Green Shades - An Anthology of Plants, Gardens and Gardeners by Elizabeth Jane Howard (Editor)

$20.00 NZD

Category: Gardening | Series: Macmillan Collector's Library

A delightful companion for all those with a love for gardens and for the very best garden writing. Acclaimed author Elizabeth Jane Howard said she would certainly have been a gardener had she not become a writer first. In Green Shades: An Anthology of Plants, Gardens and Gardeners, first published in 1 991, she brings together a diverse and fascinating selection of gardening writing spanning the centuries, the seasons and the species.The contents are eclectic and wide ranging, practical as well as lyrical - she pays homage to the great English landscape artists of the eighteenth century and to the great women gardeners such as Vita Sackville West. There's advice from Pliny on how walnuts can be used to dye hair and Joseph Addison encourages blackbirds to gorge on his cherry trees. Linking the numerous extracts is Elizabeth Jane Howard's perceptive and highly personal commentary which skilfully leads the reader from one subject to the next.Part of the Macmillan Collector's Library, a series of stunning, pocket sized classics with ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. ...Show more

Lessons from Great Gardeners : Forty Gardening Icons and What They Teach us by Matthew Biggs

$40.00 NZD

Category: Gardening

Since its earliest days, the art and science of gardening has been continually transformed and enhanced by great gardeners - men and women whose passion for gardening has driven them to improve and innovate, to overcome challenges and experiment with new ideas. These gardeners have provided inspiration for future generations, as have their gardens, which attract millions of visitors every year. Lessons from Great Gardeners profiles forty of these remarkable figures and explores how their work can be used to inspire and instruct gardeners of all levels and abilities. From the greats of yesteryear to the best modern-day practitioners, the gardeners are drawn from throughout history and from around the world - including Australia's own Jeremy Francis and New Zealand's Bev McConnell. The stories of their life and work are revealed, along with practical hints and tips that unlock the secrets gained from their long years of trial and error. Packed with botanical illustrations of their signature plants, the book also includes stunning photographs of twelve of the world's most iconic gardens, from Jardin Majorelle in Morocco to Sissinghurst in Kent. This is a journey through the world of gardening past and present, and a beautifully presented source of inspiration and ideas for all gardens, great and small. ...Show more

Gardener's Quiz and Puzzle Book - 100 Brainteasers for Gardeners Who Know Their Onions by Simon Akeroyd; Gareth Moore

$30.00 NZD

Category: Gardening

Lunar and Biodynamic Gardening: Planting Your Biodynamic Garden by the Phases of the Moon by Matthew Jackson

$40.00 NZD

Category: Gardening

Biodynamic gardening means taking a holistic approach to the garden and being aware of the interrelatedness of the soil, plants, and vegetables. The principles of biodynamics also bring a spiritual aspect to the meditative art of gardening, emphasizing the influence of invisible energies, such as the lu nar cycles, on the garden. Biodynamic practices are used increasingly often in agriculture and many people are interested in adopting this holistic, natural approach in their own gardens but are unsure how to get started. In 'Lunar and Biodynamic Gardening', Matthew Jackson gives an easy-to-follow guide to getting started with biodynamics. You will discover how to take advantage of the natural rhythms of the moon, by planning your gardening activities to coincide with the most favorable conditions in the sky. For example, during a waxing moon, the earth is exhaling, and it is best to sow non-root plants. During a waning moon, the earth is inhaling, and biodynamic gardeners should water and fertilize their crops. Matthew also guides you through making biodynamic preparations to keep your soil "alive," understanding your garden or allotment as part of a bigger web of life and demonstrates the importance of working with nature rather than trying to dominate it. With step-by-step illustrations for 25 projects, explanatory diagrams, and stunning color photographs, it's easy to see how biodynamic techniques can work for any gardener. ...Show more

MOON GARDENING: How to garden by the phases of the moon by Matt Jackson

$30.00 NZD

Category: Gardening

Increase the vitality of your garden by learning the benefits of lunar and biodynamic gardening.   Biodynamic gardening means taking a holistic approach to the garden and being aware of the interrelatedness of the soil, plants, and vegetables. The principles of biodynamics also bring a spiritual aspec t to the meditative art of gardening, emphasising the influence of invisible energies, such as the lunar cycles, on the garden. You will discover how to take advantage of the natural rhythms of the moon, by planning your gardening activities to coincide with the most favorable conditions in the sky. For example, during a waxing moon, the earth is exhaling, and it is best to sow non-root plants. During a waning moon, the earth is inhaling, and biodynamic gardeners should water and fertilize their crops. With step-by-step illustrations for 25 projects, explanatory diagrams, and stunning color photographs, it's easy to see how biodynamic techniques can work for any gardener. ...Show more

The Natural Gardener by John C. Harris

$33.00 NZD

Category: Gardening

Humans and the world around us have been governed by the waxing and waning of the moon since the planet came into being. Over the centuries different civilisations have embraced the natural cycles which our moon dictates, and so lunar gardening has been around for as long as man has pulled food from the soil; once practised bythe Incas and Native Americans, this tried and trusted method has been largely forgotten. John Harris, head gardener at Tresillian Estate in Cornwall, has been gardening using the power of the moon for over forty years. The methods he uses can be implemented anywhere, you do not need fancy tools, expensive seeds or substantial acreage, but instead, given time, patience and care, the results can be breathtaking. This is gardening at its most natural and organic, free from pesticides and unnecessary interference. Moon Gardening allows the soil and plants to thrive, giving nature the chance to do what it does best. The Natural Gardener charts John's story from a rudderless young lad in a Cornish village to being charged with the salvation of the long-neglected gardens at Tresillian. As he shares with his readers exactly how to go about following the sesimple and natural principles, he imparts his abundance of horticultural knowledge from years spent working in harmony with the soil, providing a timely link back to nature and the reassuring regularity of the seasons. ...Show more

Common Ground: Garden Histories of Aotearoa by MATT MORRIS

$45.00 NZD

Category: Gardening

Common Ground: Garden histories of Aotearoa takes a loving look at gardens and garden practices in Aotearoa New Zealand over time. While a lot of gardening books focus on the grand plantings of wealthy citizens, Matt Morris explores the historical processes behind ‘humble gardens' – those created and ma intained by ordinary people. From the arrival of the earliest Polynesian settlers carrying precious seeds and cuttings, through early settler gardens to ‘Dig for Victory' efforts, he traces the collapse and renewal of home gardening culture, through the emergence of community initiatives to the recent concept of food sovereignty. Compost, Maori gardens, the suburban vege patch, the rise of soil toxin levels, the role of native plants and City Beautiful movements … Morris looks at the ways in which cultural meanings have been inscribed in the land through our gardening practices over time. What do our gardens say about us, and where we have been? Matt Morris digs deep in Common Ground. ...Show more

Small Garden Design by Paul Bangay

$65.00 NZD

Category: Gardening

Paul Bangay is renowned for the expansive and elegant gardens with classical lines and symmetrical plantings that he has created in Australia and all over the world. Yet gardens on this grand scale are not accessible to everyone. With more of us living in apartments, townhouses and terraces, our gardens are now being squeezed into small spaces such as balconies, courtyards, lightwells or rooftops - and this makes for challenging garden design. In Small Garden Design, Paul applies his 25 years of experience with gardens of all sizes to reveal how best to structure, design and choose plants for small spaces. Chapters on Balconies & Terraces, Rooftops, Inner City, Lightwells and Courtyards are lavishly illustrated with photos by Simon Griffiths and enhanced with lots of practical tips on plant types, paving, irrigation, soil, outdoor dining, lighting and making the space appear larger. In this accessible and practical book, Paul shows us 'how to make the most of the small space you have, and how to transform it into the paradise that we all aspire to'. ...Show more

Farm and Lands - Back to the Land by Nicole Caldwell; Freddie Pikovsky

$60.00 NZD

Category: Gardening

A spectacular treehouse suspended above a lush forest. A cozy cabin perched on a mountainside. A small farm growing heirloom vegetables in the high desert. These are the extraordinary stories of the modern-day back-to-the-land movement, a movement that embraces slow living, sustainability, and the value of doing things with your own two hands. Here are remarkable narratives, essential how-tos, and hundreds of breathtaking photographs from people who have embraced lives of adventure in wild places. Delivered in a handsome volume that inspires feelings of wanderlust, this book is a must-have for outdoor enthusiasts and anyone who has ever dreamed of escaping to a simpler way of life. ...Show more

Treasures of Tane: Plants of Ngāi Tahu by Rob Tipa

$50.00 NZD

Category: Gardening

This book discusses traditional Maori uses of native plants of the South Island of New Zealand and traditions around them. The text describes the features and uses of each plant, listed alphabetically for quick reference. These stories of native plants of the South Island describe how Maori and European s grew and processed the plants, and it uncovers some surprising uses of native plants. Written by a journalist, the book is engaging, enlightening and user-friendly and is beautiful to browse and informative about native plants. ...Show more

RHS the Rose: The History of the World's Favourite Flower Told Through 40 by Brent Elliott

$55.00 NZD

Category: Gardening

Arranged chronologically, The Rose brings to life the arrival of each flower in gardens, detailing the history of the layout of rose gardens and the role that roses play in the 'language of flowers'.

Paul Bangay's Guide to Plants by Paul Bangay; Simon Griffiths (Photographer)

$70.00 NZD

Category: Gardening

Gardens designed by Paul Bangay are renowned for their elegant proportions, careful use of materials and inspired choice of plants. In one garden, precise box hedging will frame billowing beds of perennials; while in another, olive trees emerge from an undergrowth of rosemary against a dramatic coastal landscape. In a Paul Bangay garden, you can be sure that every plant has been carefully selected to achieve a particular purpose at a specific site. This revised and expanded guide is the perfect companion to Paul Bangay's Garden Design Handbook, which revealed Paul's insights into successful garden design and construction, and answers the question- what do I plant and where? Rich with anecdotes about what has worked best over the years, and with a special focus on plants for our changing climate, the collection showcases Paul's A-list plants - now updated to include over 30 new plants - with photography from the best in the business, Simon Griffiths. Whether you're creating a garden for an inner-city courtyard or a rambling rural estate, this book contains the practical advice readers need to give their own patch of green the Paul Bangay look.   ...Show more