Lavishly illustrated, this book has been designed to show how to introduce color throughout the garden with style, flair and confidence.

"A flower is not a flower alone; a thousand thoughts invest it."
Daffodils signal "new beginnings, "daisies" innocence." Lilacs mean "the first emotions of love, "periwinkles "tender recollection." Early Victorians used flowers as a way to express their feelings--love or grief, jealousy or devotion. Now, modern-day romantics are enjoying a resurgence of this bygone custom, and this book will share the historical, literary, and cultural significance of flowers with a whole new generation. With lavish illustrations, a dual dictionary of flora and meanings, and suggestions for creating expressive arrangements, this keepsake is the perfect compendium for everyone who has ever given or received a bouquet.

This book is a fascinating and beautifully illustrated history of herbal texts throughout the world from ancient cultures through the seventeenth century.

A "herbal" by definition is a book that is descriptive of plants and the term did not come into use until the sixteenth century. The production of herbals is closely connected to the history of early printing and offers the finest examples of this art and craft. However, the earliest records of ancient Egypt, Sumer and China all reflect a tradition of works of botanicals and their medicinal properties long before printing. The author's survey begins with a work called "De materia medica" written in the first century which is still extant and as the final authority on pharmacy for 1500 years is the most important herbal ever written.

The study of herbals offers a rich history of the culture and beliefs from the folklore and science of medieval and classical worlds.

This is the first comprehensive and up to date guide to clematis in Australia and New Zealand. Clematis, the Queen of Climbers, has become popular in our temperate climate. Most gardens boast at least one much-loved plant and they are especially appreciated for their affinity with roses. The rules are few, easy to follow and will lead to spectacular results. There is information on: Planting; Pruning; Propagation; Pests; Diseases and Companion planting. There are beautiful colour photographs illustrating most of the clematis described.

Replicating the climate of an orchid's native habitat is a key to the successful culture of a species and its hybrids. This ingenious book provides monthly rainfall and temperature data for the varied habitats of more than 1200 species of "Dendrobium," supplemented by detailed cultural recommendations based on the observations of experienced growers.

The only book any homeowner needs when considering an irrigation system for a lawn, this complete handbook, written by a master plumber in clear, non-technical language, addresses all types of irrigation systems--from the simple to the high-tech--including overhead, surface, and underground irrigation equipment. 50 illustrations & photos.

Lawns now blanket thirty million acres of the United States, but until the late nineteenth century few Americans had any desire for a front lawn, much less access to seeds for growing one. In her comprehensive history of this uniquely American obsession, Virginia Scott Jenkins traces the origin of the front lawn aesthetic, the development of the lawn-care industry, its environmental impact, and modern as well as historic alternatives to lawn mania.

Known through several editions simply as "the fern bible," this classic covers identification, propagation, cultivation, and landscape uses of ferns. The heart of the book is a selection of 132 hardy and tender species suitable for gardens in various climates or in the greenhouse.

Allen Lacy has gathered together a colorful sampler of American gardening writing from Thomas Jefferson to our own day. Among the fifty-two writers represented are such national treasures as Celia Thaxter, Neltje Blanchan, Elizabeth Lawrence, and Katherine S. White.

The perfect purchase for anyone wanting to garden on a shoestring - and grow your own garden from scratch, Grow Your Own Garden is an inspirational, accessible and practical gardening guide that will have great appeal to novices and more experienced gardeners alike. Full of beautiful colour photography and expert advice from the BBC's Carol Klein. 'Buy it or drop big hints ... you will not be disappointed' -- ***** Reader review 'Covers pretty much everything a gardener needs to know' -- ***** Reader review 'Quite inspirational' -- ***** Reader review 'Wonderful book written by a very knowledgeable lady' -- ***** Reader review 'Brilliant book - so informative' -- ***** Reader review ***************************************************************************************** Carol Klein is passionate about propagation. Her own garden, as seen on Gardeners' World, is almost grown entirely from cuttings and seeds and in this book she's on a mission to share her joy in working with nature to cultivate the plants she loves. Too often gardeners are intimidated by propagation, assume it's not for them and go for ready-grown plants from the garden centre. But Carol, a gifted communicator with her infectious enthusiasm, boundless horticultural expertise and easy practical explanations, shows just how simple and satisfying it is to grow your own plants, not to mention sustainable and cheap. She demonstrates, step-by-step, how to divide herbaceous perennials, nurture seedlings or grow new stock from root cuttings, stems or leaves, showing how there is no mystique involved and anybody can do it.

Inspirational, practical, and easy to use, this book was created with the aim of conveying the awesome diversity and beauty of California's native plants and demonstrating how they can be brought into ecologically sound, attractive, workable, and artful gardens. Structured around major California plant communities - bluffs, redwoods, the Channel Islands, coastal scrub, grasslands, deserts, oak woodlands, mixed evergreen woodlands, riparian, chaparral, mountain meadows, and wetlands - the book's twelve chapters each include sample plans for a native garden design accompanied by original drawings, color photographs, a plant list, tips on successful gardening with individual species, and more. Both residential and professional gardeners will learn the benefits of going native with gardens that require less water and fewer fertilizers, attract wildlife, engage the senses, create a sense of place, and, at the same time, preserve our rich natural heritage. "Designing Native California Gardens" includes: more than 600 selected native species recommended for the garden; more than 300 photographs of native plants, natural plant communities, and residential native gardens; and, recommended places to visit for viewing each plant community.

This title features plant recommendations from one Minnesota and Wisconsin's most highly respected and experienced master gardeners, with selections that will thrive amid the states unique growing conditions. The book features advice on planting, growing, and care (including pest control).

One fateful day in 1996, upon discovering that five freight cars' worth of glittering corn have reaped a tiny profit of $18.16, young Forrest Pritchard undertakes to save his family's farm. What ensues--through hilarious encounters with all manner of livestock and colorful local characters--is a crash course in sustainable agriculture. Pritchard's biggest ally is his renegade father, who initially questions his son's career choice and eschews organic foods for sugary mainstream fare. But just when the farm starts to turn heads at local markets, his father's health takes a turn for the worse. With poetry and humor, this timely memoir tugs on the heartstrings and feeds the soul long after the last page is turned.

This full color book includes: *instructions for establishing a water feature, including installation *instructions for maintenance and understanding the pond ecosystem *tips for selecting and planting *discussion of potential pests and problems *hundreds of water garden plants *includes flower & foliage colors, height, spread, light and nutrition needs