Ornamental plants are plants grown for decorative purposes. They include cut flowers, bulbs, potted plants, shrubs and trees for gardening and landscape design. Like other crops, ornamentals face challenges such as biotic and abiotic stresses as well as the need to develop more sustainable, 'climate-smart' methods of cultivation. This collection reviews the rich range of research addressing these challenges. Part 1 discusses advances in understanding plant physiology, genetic diversity and breeding techniques. Chapters cover recent research on how plants respond to abiotic stress, ways of exploiting genetic diversity to improve target traits, advances in both conventional and marker-assisted breeding techniques, as well as their use to produce abiotic stress-resistant varieties. Part 2 surveys advances in cultivation techniques in such areas as nutrition, irrigation, protected cultivation and integrated disease management.

Based on the legend of Silverheels, this novel views events surrounding the early development of the Colorado gold camps through the eyes of Jedediah P. Carpenter, who was orphaned on the Nebraska prairie at the age of sixteen, then finds and loses fortune and love during the great Pikes Peak Gold Rush.

WE WERE FREE-RANGE is not cloying nostalgia. Certainly there are passages that will elicit smiles and a few tears (especially among Boomers), but its intent is more ambitious. The author contrasts his child's eye view of the past with childhood today as lived by his grandchildren. In this affectionate recounting of growing up in America, ways of The Good Old Days are not automatically judged best. Rich description gives these stories special poignancy for older generations, but childhood's universal trials will be instantly recognizable to readers of every age. This entertaining portrait of one, very ordinary household celebrates the imperfectly wonderful institution of family. If you need permission to indulge your own reminiscences, WE WERE FREE-RANGE grants it.