Take an inspirational journey through the seasons with this beautifully illustrated RHS children's almanac. Created with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the UK's leading gardening charity, this stunning book is perfect for inspiring a love of nature. Watch the seasons unfold as you leaf through this gorgeously illustrated almanac. With stunning illustrations, each page introduces a magical moment in nature with enchanting poetry and stories. Meanwhile, gardening spreads, recipes, outdoor activities and fascinating nature facts help you discover more about the wonderful world around you, from amazing animal migrations to a close-up view of the animal world beneath the soil. The perfect gift to treasure, with sumptuous shiny foil finishes on the cover Stunning illustrations and nature poems and stories take you on a wonderful journey through nature This amazing book will inspire children and (grown-ups!) The perfect book to help you connect with nature.

*** This easy Q&A format book is suited to both beginner and more experienced growers, and encompasses a wide range of subjects to take readers beyond the basics of fruit and vegetable growing. Taking into account the popularity for growing food from scratch among newbie gardeners, you'll find advice in this book whether you have a garden, an allotment, or even a balcony or other small space to work with-everyone can get involved with growing delicious edibles no matter what space they have available. Discover: - Which varieties to choose for gourmet home cooking, the most nutritious crops to grow, and how to grow unusual edibles like olives. - Techniques and tips to get the most out of each crop, from how to grow epic-size pumpkins to whether it's worth thinning beetroot. - Troubleshooting tips for pest problems: ways to work with wildlife rather than against it and providing an alternative viewpoint on traditional problems, such as eating the weeds as well! - How to make the most of your fruit and vegetable harvest, with information on the best time to pick produce and how to preserve it.

The Shady Lady's Guide to Northeast Shade Gardening is a crash course in the essentials of shade gardening, helping gardeners take advantage of the potential in shadow. Within this expanded second edition, Amy Ziffer identifies best practices, best plants, and best information for the greater Northeast. Placed in a broader context of ecology, Ziffer promotes gardening as the act of focusing the natural world rather than manipulating it. She categorizes shade plants based on their function in the garden and describes how to cultivate them with a high likelihood of success and a minimum of failure and frustration. Ziffer introduces the concept of "backbone plants," which should make up 75 to 80 percent of a shade garden, and discusses soils, fertilization, maintenance, animal browsing, and much more, providing clear and concise advice on what to do and what not to do. This edition of The Shady Lady's Guide to Northeast Shade Gardening includes an expanded illustrated plant gallery with over forty new photos, an updated taxonomic classification of the plants, and a candid discussion of the future effects of climate change.

By the beginning of the nineteenth century, landscape gardening had divided into at least two branches. The geometric style promoted strictly ordered gardens, while the natural style, for which the period is known, preserved characteristics of untamed vistas. Edited by a former professional rival, John Claudius Loudon (1783 1843), this one-volume collection of the works of Humphry Repton (1752 1818) first appeared in 1840. Featuring more than 250 engravings, it illuminates the principal styles and contemporary debates of landscape design. Including perspective tricks to disguise differing water levels, and instructions on the use of cattle as a natural measure of scale, Repton's writings reflect the attention to detail that was involved in planning and executing major projects. The collection is prefaced with a biographical notice believed to have been written by the architect John Adey Repton (1775 1860), who collaborated with his father on many schemes."

This title includes a comprehensive directory of plants and a bonus chapter on photographing butterflies. This latest title, from a growing and successful series, is by a UK author. You can turn your garden into a haven for butterflies by giving them the right plants to feed on and providing suitable places to breed and hibernate. This beautifully illustrated book brings together all the information you will need to encourage garden butterflies in temperate countries. Every garden has the potential to attract butterflies - no matter how large or small or its location. Learn about the basics of butterfly lifecycles, preferred habitats, human impact on populations, types of garden, breeding and overwintering. Delve into the handy directory listings of plant species to attract butterflies, common garden butterflies and food plants for caterpillars. A bonus chapter on photographing butterflies describes the practicalities of capturing them in photographs. This title includes on butterfly species from temperate parts of Britain, continental Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.

Discover the incredible uses of 40 of the best home-grown and foraged ingredients as the Two Thirsty Gardeners guide you through their original brew-it-yourself recipes. Wild Tea presents easy-to-follow recipes that teach you how to collect naturally sourced ingredients - including berries, roots, seeds, leaves and flowers - for brewing your own blends and special infusions, from classic night-time and hangover teas, to chai latte and Moroccan mint, to specialist barley tea, bubble tea and even dandelion coffee. There is also a 'best of the rest' section with more unique ingredients that can be used for drinks, such as ginger, cinnamon, pomegranate, orange and valerian. Whether you are a gardener, cook or crafter, Wild Tea is the perfect guide to allow you to take your health and wellness into your own garden and create specialized brews at home.

*** RHS Grow Your Own Crops in Pots offers everyone the chance to grow their own food, however small the outdoor space on offer. With this book and all the expert advice of urban gardener and author Kay Maguire, you can turn the tiniest space into a productive and attractive plot, using the best varieties and techniques. Follow 30 tried-and-tested container planting projects for top tasting crop combinations such as tomato with basil, fruit salads and cut-and-come-again vegetables. Explore the crop directory to find out the best way to grow more than 60 vegetables, fruit, salads, herbs and edible flowers. Winner of the Practical Book of the Year 2013 at the Garden Media Guild Awards. RHS Grow Your Own Crops in Pots includes: - Every fruit, vegetable or herb that you can successfully grow in a container - The perfect pot for each crop, coupled with the best container varieties - Tricks for getting the tastiest and best-looking crops - Inspirational style for every garden, balcony, patio and terrace - Key techniques for tubs, planters, baskets, boxes and bags - Reminders of how to keep your crops in top condition - Identifying and solving problems if things go wrong - This new edition provides a month-by-month chart of what to do when growing crops in pots

Naturalistic planting design offers an exciting alternative to traditional garden making. Rich in plants, sustainable and good for the environment, naturalistic gardens are also beautiful, uplifting places that resonate with the energy of the natural world - but they can be challenging to get right. In this seminal book, leading exponent of the technique Nigel Dunnett shares his peerless ecological and horticultural wisdom and fascinating working methods to ensure success with every project. By following a simple set of rules and principles in a unique 'Planting Design Toolkit' discover how to read the landscape and create 'designed plant communities' that are layered to sustain interest throughout the year. Learn how to design planting that captures the spirit of nature, fosters immersive, emotionally engaging experiences and reduces the need for maintenance. The information is in-depth, practical and generously supported by a wealth of case studies, illustrations, plans and diagrams. This is the essential go-to guide for anyone wishing to join the adventure and plant the naturalistic way.

'The most romantic, creative person in garden design I know.' Piet Oudolf 'Jinny's genius is to marry a beautiful vision to an extraordinary empathy with the landscape into which that vision will fit, resulting in a pastoral harmony second to none' Victoria, Lady Getty Prolific designer Jinny Blom embraces a wide variety of styles, from large garden spaces to formal walled gardensand contemporary installations. What defines her work is her skill with plants and her ability to create a garden that responds to the history of the site and the wider landscape. The gardens Jinny creates are as different as their owners and their locations. In this book, Jinny shares her insight into the creative process she has developed while designing more than 250 gardens around the world. The Thoughtful Gardener contains modern takes on traditional forms, and is split into six sections: seeing, understanding, structuring, harmonising, rooting, and liberating. All of Jinny's gardens share a commitment to beautiful craftsmanship and considered planting. Structure and detail are important, and receive close attention. The styles vary considerably - logical, calm, beautiful, romantic, naturalistic, formal, sometimes spare - but the principles remain firm. Jinny designs for the long term, with consideration for the environment; these gardens are built to last. Reflecting Jinny's highly individual character, there is plenty of wit and quirkiness alongside the expert knowledge, and it will appeal to the widest audience of garden lovers. Thoughtful and beautiful, yet practical and informative, this book marries artistry with functionality.

Biochar, charcoal made from wood or another type of biomass, has become the new darling of organic gardeners, embraced for its outstanding abilities to enrich the soil and improve plant growth. Gardening with Biochar is the first comprehensive guide to understanding, making, and using it effectively in the home garden. In this highly accessible handbook, long-time garden writer Jeff Cox explains what biochar is and provides detailed instructions for how it can be made at home, along with specific guidelines for using it to enrich soil, prevent erosion, and enhance plant growth. Now widely available at garden centers, biochar is also being lauded for its ability to sequester carbon in the soil, making it good for the health of the planet, as well as the plants.

NEW EDITION 2018. Extend the life of your plants, trees and shrubs with this authoritative and comprehensive gardening manual. It covers all the standard propagation techniques including sowing seed; taking cuttings; dividing; growing suckers and offsets; layering; how to create extra bulbs, tubers and corms; and grafting two plants together. An A-Z directory lists all the key plants for propagating, describing each plant's size, colour and shape, and how and when to propagate them to get the best results. Plants propagate themselves naturally in the wild, using all kinds of ingenious techniques. This practical book explains the most effective techniques for propagating 375 different types of plants. The book begins with growing plants from seed, covering everything from lettuces and chillies to sunflowers and sweet peas. Next, there are instructions on taking cuttings from established plants to give you exact copies of the parent plant at minimal cost. Dividing plants, layering and grafting methods all follow and all are explained with step-by-step instructions and photographs. The directory of plants includes growing tips for each individual species.There is also advice about propagation equipment from secateurs and garden knives to bio-degradable pots and cold frames, as well as how to improve your soil and make compost. Beautifully illustrated with over 1100 clear and informative photographs and illustrations.

Grow up! If you have limited outdoor space and would like to grow your food, this practical illustrated guide will help you transform previously plant-free zones into thriving, beneficial and utterly beautiful food-growing areas. Using special containers, either bought or home-made, as well as conventional methods such as containers on a roof or growing plants up walls, you can grow a wide range of edible crops - and grab a salad for lunch without getting your feet wet. This book includes: * Creating edible roof gardens * Planning and growing crops on green roofs, including on sheds * Using a wide variety of containers, e.g. ladder allotments and growing frames, with details of how to make them * Making the most of wall boxes and hanging baskets * A directory of plants suitable for vertical growing - fruit, flowers and herbs as well as vegetables - with advice on how to cultivate them. Whether you have an apartment with just a wall, windowsill, balcony or small flat roof; a school with nothing but a tarmac playground; or just a paved courtyard in your community centre, this book will get you started on a new way of growing.

The Times Best Gardening Books of 2022 Ornamental plants are the cornerstone of our gardens and we are spoiled for choice with literally tens of thousands of hardy beauties from which to select. But we take them absolutely for granted, not for a moment realising that every plant has a fascinating tale to tell. Wild Edens sets the record straight. With global coverage, each of the nine richly illustrated chapters explores a plant biodiversity hotspot. The reader is transported on a visually stunning and fascinating voyage of discovery which reveals our garden favourites - as well as some species that should be more widely cultivated - in their natural habitats, from daffodils from Andalusia and tulips from the Tien Shan, to monkey puzzles from Chile and rhododendrons from the Himalayas, lilies from Japan and proteas from South Africa. Because the authors have been to the hotspots, each chapter opens with their personal reflections on the landscape and spirit of place, and closes with their selection of prime locations. In between, the informative yet approachable text tells of the plants' 'forgotten stories'. Of the landscapes which are their home, the adventures of how and when they were discovered and by whom, the reasons why they were collected, their impact on garden fashions and trends, etc. Wild Edens brings another dimension of interest and understanding to plants and gardens, as well as being a premium armchair traveller's guide to the natural world of garden plants.

A companion volume to Attracting Birds to Your Garden, the focus of this guide extends to other ‘wildlife’, such as butterfl ies, dragonfl ies, bugs of all sorts, frogs, lizards and geckoes, and small mammals such as mongooses, genets and hedgehogs.

The book reveals how to plant a garden that attracts indigenous ‘wildlife’, depending on where in the country you live, creating nesting and breeding opportunities, and shows how to maintain such a garden. Along with practical suggestions and tips, this handy guide offers: the principles of gardening for wildlife; how to plan a garden and build a pond and wetland; tips on how to set up or enhance an existing garden; recommended plants that will fl ourish in local conditions, and; info about the many creatures that frequent a wildlife-friendly garden.

Colourful, engaging and packed with information, Gardening with Nature will have broad appeal and is priced to sell.

Planting, by famed landscape architects Piet Oudolf and Noel Kingsbury, is a groundbreaking moment in horticulture. It is the first book to share Oudolf s original planting plans and plant groupings and the only book to explicitly show how his gardens and landscapes are made. An intimate knowledge of plants is essential to the success of this approach and Planting makes Oudolf s considerable understanding of plant ecology and performance accessible, explaining how plants behave in different situations, what goes on underground, and which species make good neighbors. Extensive plant charts and planting plans will help you choose plants for their structure, color, and texture as well as the way they perform in the landscape. A detailed directory, with details each plant s life expectancy, the persistence of its seedheads, its tendency to spread, and propensity to self-seed, is an invaluable resource.Planting is an essential resource for designers and gardeners looking to create plant-rich, beautiful gardens that support biodiversity and nourish the human spirit."

In this beautifully illustrated guide, best-selling author Sally Coulthard demonstrates how to transform your living and working spaces into places that put you in touch with nature. Eight inspiring chapters cover key elements for the 'biophilic home', including materials, views, colour and natural light. Each section explores the links between home, health and happiness, drawing on environmental research and neuroscience while making practical suggestions for bringing the natural world into your home. Bring nature indoors with flowers and plants, rediscover the innate pleasure of real fires and fresh air, and learn how to improve your mood and sleep patterns with dynamic light. Create a space filled with natural elements, patterns, nature's colours, fabrics and textures that lift your mood; find out why natural sounds and water are soothing; and learn how to make small changes that will inspire, invigorate and enrich your relationship with the natural world. 'As best-selling author and designer, Sally Coulthard, reveals in this guide, creating a 'biophilic home' can have a huge impact on your wellbeing; improving your mood and encouraging healthier sleep patterns...Be it plants, materials, colour or light, it's enlightening to see how small changes can make a big difference, while deepening your respect and correlation to the natural world.' FORBES Magazine 'How to embrace the natural world by transforming your interior spaces with specific materials, colours, views and sounds.' Gardens Illustrated 'Humans are mammals, programmed over millennia to respond to the natural world. We may be able to live and work in man-made environments most of the time. But according to a new movement of "biophilic" designers and enthusiasts, we are not thriving...writer Sally Coulthard likens it to the practice of keeping animals in captivity, in surroundings ill-suited to their needs. "We live in a world that is fundamentally mismatched to our evolutionary adaptation - we don't see, hear and feel the things that we are programmed to respond to," she writes.' Financial Times 'In this beautifully illustrated hardback, Coulthard explores the many benefits of biophilic design, drawing on environmental and neuroscientific research to uncover the links between home, health and happiness. A fascinating and uplifting read that looks at the science behind feel good furnishings.' The Independent 'Never before has the need been greater for being more connected with the natural world, as more and more of us spend longer periods in our own homes. Divided into eight chapters covering key elements for the 'biophilic home', including materials, views, colour and natural light, the book explores the links between home, health and happiness. Drawing on environmental research and neuroscience, Sally makes practical suggestions for bringing the natural world into our homes, positively impacting cognitive function, psychological health and general well-being.' The Lifestyle Editor '...bestselling author Sally Coulthard picks out...the easiest ways we can bring nature indoors' Town and Country House magazine '[Sally] recounts how biophilia, the idea that humans are viscerally wired to feel a communion with the natural world, has shifted from a hypothesis espoused by the biologist Edward O. Wilson and others to the emergence of urban beekeeping, increasingly diverse city gardens and wild ideas for residences and workplaces.' New York Times 'an excellent book' 50 Plus Magazine 'Sally Coulthard's new book 'Biophilia', explains how important the colours of the natural world are for decorating' Esquire Magazine 'Biophilia, a new book by Yorkshire author Sally Coulthard, reveals how staying close to nature will make you healthier and happier.' Yorkshire Post 'Coulthard explores ways to harmonize home and the natural word. She covers proper lighting, temperature, and airflow; decorating with natural materials; beneficial colors and patterns, and more.' Publishers Weekly 'Probably the most beautifully produced book I've read for many a year, with such fabulously written text, I have to say it is such a delight to read, you feel like you are holding nature in your hands. Each page brings with it something inspiring, from colour, to light, to sound, to choosing materials, temperature, views, spaces, water and more.' Argenta Wellness 'Our senses are wired to seek out the natural world. In author and designer Sally Coulthard's exploration of organic and natural design, she breaks down how homes can be designed to tap into our fundamental attraction to the outdoors. In addition to techniques that can improve our wellness, Coulthard's advice can also make interiors feel more like home even as they bring nature inside.' LX Collection 'A beautifully illustrated book packed with ideas for bringing the outside inside to your home or workplace.' Spirituality and Practice 'North Yorkshire writer Sally Coulthard is your guide to green living in her new book' Great British Life

Everything you need to know about bonsai care, maintenance, design, and arrangement. With clear explanations of bonsai and what it is, these 101 easy-to-grasp tips have everything you need to get the results you want. Build knowledge and confidence with this must-have pocket guide, filled with the essentials you're looking for including pointers and advice on cultivating bonsai plants. Create a sense of balance and serenity in your home with these beautiful miniature trees and bring the ancient practice into the 21st century. Using a step-by-step approach, 101 Essential Tips: Bonsai explains design and style principles, which containers to use, how to cultivate a bonsai plant and more. Learn about the different suitable species, from Japanese red maple to Scots pine, find out how to prune, reshape with wiring, implement Saikei and rock planting, and develop a watering routine to keep your living art healthy. Whether you want to build on your basic skills or become an expert, 101 Essential Tips: Bonsai is right for you. This pocket guide is chock-full of information to guide you, inspire you, and give you the knowledge and confidence you're looking for.

With fans far and wide, cacti and succulents come in myriad shapes and sizes too. These firm favourites of Instagram influencers are perfect for adding greenery indoors, and can add structure and detail to outdoor spaces as well. Smaller plants are companions for 'generation rent', since they are easily moved from place to place. Generally low-maintenance, being 'plant mum' to one or two of these tiny plants often starts a life-long fascination, and an ever growing horde. The Little Book of Cacti and Succulents is an inspiring and indispensable guide to growing these fascinating plants. Detailed Plant Profiles are divided into sections according to style and shape, from beautiful trailing plants to intricately formed rosettes. At the beginning of the book, you'll find practical advice on getting started, caring for the plants through the year and how best to show your plants off. You can also discover how to grow your collection using various propagation techniques with step-by-step guidance. Cacti and succulents provide year-round interest for very little input, and caring for their fascinating forms is an enchanting hobby. Full of beautiful photography and sweet illustrations, The Little Book of Cacti and Succulents is an encouraging and down-to-earth guide to these weird and wonderful plants.

"Society does not generally expect its farmers to be visionaries." Perhaps not, but longtime Maine farmer and homesteader Will Bonsall does possess a unique clarity of vision that extends all the way from the finer points of soil fertility and seed saving to exploring how we can transform civilization and make our world a better, more resilient place. In Will Bonsall's Essential Guide to Radical, Self-Reliant Gardening, Bonsall maintains that to achieve real wealth we first need to understand the economy of the land, to realize that things that might make sense economically don't always make sense ecologically, and vice versa. The marketplace distorts our values, and our modern dependence on petroleum in particular presents a serious barrier to creating a truly sustainable agriculture. For him the solution is, first and foremost, greater self-reliance, especially in the areas of food and energy. By avoiding any off-farm inputs (fertilizers, minerals, and animal manures), Bonsall has learned how to practice a purely veganic, or plant-based, agriculture-not from a strictly moralistic or philosophical perspective, but because it makes good business sense: spend less instead of making more. What this means in practical terms is that Bonsall draws upon the fertility of on-farm plant materials: compost, green manures, perennial grasses, and forest products like leaves and ramial wood chips. And he grows and harvests a diversity of crops from both cultivated and perennial plants: vegetables, grains, pulses, oilseeds, fruits and nuts-even uncommon but useful permaculture plants like groundnut (Apios). In a friendly, almost conversational way, Bonsall imparts a wealth of knowledge drawn from his more than forty years of farming experience. "My goal," he writes, "is not to feed the world, but to feed myself and let others feed themselves. If we all did that, it might be a good beginning."

Among the oldest plants on earth, mosses are a gardener's dream - they provide a lush backdrop in almost any setting and are easy to keep healthy with regular maintenance. In The Magical World of Moss Gardening, moss enthusiast Annie Martin shows you how to create a green and sustainable solution to that difficult shady spot in your garden.