practical and beautiful, this is a go-to gift for the green-fingered * Culture Whisper *

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Book SynopsisA joyous book - Alan Titchmarsh Bright, colourful and boundlessly enthusiastic, this is also a practical guide to making your garden a refuge for wildlife to fit all plots. - Chris Packham 'The Wildlife Gardner' is a book which helps you to create wildlife habitats in your very own garden, and is very handily split into sections on shelter, food and water. Kate gives advice on the best nectar and pollen plants to grow, dos and don'ts of bird feeding and organic methods of pest control.There are also 10 step-by-step projects that will help encourage wildlife into your garden, such as: creating a bumblebee nester, making a green roof and building a hedgehog box. With step-by-step pictures to help you follow the instructions, these homely creations are all achievable in a weekend and are suitable for even the smallest gardens. Also included is a mini field guide, which will help you to identify the birds and other creatures that you are likely to spot in your garden. Kate gives tips on particular species, explaining what to look out for and how to cater for specific birds, mammals, bees, butterflies, moths and pond life. 'The Wildlife Gardener' is a passionately written, practical book that is essential reading for those who would like to make homes for wildlife in their garden.Trade ReviewThis one-stop guide to gardening with wildlife in mind is a must-have for any gardening library.--Gardeners World "Inspired and inspiring, "The Wildlife Gardener" is an extraordinary and thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional guide that is beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout. An engagingly written and consistently engaging study, "The Wildlife Gardener" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Gardening instructional reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists."-- (12/01/2017)

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Book SynopsisGarden Wildlife is a book that looks at the habitats in our gardens from the point of view of wild animal and plants. If we understand our gardens in this way, then we can appreciate that different parts of our gardens essentially mimic wild habitats in microcosm. This means that we can provide places for wild animals and plants to flourish in our gardens, whether they happen to be in rural, suburban or urban settings. Above all, we need to get away from the current obsession with tidiness and sterility in our gardens, and allow odd corners to go wild, so that our native species can live alongside us in the modern world. Without wildlife to discover and observe in our gardens, our lives are impoverished, so we have a duty to ourselves and our children to invite nature back into our outside spaces.

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Book SynopsisGarden Wildlife is a book that looks at the habitats in our gardens from the point of view of wild animal and plants. If we understand our gardens in this way, then we can appreciate that different parts of our gardens essentially mimic wild habitats in microcosm. This means that we can provide places for wild animals and plants to flourish in our gardens, whether they happen to be in rural, suburban or urban settings. Above all, we need to get away from the current obsession with tidiness and sterility in our gardens, and allow odd corners to go wild, so that our native species can live alongside us in the modern world. Without wildlife to discover and observe in our gardens, our lives are impoverished, so we have a duty to ourselves and our children to invite nature back into our outside spaces.

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Book Synopsis'Go on, have a flutter! Take a few tips from the new book by biologist Dave Goulson and it's a safe bet that beautiful butterflies will start gathering in your garden' Daily MailFrom the Sunday Times bestselling author of A Sting In The Tale comes this practical guide to creating a paradise for pollinators.There are twenty six different species of bumblebees to be found in the UK, of around 250 species worldwide. Bumblebees are among the most important of our insects; these superb pollinators ensure that wildflowers set seed and reappear each year, and that our vegetable and fruit crops give us bountiful harvests. With the decline in the populations of our wild bees, these beloved creatures need looking after more than ever.Gardening for Bumblebees shows you how you can provide a refuge for bumblebees to feed, breed and thrive. No matter how large or small your space is, Dave Goulson shows you how you can make a pollinator-friendly haven. In this book you will learn the best trees, shrubs and flowers for pollinators, how to create the perfect nest and breeding site, and the best ways to control pests. Gardening For Bumblebees will encourage and inspire gardeners and allotmenters alike to make their patch more bee friendly.Praise for Dave Goulson'Ideal for filling the garden with a happy hum'Tiffany Daneff, Country Life'Goulson reminds himself that he 'began studying bumblebees not because they are important pollinators but because they are fascinating, because they behave in interesting and mysterious ways, and because they are rather loveable'Hannah Rosefield, Literary ReviewTrade ReviewIdeal for filling the garden with a happy hum -- Tiffany Daneff * Country Life *Go on, have a flutter! Take a few tips from the new book by biologist Dave Goulson and it's a safe bet that beautiful butterflies will start gathering in your garden * Daily Mail *[Goulson's] fascination with bumblebees and other pollinators is infectious... This book might open your eyes - and gardens - to the myriad mini-wonders that too often go unnoticed -- Catherine Smalley * Gardens Illustrated *Dave Goulson's beautifully presented and illustrated Gardening for Bumblebees...will tell you how to save the world. Literally. One penstemon at a time -- Brian Morton * Tablet *

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Book Synopsis'An extraordinary and powerful book, full of vitality. Every page celebrates the way traditional skills can shape who we are' Tristan Gooley'Lyrical, moving and never self-pitying . . . a lovely book' The TimesBen Short has a successful career in advertising, a flat in a trendy part of London, a flashy motorbike. But after years of suffering with anxiety, he's a wreck. A drastic change is needed.For a time, he finds solace working with a forester, then as an apprentice to a Gypsy woodman, setting up home in a dilapidated wagon with just a rescue dog for company. However, it is not until he feels the call of the furnace, a glowing charcoal kiln in the Dorset woods, that he can truly re-forge his thoughts, put the years of suffering behind him, and start afresh by immersing himself in the old ways of woods and fire.Exquisitely written and deeply honest, Burn is a hopeful story of transformation, a celebration of manual work and craft, and a love letter to the English countryside.'Beautifully written . . . reading it leaves you feeling ruffled but alive' Mail on SundayTrade ReviewLyrical, moving and never self-pitying . . . a lovely book. * The Times *Short's story is as much about work as it is escape and landscape; he illuminates the value of doing rather than thinking. Beautifully written, Burn is melancholy and hopeful in equal measure. Like taking a forest ramble in changeable weather, reading it leaves you feeling ruffled but alive * Mail on Sunday *An intriguing, touching and beautifully written book, about how it feels to be in a dark place spiritually, to move into the woods but enter an increasingly lighter place, to be practising the ancient skills of coppicing and charcoal burning, to love a dog. -- Ruth PaveyIn this candid memoir, [Ben] learns the benefits of living simply . . . above all, Ben discovers the joys of risking everything in the search for personal happiness. * The Countryman *A most excellent read. Destined to become a classic in its field, much like Walter Rose's memoir, The Village Carpenter -- Sean HellmanAn extraordinary and powerful book, full of vitality. Every page celebrates the way traditional skills can shape who we are. -- Tristan Gooley

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Book Synopsis**A SUNDAY TIMES GARDENING BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020**'A must-read for every gardener who wants to up their game for wildlife and do their bit for the planet.' -- Isabella Tree'A refreshing, uplifting and positive look at the true value of a garden.' -- Alan TitchmarshThe perfect book for any gardener looking to get back in touch with their wild side.The rewilding of public spaces and farmland is vitally important to conservation, but how can we support native species and provide rich habitats on our own doorsteps?In this practical, beautifully illustrated guide horticulturalist and Gardener's World presenter Frances Tophill shows you how to plan and maintain a beautiful garden that will attract bees and birds as well as a throng of unsung garden heroes. Whether you have a small balcony or a large open space, discover the joys of welcoming natural ecosystems back into your garden - along with a host of new visitors.

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Book SynopsisA back garden can come alive by creating an environment with plants and spaces that attract nature's most interesting and friendly creatures. Colourful butterflies, uplifting songbirds and lively toads can enhance the personal garden space, giving pleasure to nature lovers of all ages. National Wildlife Federation (R): Attracting Birds, Butterflies & Other Wildlife to Your Backyard (2nd Ed) provides over a dozen step-by-step projects for families to do together, making getting back to nature easy, educational and fun. Author David Mizejewski presents simple plans for reintroducing native plants that birds, butterflies and a whole host of critters can't resist. He also provides new information on attracting back garden pollinators-a major issue for environmentalists as bee populations decline.

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Book SynopsisTurn your garden into a hummingbird hotspot, a haven for butterflies, and a thriving ecosystem that will delight and inspire the young and young-at-heart. Gardening with children is a pleasure in itself, but when you learn to include wildlife in your plans, gardening becomes an even more joyful family experience. Creating a garden that invites wildlife opens up a wider world of nature for investigation, inspiration, and delight. Begin to see your yard from an animal’s perspective; discover plants that attract colorful birds and bugs; embrace sensory experiences that native plants and creatures bring; and understand how your yard fits into the surrounding landscape. Along the way you will discover simple ways you can actively support wildlife in your immediate environment, no matter where you live. This family-friendly guide to wildlife gardening leads you on a path to discovery, where trees are transformed into bird and animal habitats, where sunny spots are revered for

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Book Synopsis“Tallamy lays out all you need to know to participate in one of the great conservation projects of our time. Read it and get started!” —Elizabeth Kolbert, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sixth Extinction Douglas W. Tallamy’s first book, Bringing Nature Home, awakened thousands of readers to an urgent situation: wildlife populations are in decline because the native plants they depend on are fast disappearing. His solution? Plant more natives. In this new book, Tallamy takes the next step and outlines his vision for a grassroots approach to conservation. Nature’s Best Hope shows how homeowners everywhere can turn their yards into conservation corridors that provide wildlife habitats. Because this approach relies on the initiatives of private individuals, it is immune from the whims of government policy. Even more important, it’s practical, effective, and easy—you will walk away with specific suggestions you can incorporate into your own yard. If you’re concerned about doing something good for the environment, Nature’s Best Hope is the blueprint you need. By acting now, you can help preserve our precious wildlife—and the planet—for future generations.

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Book Synopsis"If the world of gardening has rock stars, Piet Oudolf qualifies as Mick Jagger, David Bowie, and Prince rolled into one." -Gardenista The original publication of Planting the Natural Garden ushered in a revolution in landscape design: the New Perennial Movement. Spearheaded by internationally renowned designer Piet Oudolf, and incisively articulated by the late plantsman and designer Henk Gerritsen, it transformed private and public spaces with its emotionally resonant, naturalistic use of hardy perennials and grasses. Now this classic has been expanded and updated to include scores of new plants and combinations. Packed with practical information and visual inspiration, Planting the Natural Garden zeroes in on the New Perennial Movement's power to move us, making its distinctive plant palette available to all. For enthusiasts of these vibrant landscapes, it is an essential text; for gardeners who love the dreamy moods and colours that Oudolf and Gerritsen celebrate, it's the key to a magic kingdom of garden beauty.

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Book SynopsisMargaret Armstrong, a prolific book cover designer and illustrator, spent a few years travelling around the western United States at the beginning of the twentieth century and in 1911 she was one of the first women to descend to the floor of the Grand Canyon. There she discovered some new flower species and began writing and illustrating the exquisite and thorough Field Book of Western Wild Flowers.This was the first comprehensive handbook to supply detailed information about the plethora of flowers growing in the western United States and includes detailed information on seventy-five plant families, like water-plantain, lilly, buttercup, poppy, mustard, hydrangea, plum, rose, cactus, wintergreen, figwort, and valerian families, and many others. Armstrong includes information on key characteristics of each species, including height, leaf and petal features, colors, where each flower can most likely be found, ideal conditions they flourish in, and much more.

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Book SynopsisGive pollinators a fighting chance! Transform your landscape into a breathtaking pollinator paradise with the practical solutions in this New York Times–featured guide. The passion and urgency that inspired WWI and WWII Victory Gardens is needed today to meet another threat to our food supply and our environment—the steep decline of pollinators. In The Pollinator Victory Garden, environmental horticulturalist, landscape designer, and New York Botanical Garden and Brooklyn Botanic Garden teacher Kim Eierman offers accessible, actionable information and tips for winning the war against the demise of these essential animals. Pollinators are critical to our food supply and responsible for the pollination of the vast majority of all flowering plants on our planet. Pollinators include not just bees, but many different types of animals, including insects and mammals. Beetles, bats, birds, butterflies, moths, flies, and wasps can be pollinators. But, many pollinators are in trouble, and the reality is that most of our landscapes have little to offer them. Our residential and commercial landscapes are filled with vast green pollinator deserts, better known as lawns. These monotonous green expanses are ecological wastelands for bees and other pollinators. With The Pollinator Victory Garden, learn how to transition your landscape into a pollinator haven by creating a habitat that includes pollinator nutrition, larval host plants for butterflies and moths, and areas for egg laying, nesting, sheltering, overwintering, resting, and warming. Perfect for beginner to intermediate gardeners, this guide offers a wealth of information to support pollinators while improving the environment around you: The importance of pollinators and the specific threats to their survival How to provide food for pollinators using native perennials, trees, and shrubs that bloom in succession Detailed profiles of the major pollinator types and how to attract and support each one Tips for creating and growing a Pollinator Victory Garden, including site assessment, planning, and planting goals Project ideas like pollinator islands, enriched landscape edges, revamped foundation plantings, meadowscapes, and other pollinator-friendly lawn alternatives A Pollinator Victory Garden checklist to help you plan and implement the steps needed to have a thriving pollinator garden Plant lists of native tree and shrub species organized by pollinator type and bloom time The time is right for a new gardening movement. Every yard, community garden, rooftop, porch, patio, commercial, and municipal landscape can help to win the war against pollinator decline with The Pollinator Victory Garden.Trade Review“Ms. Eierman […] lays out nature-friendly tips in her book The Pollinator Victory Garden.” * The New York Times *"This book provides an in-depth education of how pollination works and what pollinators need to thrive, and then translates that information into actionable steps to take in the garden." * Horticulture Magazine *"It’s a well written, well laid out book with lots of tips to help even a first time gardener. It’s a book anyone who wants to help should have in their library." * Broken Teepee *"...packed with useful information, charts, diagrams, and gorgeous photos." * Dear Author *"...provides all the advice and information you'll need to get started on your own pollinator project." * Connecticut Gardener *"With The Pollinator Victory Garden by Kim Eierman you can give pollinators a fighting chance. Provides a wealth of information to support pollinators while improving the environment." * Green Profit *"Every beekeeper should be thinking like this. Kim goes a long, long way to making it possible to make it happen for you. Try this book this year." -- Kim Flottum * Bee Culture *"If you want to learn how to protect your pollinators and make sure they are taken care of throughout the year, I highly recommend getting The Pollinator Victory Garden!" -- Susan Bewley * Budget Earth *"With Eierman’s guidance, easy to read charts, plants list, and even a Pollinator Victory Garden checklist, you can create a bio-diverse native habitat that can make a difference to the pollinators of the world." * EcoLandscaping.org *"...shares a wealth of information to support pollinators while also improving the environment around you." * Michigan Gardener *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1 Essentials of Pollinators and Pollination Chapter 2 Providing Pollinators with a Place to Live Chapter 3 Providing Pollinators with Food to Eat Chapter 4 Parade of Pollinators: Meet the Pollinators Chapter 5 Creating and Growing a Pollinator Victory Garden Appendix Ten Tips for a Thriving Pollinator Victory Garden Pollinator Victory Garden Checklist Plant Lists Early-Blooming Native Trees and Shrubs for Bees Native Flowering Plants for Native Pollinators Native Flowering Plants for Honey Bees Native Flowering Plants for Hummingbirds Recommended Books Index About the Author

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Book SynopsisWho doesn't want a yard filled with birds, bees, and butterflies? In The Ultimate Wildlife Garden, Stacy Tornio makes it easy. This hardworking, photo-filled guide will enable you to create the earth-friendly, plant-filled garden of your dreams. Readers will find plant-specific information on attracting species-specific varieties of birds, hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife. Additional information includes advice on finding the right type of feeder, avoiding pesticides, and native plant options. Ten garden plans allow homeowners to build specific gardens from scratch, including a hummingbird garden, a songbird garden, a bird-habitat garden, and more. Whether you want to entice birds with black-eyed susans or attract bumblebees by planting bee balm, this must-have guide will help bring your garden to life.

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Book Synopsis*As seen in The New York Times and MarthaStewart.com "It’s time to rebuild meadows wherever we can. . . Owen Wormser explains why, and how to do this, with oodles of highly readable, ecologically sound advice."—Douglas W. Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home and Nature's Best Hope Landscape designer Owen Wormser explains how to replace the deadscape we call lawn with low-maintenance, eco-friendly meadows. In this second edition of his award-winning book, he includes photos of meadows in progress plus more ways to cultivate your own organic meadow. This how-to book on growing your own wildflowers and native grasses is also about sustainability, regeneration, and beauty. In a world where lawns have wreaked havoc on our natural ecosystems, meadows offer a compelling solution. It is garden landscaping that is beautiful, all year round. Meadows establish wildlife and pollinator habitats, are low-maintenance and low-cost, have a built-in resilience that helps them weather climate extremes, and can draw down and store far more carbon dioxide than any manicured lawn. Wormser describes how to plant an organic meadow garden or traditional meadow, that’s right for your site. His book includes guidance on: Preparing your site Designing your meadow Planting without using synthetic chemicals Growing 21 starter native grasses and wildflowers, including butterfly weed, smooth blue aster, purple coneflower, wild bergamot, blue grama grass, switchgrass, and many more Building support in neighborhoods where a tidy lawn is the standard. He also shares 28 color photos that highlight the multitude of ways you can cultivate your own organic meadow. To illuminate the many joys of meadow-building, Wormser draws on his own stories, including how growing up off the grid in northern Maine, with no electricity or plumbing, prepared him for his work.Trade Review"It’s time to rebuild meadows wherever we can, including the deadscape we call lawn. Owen Wormser explains why, and how to do this, with oodles of highly readable, ecologically sound advice."–Douglas W. Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home and Nature's Best Hope"I love the voicing in this book. It brought meadows and flowers to life for me in many ways that I am going to continue to enjoy."–Jon Kabat-Zinn, Scientist, writer, and founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction"This wonderful book by Owen Wormser has a humble title, Lawns Into Meadows. But it is all about a very big idea, namely the conversion of lawns into meadows as a powerful way to help save the lands, protect the waters, and stabilize the climate. Lawns are a very destructive force in an ecological sense. They consume huge amounts of water and depend on toxic chemicals, fertilizers, and fossil fuels for their maintenance. Meadows do just the opposite. They employ biodiversity and nature’s genius to heal landscapes, build soils, and sequester atmospheric carbon while supporting pollinators and other beneficial insects and plants. The author tells us how to grow a meadow, and become a positive force on behalf of the planet. I highly recommend this book."–Dr. John Todd, author of Healing Earth"The practical organization and clear-cut instructions provided in this book make it an indispensable guide for growing and maintaining a meadow. With its charming cover and interior illustrations, it is also a beautiful addition to any gardener’s library. Recommended for anyone interested in rewilding their landscape."―Casey Laine, Butterfly Gardener"I just made the mistake of sticking my nose into Owen Wormser's Lawns into Meadows and before I knew it, it had interrupted my plans because I kept reading it. Lovely book, lovely ideas, and graceful illustrations. Highly recommended."–Christopher Madden, Woodhall Press"I like the straightforward, can-do approach of Lawns Into Meadows―whether for a replacing a curbside stretch of grass, or an island bed in your backyard, or something bigger. This is a really accessible, how-to book that's also about sustainability, regeneration, and beauty. I'm so glad to get this book."–Margaret Roach, A Way to Garden, New York Times contributor

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Book SynopsisA memoir about belonging and motherhood, told through the author's lifelong passion for wild food When Helen Lehndorf moves to the city after a childhood living off the land in rural Taranaki, she can't help but feel different from her peers and professors. She finds solace in long walks foraging weeds and plants along the river, but something inside her still longs for home. Chasing a feeling of ancestral belonging, she travels to England with her new husband. There they learn about nature as the commons, shared between all who encounter it - a source of delight, food, medicine.An unexpected pregnancy in Aotearoa changes everything, and motherhood takes over Helen's identity. When her son is diagnosed with autism, foraging becomes a space for selfhood in a chaotic world.Weaving memoir with foraging recipes, principles and practices, A Forager's Life is an intimate story and a promise that, with the right frame of mind, much can be made of the world around us.'Wonderful. A story that will have you looking at your neighbourhood with new intent.' Wendyl Nissen'Fascinating and really beautiful ... I loved this book.' Claire Mabey, 'Book Critic', RNZ Afternoons'A gorgeous book. Thoughtful, funny and inspiring.' Catherine Robertson, 'Book Critic', RNZ Afternoons 'I devoured the pages ... and found myself wanting more.' Kete Books'... her accounts of these struggles, and how she and her family worked through them, provide the books with much of its - considerably large - heart.' North & South'This heartfelt, dreamy memoir ... revels in the simple things [and] encourages you to slow down.' Shepherdess

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Book SynopsisA beautiful and accessible seasonal guide to herbalism from the historic botanic garden.Discover the best times of the year for growing specific healing herbs and also when and how to forage for wild medicine, such as water mint, St John's Wort, hawthorn berries and rosehips. Recipes are included for how to use these herbs, along with folklore stories from herb wives and hedge witches, the meanings behind their names and the history of how these natural medicines were discovered.There are plenty of tips for how to create your own medicinal herb garden, even with just a few pots, along with a biodynamic guide for sowing, planting and harvesting. Including detailed hand-drawn line illustrations to help deepen your understanding, The Herb Almanac is the perfect gift for any nature lover.CONTENTS INCLUDES:IntroductionIncluding using herbs as seasonally appropriate remedies and tonics, an overview of herbs in folklore, wild medicine, magic, superstition, ritual, tradition and literature and herbs in religion and floriography (the language of flowers)Gathering and Using HerbsIncluding safe, legal and successful foraging, a brief introduction to growing your own herbs and preparing, drying and preserving herbsWitches' Brews: Poisonous Plants Including an overview of herbs with interesting stories that cannot be easily used, e.g. wormwood, hemlock and mandrakeHerb EncyclopediaIncluding detailed information on over 50 different herbs

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Book SynopsisThe Little Book of Wild Gardening is a guide for anyone wanting to garden in a more sustainable, natural way. Working with nature benefits not just the garden, but also the gardener, wildlife and the wider environment. Divided into sections for different garden areas - including lawns, flower beds, edibles, trees and water features - The Little Book of Wild Gardening details how to embrace a natural approach to gardening for plots large and small.Introductory chapters explain how garden ecosystems can work, and how a healthy garden can mean savings in both work and resources for the gardener. There are plant profiles providing a variety of choices for a wilder approach, plus design tips and expertise in sustainable and wildlife-friendly gardening. From a sustainable veg patch to wildflower meadows, and from bat boxes to gravel gardens, the book includes projects and plants in a range of sizes and timescales so gardeners can create a bountiful and enjoyable haven that will benefit themselves, their local area, and all kinds of wildlife.

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Book SynopsisThe Flowerpot Forager is a beginners' guide to growing wild food in pots, making foraging easy.The Flowerpot Forager details 30 wild edible plants that can be grown at home in containers with as much effort as you would put into your tending your herb pot from the supermarket, plus a very simple recipe or two on how to use them – think pink clover lemonade, water mint pesto and dandelion salad. Foraging is a perennially aspirational hobby for gardeners and cooks alike, but it’s now entering the mainstream; from supermarkets stocking wild garlic to Fever Tree spiking their tonics with elderflower, wild food is everywhere. Historically, location has hampered the accessibility of foraging – if you don’t live near a wood, riverbed or meadow, it can be difficult to find those lusted-after ingredients in cookbooks and on TV shows. But The Flowerpot Forager is here to solve that.

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