Trees, wildflowers and plants: general interest Books

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Book SynopsisThis guide from the experts of Kew Royal Botanical Gardens is filled with tips and advice to help you grow your best vegetable garden ever! In this book Kew's Kitchen Gardener, Helena Dove, combines practical elements with inspiration and beauty to make a comprehensive and informative guide with all you need to know to master theart of growing vegetables. She shows how to grow some of the most popular staple crops such as tomatoes, potatoes, radishes and rocket, and also some more unusual and exciting choices such as oca, tomatillo, seakale and yacon. She gives easy to follow instructions on how to be a successful vegetable gardener, plus 12 exciting projects to try throughout the year including forcing rhubarb, creating an asparagus border and growing in raised beds. From sowing, to planting young plants, to hardening off and harvesting, fiTable of ContentsContents 6 INTRODUCTION TO GROWING VEGETABLES 30 PLANTS 32 Okra 33 Leek 34 Onion 36 PROJECT 1: RAISED BEDS 38 Shallot 39 Spring onion 40 Garlic 42 American groundnut 43 Celery 44 Celeriac 45 Peanut 46 Asparagus 48 PROJECT 2: CREATING AN ASPARAGUS BED 50 Beetroot 51 Chard 52 Swede 53 Kale 55 Calabrese 56 PROJECT 3: USING VEGETABLES AS A DECORATIVE DISPLAY 58 Cauliflower 59 Cabbage 61 Brussels sprout 62 Kohl rabi 63 Sprouting broccoli 64 Turnip 65 Pak choi 66 Mizuna 67 Komatsuna 68 Pepper 69 Endive 70 Chicory 71 Miner’s lettuce 72 Seakale 73 Cucumber 74 PROJECT 4: CREATING A WILDLIFE FRIENDLY VEGETABLE GARDEN 76 Courgette and summer squash 77 Winter squash 78 Pumpkin 79 Globe artichoke 80 Carrot 82 PROJECT 5: BUILDING A ROOT CLAMP 84 Rocket 85 Florence fennel 87 Soya bean 88 Jerusalem artichoke 89 Sweet potato 90 PROJECT 6: SWEET POTATO SLIPS 92 Lettuce 94 Cucamelon 95 Watercress 96 PROJECT 7: ROOTING WATERCRESS 98 Oca 98 Parsnip 100 Parsnip root 101 Runner bean 102 French bean 103 Tomatillo 104 Pea 106 PROJECT 8: WINDOWSILL SALADS 108 Mangetout and sugar snap pea 109 Radish 110 Radish pod 111 Rhubarb 112 PROJECT 9: FORCED RHUBARB 114 Buckler leaf sorrel 115 Agretti 116 Yacon 117 Tomato 120 PROJECT 10: SAVING SEED 122 Aubergine 123 Potato 126 PROJECT 11: FESTIVE VEGETABLES 128 Spinach 129 Lamb’s lettuce 130 PROJECT 12: NATURAL SUPPORTS FOR BROAD BEANS 132 Broad bean 133 Sweetcorn 134 Troubleshooting 138 What to do when 142 Index 144 Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisThe Complete Language of Flowers is a comprehensive encyclopedia providing the meanings, powers, facts, and folklore for over 1,001 flower species. Now in a pocket-size edition for easy, on-the-go reference. Along with a beautiful visual depiction, each entry provides the flower’s scientific and common names, characteristics, and historic meanings and powers from mythology, medieval legends, folklore, and flower poetry. For centuries, symbolic flower meanings have fascinated readers, writers, poets, and suddenly smitten couples alike. Extremely popular during the Victorian era, these floriographies flourished and versed the public on the hidden meaning of popular flowers such as: Purple Tulip—Eternal love Amaryllis—Adventurousness; Enthusiasm; Passion Daisy—Beauty and innocence; Cheer; Childlike playfulness Sunflower—Ambition; Constancy; Devotion Together with stunning full-color illustrations and two indexes, one for searching by common flower name and the other organized by meaning, this beautiful reference is a must-have for gardeners, florists, and flower enthusiasts. Whether you’re looking to arrange the perfectly bespoken wedding bouquet or to understand what the yellow rose you just received from an admirer means (friendship), this updated floriography is a visual delight. Table of ContentsA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Contents ! Introduction How to Use This Book Works Consulted Acknowledgments About the Author Photo Credits Index of Common Flower Names Index of Common Flower Meanings

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Book SynopsisA Best Floristry Book of 2022, Gardens IllustratedA contemporary, beautifully illustrated book on flowers, flower pressing and arranging.A delight, packed with stories about the flowers JamJar Flowers work with, as well as practical information' House & GardenIn The Modern Flower Press, innovative florists Melissa Richardson and Amy Fielding (owners of JamJar Flowers) share their abundant knowledge of flowers and tell the stories that surround the traditional art of flower pressing, reinventing the craft into a very modern form that celebrates the colour, shape and beauty of flowers.The Modern Flower Press is a storybook full of entertaining facts, myths and legends about flowers. Melissa and Amy explain all aspects of the history of pressing flowers, from its origins to the present day. They show you how to choose the right flowers for pressing, how to prepare and press them, and share ideas for projects and artworks to display them in all their perfectly preserved glory. From their oTrade Review‘The Modern Flower Press celebrates pressing’s surprisingly glamorous history, and offers plenty of practical advice, too.’ Alice Vincent, Telegraph 'Celebrate all things botanical and learn about the art of pressing flowers with this beautiful new book by the florists of South London’s beloved JamJar. The Modern Flower Press is a bible of fascinating floral facts, tips, myths and, above all, glorious illustrations and photography.' Tatler ‘Feels like a spellbook incantating more magic than the title alone suggests … Lavish specimens scatter the pages and are reproduced in such papery, translucent detail that one might be forgiven for thinking some cheeky bookseller had slipped in a real stem or two … Encourage[s] readers to find the nearest flower and pick it, immediately, for posterity.’ Amy Merrick, World of Interiors 'Flower pressing is enjoying a particular moment of popularity. Here the pair behind fashionable London florist JamJar Flowers sketch out the history of the pastime, provide inspirational ideas from JamJar's own commissions and offer an array of creative projects to try at home.' The English Garden 'The florists behind JamJar Flowers share their modern take on the lost art of pressing flowers' Gardens Illustrated 'For more inspiration, see the company's new book, The Modern Flower Press' Country Homes & Interiors ‘JamJar: the florist turning dried English meadow flowers into works of Art’ Times Luxx magazine ‘'It tells not only the story of how to press flowers, but it is full of the most wonderful tales of nature and myth and magic and all of the things that make an English flower garden so precious that we want to pick and press the flowers in the first place … punctuated with practical ideas' A Little Bird

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Book SynopsisCompletely revised second edition of bestselling guideAuthoritative account of European and Mediterranean orchids by leading expertsTaxonomic revisions from the latest phylogenetic studies incorporated Features 32 genera including Ophrys, Cypripedium, Orchis, Dactylorhiza, Epipactis, Serapias, as well as 70 natural hybrids An easy to use identification guide illustrated with over 2000 photographs along with notes on distinguishing features and distribution maps

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Book SynopsisCollins Complete Guide to British Muchrooms and Toadstools allows everyone to identify mushrooms found in Britain and Ireland. The book is illustrated with beautiful photographs throughout, featuring the species you are most likely to see.By only covering Britain and Ireland, fewer species are included than in many broader European guides, making it quicker and easier for the reader to accurately identify what they have found.Extensive details on size, shape and colour are given and over 1,500 photographs help you identify each species.This is the essential photographic guide to the mushrooms and toadstools of Britain and Ireland.Trade ReviewPraise for the Collins Complete series: 'Wonderfully descriptive photographs'BBC Wildlife ‘Whether you are a keen amateur or someone with a passing interest, this book will satisfy your needs.’The Sea 'Packs in lots of well-chosen detail in compact form'British Wildlife Magazine

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Book SynopsisFind out all about different types of trees around the world in this fact-filled non-fiction book.Find out all about different types of trees around the world in this fact-filled non-fiction book.Blue/Band 4 offers longer, repeated patterns with sequential events and integrated literary and natural language. Non-fiction uses signs, labels and diagrams.This book focuses on adjacent consonants with long vowel phonemes.Pages 14 and 15 allow children to re-visit the content of the book, supporting comprehension skills, vocabulary development and recall.Reading notes within the book provide practical support for reading Big Cat Phonics for Letters and Sounds with children, including a list of all the sounds and words that the book will cover.

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Book SynopsisFrom the author ofRewild YourselfandHow to Be a Bad Birdwatcher, a light-hearted guide to realising you know more about plants than you might think.

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Book SynopsisSucculents, especially cacti, are the current focus of serious ecological studies but also the darlings of designers and style influencers. Their endearing, characterful looks have given them the status of trendy ‘plant pets’. But succulentomania is not new. While these plants have always been part of the landscape in the dry vastnesses of the Americas, Australia and Africa, curiosities such as furry-flowered stapeliads and euphorbias like snakes were a source of fascination for early European plant collectors – and in eighteenth-century Bavaria a prosperous apothecary grew an ‘American aloe’ that astounded all who saw it. This apothecary, Johann Wilhelm Weinmann, was the mastermind behind a groundbreaking book in which he aimed to include thousands of plants from all over the world, describing their individual characteristics and commissioning magnificent colour illustrations of each specimen. The succulents he featured are reproduced here in all their splendour. We may no longer look to them to treat gangrene, manufacture glass or disperse kidney stones, but succulents are proving of great interest to modern medicine and agriculture, and we can marvel at them afresh not only as wonders of nature but also as works of art.Trade ReviewThere are many interesting facts relating to the plants in the illustrations and the book is an easy and entertaining read.Table of ContentsThe dry life 1 Succulents & cacti 41 About the illustrations 110 Where to see succulents & cacti 125 Further reading 130 Picture credits 133

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Book SynopsisA beautifully illustrated guide to 75 of the most unique and fascinating mushrooms in the world, including interesting insight into their history, uses, and etymologies.From sweet little toadstools to giant puffballs, mushrooms come in all shapes and sizes. With over 10,000 mushrooms in the world, some are cute and colorful, while others may look super adorable but are actually deadly. No matter the kind, it’s time to celebrate all types of mushrooms with The Little Book of Mushrooms. This book is a collection of everything you need to know about 75 of the world’s most unique mushrooms. With information on their etymology, geographic location, characteristics, and culinary or healing powers, this book is the perfect companion for amateur mushroom hunters, cottage-core fans, or anyone just looking for a beautifully illustrated book on some of the most incredible fungi around the world.

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Book Synopsis“A rare gift: an inspiring tale about trees, trauma and the very purpose of life.” —Andrew Nikiforuk, author of Empire of the Beetle Diana Beresford-Kroeger—a world-recognized botanist and medical biochemist—has revolutionized our understanding of the natural world with her startling insights into the hidden life of trees. In this riveting memoir, she uncovers the roots of her discoveries in her extraordinary childhood in Ireland. Soon after, her brilliant mind bloomed into an illustrious scientific career that melds the intricacies of the natural world with the truths of traditional Celtic wisdom. To Speak for the Trees uniquely blends the story of Beresford-Kroeger’s incredible life and her outstanding achievement as a scientist. It elegantly shows us how forests can not only heal us as people but can also help save the planet.

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Book SynopsisThe irresistible story of Japanese cherry blossoms, threatened by political ideology and saved by an unknown Englishman'This is not just a tale of trees, but of . . . endeavour, war and reconciliation' Sunday TimesCollingwood Ingram, born in 1880, became known as 'Cherry' for his defining obsession. As a young man, he travelled to Japan and learned of the astonishing displays of cherry blossoms, or sakura.On a return visit in 1926, Ingram witnessed frightening changes to the country's cherry population. A cloned variety was sweeping the landscape and being used as a symbol for Japan's expansionist ambitions. Determined to protect the diversity of the trees, Ingram began sending the rare varieties from his own garden in England back to Japan with the help of a network of 'cherry guardians'.This is an eloquent portrait of an extraordinary man whose legacy we enjoy every spring, and his unsung place in botanic history.'Engrossing . . . A portrait of great charm and sophistication' Christopher Harding, GuardianWinner of the 2020 Award for Excellence from The Council on Botanical and Horticultural LibrariesTrade ReviewThis is not just a tale of trees, but of the symbolism of the cherry tree to Japan: of endeavour, war and reconciliation * Sunday Times, Books of the Year *Sympathetic and engrossing... a portrait of great charm and sophistication, rich in its natural and historical range, guaranteeing that you won’t look at cherry blossoms the same way again -- Dr Christopher Harding * Guardian *A remarkable book…excellent...fascinating, a treat for gardeners, cherry-growers and historians -- Robin Lane Fox * Financial Times *[A] deeply moving book -- beautifully written, and a huge achievement in terms of research -- Claire Kohda Hazelton * The Spectator *Set against the narrative arc of Japanese history, journalist Naoko Abe's account of the man behind the preservation of her country's national symbol is both sympathetic and compelling... On reading this book, beautifully illustrated with atmospheric period shots and colour plates, you may well determine, as I have, to visit Japan at cherry blossom time -- Vanessa Berridge * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisThe Book of the Tree is a celebration of trees in art featuring works by some of the world's leading artists, photographers and illustrators."The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way." William BlakeFrom stately old oaks to beautiful forests and woods, trees have provided a source of inspiration for artists throughout history.This charming gift book presents a selection of some of the most beautiful artworks inspired by trees. Interspersed throughout the illustrations are short texts about the artists and their interest in particular trees, from Egon Shiele's delicate watercolours of chestnut trees, to Rousseau's exotic forests, Claire Cansick's vivid woodlands and Hockney's tree-lined groves.The Book of the Tree presents a wonderful collection of arboreal art that revels in the enduring beauty of our trees, woodlands and forests. It is the perfect gift for art-lovers, tree-lovers and nature-lovers.More books in the series:The Book of the Flower by Angus Hyland and Kendra Wilson (9781786272454)The Book of the Bird by Angus Hyland and Kendra Wilson (9781780677507)The Book of the Dog by Angus Hyland and Kendra Wilson (9781780676562)The Book of the Cat by Angus Hyland and Caroline Roberts (9781786270719)The Book of the Horse by Angus Hyland and Caroline Roberts (9781786272928)

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Book SynopsisA passionate and informative celebration of trees and of man's ingenuity in exploiting their resources: the perfect gift for anyone who cares about the natural world. Trees are marvels of nature, still-standing giants of extraordinary longevity. In a beautifully written sequence of essays, anecdotes and profiles of Britain's best-loved species (from yew to scots pine), Max Adams explores both the amazing biology of trees and humanity's relationship with wood and forest across the centuries. Embellished with images from John Evelyn's classic Sylva (1664), The Wisdom of Trees a gift book that will delight anyone who cares about the natural world and our interaction with it.Trade ReviewFascinating... Tells us much about the astounding natural engineering of trees' * Independent *Adam's enthusiasm is beguiling... his appreciation of the utility of trees is a pointer to a better world' * The Times *His book is about the remarkable ways in which evolution has enabled trees to survive and flourish... A rich miscellany' * TLS *

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Book SynopsisAn inspiring, aspirational and practical guide to building fires both indoors and out. 'A cracking book' Sainsbury's Magazine 'Follow these tips and your inner caveman will be proud' Sunday Times 'A brilliantly informative guide with stylish illustrations' Yorkshire Post 'Celebrates the heart-warming properties of the hearth' Simple Things Nothing beats the companionable crackle of an open fire. Fires invite us to sit and share stories or watch in contemplative silence. We feel drawn to the flickering flames, the gentle curls of aromatic smoke and reassuring radiant heat. Snuggled under a blanket, toasting crumpets and listening to the pleasing pops of burning wood – what better way to spend a winter's evening? Or, come the summer, few pleasures are richer than cooking food, perched around a campfire, waiting for the stars to come out. But for all this talk, how many of us know how to build a fire? Would we know which kinds of trees burn best? Could we make our own firelighters or build the perfect fire stack? The Little Book of Building Fires is a richly illustrated pocket guide to sourcing, seasoning and storing firewood, choosing kindling and tinder, and how to build and light the perfect fire. From campfires to woodburners, bonfires to open hearths, this book blends practicality with personal experience and will get you back in touch with your ancient firemaking instincts.Trade ReviewA brilliantly informative guide with stylish illustrations... Promises to put you back in touch with your ancient fire-making instincts * Yorkshire Post *Coulthard [celebrates] the heart-warming properties of the hearth in this engaging little book * Simple Things *Follow these tips and your inner caveman will be proud * Sunday Times *A cracking book * Sainsbury's Magazine *A resourceful and informative joy to read * The Lifestyle Editor *A nice gift for someone with a practical mind * The Bookseller *

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Book SynopsisEver since the first human settlements 10,000 years ago, weeds have dogged our footsteps. They are there as the punishment of 'thorns and thistles' in Genesis and , two millennia later, as a symbol of Flanders Field. They are civilisations' familiars, invading farmland and building-sites, war-zones and flower-beds across the globe. Yet living so intimately with us, they have been a blessing too. Weeds were the first crops, the first medicines. Burdock was the inspiration for Velcro. Cow parsley has become the fashionable adornment of Spring weddings. Weaving together the insights of botanists, gardeners, artists and poets with his own life-long fascination, Richard Mabey examines how we have tried to define them, explain their persistence, and draw moral lessons from them. One persons weed is another's wild beauty.Trade ReviewThe nation's favourite nature writer. * Sunday Telegraph *Mr Mabey is the kind of person you wish you had with you on every country walk, identifying, explaining, deducing, drawing on deep knowledge lightly worn. * Country Life *This book will open your eyes to the significance, wonder and exasperation felt about weeds. I couldn't put the book down once I started reading. Mabey offers a diversity and richness of fact, fiction, philosophy and fun -- Professor Stephen Hopper, Director, Kew GardensRichard Mabey's journey through the realm of weeds is witty, learned and original. It says as much about us as these maligned plants, and is a surprising tale. His delightful book will not make weeding any easier but it will make it an intellectual activity and thus a philosophical one. The writing is stunning, the argument undeniable. Some plants and most people have a problem which will never go away. * Ronald Blythe *A fascinating display of personal knowledge of the history of different species and their changing status in the minds of our ancestors. Excellent. * Daily Mail *[Mabey] is the steward of a pastoral tradition in which highly personal responses to landscape are matched by expert environmental concerns; his ideas have become standard with no loss of urgency ... he deepens symbolic value by combining close attention to details with a more sweeping sense of things. In Weeds, Mabey has written a memorable hymn to the marginal. -- Andrew Motion * Guardian *Mabey weaves social history, psychology, literature and art into his clear rendering of plant biology. Explanations of evolution sit alongside explorations of flower symbolism in Shakespeare. * Nature *Told with delight in the "sheer opportunism" of weeds, and their right to do what all living things do - to grow, whenever and wherever possible. A treat. * Financial Times *Enraptured, visionary, witty and erudite ... firmly in the Gilbert White tradition. Why, by the way, can English writers do this better than anybody else? A fascinating read. * Telegraph *A witty, wise insight into the floral world and our capricious relationship with some of its more boisterous inhabitants. * BBC Countryfile *Delightful and casually learned. * Economist *Mabey's amble through the low-level, high-rise world of weeds is rich in lore and usefulness. As in all his work, what comes across is his abiding passion for plants and the sustenance they give both imaginatively and spiritually. Richard Mabey writes about weeds with the confident affection of someone discussing old friends ... this [book] is as much a celebration of the vexed coupling between mankind and plantlife as it is a fine marriage between subject and author. -- Bella Bathurst * Observer/The Guardian *Mabey is the gardener's greatest comforter. -- Stephen Anderton * The Times *A fascinating read. You read this book you will never look at weeds in quite the same way again - Richard has done them a service and us by enabling the reader to join him in this entertaining and insightful book. * www.recklessgardener.com *A newish sort of nature has flourished: desolate, unruly, even rank and unwelcome, but suited to an age of ecological decline and catastrophist visions. Richard Mabey is in several senses the modest eminence behind this almost-movement ... As ever with Mabey there's a poetry to all this creeping ecology. Even the book's glossary of plant names is a verbal joy ... He's a precise and witty writer * Sunday Telegraph *The best book on British wild flowers in a decade ... Read this quietly enthralling book and you will never again look at these most familiar plants in quite the same way. * Independent *Mabey is incapable of writing a tedious sentence and this book strays into as many byways as the seed of rosebay willow herb ... completely riveting ... he's at his best in the most unexpected areas. His strength lies in his ability to view his subject not dispassionately, for he writes with magnificent passion, but in a way that removes us, the true interlopers as the most important characters in the plot. -- Anna Pavord * Gardens Illustrated *Weaves together his unrivalled botanical knowledge with tales from history. * Countryman *Mabey is as well versed in the literature of weeds as in the botany, richly weaving his own observations with the words of others; Shakespeare on nettles, Ruskin on poppies, Thoreau on brambles and Will Self on 'blisterweed'. Mabey uses weeds as a way to explore wider ideas about the natural world and how humans interact with it ... a profound and sympathetic meditation. You'll look at weeds in a whole new way. * Sunday Times *A fascinating and eye-opening book, one that makes you view the world around you afresh. * Big Issue Scotland *A fantastic cultural history of vagabond plants ... fascinating and truly eye-opening. * Big Issue London *Profound stuff * Irish News *A delightful and quietly funny read * Irish Times *He never disappoints - buy this book for the gardener in your life, and convert them to the wonder of weeds * Guardian *As long as humanity has tried to control nature, weeds have been our unwanted companions. In this fascinating, richly detailed book, Richard Mabey gives weeds their full due, chronicling their changing relationship to us from the ancient world to the age of invasive species and genetically modified plans. Weeds are not just a particular collection of plants, Mabey makes clear; they are, instead, a reflection of our own culture - perhaps, our own weediness. -- Carl Zimmer, author of EvolutionWeeds are persistent, ubiquitous, and, to the uninitiated, annoying, but they are also biological marvels that have evolved side by side with human civilization. Richard Mabey's personal, historical, and cultural viewpoint converts weeds into intellectually stunning wild flowers! -- Bill Streever, author of ColdRichard Mabey is Britain's leading natural history writer, and this is his witty and beguiling meditation on weeds and their wily ways. Mabey suggests that weeds and wild flowers, those ruthless "gatecrashers of civilization" are really part of nature's secret immune system, rushing in to repair our damaged planet. Provoking and affectionate, this extraordinary book challenges notions of both culture and agriculture. You will never look at a weed, or flourish a garden fork, in the same way again. -- Richard Holmes, author of The Age of Wonder

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Book SynopsisIreland's wild plants have been part of our culture and folklore from the earliest times, featuring in the Brehon Laws, early Irish poetry and herbal medicine. Plants are described in seasonal order and different aspects are examined: their roles in magical protection, charms and spells, emblems in children's games, Irish place names and folklore. This beautifully illustrated and comprehensive compilation of natural history, mythology and folklore will entertain and enlighten all interested in the wild plants of Ireland.Trade Review'Wonderful book' * Sunday Independent *A delightful book. * The Irish Garden *A beautiful book. * Books Ireland *A delightful, thoroughly-researched book. * Irish Examiner *Exquisitely illustrated. * Sunday Independent *A treasury of ancient and interesting information. * The Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisIn The Flower Hunter, Lucy Hunter takes us on an inspirational journey through a year in her garden and artist’s studio set among the mountains of North Wales. Lucy's evocative, gently humorous words accompany her glorious photographs and exquisite floral arrangements, as she encourages the reader to marvel at the intricate cycles of the natural world, develop their own innate creativity and to look for beauty in the everyday. Her garden provides the raw materials for Lucy's floral artistry – breathtaking naturalistic arrangements with the painterly beauty and flourish of a Dutch still life. Simple projects accompany Lucy’s text, from drying garden flowers for an autumnal wreath to making your own journals and natural dyes to assembling lavish arrangements that showcase the voluptuous beauty of garden roses. Lucy believes that we all have a creative voice buried deep within. The Flower Hunter will encourage you to find your own creativity and help it to blossom.Trade ReviewSeasonality and self-knowledge are at the heart of this beautiful, inspirational and refreshingly fun book by the floral polymath Lucy Hunter - Gardens Illustrated Overflowing with gorgeous photography, wonderful step-by-step tutorials, and beautiful essays - Floret Is a sumptuously illustrated step-by-step guide to creating dreamily beautiful, seasonal floral arrangements from the garden - The Irish Times This gorgeous book showcases the talents of floral artist Lucy Hunter’s stunning naturalistic arrangements...The book is equally appealing as a coffee table addition or as inspiration for growing your own cutting garden of your favorite flowers - Veranda.com Glorious floral arrangements, many of which look like still-life paintings - Cottages & Bungalows Lucy creates masterpieces... luscious – Slow Flowers Journal

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Book SynopsisA great, rhapsodic, urgent book full of joy, grief, rage and love . . . A must-read'' Helen Macdonald, author of H is for HawkNature has many gifts for us, but perhaps the greatest of them all is joy; the intense delight we can take in the natural world, in its beauty, in the wonder it can offer us, in the peace it can provide - feelings stemming ultimately from our own unbreakable links to nature, which mean that we cannot be fully human if we are separate from it. In The Moth Snowstorm Michael McCarthy, one of Britain''s leading writers on the environment, proposes this joy as a defence of a natural world which is ever more threatened, and which, he argues, is inadequately served by the two defences put forward hitherto: sustainable development and the recognition of ecosystem services.Drawing on a wealth of memorable experiences from a lifetime of watching and thinking about wildlife and natural landscapes, The Moth Snowstorm noTrade ReviewA great, rhapsodic, urgent book full of joy, grief, rage and love. The Moth Snowstorm is at once a deeply affecting memoir and a heartbreaking account of ecological impoverishment. It fights against indifference, shines with the deep magic and beauty of the non-human lives around us, and shows how their loss lessens us all. A must-read * Helen Macdonald, author of H is for Hawk *An important book about an important subject - the loss of biodiversity locally, nationally and internationally, what this means for humanity and how it could possibly be avoided . . . The main argument is that we all have in us the capacity to experience joy and wonder from nature . . . Michael McCarthy is a professional journalist and an accomplished and experienced writer who handles his themes skilfully * Irish Examiner *Impassioned, polemical and personal . . . In the autobiographical passages nature is a marvel and a solace. [McCarthy's] descriptions of the night-time clouds of moths - the moth snowstorms of the title - that we saw in the days before farming ruined so much natural habitat are unforgettable, and his recollections of boyhood bird-watching on the River Dee Bay a delight . . . At its heart, this is a book aiming to persuade those who are broadly sympathetic to think in a different way, and in that it is surely a success - and a joy * Independent *A fascinating and very readable book . . . full of joy and wonder and luminous moments . . . McCarthy is a man who remembers not only the Observer's Book of Birds but the set of Brooke Bond tea cards featuring Charles Tunnicliffe's beautiful bird pictures. But you don't have to be of a similar vintage to enjoy this expansive celebration of a subject too often overlooked in the ongoing discourse about man and nature - sheer joy * Dabbler *McCarthy has for years been the doyen of environmental correspondents . . . he is conversant with the hard facts, the political realities and the moral complexities of the conservation world. But he writes also as a man inspired by the beauty, diversity and abundance of the natural world that we are destroying. This combination of worldly wisdom and deeply felt personal experience makes this a highly original and refreshing account of our current predicament * TLS *Deserves to be widely read * Scotsman *Environmental correspondent Michael McCarthy makes an impassioned plea on behalf of the natural world in this inspiring book * Sunday Express *The natural world, whether birdsong, butterflies or wild flowers, can give us joy. It can bring us peace. The ability of nature to do this, through a sense of awe, is articulated beautifully in a book by Michael McCarthy, The Moth Snowstorm: Nature and Joy. His quest to track down every British butterfly as a tribute to his dead mother brought me to tears * Sunday Times *A deeply troubling book by one of Britain's foremost journalists on the politics of nature. The case he lays bare in the opening chapters is compelling stuff. Essentially he argues that the world of wild creatures, plants, trees and whole habitats - you name it - is going to Hell in a handcart . . . powerful, heartfelt and compelling * The Spectator *As much as joy, it's a beautiful book about love, damage, and the possibility of redemption * Press Association *You could do worse to catch up than to read a single chapter in Michael McCarthy's new book, The Moth Snowstorm . . . the one entitled 'The Great Thinning' . . . powerfully and succinctly summarises the unfolding national story * New Statesman *More than a simple paean to the glories of the wild world. It is also an impassioned protest against its destruction * Daily Mail *In his beautiful book . . . Michael McCarthy suggests that a capacity to love the natural world, rather than merely to exist within it, might be a uniquely human trait * Guardian *A mixture of memoir, elegy to nature, and a call to arms . . . this is a profound urgent book, among its strength an appreciation of the small things - the common precious treasures of birdsong, butterflies and moths that we all, whatever our stance, stand to lose * Country Life *I found joy following McCarthy's stories, particularly those of the futile attempts to return salmon to the Thames and the tragic loss of sparrows from London . . . His personal revelations are moving, and The Moth Snowstorm left me as grief-stricken as any environmental journalist must be after a career digesting facts such as that, by 2020, the volume of urban rubbish generated in China is expected to reach 400m tonnes - equivalent to the entire world's trash in 1997 * Guardian *A bold new defence of a natural world under great threat * BBC Countryfile Magazine *[A] moving memoir * New Statesman *Unquestionably my nature book of the year - an intensely moving and intelligent plea for 'joy' to be counted the most powerful reason for valuing the natural world. McCarthy's starting point is the vivid recollection of a veritable snowstorm of moths in car headlights when he was young. With glorious originality, he makes an unanswerable case for us to start proclaiming 'a new kind of love' from the rooftops. Can you attach a cost-benefit analysis to what a walk in fields listening to birdsong can do for the human spirit? No. That's why everybody should read this angry, beautiful and passionate book * Daily Mail *This is a book about the joy the natural world can engender - even in the face of its decline. McCarthy synthesises the two main literary reposnses to the current crisis, provoking shock at the scale of Britain's recent loss of abundance and a sense of awe and (most importantly) love that may prove nature's best defence. If you read one book from this selection make it The Moth Snowstorm * The Times, Books of the Year *Elegiac * Guardian *Offers a necessary corrective * Irish Times, Books of the Year *Compelling . . . The Moth Snowstorm is an inspiring book * New York Times Book Review *McCarthy's words ring out as a rallying cry which is not only a delight to hear but one we should all seek to follow * Conversation *

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Book SynopsisExperience the joy of discovering the natural world around you with this beautiful pocket guide to British wild flowers, an inspiration and treat designed to enthral all nature lovers.Leading botanical artists specially commissioned to ensure beautifully detailed illustrations feature the most widely common British wild flowers. Species are described and illustrated on the same page, with up-to-date authoritative text aiding identification. They are arranged by family, with their key features highlighted for quick and easy reference.This is an indispensable guide for all those with an interest in the countryside, whether amateur or expert, and is beautifully packaged to lend itself both as gift or self-purchase.Trade Review'This book is a great achievement that will be hard to match … a beautiful and well-judged illustrated flora.'British Wildlife

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Book SynopsisBig Cat Phonics for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised has been developed in collaboration with Wandle Learning Trust and Little Sutton Primary School. It comprises classroom resources to support the SSP programme and a range of phonic readers that together provide a consistent and highly effective approach to teaching phonics.

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Book SynopsisThis beautiful illustrated book is the result of eight years exhaustive research into the myths, magic and healing power of trees.It has comprehensive information on all the main species of tree and written in an easy to use and accessible style by an Arch-druidess.This book contains all the practical information you need to identify each tree as it changes throughout the year and includes:comprehensive physical and descriptions and botanical informationthe legends and myths surrounding each treethe healing powers and magical properties of the individual tree

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Book SynopsisThere''s nothing we love more than our plants, those steadfast companions that fill our lives with joy and light. Whether you''re a newbie or seasoned plant parent, these three miniature beginner-friendly guides contain essential information and tips for taking care of your houseplants.3 Mini Hardcover Books: Box is 2-7/8 x 3-1/4 inches and includes 3 mini books in the set: Indoor Plants (a practical guide to 100 indoor plants), Outdoor Plants (a practical guide to 100 outdoor plants), and Plant Care (a practical guide to plant-growing success)Unique Gift for Plant Lovers: An adorable miniature size with accessible content, this boxed set is perfect for gift-giving to plant enthusiastsSimple Instructions: The easy-to-read guides and instructions are perfect for beginners and seasoned plant parents alikePortable: Small size allows for plant care anytime, anywhere, from your kitchen to your outdoor garden

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Book SynopsisHedgerows, moors, meadows and woods - these hold a veritable feast for the forager. This book reveals how to spot the free and delicious ingredients to be found in the British countryside, and then how to prepare and cook them. It includes over 40 species such as: bilberries, blackberries, cloudberries, common mallow, dandelions, and hedge garlic.Trade Review'Wright's personable style, knowledge and humour shine in this book - which is a cracking good read, even if you forage no further than your armchair ... Elegant and simple recipes give us reasons aplenty to get going, while the foragers' calendar will prevent us setting out unnecessarily. Pop this portable book in your rucksack, and enjoy the countryside in good company' Gardens Illustrated

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Book SynopsisStop and smell the roses with this delightful flower spotter guide.Know your geraniums from your pansies! This beautiful flower identification book features over 150 British and European flower species along with a simple, visual approach to help you tell them apart with absolute ease.With its compact, portable format, this nature book is designed for ease of use anywhere - ideal for nature lovers everywhere. Here''s what''s inside: - Similar flower species are shown together for quick comparison and identification- Fully-illustrated introductions explain the basics of flower identification - what to look for and how to tell the difference between similar wildflower species or specimens- Overview pages on main features give readers more detailed information on how to make an accurate identification- The at-a-glance finder at the back shows thumbnails of the species grouped in an intuitive way for ease of referenceCall

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Book SynopsisThis practical pocket field guide, published in association with the Wildlife Trusts, includes more than 180 herbs from Britain and Europe.Each herb type is illustrated with accurate full-colour artworks that show details of the flowers and leaves, roots and bark where applicable, and growth habit. A concise written account covers culinary, medicinal and other uses, size, description, habitat and distribution. Many of these plants grow wild in Britain and other parts of Europe, and can also be cultivated in gardens or foraged. The guide additionally includes exotic but commonly used species such as Vanilla, Cloves, Cinnamon and Star-anise.The easy-to-follow layouts and illustrations aid quick and precise identification, making this book an indispensable reference in the field as well as at home. It is compact enough to fit in the pocket, yet packed with essential information.Table of ContentsIntroduction What are Herbs? Uses of Herbs Gathering Herbs in the Wild Growing Herbs Harvesting, Drying and Storing Herbs Explanations of Some Relevant Terms Herbs Junipers Willows Hop Wax-myrtles Nettles Sandalwoods Knotweeds Goosefoots Amaranths Pinks Buttercups Poppies Cabbages Capers Laurels Star-anises Custard Apples Stonecrops Roses Balsams Peas Nasturtiums Geraniums Spurges Rues Torchwoods Quassias Buckthorns Limes Mallows St John’s-worts Violets Myrtles Willowherbs Witch-hazels Nutmegs Ivies Carrots Heathers Gentians Olives Bogbeans Bedstraws Borages Verbenas Dead-nettles Nightshades Sesames Figworts Valerians Broomrapes Plantains Peppers Elderberries Daisies Amaranths Aloes Onions Asparaguses Irises True Grasses Duckweeds Gingers Orchids Water-plantains Bulrushes

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Book SynopsisFungi Unveiled: Immerse yourself in cultural tales, scientific revelations, and vivid psychedelic visuals—a botanical masterpiece that enchants both the curious and the connoisseur. Explore the secret lives of 60 mushrooms in Powerful Mushrooms.Powerful Mushrooms tells the story of 60 mushrooms - divided by taxonomy and healing properties. This elegant book also highlights cultural, scientific, and historical anecdotes for readers to enjoy. All further exalted by pop- and psychedelic-style images, this book is a pleasure to browse and will become a classical botanical treatise. The mushrooms will be divided into the following categories: Exquisite Mushrooms Visionary Mushrooms Venomous Mushrooms Medicinal Mushrooms Mycoremediation Strange Mushrooms & Incredible Things

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Book SynopsisThere is probably hardly a more undemanding plant in nature that presents itself more cutely and prettily than succulents. Fans of this diverse species go into raptures at the sight of them and there are said to be people who decorate their entire garden with the fleshy flowers. Others use them to decorate interiors. They grow on any kind of surface; no matter whether stone, gravel. or soil, succulents find their way almost anywhere. In the beautiful book Floramour: Succulents, author Anja Klaffenbach pays homage to these little survivalists of the fauna. With wonderful pictures, she draws a unique portrait of this plant genus that makes the heart of every lover beat faster. In addition, Anja provides entertaining background information on the robust ornamental plant, packed in entertaining texts. For example, she enlightens her readers that the secret of the plant's almost indestructible character lies in its ability to store water in its stems and leaves. This makes succulents the secret star in the flower bed during hot summer periods when their flowering colleagues have long since hung their heads. Known to us only as floral decorations, succulents are a symbol of wealth in Asian and Indian culture and are sometimes used in traditional medicine. The high-quality coffee table book Floramour: Succulents is an exceptionally lovingly designed book that brings these minimalist garden inhabitants into the full limelight. Text in English and German.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThis comprehensive work covers every species wild flower that you might encounter in Britain and Ireland, highlighting key features to allow identification with confidence.Wild flower identification may seem extremely challenging to those not familiar with them, but this brilliant photographic guide changes that forever. Packed with superb photography throughout, including stunning portraits and close-ups of key features along with succinct, no-nonsense text, this book will help you to identify any wild flower that you may encounter in Britain and Ireland. This second edition has been revised, updated, and expanded to become a truly comprehensive work, covering all but the most extreme rarities in the British Isles. This book packs a true floral punch. The pages have been designed to ensure that the photographs are reproduced at a sensible size while retaining a readable text. Key features are highlighted in boxes throughout the book, while details of

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Book SynopsisThe Hidden Histories of Houseplants explores 20 of the world’s most common houseplants.This book isn’t just a dry exploration of historical cultivation; the narrative explores the plants’ places in social history, science and culture, showcasing the most fascinating elements of each plant’s story, be it the exploration as to why Monstera deliciosa have holes in their leaves, whether houseplants have the ability to count, or why Calathea leaves open during the day and close up at night.Accompanied by stunning illustrations, each text takes the reader on a journey through time, history and culture, told by the most universally binding objects in our homes from London to Beijing – houseplants.

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Book SynopsisTree Vision is the ultimate card set to help you learn all about trees, their leaves, seeds, flowers and so much more!Do you suffer from tree blindness? Learn to read the leaves using these flashcards and you'll have the differences between tree species down in no time. Use the cards to identify your favourite trees, or set yourself a new challenge: can you recognise a horse chestnut tree from its leaf, or do you need to see its distinctive conkers before the penny drops? Each card includes detailed images, plus fascinating facts about all the trees featured.Tree Vision is beautifully illustrated by Holly Exley and the accompanying text is written by Tony Kirkham, who is the Head of Arboretum, Gardens and Horticulture Services in the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, London. Tony was awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours List 2020 and has authored six books.Trees included in the box are: ash, beech, birch, cedar, hornbeam, juniper, lime, maple, oak, pine, spruce, sycamore, yew and many more, from species found in Asia, Africa, Australia, America and Europe.This is a perfect gift and a boxed reference set for nature lovers, including interesting facts about the trees featured, supported by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, London, UK.Other nature-inspired titles from Laurence King include: Around the World in 80 Trees, The Story of Trees, Match a Leaf, Hello Nature and A Year in Nature.

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Book SynopsisMiles Irving has been seeking out and selling foraged produce for over 10 years. Among the top British restauranteurs who sell the fruit, vegetables and herbs Miles delivers to their doors are Jamie Oliver, Richard Corrigan, Mark Hix, Sam and Sam Clark. Miles lives near Canterbury and has his own company, Forager.Trade ReviewNature lovers and foodies alike will be overjoyed by this. Combining recipes and folklore, it's a great book for our time. * The Independent On Sunday *The definitive guide to foraging in the UK. * Wall Street Journal *A unique and authentic guide, assiduously researched, packed with information and enlivened with anecdotes. * Country Kitchen *The most up-to-date book on wild plants of Britain. Irving has produced a book that rivals Mabey’s Food For Free and personally I feel it surpasses it... I would rate The Forager Handbook as one of the best [of its kind] in publication. * eatweeds.co.uk *

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Book SynopsisA celebration of the beauty, diversity, importance and sheer wonder of the most remarkable trees, with exquisite illustrations from the incomparable collections of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. More than 60,000 species of trees are found in an amazing variety of forms, sizes and habitats. Every tree has its own story and here are over 60, selected for their particular resonance and connection with humankind and representing most of the world's major zones and ecologies. In this compact edition, portraits that combine vivid cultural and historical narrative with a firm scientific grounding, the authors reveal the details of trees from around the world, both familiar and strange. We use timbers for building and creating, have discovered which tree fruits and seeds taste delicious, and which can kill or cure us, and which species can add colour and spirituality to our lives from the timber of mahogany to the delights of chocolate and pomegranate, from the medicinal tea tree to the deadly manchineel, and from fragrant frankincense to the highly prized dragon's blood tree. Artists and botanists alike have been inspired by trees for centuries, and a varied and beautiful range of images from the unrivalled archive at Kew illustrate the stories, to create this enlightening and enchanting book.

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Book SynopsisBOOKMARK – The World Of Mushrooms Paper Bookmark is the perfect way to keep your place in your favorite book. Featuring a sand blasted finish, these bookmarks are beautiful and will fit perfectly on the page so you can easily find your spot without losing your place. BRIGHT AND BOLD ARTWORK – The World Of Mushrooms Bookmark is the perfect accompaniment to your next read, featuring beautiful mushrooms growing wildly, this bookmark is a must have for all readers! PERFECT FOR GIFTING – An ideal gift for book lovers, journal enthusiasts, and those who appreciate elegant, functional accessories. It’s perfect for anyone who enjoys reading or keeping their place in planners, notebooks, or diaries. Whether for a birthday, holiday, or special occasion, this bookmark is a thoughtful gift for those who value sophistication and craftsmanship in their everyday essentials. HIGH QUALITY – Crafted from premium, thick paper with a smooth finish, it’s designed to withstand frequent use while maintaining its vibrant colors and crisp details. Featuring mushrooms, this bookmark is not only a practical accessory but also a stylish statement for your reading collection. Its sturdy construction ensures it will stay in excellent condition, making it a long-lasting companion for your books, journals, or planners GALISON – Since 1979, our vision at Galison has been to inspire people by bringing art into daily life with home office supplies, home décor, stationery, puzzles, and games.

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Book Synopsis RHS Staff Pick of the Year 2021 Spectator Gardening Book of the year 2021 'A refreshingly insightful history of plant introductions.' - Roy Lancaster Travel the world with extraordinary tales of the botanical discoveries that have shaped empires, built (and destroyed) economies, revolutionised medicine and advanced our understanding of science.Circling the globe from Australia's Botany Bay to the Tibetan plateau, from the deserts of Southern Africa to the jungles of Brazil, this book presents an incredible cast of characters - dedicated researchers and reckless adventurers, physicians, lovers and thieves. Meet dauntless Scots explorer David Douglas and visionary Prussian thinker Alexander von Humboldt, the 'Green Samurai' Mikinori Ogisu and the intrepid 17th century entomologist Maria Sibylla Merian - the first woman known to have made a living from science.Beautifully illustrated with over 100 botanical artworks from the archives of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, this absorbing book tells the stories of how plants have travelled across the world - from the missions of the Pharaohs right up to 21st century seed-banks and the many new and endangered species being named every year.***THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW is a world-famous research organisation and a major international visitor attraction. It harnesses the power of its science, the rich diversity of its gardens and collections to unearth why plants and fungi matter to everyone. Its aspiration is to end the extinction crisis and help create a world where nature and biodiversity are protected, valued and managed sustainably.Trade Review'A well-conceived book that acts as a thought-provoking introduction to a pertinent topic and a timely reminder of our dependency on plants.' - Rory Dusoir, gardener and writer (Gardens Illustrated)'The prose sparkles . . . [Edwards] combines intellectual rigour with a lively style.' * The Spectator *

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Book Synopsis“Celebrates the power of trees to oxygenate the planet, purify water and air, lower city temperatures, provide habitat, nurture the soul, and provide essential food sources.” —Booklist Trees and forests are the number one nature-based solution for revers­ing the negative effects of a changing climate. If ever there was a time to be planting trees, that time is now. Inspired by a collective sense of urgency, a global movement to plant trees is gaining momentum. To move the needle, we need to act on a massive scale and plant millions of trees today to have a measurable and lasting impact on billions of lives tomorrow. In Now Is the Time for Trees, the experts at the Arbor Day Foundation will inspire you to do your part by showing you everything you need to know to plant trees at home or in your community. From advice on choosing the right size and type of tree to tried-and-true tips for planting success, this book will help you plant a tree today and leave your own legacy of hope. Equal parts inspiration and advocacy, Now Is the Time for Trees is a rousing call for environmental action and a must-have book for nature lovers everywhere.

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