"The spread of the towns, the disforesting of the hills, and other causes are conspiring to destroy many of the conditions which made the Riviera of former days so happy a resort for the lovers of Nature. But there will always be much to observe and much to study in so favoured a region." Quirky, erudite and eminently readable, the fifty-four essays comprising Riviera Nature Notes give an astonishingly clear picture of plant and animal life in the South of France at the turn of the twentieth century--not to mention a fascinating insight into the social mores of the time. A hundred years later the book is as fresh, topical and inviting as when it was first published. Preferring to remain anonymous as a naturalist, not only out of modesty but to guard the integrity of his liturgical writings, its clergyman author speaks of olives and pines, myrtles and figs, mosquitoes and rare butterflies--to name but a few of his subjects--with such passion and verve as to bring the land from the Ligurian coastline to the Maritime Alps vividly alive. Published first at the expense of Sir Thomas Hanbury, master of the famed gardens at La Mortola, Italy and benefactor of the Royal Horticultural Society's sixty-acre estate at Wisley, a second edition incorporated photographs taken by the temperamental and extravagant heiress Ellen Wilmot, in many ways a greater figure in the plant world than her close contemporary Gertrude Jekyll. Our anonymous author moved in the best horticultural and botanical circles, wore his learning lightly, and unusually for the time, spoke to the common man and the general reader on equal terms. With an engaging, sometimes acerbic, always entertaining and informative voice speaking effortlessly across the years, he will once again garner admirers among nature lovers, gardeners and travellers alike.

In today's ever increasingly compact living spaces many of us have to make the best of very small outdoor spaces from patios and courtyards to roof gardens and balconies. 101 Ideas Gardens is a unique and dynamic new title that delivers over 100 captivating and exciting ideas to make the most of a very small garden space. This clever little book gets straight to the heart of all the necessary practicalities and possibilities in an engaging and original way to instantly involve and inspire the reader, with features on the 10 key points to assess your garden's assets, 10 designer tips to make your garden look bigger and 10 plants to thrive in the shade. The book begins with The Big Picture which looks at the space you have and helps you work out what you want to do with it. This chapter also explains the practicalities of budgeting and drawing up an action plan and ends with a look at a wide range of inspiring garden styles from Zen gardens to formal topiary. Getting Down to Detail focuses on the individual elements of the garden including boundary walls, underfoot surfaces, lighting, outdoor heaters, water features, garden furniture and the best plants for small spaces.;Finally, Keeping It Fresh tells you how to maintain the perfect space you've created with tips on watering, pruning and other seasonal tasks, and some quick fixes for stylish garden entertaining!