Without fail, visitors to the great gardens of the world are enchanted by their topiary art. These great, green sculptures, often in the form of animals, but sometimes in geometric or abstract shapes, are formed by carefully binding and trimming a living plant. The patience and skill required may seem intimidating to those who wish to try their hands at it, but in this book the art is made accessible to every gardener. Well illustrated, with easy-to-understand instructions, three topiary projects are offered, a peacock (with instructions for its transformation into an angel), a Gothic arch, and a duck. The projects shown use small, potted plants from the nursery, but the techniques are readily adapted to shrubs and bushes in the garden.The tools and materials needed for topiary are common, owned by almost every gardener; with this basic guide, all that is needed is a little creativity and time. The results will astound.

In this engaging and fascinating exchange of personal letters, two of the most influential gardeners of all time compare notes on successes and failures in their two very different gardens. As Christopher Lloyd and Beth Chatto convey their gardening experiences, share gossip and discuss life and nature, the horticultural expertise of these two long-established friends and distinguished gardeners gives these inspirational letters a life of their own. Beth Chatto's garden in East Anglia is a place of pilgrimage for plant lovers, while Christopher Lloyd was one of the major figures in twentieth century gardening, transforming the gardens of his home Great Dixter in East Sussex. Friday 16 February Dear Beth, Today was straight out of my idea of heaven - the first such day this year and the first time that all the winter crocuses have opened wide, in appreciation. Armed with my kneeling pad, I dropped to my knees to savour the honey scent of C. chrysanthus 'Snow Bunting'. Rosemary Alexander, who spends more and more time at Stoneacre (the National Trust property near Maidstone, which she rents), expressed doubts on whether it wouldn't be better to concentrate on snowdrops, seeing that crocuses spend so much of their time in an obstinately closed state, loudly proclaiming 'this isn't good enough for me'. I can see her point, of course. [...] Tuesday 20 February Dear Christo, What a good thing you enjoyed your crocuses when you had the chance! Today we are blanketed in snow once more, with a wild north wind hurling stinging dry snow horizontally past the windows. Your way of having crocuses (and many other bulbs) naturalized in short grass is a far more effective way of growing them than in conventional borders. Left to seed themselves in little knots and ribbons of colour they appear like embroidery across a carpet before something else takes over the design. [...]

"An invaluable resource for the home or commercial gardener who wishes to plant native species."--Edward W. Chester, Austin Peay State University
The natural landscape of Tennessee represents a unique treasure for gardeners and nature lovers. Encompassing several geographically distinctive regions, from the 6,000-foot peaks of the Unaka Mountains to the swampy floodplain of the Mississippi River, the state boasts nearly 3,000 native plant species. This stunning diversity of life owes much to Tennessee's prime location at the crossroads of mountain and prairie ecosystems and in the transition area between northern and southern climate patterns.
In Gardening with the Native Plants of Tennessee, Margie Hunter gives gardeners the knowledge they need in order to nurture this natural heritage in their own gardens. Beginning with a survey of the state's ecology--including geology, geography, plant life and animal species--Hunter takes a holistic approach to the process of gardening with native plants. The book's main section provides detailed accounts of 450 species of wildflowers, ferns, grasses, vines, shrubs, and trees native to Tennessee and adjacent states. These descriptions, arranged according to plant type, include both scientific and common name, flowering and fruiting times, propagation methods, soil and light requirements, and distribution patterns within the state. Nearly 400 color photographs illustrate the species discussions.
No other book designed for the home gardener includes such area-specific information on native species or such a comprehensive listing of plants. Appendixes refer readers to other sources of information and seeds, including mail-order nurseries, botanical gardens, state agencies, native plant organizations, and subject-specific conferences. A detailed bibliography also contributes to the reference value of this book for gardeners, landscapers, and nature lovers throughout Tennessee and in neighboring states.
The Author: Margie Hunter, a long-time volunteer at Cheekwood Botanical Garden, lives in Nashville.

In Japanese gardens, composition follows from placement of the first stone; all elements and plantings become interconnected. These eight essays on Kyoto gardens similarly begin with keen description and build into richly meditative excursions into art, Buddhism, nature, and science. Landscape architect Marc Keane shows how Japanese gardens are both a microcosm of the natural universe and a clear expression of our humanity, mirroring how we think, worship, and organize our lives and communities. Filled with passages of alluring beauty, this is a truly transcendent book about "experiencing" Japanese design.

Marc Peter Keane has lived in Kyoto for 17 years and is author of "Japanese Garden Design." He designs residential, company, and temple gardens.

Eat homegrown food all year round and save money on your weekly shop by following a simple plan for self-sufficiency.

Huw Richards and Sam Cooper have spent the past two years planning and trialling their very own self-sufficiency garden in a 10x12.5m plot and now they've worked out the perfect formula. Grow six portions of nutritious veg a day per person following their month-by-month growing plan, which is realistic and flexible with cost, space, and time in mind.

• Learn about Huw's self-sufficiency ethos, goals and approaches
• Create your garden and learn how to build all the growing spaces you will need, such as hot beds and polytunnels
• Follow month-by-month planting plans with guidance on key tasks throughout the year
• Discover useful kitchen tips meal prep, storage, and preserving ideas along with base recipes so you can make the most of your crops

This breakthrough handbook for botanical garden and arboretum curators (and curators in training) has now been expanded and updated fifteen years after the last edition was published. The new edition includes up-to-date information and methods for the preservation and conservation of plants and their use in both ex-situ and in-situ conservation programs, habitat restorations, and conservation research. There are expanded and updated sections on plant acquisitions and field collecting that conform to the Convention on Biological Diversity protocols. New technologies for documenting plant collections are described including reviews of the most common software programs to streamline this process. Recommendations for plant preservation-caring for collections-have been updated with expanded information on basic horticulture practice, sustainable techniques, special applications for conservation collections, and examples of preservation plans. There is an entirely new section on collections research and applications with several chapters on the latest conservation practices, technologies, and programs involving collections. All of the basic and essential information for collections management contained within the first edition, including specific recommendations and examples, has been expanded and updated with recommendations on new technologies and procedures to assist and guide curators in their critical role as plant collection developers, managers, and programmers. What is an important resource for public garden professionals and students has now become even more essential.

In "The Curious Gardener," Anna Pavord brings together in 12 chapters - one from each month of the year - 72 pieces on all aspects of gardening.
From what to do in each month and how to get the best from flowers, plants, herbs, fruit and vegetables, through reflections on the weather, soil, the English landscape and favourite old gardening clothes, to office greenery, spring in New York, waterfalls, Derek Jarman and garden design, Anna Pavord always has something interesting to say and says it with great style and candour.
The perfect book to guide you through the gardening year and, on days when the weather keeps the most courageous gardener indoors, the perfect book to curl up with beside the fire.

In this book the author describes the way her garden evolved and how, without meaning to do so, she let it take over her life. She suggests moving away from planning, regimentation and gardening with the mentality of a stamp-collector. Frequently funny and always stimulating, she writes of the alchemy of gardens, of the 19th-century plant-collectors and plant illustrators and of the gardening philosophers, all fertilizing great thoughts along with their hollyhocks. She won the 1988 Sinclair Consumer Press Garden Writer of the Year Award.

A Sunday Times bestseller Even great gardeners like Monty Don are always learning and always experimenting. The Complete Gardener brings you right up to date on how Monty gardens today. This extensively revised new edition covers what Monty believes are the most important aspects of gardening today. Whether you're a beginner or seasoned gardener, it's time to get your green-fingered hands dirty! A comprehensive gardening guide that no gardener should be without: - An introductory chapter that explains the essentials of organic gardening practice - A structure chapter that shows you how to define space in your garden with hard landscaping and natural options, such as trees, hedges, and topiary - Discover all different types of flowering plants explaining how to design with them, combine, plant, and care for them - How to grow fruits and vegetables with in-depth crop-by-crop explanations and which tried-and-tested varieties to choose from Packed with beautiful illustrations and practical gardening tips, Monty reveals the secrets of growing vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs while respecting the needs of the environment. He covers everything from planning the space and crop rotation to pruning fruit canes and staking peas. Join Monty in his garden at Long Meadow! Over half of the photos included in this updated edition were shot at his renowned personal garden over the course of a year. Discover how he created this beautiful garden, and how you can do the same in your own. Design Your Dream Garden Although organic techniques have always been at the core of his practice, this new edition has a new emphasis on gardening for wildlife and the impact of global warming on the garden. This is a go-to guide for anyone seeking Monty's gardening advice and the perfect gardening gift for any plant lover, regardless of their experience or budget.

This early work is a fascinating read for any gardening enthusiast or historian, but contains much information that is still useful and practical today. It is a thoroughly recommended title for the amateur or professional arborist or horticulturalist's shelf. Its 130 pages contain 50 full page plates. Contents Include: Introduction; A General Survey; The Apple; The Apple-Pruning the Young Trees; The Apple-Maintenance, Thinning, Storing and Mating; The Apple-Insect Pests; The Apple-Diseases; The Pear; The Pear-Pests and Diseases; The Plum; The Plum-Pests and Diseases; The Cherry; The Cherry-Pests and Diseases; The Apricot; The Black Currant; The Red and White Currants; The Gooseberry; The Raspberry; Miscellaneous Fruits; The Strawberry; The Strawberry-Pets and Diseases; The Grape Vine; The Peach and Nectarine; The Fig; and Propagation. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

The Garden Apothecary shows us how to harvest and use commonly found plants, weeds and herbs to create our own healing home apothecaries. With tasty recipes, wild skincare, in-depth plant spotlights and a back-to-roots ethos, The Garden Apothecary will encourage the reader to become more connected to the natural world through learning the art of herbalism from plants growing in our gardens. Focusing on 20 herbs and plants, learn how to identify, grow and pick them from your garden or forage them, as well as discovering their medicinal properties. Each plant spotlight includes in depth information on how to use it in a multitude of recipes and remedies. The Garden Apothecary is a safe and mindful approach to the often overwhelming world of foraging and herbalism.

This beautifully illustrated giftable gardening reference book is a complete guide to the growing and use of medicinal plants, combining exquisite botanical illustrations with practical self-help projects. Every day sees a discovery in the press about the new uses of plants, and it's certain that most of our most important drugs are derived from plants. From willow (used to procure aspirin) to periwinkle (used in chemotherapy to treat lymphoma) many common garden plants have provided cures in modern medicine. In this book readers can discover more than 200 life-saving plants and 25 home-grown remedies to make themselves. Each plant is catalogued and the traditional and modern uses are detailed, alongside a beautiful botanical illustration. Each home cure is described and illustrated with step-by-step photographs to show how you can be a gardener and heal yourself. Recipes include: Dried lemon balm, Passionflower sleep tea, Plantain balm, Rosehip syrup, Rosemary infused oil, Elderberry vinegar, Chickweed cream, Comfrey ointment, Nettle soup, Dried valerian root. The Gardener's Companion to Medicinal Plants is part of the Kew Gardener's Guide to Growing series and is accompanied by Growing Herbs, Growing House Plants, Growing Vegetables, Growing Orchids and Growing Fruit.

This book contains a number of papers that originally appeared in a London Sporting paper during the season of 1846. The papers are a series of sketches of the principle characters that compose the hunt and are presented in such a way that they form a souvenir of one of the most favourable seasons in the author's recollection. A lovely illustrated book appealing to those with an interest in fox-hunting and history of the sport. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original artwork and text.

Presents the latest information on applied topics in horticultural science.* Numerous essays provide easy, time-saving and cost-effective access to the primary literature.* Sponsored by the American Society of Horticultural Science.

The Gardener's Year is a charming and light-hearted insight into the life of an amateur gardener. Structured loosely around what to plant, grow or cultivate each month, Karel Capek takes us on a rollicking journey through a year in his own small garden. Complete and unabridged. Part of the Macmillan Collector's Library; a series of stunning, pocket-sized classics with ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition features lively black and white illustrations by Czech artist Josef Capek and is translated by M. and R. Weatherall. From making puddles with an untamable hose to sowing luxuriant weeds instead of grass, Capek reveals how a gardener grows into his surroundings 'spurred on by each new failure'. Subverting the tradition of a 'how to' gardening book, he teaches his readers about the magic of seeds, the perils of planting vegetables and the thrilling surprises of a rock garden. As the year progresses and frail buds turn from flowering stems to drooping bulbs and falling leaves, Capek's small garden buzzes with life, wisdom and humour.

Why do some people have their hands in dirt? What causes someone to become obsessed with the process of growing something, whether it be a tangle of flowers, chiles hot enough to make your eyes water, or a rambling rose plucked from a tumbledown house? Author Robin Chotzinoff took a road trip (several, actually) across America to find the answers. People with Dirty Hands is what she found. It rings with the voices of people singularly possessed: Margaret Sharpe and Pam Puryear, founders of the Texas Rose Rustlers; Doug Beck, president of California Garden Ladies, who harvests hibernating ladybugs from their leafy beds for commercial sale; and Bill Palmer, whose garden is home to 450 tomato plants, simply because "You really can't buy a tomato". In vivid style, Chotzinoff captures the all-encompassing fervor - and hope - that can drive a person to create a vegetable garden from a concrete, hypodermic-strewn landscape or to plant seed while snow still threatens. It is the immutable promise of life.

This early work is a fascinating read for any gardening enthusiast or historian, but contains much information that is still useful and practical today. It is a thoroughly recommended title for the amateur or professional arborist or horticulturalist's shelf. With 14 text illustrations. Contents Include: Introduction; Apples; Pears; Plums; Cherries; Peaches and Nectarines; Figs; Apricots; Medlars; Quinces; Mulberries; Grapes (Outdoor); Black Currants; Red Currants and White; Gooseberries; Raspberries; Loganberries; Strawberries; Cob Nuts and Filberts; and Walnuts. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.