This book features over 570 colour photographs, including stunning plant directories, inspirational plantings, and practical step-by-step techniques. Providing all the essential gardening know-how, it shows how to create a fabulous garden with lasting impact, year-round colour and delicious scent. It teaches how to use scented bulbs, annuals, shrubs and trees to create a welcoming and relaxing outdoor environment. Here, is the ultimate inspirational guide to planning, creating and maintaining bountiful borders of beautiful blooms all year round. This is a book for the enthusiastic and practical as well as the aspirational gardener. It shows how to make best use of a plant's features to create a particular style of garden, and how to keep your garden looking good all year round. Packed with essential information, hints and professional tips, this is the perfect planting guide and practical handbook.

There's something about the word 'allotments' that conjures up an image of traditional values, of balmy summer days spent working the land, escaping in honest toil. A rural idylll far removed from our everyday experience. And even though allotments can be found throughout the world, in our minds they still seem to encapsulate a certain Britishness. Andrew Buurman's photographs capture the essence of the allotment and convey the enthusiasm and diversity of today's plot holders. These photographs were all taken on Uplands Allotments, in Handsworth, in the heart of Birmingham. The largest allotment site in the UK - with 422 plots - it opened in 1949, with its own office and meeting hall. Even today it retains much of the communal spirit of the post war era with weekly tea dances, bingo nights and an annual flower and vegetable show. The history of allotments tracks the major social and political changes in British life: the move away from open field agriculture, the urbanisation of the Industrial Revolution, the need for home grown produce during both World Wars. By 1943 there were some 1.4 million allotments in the UK growing 10 percent of the nation's food. Inevitably both increasing affluence and the redevelopment of many sites led to a dramatic decrease in numbers, though in recent years there has been a resurgence of interest. There are now some 300,000 allotments in the UK often shared between families and friends.

". . . you can't do without it. As a reference book it is unsurpassed." - The Guardian "Absolutely essential" - BBC Good Homes Find the perfect plants for your garden with this inspiring encyclopedia for all gardening enthusiasts! Achieve that beautiful garden oasis you've always dreamt of, and find endless inspiration and guidance for your garden to thrive with this gardening guide! This fully comprehensive yet easy-to-use informative planting guide is what every gardener needs on their bookshelf. Here's what you'll find inside: - A photographic catalogue of 4000 plants and flowers grouped by type, size, then colour, allowing readers to browse and find the best plants for their garden - A detailed "Plant Dictionary" describes more than 8000 species and varieties and their ideal growing conditions - In the Introduction, a "Plant Selector" section lists ideal plants for particular growing conditions, such as coastal areas, shady spots, and different soil types - Fully updated text from garden plant specialists, with more than 1380 new plants added, including the latest and most popular cultivars Discover perennials, bulbs, shrubs, and trees, succulents, and ornamental shrubs, all showcased in beautiful, full-colour photography to help elevate your garden to the next level. Use the extensive plant dictionary to look up more than 8000 plant varieties and the best growing conditions. Written by a team of more than 15 top horticultural specialists under the guidance of internationally renowned plantsman and botanist Christopher Brickell, this gardening encyclopedia appeals to all levels of gardeners and continually inspires with achievable garden ideas. This informative yet inspirational book about gardening will appeal to beginners or more experienced gardeners interested in the latest cultivars and horticultural advice.

This is an illustrated guide to varieties, cultivation and care, with step-by-step instructions and over 135 beautiful photographs. It is a handy, practical guide to growing and caring for rhododendrons, with instructions for planting outdoors and in containers, mulching, pruning and propagation. It features a full photographic directory of over 50 varieties, including 'Bashful', 'Cecile', 'Homebush', 'May Day', 'Pink Pearl', 'Sappho' and 'Vuyk's Rosyred'. It includes a fascinating history of rhododendrons, from their origins in the Himalayas through to their cultivation in European gardens, and the modern hybrids of today. From tiny, ground-hugging bushes producing small and delicate flowers to huge tree-like specimens clothed in magnificent and glorious blooms, rhododendrons belong to a diverse and fascinating genus. Offering interest from mid-winter to late summer, many of these hardy evergreen shrubs produce exquisitely textured foliage in hues of silver, gold or bronze once the flowering season is over. This practical handbook contains complete instructions for growing rhododendrons, from choosing and buying to planting, propagation and controlling pests and diseases.With over 50 varieties described and illustrted, there is a beautiful rhododendron to suit every garden situation.

Plant, soil, moss, twine--that's all you need to create the exciting form of bonsai known as koke (moss) dama (ball). Moss Ball Bonsai provides all the information you need to make these self-contained gardens, using different types of plants--from flowering trees and ferns to grasses and cacti. A sampling of 100 different kokedama shows how even the most common of house plants can shine in this appealing no-pot environment, while a section on mosses acquaints you with the many tones and textures of this versatile plant family. With this bonsai guide, you will learn how to: Create and maintain a healthy home for your miniature garden's root system Use inexpensive house plants and cuttings as the basis of your kokedama Make beautiful (and quirky) group plantings within a single project Find, collect and propagate moss And more! Whether resting on a pottery dish or suspended in the air, these little indoor gardens are a wonderful way to add a touch of artistry and greenery to your home or work space.

Increase your stock of plants easily and for free by propagating them yourself. RHS How to Grow Plants for Free demystifies the art of taking cuttings and explains the other ways you can multiply your garden plants. Propagating your own plants is fun, inexpensive, and a sustainable way to garden.

An introductory section explains the botanical science behind all types of propagation and defines and simplifies the language. The book is then split into self-contained practical chapters detailing each of the different types of propagation.

Each chapter includes a selection of 'plant profiles' for the plants best suited to each propagation method:

• Dividing Plants covers the easiest methods of splitting one plant into several new ones
• Saving Seeds introduces how to collect and process seeds from flowers, vegetables, herbs and trees
• Cuttings covers how to successfully grow a new plant from an existing one using several different methods for taking cuttings
• The Houseplants chapter shows techniques needed to increase your collection.
• The final chapters show how to grow new plants from kitchen scraps, and gives ideas on how to make the most of all the new plants you've created by giving them as gifts

Food plants have their own ornamental value, adding harmony to existing landscapes without creating a separate vegetable garden. They also provide a fresh, healthy alternative to the tasteless and woody fruits and vegetables bred for long-distance transportation and shipped to our grocery stores from all over the world. In this book, we show how, with just a little effort, you can augment your landscape with edibles of every description in an environmentally sustainable manner: * Veggie favorites: tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, beans and onions * Berries: blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries * The superhealthy: flax, broccoli, kale and garlic * The oddly beautiful: Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, asparagus and artichokes * The ancient and exotic: quinoa, fennel and hardy kiwi * Plus starting, maintaining and harvesting an edible garden, propagation and winter care, and solutions to common garden problems.

A 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: Introduction Including 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 Herbs Including safe, legal and successful foraging, a brief introduction to growing your own herbs and preparing, drying and preserving herbs Witches' Brews: Poisonous Plants Including an overview of herbs with interesting stories that cannot be easily used, e.g. wormwood, hemlock and mandrake Herb Encyclopedia Including detailed information on over 50 different herbs

A beautifully illustrated and unique history of the rose-the "queen of flowers"-in art, medicine, cuisine, and more "From noted rosarian Peter Kukielski comes this unique and handsome book that traces the many ways that roses have captured human imagination throughout the history of civilization."-Meghan Shinn, Horticulture "I would recommend Rosa as a gift for anyone who loves flowers, although once purchased you would find it hard to pass on!"-Judith Blacklock, Flora Magazine Few flowers have quite the same allure or as significant a place in history as the rose. A symbol of love, power, royalty, beauty, and joy, the rose has played many roles, both literal and symbolic, in poetry, art, literature, music, fashion, medicine, perfume, decoration, cuisine, and more. In this beautifully illustrated guide, award-winning horticulturist Peter E. Kukielski and his coauthor, Charles Phillips, tell the fascinating and many-layered history of this "queen of flowers." The book explores many stories from the long association of roses with human societies, from their first cultivation-likely in China some five thousand years ago-to their modern genetic cultivars. It shows how roses have been prominent across time and many cultures, including ancient Greece and Rome, Christianity, Islam, and Sufism. The book, with more than 140 color illustrations, offers a unique look at the essential contributions that roses have made throughout human history.

Beautiful and comprehensive, Vegetables is a must-have for all gardeners, by acclaimed authors Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix. 'Remarkable . . . I have learnt so much' - Financial Times Whether you are a complete novice or an experienced gardener, Vegetables contains a stunning array of produce, in full colour photography, that can be grown in gardens of all sizes, allotments and even in windowsill pots. The book features over 500 vegetables that can be cultivated in a temperate climate, from the familiar carrot and spinach to the exotic jicama and sacred lotus. Revised and updated, this is an indispensable guide for growers, the authoritative text contains fascinating details of the history and development of each species and information on characteristics, cultivation, when to harvest, and pests and diseases - as well as tips for cooking the more unusual varieties.

From algae to organic gardening, earthworms to water features, this is an alphabetically arranged guide to maintaining the typical South African garden. Learn more about essentials like feeding and pruning, how to conserve water, sow seed and care for plants both indoors and out; and enjoy the whimsical or esoteric aspects of gardening, with companion plants, gardening by the light of the moon and the links between plants and the signs of the zodiac. The title is filled with a host of environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional garden care practices, together with an experienced horticulturist's tips on how to achieve and maintain a garden to be proud of. Whether you live near the sea or in the dry interior, garden on a farm or in a tiny space there will be valuable information relevant to the needs of your garden space.

Interior decorating just got a green thumb! Harness the beauty of plants, leaves and foliage--green decor--in this unique collection of 40 nature projects that are fun, easy and inexpensive to make. Six of Japan's leading floral and plant designers offer a range of ideas to turn found and foraged materials into stunning arrangements and displays. With these visionary stylists as your guides, a few materials you already have at home and easy-to-obtain tools, you'll be able to: Create charming glass-encased air plants and spoon-based succulents Weave, bend and stack leaves and fronds into eye-catching arrangements Style your own one-of-a-kind leaf fashion accessories, from corsages to bracelets Create living jewelry and one-of-a-kind plant handbags Make a signature leaf tapestry and leaf wrapping paper And much, much more! This book features over 250 gorgeous photographs and straightforward, step-by-step instructions that show you how to turn your surroundings into a verdant showcase for nature's beauty.

Grow Like A Pro is the first collection of cultivation articles and stellar photography from one of the leading magazines on marijuana, Cannabis Culture. The featured writers are on the front lines of marijuana research and development. Featured premier breeders and grow experts include Ed Rosenthal, DJ Short, Hans and DMT. Each offers practical instructions that will benefit any size garden and level of experience. Every article in the book includes vivid color photography, which is showcased by the contemporary, magazine-sized format. Plus features on global cannabis culture give readers a tour around the world to cannatourist desinations such as Jamaica and Australia, plus cultures with emerging marijuana scenes such as China and Russia. There are also Photo Galleries with luscious bud shots from Cannabis Culture's top photographers.

Since the 1950s we have lost 63 per cent of our orchards through development or neglect, and even though we have been able to grow 3,000 varieties of apple in England, almost 70 per cent of apples we buy are imported. Common Ground has worked to interest local communities in creating and saving orchards to provide fruit and nuts, havens for wildlife and places of beauty. The Community Orchards Handbook shows how to start your own Community Orchard, from getting support to tackling legal issues, organising work, selling produce and enjoying together the fruits of your work. It gives suggestions on 'apple mapping' and saving local varieties, and practical advice on planting, harvesting and safeguarding your orchard. It includes a comprehensive resources section and is full of examples of diverse Community Orchard projects across the UK.

Become a plant parent to some of the most stunning flowering plants you've ever seen Orchids display more beautiful and exotic flowers than you'll find on other flowering plants, but they do require some love and care to grow well. With help from Orchids For Dummies, anyone can be successful in growing and flowering these gorgeous and fragrant plants in their garden or home! This step-by-step guide shows you how to select orchids that will thrive in your own unique environment and how to water, fertilize, repot, and propagate them on your own. You'll learn to decipher complicated orchid names ("phalaenopsis," anyone?) and create spectacular displays. You'll also discover: New information about updated plant and orchid classification systems so you can know what to buy at your local garden center or store Expanded info on moth orchids, one of the most popular varieties of the plant sold in the world today Updated instructions on which pesticides, fertilizers, and potting materials you should be using Perfect for amateur gardeners, orchid-lovers, and anyone interested in growing these exquisite flowers on their own, Orchids For Dummies will turn your thumb green in no time at all!

Everything you need to start and run a successful cannabis busines.

From retailers to growers, producers, and suppliers, there's a seemingly never-ending list of startup opportunities in this emerging market. In Start Your Own Cannabis Business, cannabis, biotech, and entrepreneurship reporter Javier Hasse introduces forward-thinking entrepreneurs lie you to the industry and shares hard-earned tips and success stories from pioneers and visionaries in the marijuana industry.

Take a closer look at the world of weed and what it holds for you and your future as a cannabis entrepreneur. You'll learn how to:

• Put together a solid business plan with tips from cannabis lawyers
• Estimate startup costs with the help of cannabis-experienced CPAs
• Assemble a team of employees with insight from legal cannabis recruiting and dispensary training agencies
• Protect your assets in case something goes wrong with your business
• Familiarize yourself with the tax and legal regulations of the industry
• Understand what's legal and what's not in the U.S. in cannabis
• Grow your cannabis business into a multistate company

In this book, beginners will learn the best way to use a mushroom kit, as well as how to maintain the sterile procedures and controlled environment that cultivation requires. Novices and the more experienced will learn how to create grain spawn or sawdust spawn and how to use liquid cultures and fruiting chambers. Advanced readers will gain a thorough knowledge of how to work with large-scale grain spawn, agar, bag cultures, bulk substrates, and large fruiting chambers to produce mushrooms consistently and in greater quantity.