This title offers essential gardening skills and tasks, and a guide to 3000 plants, with more than 1900 photographs and illustrations. It includes step-by-step techniques on everything from planning and design to planting, propagation, care and cultivation through each season. It contains advice on choosing the best plants for all types of garden, with entries arranged alphabetically within plant categories for quick and easy reference. It includes information on caring for trees, shrubs, climbers, bulbs, annuals and perennials, growing vegetables, herbs and fruit, greenhouse gardening, and improving your lawn. It contains descriptions and essential cultivation information for over 3000 common garden plants. It is an essential box set for new gardeners and those who want to extend their gardening expertise. Whether you are an experienced gardener or a complete beginner, these two authoritative reference books contain everything you need to know about planning, planting and maintaining your garden, and choosing the best plants to suit your location. "The Visual Encyclopedia of Garden Techniques" includes all the essential gardening skills, such as improving your soil and planting flowers, shrubs and trees. "The Visual Encyclopedia of Garden Plants" is the perfect companion for selecting the best plants to create a beautiful and uniquely personal garden. With practical advice and over 1900 photographs, these informative books are indispensable for any gardener.

Get the most out of every bit of balcony space to easily grow your own sustainable, organic, and tasty food.

Do you love having a balcony but aren't sure how you can use it as a space to grow? Do you feel that being a few stories up in a building stops you from growing delicious crops? If the answer is "yes," then it's time you read this book.

Instagram sensation Patrick Vernuccio AKA @TheFrenchieGardener is a small-space grower with a big message. Building on his inspirational content, Tomatoes and Basil on the 5th Floor showcases easy and informative ways to grow fresh produce in containers and on a balcony, proving that anyone can enjoy tasty, organic food all year round.

From dividing store-bought basil plants, to harvesting vegetables at the best time of year, to letting plants set seed for the benefit of wildlife, Patrick takes his readers through myriad ways to get crops and produce out of very limited space. Working with the seasons and with good-quality seed and compost, he explains all you need to know to ensure every inch of your balcony can give you tasty and beautiful crops to harvest.

Writer of The Times Diary, Michael Leapman, became a tenant of an allotment next to Brixton Prison for 35p a year in 1974 when food and energy shortages inspired many people to attempt self-sufficiency. This book tells the story of the plot and the author's first year of cultivating it, written with humour and wit while providing a wealth of information for the would-be urban horticulturalist. "It is splendid stuff and if your husband is a gardening bore and you want to shut him up for an hour or three, this is the answer.' The Guardian 'It makes fine bedside reading, laced with plenty of anecdotes, good gardening information, plus an Idle Gardener's Almanac.' Good Housekeeping

Among the great joys of gardening, as this book demonstrates, are changing one's mind, striking out in new directions, and trying something new. In short, Lloyd encourages all gardeners to be adventurous and offers ways to make new and exciting such familiar chores as weeding, taking cuttings, reseeding, and pruning roots and branches. Both the neophyte and the experienced gardener will benefit from Lloyd's advice and inspiration.

The Pacific Northwest Gardener's Book of Lists is the definitive gardening guide for gardeners in this area. Included are such interesting lists as: annuals that attract beneficial insects, perennials for autumn color, hostas for full sun, annuals for dry shade, trees with weeping character, and more.

From the question of why England is so wet - or, in the view of a dripping American, seems to be - to an account of the great Charles Darwin's favorite obsession (it was earthworms), The Transplanted Gardener contains a sparkling set of essays exploring the history, practice, and eccentricities of gardening in "the world's greatest potting shed," England. (6 X 9, 240 pages)

The first of its kind. This is not a Beginners grow manual It is designed for the master gardener who wants to refine his techniques and constantly improve. Learn to grow Nor-Cal style and become your own expert. Relevant to both Indoor and Outdoor gardens, and all Medical growers, this book will take you to the next level You will learn; HOW TO GROW AN OUTDOOR 5 POUND MINIMUM MEDICAL MARIJUANA PLANT CONSISTENTLY AND, HOW TO INCREASE YIELDS, IMPROVE QUALITY, AND SAVE MONEY EVERY CYCLE ON YOUR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR Designed to benefit every grower, from the novice to the expert. Learn how to benefit from modern science and at the same time learn secrets from antiquity. Even the advanced grower will learn something new Over 420 pages and 200 amazing photographs.

This important book on the culture of the potato presents scientific information for potato growers in an easily accessible format and clear language. Managing the Potato Production System contains all the information needed to harvest a bountiful crop. The book is written specifically for field production-oriented technicians and growers and makes the knowledge of production systems easy for readers to apply by providing essential background information, suggestions for incorporating the information into a total production system, and sample forms for collecting data to assist proper and timely decision making. Special sections on harvesting and storage emphasize techniques for protecting the quality of the crop while other chapters provide helpful information on reporting trends in marketing to aid future planning efforts. This easy-to-use guide directs producers to the most critical areas of production, storage, and marketing, helping them to control or influence factors that will result in a healthy, plentiful crop. This is a valuable reference to be consulted for solutions to specific problems or ways to take advantage of opportunities as they occur.Managing the Potato Production System is more than abstract theory; the systems described here have been proven in one or more actual cases of potato production. The strategies devised in this volume help potato producers grow an economically viable crop in a manner that can be sustained over generations with positive impact on the environment. The book concentrates on the interpretation of scientific findings about potatoes and production beginning with a discussion of the origin of the crop, its distribution, and history of its production in the United States. Other chapters feature explanations of the factors which affect potato production including the genetics of Solanum tuberosum in regard to variety (cultivar) improvement and the effect of potato breeding on production.Specific topics covered in the book include: potato production historypotato marketingseed growing, certification, and purchasingsoil preparation and fertilitygrowth stages of the crop and how they are influenced by production practicespest identification and managementreduction of damage during harveststorage techniquesBecause this book covers basic and specialized topics, it is a valuable introduction for beginning level college students and an excellent problem-solving guide for growers, consultants, field workers, and extension specialists.

In this book Lawrence D. Hills covers the whole field of garden planning, landscaping, wall and path construction, the growing of flowers, shrubs, trees, hedges, alpines and lawns. Entirely realistic, he knows all about badly sited garages, disappointing loads of turf, inherited piles of building rubble, and the many snags and obstacles besetting suburban gardeners. Nor does he forget that the garden is also a children's playground, window-cleaner's base and domain of cars and clothes lines. 'A basic and eminently practical book about gardens - ordinary gardens, such as are owned by thousands of people all over Britain. The emphasis is on flowers, lawns and the leisure areas, with their roses, annuals, perennials and bulbs. There is advice on what to grow in a small garden - particularly important with trees and shrubs - and guidance on cultivation, propagation and the prevention of pests and diseases, for which the author has some unusual recipes.' Frances Perry, Observer

Born in 1858 to a wealthy family, Ellen Willmott became one of the great figures in British gardening. She owned three gardens, in England, France and Italy, and employed over a hundred gardeners at Warley Place alone. She mixed with royalty and her name was associated with the greatest gardeners of her day: Gertrude Jekyll, William Robinson and E. A. Bowles. In 1894 she joined the Royal Horticultural Society and in 1897 she was one of the first sixty recipients (and one of only two women) to receive the Victoria Medal of Honour. An acknowledged and admired expert in her field she died in 1934 aged 76, but by then she was alone and nearly bankrupt. First published in 1980 Audrey Le Lievre's carefully researched biography is a fascinating account of a woman who was hugely respected in her day and who left an enduring mark on the horticultural world.

This delightful memoir is the story of a life well lived-a Hong Kong doctor who worked as a surgeon for over fifty years and who later turned his hand to his other great passion, gardening. At times amusing, at times heartbreaking, and at other times educational and instructive, Arthur van Langenburg describes real-life cases and the medical causes of illnesses, including many incredible stories of life-saving operations that will keep you riveted to your seat. Interspersing these chapters are tales from his fascinating personal life, and reflections on his journey to becoming an expert gardener. Throughout the book is woven the metaphor of the author's journey to Ithaka, as described in a moving poem of the same name that charts a path for how to live a life 'full of adventure, full of discovery'. Beautifully written in a lively, engaging style, this book is sure to win the hearts of many, as van Langenberg's sparkling personality and fascinating insight shines through on every page. Arthur van Langenberg has lived in Hong Kong all his life except for four years in Macau during World War II and two years in Britain undergoing medical training. He has practised surgery for some fifty years, first at the Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, and then in private practice. His lifelong interest in reading and gardening has helped him morph from surgeon to gardener and writer, finding fulfilment and a simpler way of life over the years. "Arthur van Langenberg is well known among the gardeners in Hong Kong. However, they may not know how respected a surgeon he is, in particular his caring approach to patients. This book will give them a glimpse of the medical aspect of this seasoned gardener . . . The real-life stories that he has recorded are so captivating. I am sure that given Arthur's writing skill, he could turn each story into a single volume." Chow Shew Ping, Professor Emeritus, University of Hong Kong "The real-life cases at the scalpel's edge are riveting. Less dramatic but no less engaging are the episodes on what life was like when learning to master the scalpel and developing the clinical sense of when to wield it or not ... Senior colleagues will surely recognise the characters in the book, with a smile." Dr Rose Mak, Chairperson, Management Committee, Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences Society

'Essential guide . . . an invitation to a year of happy visiting' Robin Lane Fox, Financial Times The Garden Visitor's Handbook is the famous yellow 'bible' for anyone interested in gardens and the 2022 edition is now available. Its 744 pages contain descriptions of the 3,700 gardens opening to visitors throughout England and Wales this year, and offers people unique access to the most beautiful gardens in the country. Most are privately owned and never otherwise accessible, so the book offers a magical entre to these wonderful domains. Funds raised at the gardens on their open days come from admissions, teas and plant sales and are donated to the National Garden Scheme which in turn donates the net proceeds every year to a group of nursing and health charities. Currently these donations total GBP3 million annually and, since its foundation in 1927, the National Garden Scheme has given away a whopping GBP60 million. The main beneficiaries include some of Britain's best-loved charities including Macmillan, Marie Curie, the Queen's Nursing Institute, Hospice UK, Carers Trust, Parkinson's UK and Horatio's Garden.

Farms of Cape Cod brings the reader to the farms and farmers cultivating the finest fruit, flowers, produce, oysters, herbs, eggs and honey in this historic region. The farms create beautiful landscapes, provide nutritious food, and connect us to the land. As the desire for local, organically grown food flourishes and the locavore movement grows, it is important to know where our food comes from. Farms of Cape Cod reacquaints us with our cultural heritage and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the wonders of farming. Twenty-eight unique farms are profiled, with harvests ranging from cranberries, lavender, and grapes to livestock, holly, and shellfish. Each farm's address and operating information is provided, as well as information about their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscriptions. This beautifully illustrated book also offers "Tips from the Top," the farmers' proven ideas on planting, growing and cooking.

Companion planting has a long history of use by gardeners, but the explanation of why it works has been filled with folklore and conjecture. Plant Partners delivers a research-based rationale for this ever-popular growing technique, offering gardeners dozens of ways they can use scientifically tested plant partnerships to benefit the garden as a whole. Through an enhanced understanding of how plants interact with and influence each other, this guide suggests specific plant combinations that growers can use to improve soil health and weed control, decrease pest damage, and increase biodiversity, resulting in real and measurable impacts in the garden.

The earliest record of an enclosed space around a homestead come from 10,000 BC and since then gardens of varying types and ambition have been popular throughout the ages. Whether ornamental patches surrounding wild cottages, container gardens blooming over unforgiving concrete or those turned over for growing produce, gardens exist in all shapes and sizes, in all manner of styles. Today we benefit from centuries of development, be it in the cultivation of desirable blossom or larger fruits, in the technology to keep weeds and lawn at bay or even in the visionaries who tore up rulebooks and cultivated pure creativity in their green spaces. George Drower takes fifty objects that have helped create the gardening scene we know today and explores the history outside spaces in a truly unique fashion. With stunning botanical and archive images, this lavish volume is essential for garden lovers.

This book relates stories of everyday life revolving around small-scale urban gardens in Central Havana and focusing particularly on that of Marcelo, a seventy-four-year-old revolutionary and gardener. The urban gardens are contested spaces: though monitored and controlled by Cuban state institutions, they also offer possibilities of crafting life in resistance. The experiences the authors narrate are not 'thick descriptions,' linked to larger political issues, but rather rhizomatic observations that highlight the relationships between humans and non-humans within the nature-culture debate. Using these experiences, the authors argue that 'the political' reaches beyond the affairs of state and governance and should be seen as an all-encompassing part of life. The authors thereby invite the social sciences to focus on the microscopic and the day-to-day to illuminate how the political affairs of lives can be imagined differently.

This book will provide a new perspective on the way we garden, why we garden and what it means for us. Full of fascinating characters and vignettes - from ancient Greeks to suffragettes, from eccentric military men to Catholics in hiding from persecution - The Pursuit of Paradise looks into how society's changes have altered our views of gardening, who does it, and how we do it. What drives people to risk their lives in search of a rare Himalayan flower? Why are so many gardeners homosexual? How did gardening become a respectable career for women? When did looking at other people's gardens become a national British pastime? Using particular gardens to lead into themes like power, refuge, female emancipation, distribution of wealth and fashion, Jane Brown presents a history of the nation through its most popular national pursuit. It will be essential reading for the horticulturally impassioned for years to come.

Our penchant for keeping house plants is an ancient practice dating back to the Pharaohs. House Plants explores the stories behind the plants we bring home and how they were transformed from wild plants into members of our households. A billion-dollar global industry, house plants provide an interaction with nature, and contribute to our health, happiness and wellbeing. They also support their own miniature ecosystems and are part of the home biome. Featuring many superb illustrations, House Plants explores both their botanical history and cultural impact, from song (Gracie Fields's Biggest Aspidistra in the World), literature (Orwell's Keep the Aspidistra Flying) and cinema (Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors) to fashion, technology, contemporary design, and painting.

Peek into hundreds of private backyards, where artists have crafted the most charming and intimate areas! Discover delightful dens hidden in the foliage or tucked on tiny terraces with beautiful vistas. Explore innovative ideas for designing and decorating private porches, patios, pagodas, and decks that provide the perfect space for outdoor living and the intimacy of a small room. This book is packed with inspiration for spaces that provide escape, relaxation, meditation, and a small refuge for gathering. Share a glass of refreshment beneath generous branches of a nearby tree, laze about in a hammock, or stretch out on a bench and admire the tranquility of a pond, while relishing your secret hideaway. This book is sure to motivate all who tire of life's everyday hassles to create their own intimate outdoor space.

"This gorgeously-illustrated book makes the link between getting out in the garden, and the enrichment that can come as a result." - PlantBased mag "Clea sows a series of meditation techniques about tending the earth wholeheartedly, and shows you how to embrace gardening as a spiritually-enriching hobby to help reconnect you to nature." - Soul & Spirit mag "It promises to lift your soil and your soul! We love." - Woman's Own *BOOK OF THE WEEK* "Clea Danaan is on a gentle mission to help more people fall in love with the Earth." - NFU Countryside "We adore her beautiful little book, Mindful Thoughts for Gardeners, which will inspire you to reconnect with nature, help you live consciously through your planting, and accept unavoidable gardening pitfalls!" - Green Parent Mindful Thoughts for Gardeners reminds us how this spiritually enriching activity lovingly reconnects us to nature every day. Rooting each blossoming thought in deep ecology and conscious living, we unearth the power inherent in mindfully lifting the soil; it lifts our souls as well. This beautifully illustrated little book sows a series of 25 meditations about tending the Earth wholeheartedly, including: * Seeds, soil and roots * Small gardens * Plants and wildlife * Recycling in the garden * Community gardening * Permaculture * Seasons Author Clea Danaan explores the interconnectedness of nature in this carefully crafted small volume that any green-fingeredgrower will want to dig into. If you like this, you might also be interested in Seedbombs, Love Bees, Mindful Thoughts for Walkers and Nature Tonic.