Time to down your trowel and pick up a pencil This bountiful crop of 200 gardening-themed puzzles has something for anyone with green fingers and a love of a good brain-teaser Gardeners are a naturally smart species. But you don't need to be an expert to enjoy this book. When your hands deserve a rest after you've been out toiling in the garden, or when the weather has you cooped up inside, how about a puzzle or two to cultivate the mind? From quick quizzes and riddles to more leisurely crosswords and sudoku, whether you're a gardening obsessive or just enjoy pottering around your plot, there's plenty in these pages to tickle your fancy and keep your brain as sharp as a thorn and as strong as an oak. Inside you will find a rich variety of puzzles, including these: Find the flowers, fruit and veg hiding within word searches Spot the differences between various idyllic views of a garden Shuffle the letters of anagrams to locate your trusty tools Wind your way through a series of intricate hedge mazes

Grow your own citrus and subtropical fruit with help from Meredith Book's "All About Citrus and Subtropical Fruit." From detailed descriptions of over 70 varieties of citrus and 275 varieties of subtropical fruits, you are bound to find the best type for your garden. And don't forget the easy-to-follow care instructions that will ensure a bountiful harvest.

Companion planting is the age-old practice of planting different plants in close proximity so that they can help one another in some way. These plants complement each other by giving off scent or chemicals that repel insects, or they may attract beneficial insects that are predators to harmful insects. Some plants return micro-nutrients to the soil that can be used by other plants. The author has practised companion planting for many decades and in this title she shares her vast knowledge of the topic, gleaned from years of practical experience. She describes more than 100 herbs, food plants and medicinal plants and their companions, with information on how, when and where to plant, harvest and use them. Interspersed with the text are recipes for natural fertilisers and insect sprays and snippets of advice on how to use plants medicinally and in the home. In an age where global warming and climate change are no longer distant warnings, this title urges a return to gardening practices that will help heal our broken planet.

An essential guide to to the multifaceted plant, from a passionate gardener.

Lavender for All Seasons covers everything you need to know about the basics of growing lavender. Inspirational crafts and recipes that follow the seasons of the year will empower readers to discover how to integrate lavender beyond the garden and into the apothecary, pantry, and crafting space. For over twenty years, gardening expert Paola Legarre has been implementing sustainable farming practices, nourishing soil life, avoiding herbicides and synthetic fertilizers, rotating plantings with cover crops, and encouraging pollinators and beneficial insects through diversified plant hedgerows, and companion planting. With Legarre as a guide, readers will discover:

   ·The basics of growing lavender in different zones and conditions
   ·Growing requirements for healthy plants, including advice on pruning, pest control, propagation, and more
   ·An array of the best lavender varieties including species and cultivars for cooking, essential oils, crafting, landscaping and more
   ·Incorporating lavender as a key pollinator plant in your garden  
   ·How to harvest and preserve lavender flowers for multiple uses, including techniques for drying and distilling
   ·Enjoying the harvest with delicious recipes incorporating lavender as an essential herb in the kitchen