A highly original collection of high magnification photographs that unlock the hidden beauty of seeds and fruit, from the author of Microsculpture The Hidden Beauty of Seeds & Fruits is a photographic study that celebrates the wonders of nature and science in mind-blowing magnification. Levon Biss’ striking photography captures the breathtaking and beautiful details of the world of carpology, the study of seeds and fruits. Each picture reveals minute features and textures that are normally invisible to the naked eye, providing the audience with an insight into strange and often bizarre adaptations that have evolved over thousands of years. After spending months searching through the carpological collection at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Biss selected over a hundred striking samples to be featured in this book. Captioned with scientific text that provides the backstory for each specimen, The Hidden Beauty of Seeds & Fruits is guaranteed to amaze, entertain, and educate.

Art and science collaborate on a fascinating story with extraordinary images in a highly-acclaimed book. Seeds, the most complex organs produced by plants, ensure the biodiversity of our planet. They vary from the impressive Seychelles nut that weighs twenty kilos to the dust-like seeds of the orchids. Some wait for hundreds of years to find the right place and time for germination after travelling thousands of kilometres or just a few centimetres. The evolution of their highly sophisticated structures from prehistoric times to today makes fascinating reading as do the wiles plants use to attract and deceive their chosen pollinators. The extraordinary images that accompany this story provide an unprecedented presentation of the magnificent diversity of seeds in all their exquisite beauty and sophistication. Fruits are the keepers of the precious seeds that ensure our future; some are edible, others inedible and many, quite simply, incredible.

THE BIZARRE AND INCREDIBLE WORLD OF PLANTS, which sold 6,000 copies in hardcover and is now available in paperback This title brings together the best of these three books in one fascinating union of art and science, POLLEN: THE HIDDEN SEXUALITY OF FLOWERS; SEEDS: TIME CAPSULES OF LIFE; AND FRUIT: EDIBLE, INEDIBLE, INCREDIBLE. Each earned high praise that varied from "breathtaking" and "ravishing" to "enlightening" and "truly revelatory." Visual artist Rob Kesseler uses special light and scanning electron microscopy to create astonishing images of a variety of pollen, seeds and fruits. His razor-sharp cross-sections reveal intricate interiors, pods, pouches, keys, and other examples of botanical architecture and seed dispersal. Seed morphologist Wolfgang Stuppy and palynologist Madeline Harley deftly explain the botanical purposes for which the pollen, seeds and fruit are designed, how they fulfill their mission, and their role in preserving the biodiversity of our planet. Literary references and early botanical illustrations pepper the text. THE BIZARRE AND INCREDIBLE WORLD OF PLANTS is groundbreaking in its intimate examination of plant reproduction. It is an essential source and reference for artists, designers and photographers and will fascinate gardeners and readers interested in the natural world. AUTHOR: Wolfgang Stuppy is a seed morphologist for the Millennium Seed Bank at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Rob Kesseler is a visual arts professor and artist who works with microscopic plant material at London's Royal Botanic Gardens. Madeline Harley, PhD, FLS, is head of the palynology unit at the Royal Botanic Gardens. ILLUSTRATIONS: Colour photographs

Discover the full creative and scientific potential of plant photography This practical book explains how to take stunning, professional photos of plants in every guise. It introduces new subjects that have previously been largely ignored, and explains how to develop your technical and aesthetic photographic skills to take reliably impressive shots. With over 250 breath-taking photos taken around the world, it covers both location photography as well as the controlled conditions of the studio, and shows how to use both natural and artificial light. This inspiring book pushes the horizons of plant photography for today's photographer, embracing the latest technology and ideas, so you can take the best photos competently and confidently.

“A learned romp through plant biology; solar energy and soil nutrients; the movement of vines; and ‘fellow gardeners’ . . . a wealth of stunning images.” —Nature At the tips of our trowels, a sun-driven world of microbes, insects, roots, and stems awaits—and it is a world no one knows better than James Nardi. A charming guide to all things green and growing, Nardi is as at home in prairies, forests, and wetlands as he is in the vegetable patch. And with Discoveries in the Garden, he shows us that these spaces aren’t as different as we might think, that nature flourishes in our backyards, schoolyards, and even indoors. To find it, we’ve only got to get down into the dirt. Leading us through the garden gate, Nardi reveals the extraordinary daily lives and life cycles of a quick-growing, widely available, and very accommodating group of study subjects: garden plants. Through close observations and simple experiments we all can replicate at home, we learn the hidden stories behind how these plants grow, flower, set seeds, and produce fruits, as well as the vital role dead and decomposing plants play in nourishing the soil. From pollinators to parasites, plant calisthenics to the wisdom of weeds, Nardi’s tale also introduces us to our fellow animal and microbial gardeners, the community of creatures both macro- and microscopic with whom we share our raised beds. Featuring a copse of original, informative illustrations that are as lush as the garden plants themselves, Discoveries in the Garden is an enlightening romp through the natural history, science, beauty, and wonder of these essential green places.

Jacques Cousteau explored the oceans' deepest fathoms. The crew of the space shuttle punched through the Earth's atmosphere and into a space of infinite dimensions. Possessed with the same spirit, France Bourely takes readers on a breathtaking visual odyssey far beyond the reaches of the naked eye with her scanning electron microscope. She travels lunar landscapes on the back of an ant, explores secret valleys in orchid petals, scales the pistils of a daisy, crosses mountains made of pollen, discovers crevices on the back of a caterpillar, and takes shelter under a bush of bristles.France Bourely can be described as a philosopher, a scientist, an artist, and a navigator all at once. This amazing book opens the door to a hidden paradise, revealing the visual virtuosity and the startling beauty of the microscopic dimension that surrounds us all. By transporting us to the lands of the unseen, Bourely seeks to awaken our senses and transform the way we perceive our infinitely complex and always harmonious universe.

Living life in full bloom means living with hope and purpose, with imagination and vision—in a way that honors the Earth, the spirit, and one another. Elizabeth Murray encourages and nurtures you to explore four personality attributes (Gardener, Artist, Lover, and Spirit Weaver), or pathways, that create a framework for practicing mindfulness, unleashing potential, and reviving communities. As Gardeners, you will learn to observe and grow; as Artists, you'll discover creativity and new possibilities; as Lovers, you'll lead with the heart and commit to things they're passionate about; and as Spirit Weavers, you'll create rituals and express gratitude. Accented with Murray's exquisite nouveau vintage photography, 30 guided activities for each pathway help you take small but powerful action steps to define the purposes of busy lives and remember who you really are. Murray also includes profiles of "bloomers," inspiring individuals who exemplify this life and are in partnership with their local communities and international organizations focused on people and causes. A step-by-step exercise on life mapping helps to identify passions, skills, and community needs and offers specific actions to serve the greater good.