With some 270 species, penstemons are particularly beloved by rock gardeners. The author has grown most of the species, and this work abounds in useful cultural information based on experience. It also features watercolours and photographs.'

What do you get when three horticulturalists combine expertise and direct it towards a single plant genus? In this case, a fascinating volume detailing the natural history of the stunning wildflowers we know as penstemons. More specifically, the 76 species of penstemons found in the mountains, deserts, and canyon lands of Utah--the probable center of origin for this complex array of intriguing plants. Penstemon truly is Utah's wildflower. Within these pages you will find the most detailed and comprehensive information ever compiled for this group of Utah's floristic treasures. This book provides information on the discovery of each species, historical ethnobotanical uses, information on range and habitat, detailed description of foliage and flowers, and methods you can use to grow each species in your own garden. Take this book along on your next outdoor adventure and use it to identify and learn about each and every penstemon you encounter.

Presents at least one color photograph of each of the 80 species of penstemon that occur in the Pacific Northwest. Photos are accompanied by technical descriptions and by line drawings illustrating important distinguishing characteristics of each, as well as a range map showing the approximate natural location of each species and its varieties. Includes a key to penstemons of the Northwest based on botanical characteristics. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

In this eloquent plea for compassion and respect for all species, journalist and gardener Nancy Lawson describes why and how to welcome wildlife to our backyards. Through engaging anecdotes and inspired advice, profiles of home gardeners throughout the country, and interviews with scientists and horticulturalists, Lawson applies the broader lessons of ecology to our own outdoor spaces. Detailed chapters address planting for wildlife by choosing native species; providing habitats that shelter baby animals, as well as birds, bees, and butterflies; creating safe zones in the garden; cohabiting with creatures often regarded as pests; letting nature be your garden designer; and encouraging natural processes and evolution in the garden. The Humane Gardener fills a unique niche in describing simple principles for both attracting wildlife and peacefully resolving conflicts with all the creatures that share our world.

Dry summer, wet winter climate? This is your must have plant guide. Selecting plants suited to your climate is the first step toward a thriving, largely self-sustaining garden that connects with and supports the natural world. With gentle and compelling text and stunning photographs of plants in garden settings, Gardening in Summer-Dry Climates by Nora Harlow and Saxon Holt is a guide to native and climate-adapted plants for summer-dry, winter-wet climates of North America's Pacific coast. Knowing what these climates share and how and why they differ, you can choose to make gardens that maintain and expand local and regional biodiversity, take little from the earth that is not returned, and welcome and accommodate the presence of wildlife. With global warming, it is now even more critical that we garden in tune with climate.

Most are easy to grow and propagate and a large number of them are ideal for perennial and mixed borders while some make excellent plants for raised beds, part-shade situations, rock gardens and patios. The shorter alpine types present more of a challenge to the gardener but new techniques for growing them successfully, and new forms which demand less specific conditions, are now becoming known. The extraordinary range of colour provided by the genus combined with their ability to flower over a long summer period compounds the appeal of this fascinating and collectable plant.

Lauren Springer and Rob Proctor have long been good friends and garden writing colleagues. Here, readers will be entertained, informed, and inspired by the pair's practical wisdom, wit, and tales of perseverance. Garden success depends on the most appropriate plant selections, the best gardening techniques, and maximizing the seasons. Every subject the authors tackle--from early snows to slugs, from bulbs to botanical Latin--urges readers to make the most of the gardens they tend. Passionate Gardener takes the gardener through the seasons in a comprehensive, yet pleasurable and accessible way, as the authors celebrate a diversity of plants for every site and every season. They champion sound, ecologically friendly gardening techniques, from soil and water issues to pest management. They also offer up stories of their horticultural adventures as their personal gardens have evolved, making this lively, information-packed reading with a personal, real touch.--From publisher description.

The international bee crisis is threatening our global food supply, but this user-friendly field guide shows what you can do to help protect our pollinators. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation offers browsable profiles of 100 common flowers, herbs, shrubs, and trees that support bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds. The recommendations are simple: pick the right plants for pollinators, protect them from pesticides, and provide abundant blooms throughout the growing season by mixing perennials with herbs and annuals! 100 Plants to Feed the Bees will empower homeowners, landscapers, apartment dwellers — anyone with a scrap of yard or a window box — to protect our pollinators.