We have grown so accustomed to sharing our houses with plants that it may be surprising to learn that it was only in the last century that plants began to move indoors. The story of how this came to pass is an engrossing and complex one, involving many separate strands: the horticultural explosion of the Victorian period, stimulated by the plant hunters of the golden age, changing styles of architecture, new techniques of heating and lighting, the cultural values implicit in home design and decoration, and the changing role of women.

Tovah Martin weaves these strands together in a chronological account of the introduction of houseplants in America, starting with the first bulbs brought indoors for forcing, through the successive introductions of ever more exotic plant materials, including the proliferation of ferns. It is a story equally rich in plant lore and insights into American culture. "Once Upon a Windowsill" is one of those books that manage, through a perceptive examination of a seemingly odd topic, to shed surprising light on a much larger subject. This is an important and fascinating work of social history."

This is an idea source for horticultural therapy programs, schools, senior care facilities and individuals of all ages and abilities. These projects and plant related activities range from easy to difficult, and each has a touch of whimsy. The authors explain that whimsy is the counterpoint to the serious work of being human. These projects were designed by professional horticultural therapists to be fun while serving as great physical, mental and social exercises for everyone. Contains four kinds of activities Plant projects with creative activities and care notes accompanying each one. Craft activities range from creating a "Peace Card" to "Turning Your Problems into Compost." Quizzes on everything from garlic to coconuts. These are great conversation starters. Short stories that can be read aloud to a group or individually while waiting for the plants to grow. These are great springboards for discussion. There is also a comprehensive list of both safe and dangerous plants. Teachers, home schoolers, activity professionals, counselors, horticultural therapists, family caregivers and individuals of all ages will find these pages of value. The focus is on empowerment and creativity.

Jim Hole looks at locations and areas inside of your home and helps you with the selection of great plants for a variety of indoor locations and situations

So you want to decorate every nook and cranny in every room of your home with foliage or flowers. Maybe you just want to take care of the dish garden, African violet, or green, leafy thing that used to have flowers. You got a plant for your anniversary, for Mother's Day or from the funeral and don't know what to do with it. I can help.
Can you think of any other activity you can do, in any weather, twelve months a year, at any age, regardless of physical limitation, whether you live alone or with someone? Can you name any other living thing that has been proven, both medically and scientifically, to enhance your surroundings, decrease blood pressure and stress, while cleaning the very air you breathe? Whether you want to recreate the Puerto Rican rainforest in your living room or just add a few accents to spice up your decor, houseplants can do it all.
You could move your teenager to the garage so you can use his bedroom as a greenhouse, and that might not be a bad idea. Transforming the second bathroom into your very own seed-starting hothouse is probably out of the question, but adding bloomin' color to the dining room table or a topiary to the buffet is a great first step that can lead to who knows where. You say you've always wanted an orchid? You'll find that they are not as difficult and mysterious as you thought. Yes, even you can raise an orchid
So how can houseplants create this wonderful environment in your home? It is both cheap and easy. You just need to know how, and that is what this book is all about.

Daar is 'n geskikte huisplant vir omtrent elke omgewing. Hierdie aanskoulike plantgids met volkleurfoto's sal jou help om gemaklik en vinnig een te kies wat jou behoeftes pas. Of jy nou soek na kleurvolle loof, 'n aanloklike blommegeur, iets vir die badkamer, glashuisplante, iets om die huis op te vrolik in die winter, of 'n amper onvernietigbare kaktus - Huisplante het die antwoord. Kies uit die alfabetiese lys van meer as 150 plante geredelik in die handel beskikbaar. Elkeen van die plante groei maklik, is bestand teen plae en plantsiektes, en vertoon pragtig.

Make your home your happy place with house plants. Bring the outside in. This gorgeous guide features over 80 indoor plants that will turn your house into a happy, healthy, healing home. Discover plants that will clean the air you breathe, help you get a good night's sleep, reduce stress and anxiety, help you get well soon, boost your brain power and bring greater joy and wellbeing into your life. From cacti and succulents to ferns and palms; flowering plants and foliage - find the perfect house plants for your living room, bathroom, bedroom and even your workspace. Bring the joy of the outdoors in and harness the natural healing power of plants. Features: Over 80 plants and their wellbeing benefits, A guide to choosing your plants and pots, Essential care instructions (indoor plants are so easy to look after!), and Simple propagation techniques to share your plants with friends

Stash those watering cans and get your green thumbs ready to win the whole nursery by playing Plant Bingo! Houseplants have the power to transform any room, or game. From Swiss cheese plant and Bunny ears cactus to Elkhorn ferns and Spanish moss, Plant Bingo features all the classics, with no care required. Gather your friends and decide, once and for all, who will be crowned the true ruler of the indoor jungle. With 8 doubled-sided randomized bingo cards, and 48 tokens that features a different plant, this game can keep you and your friends playing all night long. (This box set includes more detailed instructions on how to play.)

Live life in full bloom. This beautiful book features your favourite flowers grouped by their purpose - for love, for joy, for luck, for calm, to console, and to celebrate. Discover their traditional meanings, holistic benefits, and when flowers are in season so that they can be sourced locally with a minimal carbon footprint. By creating thoughtful personal bouquets or choosing a flower for its meaning, its natural energy, or holistic property, you can bring the benefits of the natural world back into your home, your workplace, and into the lives of loved ones. Find out why you should give Foxgloves to celebrate a new job, Lilacs for joy, or Chrysanthemums for luck, and become fluent in the secret language of flowers.

An illustrated guide to the houseplants you need for clean and fresh air when you're stuck at home How clean is the air you breathe? Plants are the lungs of the earth: they produce the oxygen that makes life possible, add precious moisture and filter toxins. Houseplants can perform these essential functions in your home or office with the same efficiency as a rainforest in our biosphere. In this beautifully illustrated guide, noted scientist Dr Bill Wolverton shows you how to grow 50 plants that filter the most common pollutants, making it easy for you to purify the environments that impact you the most.

This thoroughly updated edition of the landmark volume Growing Roses in Cold Climates includes: *Accessible information on 875 varieties of roses best suited to cold climates *New methods for protecting roses in winter *Hundreds of new rose introductions, including disease-resistant and hardy varieties *Five-star ratings to help you select top-performing roses In addition to describing both organic and inorganic solutions to common rose problems, this volume also profiles twelve major classes of roses, complete with photographs and step-by-step guidelines on achieving ideal growing conditions.

Not everyone has access to outside space or what we traditionally think of as a garden, but we all have window ledges, shelves, stairways and unloved spots in our homes. My Tiny Indoor Garden is bursting with exciting ideas and savvy solutions to help you transform any indoor nook or cranny into a peaceful plant paradise. Whether you're looking for a mini kitchen garden or a sun-loving terrarium, we've unearthed an amazing collection of indoor and covered spaces. Among the 20 gardens featured in the book you'll find a jungle in a south London sitting room, a colourful cacti collection and a conservatory come orchid house. You'll pick up all the best tips and tricks as each indoor gardener shares their small-scale expertise, from using an array of bottles and jars to create a display of tiny botanical treasures to turning an antique chair into a lavish plant pot. Packed with practical advice, the latest title in Pavilion's exciting gardening series also provides pointers on key aspects of green interiors - from caring for leaves to propagating succulents. Plus, practical projects will help you make the most of every inch, whether you decide to master the art of kokedama or create your own terrarium. Blur the line between your indoor space and the great outdoors, get inspired, let your imagination grow and enjoy your tiny indoor garden.

Fresh is simply best. To get the tastiest, most nutritious produce, you have to grow your own, and in a cold climate this presents unique challenges. Fresh from the Garden will help you extend the growing season to produce the best vegetables, berries, and herbs, right in your own backyard. The guide includes more than 150 edible plants and helps you decide which varieties to choose; where and how to plant, tend, and harvest them; and what to do with your bounty. Fresh from the Garden is a clear, concise guide, with nutrition information tables and hundreds of helpful color photographs. Drawing on more than fifty years of gardening-and nearly as many years writing on the subject-John Whitman describes various methods of planting to make the most of different sites, whether in containers, raised beds, or on level ground, and takes into consideration the abbreviated growing season and longer summer days. He discusses the merits of starting from seed indoors or outdoors, the making and uses of compost, and measures for keeping a garden healthy, from mulching and fertilizing to crop rotation and winter protection. Included in his wealth of knowledge is a generous listing of more than 1,700 varieties of vegetables, berries, and herbs, from the best known to the highly unusual, including hybrid and heirloom varieties. He covers the specifics of cultivation, nutritional values, storage techniques, and culinary usage. Dedicated to organic practices, for the health of gardener and garden alike, the information and advice in Fresh from the Garden will enrich the experience of cold climate gardeners.

Discover the joy of growing and using plants indoors and outdoors, no matter how limited your space. This beautifully illustrated book is a modern, fresh take on gardening that shows how anyone can grow their own vegetables, create a mini wildflower meadow or learn how to make the most of their houseplants. And you don't need your own garden to get started. Creating a thriving window box, choosing suitable plant pots for a desktop oasis or joining a local community garden are perfect ways to experience the joys of gardening. Learn which plants will encourage wildlife, discover what works best for your space (no matter how small), find inspiration, experiment with colour, texture and techniques. Whatever you choose to grow, you'll be doing one of the best activities there is to enhance your sense of well-being and improve your physical health - so grab those seeds, pick up the watering can and get growing!