Spring gardening

September 2024

Embrace the season of new life and growth with these books that explore a love of plants, gardens, sustainability and botanical beauty.

Vertical gardening : green ideas for small gardens, balconies and patios By Martin Staffler  

Vertical gardening : green ideas for small gardens, balconies and patios

By Martin Staffler

"Vertical gardening offers great opportunities to grow flowers, vegetables, succulents and herbs, particularly for those with a balcony, patio or compact garden. It can also be a fantastic way to showcase creative and sustainable design choices, whether you've got wood, terracotta pots, burlap sacks, fabric or even plastic bottles. From privacy screens to foldable storage, this helpful guide includes step-by-step DIY projects, plant care tips and tricks, and practical information on the special challenges that come with planting in a compact garden, including advice on pests, drainage and plants suited for gardens with limited light"

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Your outdoor room : how to design a garden you can live in By Manoj Malde  

Your outdoor room : how to design a garden you can live in

By Manoj Malde

"In this easy-to-follow guide, Manoj shows you how to design a garden you will want to live in. Whether you have a small rooftop, large yard, or a new-build 'blank canvas' - every space is unique, and this book will explain how to get the most out of your garden for you and your family. With aspirational examples and designs from real life, low-maintenance spaces and gardens for plants-people; whether you want a garden for entertaining, playing, or practising yoga, Manoj takes you on a step-by-step journey to creating your dream space. Find answers to the questions you always wanted to ask, like 'How do I design social spaces?' and 'Can I make my yard feel bigger?' with this practical and easy-to-follow planning tool. Learn how to develop a style; introduce zones; use pathways and screens; choose water features, colours and materials to transform the way your garden looks and feels. This comprehensive guide includes advice on: Using budget-friendly, beautiful materials; Encouraging wildlife to come into your yard; Making your space effortlessly sustainable; Choosing the perfect plants to complement your style and space; and creating a garden you and your family will love. Discover how to design a space for entertaining, a place to relax and drink a cocktail, or an area where the family can eat, play, and spend time together. But most importantly, design a garden you can live in. Unlock the potential of Your Outdoor Room, no matter your experience or budget. It's never been this easy to create a space that works for you"

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Gardening hacks : 70 smart, sustainable tips for gardeners By Filip Johansson  

Gardening hacks : 70 smart, sustainable tips for gardeners

By Filip Johansson

Every gardener needs clever ideas to make the most of their green space, whether it's big or small. The tips and tricks in this book take you through each season of the gardening year in a friendly way, with clear step-by-step instructions. Hacks include making a spiral frame for tomatoes using an old garden hose, a clever way to repot plants, how to keep seeds moist with old cardboard, and how to make your own seed bombs. Garden Hacks is your go-to guide to clever shortcuts, fresh inspiration and fun in the garden while recycling, saving money and thinking sustainably.

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Blossom : practical and creative ways to find wonder in the floral world By Adriana Picker  

Blossom : practical and creative ways to find wonder in the floral world

By Adriana Picker

Adriana Picker takes you through a year of flowers and the ways to live with and learn from them, with beautiful artwork as well as recipes and activities to encourage a slower life through the seasons. Telling the stories of flowers from around the world, this enchanting collection also provides mindful and practical ideas for reconnecting with nature and the blooms around us. From making natural oils and perfumes, to recipes for floral vinegars and pickles, tips for floral arrangements, and lessons in floral anatomy and drawing, this book is an invitation to find beauty in the everyday.

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The hidden histories of flowers : fascinating stories of flora By Maddie & Alice Bailey  

The hidden histories of flowers : fascinating stories of flora

By Maddie & Alice Bailey

From the symbolism and meaning behind flowers and how these have evolved over time, to how humans interact with flowers based on cultural and geographical differences, and how flowers have been coveted for their medicinal aspects as well as for their visual merits, The Hidden Histories of Flowers showcases fascinating details of flowers and our relationship with them. If you find yourself wondering about the deeper meanings behind flowers and are keen to investigate their inner workings and place in history, The Hidden Histories of Flowers is the perfect place to begin your exploration.

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Paul Bangay a Life in Garden Design geometric green shapes book cover  

Paul Bangay : a life in garden design

By Paul Bangay

Paul Bangay is Australia's most sought-after garden designer, with close to forty years' experience. Known for his mastery of scale, balance, form and colour, Paul draws on his lifelong study of the natural and classical worlds to create gardens around the globe. This illustrated memoir explores the evolution of one of Australia's finest design minds. A visual delight, it ranges from photos of childhood gardens and goats to hand-drawn plans for Paul's earliest designs. Through never-before-seen materials, the story behind Paul's vision is revealed - and we see the creative workings that come to fruition in meticulous and timeless gardens.

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The green gardening handbook : grow, eat and enjoy By Nancy Birtwhistle  

The green gardening handbook : grow, eat and enjoy

By Nancy Birtwhistle

"Going green in the garden has never been easier with Nancy Birtwhistle's sustainable, eco-friendly tips that will help you make the most of your space, and what it can grow. Whether you have a sprawling garden, a modest patch of grass or just a spare windowsill, The Green Gardening Handbook has over 100 tips will help you embrace the joy of growing and eating from your own garden. This beautifully illustrated guide is packed with advice on everything from composting, clothing and basic equipment to seasonal recipes and guides to freezing, storing and preserving that will help you save money and reduce waste. This practical book from the former Great British Bake Off winner and Sunday Times bestselling author of Clean & Green and Green Living Made Easy is for anyone, green-fingered or not, looking to discover the delights of growing and eating food they've grown themselves"

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Good life growing : how to grow fruit and veg anywhere in Australia By Hannah Moloney  

Good life growing : how to grow fruit and veg anywhere in Australia

By Hannah Moloney

Good Life Growing provides the inspiration and know-how to grow your own fruit and veg in any Australian climate. This bountiful guide from Gardening Australia presenter Hannah Moloney is packed with practical solutions for all conditions and every gardener. Whether you're getting started with a pot or developing a plot, you'll find everything you need to hone your skills, fire your imagination and have good, fresh food all year round.

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Hello tiny world : an enchanting journey into the world of terrariums By Ben Newell  

Hello tiny world : an enchanting journey into the world of terrariums

By Ben Newell

A friendly journey through the captivating world of terrariums-from the creator of one of the most famous terrariums ever. Hello Tiny World will inspire a wide readership to discover the tiny wonder of a different kind of container gardening in their own homes -- no outdoor space needed. How can terrariums teach us about the environment? Can working with plants improve our mental health and well-being? How do we learn to express ourselves and our creativity through these wondrous mini ecosystems?

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Tasmanian gardens By Meg Bignell and Alice Bennett  

Tasmanian gardens

By Meg Bignell and Alice Bennett

Tasmanian Gardens reimagines the very definition of a garden. It goes beyond perfect lawns and beautiful borders to the people, places and stories that inhabit this contrasting island state. From vast coastal headlands and kelp forests to gorgeous flower farms and gnome collections, the gardens of lutruwita/Tasmania are as diverse as they are delightful. Photographer Alice Bennett and author Meg Bignell explore the gardens and landscapes of the island and unearth a whole library of tales told in plants, design, artistry, topography and very hard work. This book is a celebration of lutruwita/Tasmania from coast to mountain and suburb to town, where every garden is a story and every gardener is a storyteller.

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Designing, planting and using a therapeutic garden By Sue Jeffries  

Designing, planting and using a therapeutic garden

By Sue Jeffries

The benefits of therapeutic gardens, where users can interact with plants for the purpose of moving towards a specific outcome or meeting a particular need, is increasingly being recognised in healthcare and beyond. This book provides a practical guide for garden designers, horticulture professionals, landscape architects and therapeutic horticulturalists to create a successful and sustainable therapeutic garden space, whether from scratch or working with an existing site. An appreciation of how the garden will be used is an essential part of its design, so this book also outlines therapeutic activities and ideas, making it a valuable resource for healthcare professionals, counsellors, teachers, activity co-ordinators, social prescribers and occupational therapists who are looking to use horticulture in their therapeutic practice too.

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Seeds & cuttings : a guide to germinating, cutting and multiplying 60 plants By Olivia Brun and Tiphaine Germain-Lacour ; [translated and adapted by David Lopes].  

Seeds & cuttings : a guide to germinating, cutting and multiplying 60 plants

By Olivia Brun and Tiphaine Germain-Lacour ; [translated and adapted by David Lopes]

"Within this fun and easy to understand book, you'll learn how to root cuttings and leaves in soil and water, germinate pips, pits and seeds along with other propagation techniques. From decorative house plants, to herbs and vegetables, this book will multiply your botanical abundance. Propagation projects include: popular herbs and edibles including rosemary, mint, thyme and pineapple, fruit trees such as orange, olive and apple, popular decorative and indoor plants like monstera, pilea, marantha, and hoya”

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November 2023

Some gardening books to celebrate spring.

Gardens for the soul by Sara Bird and Dan Duchars  

Gardens for the soul : sustainable and stylish outdoor spaces

By Sara Bird and Dan Duchars

"Gardens for the Soul shows how a sustainable and eco-friendly ethos can be at the heart of creating a beautiful garden, whatever its location or size. There are a multitude of different ways in which we use our outside spaces, and in Gardens for the Soul Sara Bird and Dan Duchars explore ways to create and style a haven that will suit your lifestyle. Day Dreamers seek solitude and a therapeutic experience, and Home Harvesters use their garden space to grow flowers or fruit and veg; while Garden Partiers put their outside space to work as an entertaining zone for friends and family and Great Escapers aim to recreate a chilled holiday vibe at home. Sara and Dan visit real-life gardens that fall into these categories, from tiny patios to larger spaces, to glean ideas, tips and inspiration. With a focus on sustainability and reclaimed materials, there are suggestions for choosing garden elements, from decor to lighting to furniture and accessories, as well as easy craft projects that add quirky personal touches" 

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My tiny kitchen garden by Felicity Hart  

My tiny kitchen garden

By Mel Baxter

You don't need a garden to grow your own food! This book is the perfect beginner's guide to micro-gardening, featuring tips on how to start, what to choose and how to grow over 20 types of plant for your kitchen. Have you ever been curious about growing your own food? Do you lack a garden? Have you got limited space in your home? Then this book is for you! Whether you want to produce fresh herbs for your cooking, save money on your food bill, reduce your carbon footprint or enjoy the simple pleasure of watching something grow, My Tiny Kitchen Garden is bursting with tips and ideas to help you get started. Whether you're a budding gardener or a seasoned expert looking for seeds of inspiration, dive into this book to hone your green fingers and cultivate your very own tiny kitchen garden.

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100 Australian wildflowers by Mel Baxter  

100 Australian wildflowers

By Mel Baxter

100 Australian Wildflowers is a beautifully illustrated book that can be used as a handy field and planting guide, as well as being a visual feast for the eyes. Through fanciful botanical illustrations, matched with fun and detailed descriptions, author and illustrator Mel Baxter (aka Moonshine Madness) guides you through 100 native Australian flowering plants. These wildflowers will tell stories of cultural, historical and spiritual significance, and in some cases, planting these species in suitable conditions may help tackle some of the environmental issues we face. Each flower's profile takes an intimate look at its habitat, and the exciting and dramatic lives of some of the flora and fauna that exist around it. Profiles also include traditional and edible uses by First Nations people, with many of the plant names listed in First languages. With a strong focus on conservation, this book features a basic planting guide, advice on growing your own wildflower meadow, and information on where to find these flowers in the wild. Take a trip through the Australian bush with 100 Australian Wildflowers and be inspired to cultivate your own relationship with wildflowers and connect with Australia's landscapes.

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Modern container gardening  

Modern container gardening : how to create a stylish small-space garden anywhere

By Isabelle Palmer

DIY House and Garden: A beginner's guide to your very own little patch of green. Whether you have a roof terrace, a tiny balcony or just a window sill, there's no excuse not to do some gardening. In Modern Container Gardening, Isabelle Palmer shows just how easy it is to get started in the garden - and how to make the most of every little space.

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Stonefields by the seasons by Paul Bangay and Simon Griffiths  

Stonefields by the seasons

By Paul Bangay and Simon Griffiths

Paul Bangay's celebrated Victorian property, Stonefields, has now been under his expert care for 15 years. Today, the garden is mature and more beautiful than ever - from the vibrant autumn colours in the woodland and evocative dormancy of winter to the jubilant flowering of the crab apple in springtime and perpetual rich harvest of produce. In Stonefields by the Seasons, Paul takes the reader through the garden at different times of year to highlight the design principles he has applied to various parts of it, and the wide-ranging inspirations for his choices. Along the way, he gives practical advice on seasonal planting and outlines essential quarterly tasks. Reflecting on his time in this treasured space, Paul muses on creativity, experimentation, achievements and disappointments, his shifting attitude to landscaping, the universal cycle of life and the impact of climate change on his surroundings. More than just an intimate tour around Stonefields today, this book is an invitation to contemplate the essence of gardening and the intense rewards we can all gain from it. 

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Grown and gathered by Matt and Lentil  

Grown and gathered

By Matt and Lentil

In this book, Matt and Lentil Purbrick tell you all that they know about growing, gathering, nurturing and cooking your own food. The first part of the book is Matt and Lentil's guide to producing your own food. The information, advice and projects can be used whether you have a 3-acre block or a courtyard with planter boxes. The Grow chapter shows you how to grow vegetables and fruit in whatever space you have, using the most earth-friendly practices; Gather explains how to forage for things like mushrooms, native greens and wild fruits; Nurture provides guidance on raising your own animals, from chickens and bees to cows. The second part of the book features over 100 delicious, nourishing and creative wholefood recipes. There's a host of staples, everything from how to prepare and sprout grains in a traditional way, to making and maintain a sourdough culture, and techniques and recipes for preserving and pickling. Other super tasty dishes include greens and kimchi pancakes; sweet and spicy turnips; fig, bacon and zucchini pizzas; duck ramen; and carrot crepes with burnt oranges and labne. 

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Planting for butterflies by Jane Moore and James Weston Lewis  

Planting for butterflies : the grower's guide to creating a flutter

By Jane Moore and James Weston Lewis

Butterflies are brilliant pollinators and add vibrancy and colour to the garden. A summer's day wouldn't be the same without the gentle fluttering of delicate wings. They connect us with living and breathing nature and are an essential part of a dynamic ecosystem. However, in the past forty years, these insects, which were once a common sight in our gardens, are now in decline thanks to habit loss, climate change and the use of pesticides. But do not despair -- there is a lot you can do to help improve their numbers! Planting for Butterflies will show you how you can attract these beautiful insects and help them to flourish by creating a butterfly-friendly garden. No matter how small or large your space -- from a window ledge in the city to a country garden - Jane Moore offers advice on the nectar-rich blooms to grow, and when and where to plant them. This charmingly illustrated, practical guide will set your garden a flutter.

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Green: simple ideas for small outdoor spaces  

Green : simple ideas for small outdoor spaces

By Ula Maria

DIY House and Garden: A completely fresh look at creating a garden in whatever outdoor space is available - a roof terrace, balcony, small back yard or patio. Perfect for first-time gardeners, the book approaches creating a garden as if decorating a room - exploring how to work with scale, colour and texture, to choosing the plants that will thrive in an urban space. 

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Floret Farm's cut flower garden by Erin Benzakein, Julie Chai and Michele M. Waite  

Floret Farm's cut flower garden : grow, harvest and arrange stunning seasonal blooms

By Erin Benzakein, Julie Chai and Michele M. Waite.

Welcome to the world of Floret Farm, where hundreds of flower varieties grow and thrive to produce show-stopping arrangements. Here, star flower farmer Erin Benzakein shares her insights on planting a cutting garden of your own - wherever you live. Learn the secrets to her airy and lush arrangements, including how-tos for spectacular bouquets, garlands, and wreaths to showcase your gorgeous flowers. Featuring planting, cultivating, and harvesting advice for more than 175 flower varieties along with tops to preserve their freshness from field to centerpiece, this book has everything you need to start planning your garden and the stunning arrangements that will keep your home bright and blooming year after year. 

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The abundant garden by Niva and Yotam Kay  

The abundant garden : a practical guide to growing a regenerative home garden

By Niva and Yotam Kay

Niva and Yotam Kay of Pakaraka Permaculture, on the Coromandel Peninsula of Aotearoa New Zealand, share their long experience of organic gardening in this comprehensive book on how to create and maintain a productive and regenerative vegetable garden. Taking care of the soil life and fertility provides plants with what they need to thrive. This is grounded in the latest scientific research on soil health, ecological and regenerative practices. Vegetable gardening, in this way, repeatedly demonstrates that every loved garden bed can produce high-yielding, resilient, nourishing and delicious vegetables year after year. The Abundant Garden has simple, reliable strategies and techniques to help maximise your ability to feed yourself and share the abundance with those around you. With information on growing a wide variety of vegetables, there are also helpful charts to help you plan and plant your garden year-round. In addition there are details on how to grow microgreens, and great recipes for ferments, preserves and pickles to stock the pantry with your garden's bounty. 

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Adelaide Hills gardens by Christine McCabe and Simon Griffiths  

Adelaide Hills gardens

By Christine McCabe and Simon Griffiths

The Adelaide Hills charts the evolution of gardening in Australia. And though anchored deeply in history, many of its gardens have their sights set firmly on the future. Old oak, elm and ash trees, planted long ago after memories of English gardens, live alongside stringybark eucalypts and native bush gullies, fruit-bearing orchards and wineries. All have thrived on the region's good rainfall, cool climate and natural springs. Over time, the Hills has weathered storms, droughts and fires. In response to these changing conditions, gardens, too, have changed. Heavily forested slopes have, in many cases, given way to veggie patches, free-ranging chickens and sheep, while Victorian rose and rhododendron hordes have made room for climate-compatible native flora. Encompassing twenty gardens, taking in grand Victorian estates and repurposed municipal water tanks alike, with evocative stories by Christine McCabe and sublime photography by Simon Griffiths, this book is a testament to the power of gardens to adapt, delight and restore.

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The complete gardener by Monty Don  

The complete gardener

By Monty Don

This extensively revised new edition of his Complete Gardener, first published in 2003, brings you right up-to-date on how Monty gardens today - and his recommendations for you. The most comprehensive, practical, and highly illustrated book Monty has ever written, it covers what he believes are the most important aspects of gardening. Organic techniques have always been at the core of his practice, but this new edition picks up on another key principle: the need to provide habitats in your garden for local wildlife. 

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