In Earth Works, award-winning columnist Nancy R. Hugo presents a month-by-month, season-by-season exploration of the pleasures and pains of gardening in the mid-Atlantic. Readers familiar with her columns in the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Virginia Wildlife will welcome this collection of her most popular essays, written in the characteristic conversational style that has made her a regional favorite.

Earth Works has a wealth of helpful hints and seasonal advice for both experienced and beginning gardeners, from how to attract butterflies and discourage Japanese beetles to when to prune; from how to move big tress to how to propagate a legacy rose. This book offers something for every backyard gardener and will be treasured year-round by enthusiasts looking for much-needed seasonal tips, as well as by snowbound readers longing for a reminder of the warmer days to come.

From acclaimed Chicago chef and restaurateur John Coletta comes a recipe collection focusing on a relatively unexplored area of Italian cuisine rice cookery. Rice is a staple of northern Italy, where all Italian rice is produced. A rich and varied rice-based cookery has developed in this region. These 100 authentic dishes bring the full range of Italian rice cooking into the home kitchen, from familiar dishes arancini, crochettes, risotti, and rice puddings to more unusual offerings such as rice salads, soups, fritters, bracioli, and gelatos. Coletta shares his expertise about Italian rice types and cooking methods, and provides foolproof instructions for making perfect rice every time. He also includes background about the rice varieties and where they can be purchased. Among the recipes are Rice Crostini with Ricotta and Oregano; Rice Soup with Shrimp and Leeks; Rice Salad with Bresaola and Parmigiano Reggiano; Risotta alla Carbonara; Artichokes Stuffed with Lemon and Thyme Risotto; Braised Turkey Rolls with Chestnut Risotto, Pancetta, and Sage; and Rice Crepes with Nutella. This volume will appeal to lovers of Italian food who are looking for a cookbook that includes many of their favorite Italian ingredients all with rice as the new star.