When and how did we humans lose our connection with nature - and how do we find it again? Matthew Yeomans seeks to answer these questions as he walks more than 300 miles through the ancient and modern forests of Wales, losing himself in their stories (and on the odd unexpected diversion, too). Return to My Trees weaves together history and folklore with tales of industrial progress and decay. On his journey, he visits landmarks that once were home to ancient Druids, early Celtic saints, Norman Lords and the great mining communities that reshaped Wales. He becomes immersed in the woodlands that inspired the country's great legends. At one point he even stumbles upon a herd of television-watching cows. As Yeomans walks, he reflects on these woods' uncertain future, his own relationship with nature and the global problems we need to solve if humans are to truly make peace with the natural world. from tree-planting in ways that are actually beneficial to the environment and local communities to embedding the value of nature into our financial and economic systems. The result is a fascinating and funny adventure that offers insight into the past, present and future of Wales's woodlands and shows what the rest of the world can learn from them.

The Great Smoky Mountains, which is part of an International Biosphere Reserve and contains nearly 200,000 acres of old growth forest. The extraordinary mosaic of life zones -- including the world's finest example of a temperate deciduous forest -- supports an estimated 5,600 species of trees, shrubs, and herbs including more than 1,600 species of flowering plants. This beautifully illustrated guide highlights over 140 familiar and unique species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers. Laminated for durability, this lightweight, pocket-sized folding guide is an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by visitors and residents alike. Made in the USA.

Celebrate the beauty of mushrooms with this fully-illustrated 500-piece puzzle and booklet set, featuring colorful illustrations of several North American varieties. Specifications: A 500-piece puzzle, printed in full color on high-quality stock.Puzzle dimensions: This puzzle measures approximately 16 x 20 inches when finished.Fully illustrated package: This puzzle, deluxe box, and booklet feature original illustrations of notable mushrooms. Book included: Learn the characteristics of a selection of particularly common or interesting mushroom varieties, as well as tips for finding them, in the enclosed 32-page paperback book (5 x 6 inches), featuring full-color artwork throughout.Perfect gift: A unique gift for mushroom and nature lovers of all ages.

At the tips of our forks and on our dinner plates, a buffet of botanical dalliance awaits us. Sex and food are intimately intertwined, and this relationship is nowhere more evident than among the plants that sustain us. From lascivious legumes to horny hot peppers, most of humanity’s calories and other nutrition come from seeds and fruits—the products of sex—or from flowers, the organs that make plant sex possible. Sex has also played an arm’s-length role in delivering plant food to our stomachs, as human handmade evolution (plant breeding, or artificial selection) has turned wild species into domesticated staples. In Sex on the Kitchen Table, Norman C. Ellstrand takes us on a vegetable-laced tour of this entire sexual adventure. Starting with the love apple (otherwise known as the tomato) as a platform for understanding the kaleidoscopic ways that plants can engage in sex, successive chapters explore the sex lives of a range of food crops, including bananas, avocados, and beets, finally ending with genetically engineered squash—a controversial, virus-resistant vegetable created by a process that involves the most ancient form of sex. Peppered throughout are original illustrations and delicious recipes, from sweet and savory tomato pudding to banana puffed pancakes, avocado toast (of course), and both transgenic and non-GMO tacos. An eye-opening medley of serious science, culinary delights, and humor, Sex on the Kitchen Table offers new insight into fornicating flowers, salacious squash, and what we owe to them. So as we sit down to dine and ready for that first bite, let us say a special grace for our vegetal vittles: let’s thank sex for getting them to our kitchen table.

Many of us have stopped to pick wildflowers or have admired them as they flourished in fields and along hiking trails and roads. Always appreciated, but not always recognized, these beauties can now be identified with Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, the most inclusive field guide available to the wildflowers of the Northeastern United States. Designed for easy use, the book features two-page spreads with descriptive text and range maps on the left page and color photos on the right. The descriptions are concise, but thorough, and the range maps show both where the plant grows and at what time of year it is likely to be in bloom. Plants are grouped by flower color, usually the feature first noticed by the observer. The species are subsequently grouped by leaf arrangement, type of leaves, and number of flower parts as indicated in the "quick characters" box at the top of each page. There is also a simple key in the beginning of the book that allows one to quickly narrow the search to a few pages. In addition to the more common and conspicuous wildflowers, many of the lesser known, and often overlooked, species are depicted. Over 1400 species are described with nearly all of them illustrated with full-color photos. While these photos generally show the flowers of the plant, insets of leaves and occasionally fruits are often included as well. A bar on each photo allows users to accurately judge the actual size of each flower. Both serious botanists and casual nature observers will welcome this beautifully photographed and expertly detailed guide.

The Arctic Guide presents the traveler and naturalist with a portable, authoritative guide to the flora and fauna of earth's northernmost region. Featuring superb color illustrations, this one-of-a-kind book covers the complete spectrum of wildlife--more than 800 species of plants, fishes, butterflies, birds, and mammals--that inhabit the Arctic's polar deserts, tundra, taiga, sea ice, and oceans. It can be used anywhere in the entire Holarctic region, including Norway's Svalbard archipelago, Siberia, the Russian Far East, islands of the Bering Sea, Alaska, the Canadian Arctic, and Greenland. Detailed species accounts describe key identification features, size, habitat, range, scientific name, and the unique characteristics that enable these organisms to survive in the extreme conditions of the Far North. A color distribution map accompanies each species account, and alternative names in German, French, Norwegian, Russian, Inuit, and Inupiaq are also provided. * Features superb color plates that allow for quick identification of more than 800 species of plants, fishes, butterflies, birds, and mammals * Includes detailed species accounts and color distribution maps * Covers the flora and fauna of the entire Arctic region

My Unicorn Garden is bursting with crafts and activities perfect for children. Created with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the UK's leading gardening charity, this amazing book is packed with fun things to make and do both indoors and outdoors. It's time to get your green-hooves ready with your favourite unicorn friends! Paint a unicorn plant pot Create fantastic flower pressings Make your own mini unicorn garden Discover the wonderful secrets of gardening with magical, mythical unicorns! These unicorns are off on a garden tour to learn all about plants, wildlife and top gardening tips. The unicorns can't wait to start exploring - and you can join them! This book is packed with fun facts and activities, so you can become a gardening expert, too. Step-by-step gardening activities - perfect for families to enjoy the garden together Easy-to-follow instructions for growing your own plants Colouring in, spot-the-difference, and make your own daisy chain and winter wreath!

One tree, in one garden. Can it really make a difference? In RHS The Tree in My Garden, award-winning wildlife author Kate Bradbury reveals the amazing effect planting a single tree in your garden can have - and dares to imagine what would happen if every gardener up and down the country did the same. Combining practical gardening advice, eye-opening scientific research, reflections on the cultural importance of different species, and evocative accounts of how vital trees are for countless different forms of wildlife, this book will leave you in no doubt that every garden needs a tree! This terrific tree book features a directory of 50 key species, each one beautifully illustrated by Lucille Clerc and packed with information about each tree's appearance, care needs, and the wildlife it supports - to help you choose the best tree for your own garden, or learn more about the trees you may already have. Dive into the pages of this tree identification book to discover: - 50 illustrated profiles of a wide range of trees suitable for different gardens and preferences - Eye-opening accounts of the importance of trees for our planet, our wildlife, and ourselves - Essential practical information to help readers choose, plant, prune, and care for their tree - Ideas for making your own leaf mould and ways to get involved in community planting projects - Stunning illustrations by Lucille Clerc that convey the beauty and the mystery of trees This book is perfect for anyone wanting to attract more wildlife to their garden! So whether you're an environmentalist intent on reducing your carbon footprint, a budding gardener looking to choose the best tree for your outdoor space or you're simply seeking a guide about the natural history of the trees in your garden, RHS The Tree In My Garden is something the whole family can explore, discover and love. No garden should be without a tree. Plant one, watch it grow - and become part of something bigger!

Ever since the first human settlements 10,000 years ago, weeds have dogged our footsteps. They are there as the punishment of 'thorns and thistles' in Genesis and , two millennia later, as a symbol of Flanders Field. They are civilisations' familiars, invading farmland and building-sites, war-zones and flower-beds across the globe. Yet living so intimately with us, they have been a blessing too. Weeds were the first crops, the first medicines. Burdock was the inspiration for Velcro. Cow parsley has become the fashionable adornment of Spring weddings. Weaving together the insights of botanists, gardeners, artists and poets with his own life-long fascination, Richard Mabey examines how we have tried to define them, explain their persistence, and draw moral lessons from them. One persons weed is another's wild beauty.

Praise for The Green Planet (BBC One) 'David Attenborough's gobsmacking, awe-inspiring return' The Guardian 'The Green Planet reveals the secret lives of plants in the same way The Blue Planet opened our eyes to the oceans' New Scientist There's something new under the sun Plants live secret, unseen lives - hidden in their magical world and on their timescale. From the richest jungles to the harshest deserts, from the snowiest alpine forest to the remotest steaming swamp, Green Planet travels from one great habitat to the next, showing us that plants are as aggressive, competitive and dramatic as the animals on our planet. You will discover agents of death, who ruthlessly engulf their host plant, but also those that form deep and complex relationships with other species, such as the desert cacti who use nectar-loving bats to pollinate. Although plants are undoubtedly the stars of the show, a fascinating new light will be shed on the animals that interact with them. Using the latest technologies and showcasing over two decades of new discoveries, Green Planet reveals the strange and wonderful life of plants like never before - a life full of remarkable behaviour, emotional stories and surprising heroes.

This title features the flora of the Vice County of Renfrewshire. It marks the culmination of over 50 years of field recording by local botanists and over 18 years of fieldwork and in-depth search of historical records by the author.

Fungi are eternally mysterious and truly unique. The Deck of Mushrooms is your essential introduction to some of the world's most interesting fungi. From the delicious Shiitake and the deadly Death Cap, to mushrooms of the magical variety and bioluminescent beauties, The Deck of Mushrooms features 52 beautiful cards to guide you through this fascinating world. This deck features 50 different fungi - learn about their appearance, where and when they grow and all of their uses as you become a budding expert in mycology.

This easy-to-use identification guide to the 280 tree and shrub species most commonly seen in India is perfect for resident and visitor alike.High quality photographs from India's top nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions, which include nomenclature, size, distribution and habitat.The user-friendly introduction covers geography and climate, vegetation, opportunities for naturalists and the main sites for viewing the listed species.Also included is an all-important checklist of all of the trees and shrubs of India encompassing, for each species, its common and scientific name, its status in each state as well as its global IUCN status as at 2015.

A fascinating exploration of the natural history of scent and human perceptions of fragrance from the viewpoint of plant and pollinator "An evocative journey that awakens one's curiosity to an oft-forgotten sense."-Dana Dunham, Scientific American Plants have long harnessed the chemical characteristics of aromatic compounds to shape the world around them. Frankincense resin from the genus Boswellia seals injured tissues and protects trees from invading pathogens. Jasmine produces a molecule called linalool that attracts pollinating moths with its flowery scent. Tobacco uses a similarly sweet-smelling compound called benzyl acetone to attract pollinators. Only recently in the evolutionary history of plants, however, have humans learned to co-opt their fragrances to seduce, heal, protect, and alter moods themselves. In this wide-ranging and accessible new book, biologist-turned-perfumer Elise Vernon Pearlstine turns our human-centered perception of fragrance on its head and investigates plants' evolutionary reasons for creating aromatic molecules. Delving into themes of spirituality, wealth, power, addiction, royalty, fantasy, and more, Pearlstine uncovers the natural history of aromatic substances and their intersection with human culture and civilization.

An acclaimed, beautifully illustrated introduction to spring-blooming wildflowers of the northeastern United States and Canada This exquisitely illustrated volume provides an accessible, in-depth introduction to spring-blooming wildflowers of the northeastern United States and Canada. Featuring more than 500 detailed color photos and a large, beautifully designed format, the book delves into the life histories of more than thirty-five wildflowers and their relatives, from common favorites, such as bloodroot and Jack-in-the-pulpit, to interesting, lesser-known species, including miterwort and featherfoil. Drawing on a wealth of personal experience and the latest scientific research, and presenting it all in terms anyone can understand, acclaimed naturalist and photographer Carol Gracie invites readers to enhance their appreciation of the beauty of these wildflowers by learning not just their names or how many petals they have, but what pollinates them, how their seeds are dispersed, how they interact with other plants and animals, how Native Americans and other people have used them, and other interesting facts. Each species is illustrated with a range of detailed color photos that not only capture its beauty but illustrate the features discussed in the text and show the plant in its environment alongside the pollinators, herbivores, or seed dispersers with which, in many cases, the wildflower has evolved. Other topics covered include the naming of wildflowers; pathogens and pests; related species in other parts of the world; and wildflowers in history, literature, and art. Presenting authoritative information in an inviting style, Spring Wildflowers of the Northeast is an ideal volume for wildflower lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, naturalists, students, and more. Showcases the most spectacular spring-blooming wildflowers of the northeastern United States and Canada Features more than 500 stunning full-color photos Covers the life histories, lore, and uses of more than 35 species and their relatives Combines the latest scientific research with an easy-to-read style Features species accounts for these wildflowers: Baneberries Bloodroot Blue Cohosh Blue-eyed Mary Celandines Columbine Dutchman's Breeches Early Meadow-rue Early Saxifrage False Hellebore Featherfoil Fire-pink Fringed Polygala Hepaticas Jack-in-the-pulpit Lady-slippers Lesser Celandine Lousewort Mayapple Miterwort One-flowered Cancer-root Skunk Cabbage Spring Beauties Squawroot Trilliums Trout-lily Twinleaf Violets Virgina Bluebells Wild Ginger

Medicinal Plants of East Africa is a fully illustrated guide to 136 East African plants with important medicinal applications. Initially released in 2010, this fully revised edition updates the species descriptions, photographs and range of medicinal uses, and expands on the pharmacological properties of the plant parts.

Supported by more than 600 photographs, the book:

• describes the characters and ecology of each plant to aid identification
• lists indigenous names of species in 92 languages spoken in the region
• details the medicinal uses of the different plant parts by drawing on traditional knowledge
• includes recipes for the preparation and administration of remedies used to treat common ailments and afflictions
• discusses the active chemical compounds found in each plant to explain and unpack the healing properties at work

Covering Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, this volume is a vital addition to the bookshelves of botanists, health and wellness practitioners, students, travelers, and all who have an interest in the healing properties of plants.

Wild orchids evoke a particular and sometimes addictive fascination among naturalists, botanists, and wildflower enthusiasts. With few exceptions, these singular plants cannot be moved and propagated successfully, and so, to ensure their survival, they must be protected and sought out in their native habitats. This definitive guide facilitates their discovery and enjoyment.*Covers all orchids growing wild in New England, New York, and adjacent areas of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.*Includes illustrated keys to the genera and species and a checklist of northeastern orchids.*Describes in alphabetical order 71 orchid species and varieties, with a drawing of each, and full information on more than 50 forms and hybrids.*Features 192 full-color photographs of the orchids in their native habitats, along with 71 distribution maps. *Suggests where to find the orchids.*Provides a bibliography and a glossary. *Bound with a durable cover for use in the field.

In clear and concise language and drawings, these booklets describe the common species the reader is likely to come across in South-western terrain.

Possibly the most comprehensive and user-friendly ethnobotanical guidebook available in the Pacific Northwest, Gifted Earth features traditional Native American plant knowledge, detailing the use of plants for food, medicines, and materials. Rather than reporting traditional plant use as a set of disconnected and dusty academic facts, it presents a rich and living tradition of plant use within the Quinault Indian Nation. While this guide centers on a single Native American nation, its focus is not narrow. Quinault is a remarkably diverse tribal community, embodying the traditional knowledge of tribes along the entire Pacific Northwest coast; their membership consists of descendants of many tribes, from the northwestern Olympic Peninsula to the northern Oregon coast, who were relocated to Quinault in the 19th and early 20th centuries - including Chinooks, Chehalis, Quileute, Hoh, Tillamooks, Clatsops, and others. Individuals descended from each of these tribal communities have contributed to the current volume, giving it remarkable breadth and representativeness as a guide to Pacific Northwest tribal plant knowledge. Part ethnobotanical guide and part 'how-to' manual, Gifted Earth prepares plant users for all of the minor hazards and pitfalls that accompany their quest - from how to avoid accidentally eating a bug hidden within a salal berry, to how to avoid blisters when peeling the tender stalks of cow parsnip. A celebration of enduring Native American knowledge, this book will also help non-specialists as they discover the potentials of the region's wild plants, learning how to identify, gather, and use many of the plants that they encounter in the Northwestern landscape. As beautiful as it is informative, Gifted Earth sets the tone for a new generation of ethnobotanical guides - guided by the values, vision, and voice of Native American communities eager to promote a sustainable, balanced relationship between plant users and the rich plant communities of the Pacific Northwest.

To be published in 14 volumes over the next 12 years, the Flora of North America is an indispensable working resource for anyone with an interest in the distribution, habitat, morphology, and survival of the wide-ranging plant life in North America.

This introductory volume presents information on the physical and biological factors that have affected the evolution and distribution of plant life of North America. Current knowledge on geography, paleofloristics, and human impact is summarized, distilling the original field work of hundreds of contributors.

Beautifully illustrated, almost 100 drawings accompany the introductory essays, taken from various 19th and 20th century works. Chosen to illustrate plants mentioned within the text, they are also historical examples of the style and quality of botanical illustration from an earlier era to the present.

The complete collection will be an indispensable authoritative work for all botanical libraries and departments.

This elegant and easy-to-use guide is an updated and amended revision of Lauren Brown's seminal Grasses: An Identification Guide, which was first published in 1979. While maintaining the spirit and goals of the original edition-a portable, straightforward, and user-friendly guide for naturalists and plant enthusiasts-the new edition features more than one hundred grasses, sedges, and rushes that are presented with line drawings and color photographs, concise descriptions, and details on the uses of various plants throughout history. In addition, the authors are careful to highlight the subtle differences in similar species to avoid confusion, as well as offering relevant notes on plant survival strategies, invasiveness, and how different plants fit within the broader ecological landscape. Devoid of technical jargon, this volume is an indispensable tool for those curious about the often-overlooked grasses, sedges, and rushes that surround us.