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.

Tough-but-beautiful plant picks There’s a growing demand for dependably hardy plants that require less maintenance and less water, but look no less beautiful in the garden. Plant Select—the leading purveyor of plants designed to thrive in difficult climates—meets this need by promoting plants that allow gardeners everywhere to have stunning, environmentally-friendly gardens that use fewer resources. Pretty Tough Plants highlights 135 of Plant Select’s top plant picks. Each profile features a color photograph and specific details about the plant’s size, best features, and bloom season, along with cultural needs, landscape features, and design ideas. The plant list includes perennials and annuals, groundcovers, grasses, shrubs, and trees. A chart at the end of the book makes it easy to choose the right plants for specific conditions and needs.

A gardener's guidebook offers nine hundred entries on plants--which include information on hardiness, height, maintenance, soil, and light needs--for yards with sunlight variations and also features an introduction defining key factors to gardening success.

Native plants are drought tolerant, disease resistant, wildlife friendly, and environmentally sound. Experts increasingly encourage gardeners to use natives exclusively. This handy and practical guide focuses on 100 great native flowers, ground covers, shrubs, ferns, and grasses that will thrive in New England gardens. The presentation is aimed at gardeners, who want concise, practical information. It will also include material on the importance and desirability of using native plants. The heart of this book is 100 two-page spreads, one for each species. The spreads will include facts about the plant of use to a gardener (not a botanist)—where it grows best, when it blooms, the soil conditions in which it thrives, its appeal to wildlife, sunlight requirements, how high it grows, how to propagate it, and how to avoid any problems particular to the species. Each spread will also feature two color photos.

"The first resource of its kind, featuring plants handpicked by experts for their ability to thrive in the challenging conditions of the High Plains and intermountain states and beyond"--Cover, p. 4.

New, updated, edition of this invaluable practical planner for growing plants both in the garden and the home, from Roy LancasterWhether you are looking for a towering tree to mature in your garden, or a geranium to flourish on your kitchen window-sill, make sure you pick the perfect plant with this invaluable practical planner from gardening guru, Roy Lancaster.Plan your planting using Roy's personal plant selections for a comprehensive range of sites, conditions and design schemes. Over 1,800 sumptuous colour photographs help to illustrate plant recommendations.With plant suggestions for all indoor and outdoor environments and practical ideas for problem situations - as well as expert advice on all aspects of caring for your plants - you'll be able to ensure your garden and home blooms all year round.

A follow-up to the widely popular Flower Recipe Book, The Plant Recipe Book is the next great thing in interior plant design, providing simple steps showing anyone how to create stunning living plant decor. Each one of the 100 “recipes” specifies the type and quantity of plants needed; clearly numbered instructions detail each step; and 400 photographs show how to place every stem. Traditional pots and plant containers are used, but so are less conventional vehicles and methods, like shutters and planting under glass. A basic how-to chapter provides planting techniques, a tools and materials list, sourcing and plant care information, and expert advice.

The Indispensable Guide to the Successful Garden. Now comprehensively revised and updated: over 40% of plants are NEW entries; all photographs are NEW; includes more detailed and NEW information -- USDA hardiness zones, additional plants of interest, etc; and two completely NEW chapters. You will find more than 1,470 plants organized by: GROWING CONDITIONS Plants that will grow in: Shallow soils over chalk Acid soils Heavy clay soils Polluted atmosphere Windswept, seaside sites Dry soils in hot, sunny sites Damp and wet soils Dry shade Dense shade PURPOSE Plants that can be used for: Ground-cover Climbers Hedges Fillers for crevices in paving Growing in containers (trees, shrubs and climbers) APPEARANCE Plants with: Variegated leaves Gray, blue-gray or silver leaves Red, purple or bronze leaves Yellow or yellow-green leaves Decorative, green foliage Colourful autumn foliage Aromatic leaves Ornamental fruit Ornamental bark and twigs Flowers suitable for cutting and drying Fragrant flowers Winter flowers Green flowers 'Black' plants A long, continuous flowering period Each plant is illustrated with a full color photograph and accompanied by a detailed description of its size, flowering season, needs and care. Right Plant, Right Place compresses a shelf full of reference books and a pile of seed catalogs into a single comprehensive guide to plant selection.

Shrubs are the perfect plant—they are low-maintenance, there is a variety for nearly every need, and they are widely available at garden centers and nurseries. In Shrubs, Andy McIndoe—one of the world’s foremost woody plant experts—offers the information and advice needed to pick the right shrub for every site and condition. With this handy guide, it’s easier than ever to decide which shrubs to add to your home garden. The book includes shrubs for challenging growing conditions, shrubs for restricted planting spaces, and shrubs chosen for their desirable characteristics, including hardiness in shade, difficult soil, and harsh conditions. Each plant profile includes complete growing information, color photographs, and recommended companion plants.

With literally hundreds of choices, it can be overwhelming to decide which perennials to plant in your garden. Nancy J. Ondra takes the stressful guesswork out of perennial garden planning by offering 52 vibrant designs, each made up of only five plants. Ondra tailors each simple design to a specific set of growing conditions, with plenty of tips to help your planting mature. Enjoy gardens full of sun-drenched blooming flowers and shade-loving greenery for years to come.