Books for every kind of gardener
Spring has finally sprung here in Australia, so it's time to pull out your gardening gloves and your trowel! Whether you're a seasoned gardener, brushing off your green thumb or have never held a bulb before, you'll find a book for you in this helpful guide full of all things GARDENS.
For the newbies . . .
RHS How to Garden When You’re New to Gardening
Have you never touched a trowel before? Is the only bulb you know how to use electric? Then look no further! You'll find everything you need to know as a first time gardener.
How to Garden When You're New to Gardening shows you the basics needed to get your green space under control and keep it that way. Drawing on the world-renowned expertise of the Royal Horticultural Society, the book is packed full of creative ideas with lots of simple step-by-step instructions and clear images to help you realise your garden's potential, no matter the size and scale.
Get to know your garden and choose plants that will grow well in particular soil types and conditions year after year. From planting and training decorative climbers, to designing seasonal hanging basket displays, and growing your own tomatoes, these are the small jobs that will make a huge difference to how your garden looks and feels.
For those looking for flower power . . .
A Year in Bloom by Lucy Bellamy
Have you always dreamed of having a flower show in your very own yard but have never known where to start? Then this book is for you.
Bulbs are an essential part of any gardener's planting palette – from the first snowdrops of winter to the last crocus of autumn, they offer endless opportunities for floral impact and experimentation.
In A Year in Bloom, award-winning garden writer Lucy Bellamy showcases a wide-ranging selection of more than 150 bulbs, each presented with informative text, expert planting advice, and vibrant photography.
For those who take their garden design seriously . . .
Big Garden Design by Paul Bangay and Simon Griffiths (photog.)
Does symetry get you off? Have you always pictured yourself on Better Homes and Gardens with the fanciest garden in the world?! Then this book is a must for your collection.
A garden that cannot be seen in one glance entices people to step outside with a sense of wonder. Landscape designer Paul Bangay has an extraordinary ability to envisage scale and create gardens that feel as though they've been there forever. These gardens are places to explore. They emerge from the countryside, with borrowed landscapes and dramatic views as key elements. Within each design, Paul creates spaces that bring a different experience of the garden. Vast lawns are bordered by wild grass terraces or dramatic herbaceous borders that flower all year round. An allee of trees directs the eye to mountains in the distance. Outdoor dining areas create intimate vantage points within the broader scale. Jasmine-covered walls diffuse exquisite scent on summer nights.
For those wanting a functional garden . . .
Good Life Growing by Hannah Moloney
Do you want a garden that is focused more on function than aesthetics? Then this guide on how to grow fruit and veg anywhere in Australia is the perfect place to start.
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.
For those looking for the meaning behind gardens . . .
How to be a Bad Botanist by Simon Barnes
Have you ever wondered how a seed becomes a giant tree? Or why a beautiful flower grows in the weirdest of places? Have all your plant questions answered and become a botanist with this book!
Self-confessed bad birdwatcher Simon Barnes thought he knew nothing about plants. He didn't have anything against them: trees are interesting because birds perch in them; plants are useful because they create habitats, and all birds live in habitats. But while admiring the tenacity of some yellow horned poppies thriving on a shingle beach – a place where it seemed no plant had a hope of surviving – he was struck by a simple yet profound truth. It all begins with plants.
In this charming and inspiring book, Barnes takes us on a fascinating journey, from the simple genius of photosynthesis to the complex and bizarre ways that plants reproduce. We consider plants as varied as cabbages and conifers, familiar wildflowers and enigmatic orchids, nefarious parasites and plants that carry deadly poisons – helping us better appreciate the beauty and diversity of the natural world.
For those wanting to do good with their gardens . . .
The Medicinal Garden by Caroline Parker
Have you ever dreamed of being the witch in your local village that everyone comes to for healing concoctions? Then you need this book in your library!
From edible treats to therapeutic remedies, unearth the healing potential of plants both wild and cultivated. Featuring forty herb profiles and seven medicinal weeds ideal for foraging, learn how to set up and maintain a planted or potted garden for a healthful life.
Discover the healing power of your very own medicinal garden with edible recipes for cakes, biscuits, salads, soups, teas and many more. The book features easy, natural remedies for your skin, gut, muscles, heart and mind with recipes for oils, tinctures, compresses, steams and washes for health and healing.
For those looking to up their indoor garden . . .
The New Plant Collector by Darryl Cheng
If you're like me and live in an apartment, then a beautiful garden is only a pipe dream. Lucky indoor gardening is trending! And if you want to show off with the latest 'it' plant, then this book is for you!
The world of indoor gardening is exploding with desirable, new and unusual plants. Thanks to the resources of the internet and social media, finding amazing varieties has never been easier – but knowing how to get maximum enjoyment from this enticing world is not so easy.
Darryl Cheng brings his knowledge-based approach to the quest, offering collecting suggestions to suit every level of experience, and describing the riches of twenty-two different plant groups, from anthuriums to tillandsias. As always, he focuses on meeting each plant’s requirements for light and moisture, and he provides practical ways to create optimal growing conditions at home. To inspire readers, there are photographs showing the dazzling variety of colors, forms, and patterns that each group offers.
And for the armchair gardener . . .
Lost Gardens of the World by Sandra Lawrence
If you like to appreciate pretty gardens without getting your hands dirty, then this one's for you! Enjoy captivating gardens lost to time that you can enjoy without sun damage or the fear of bee stings.
All over the world, once-flourishing horticultural spaces have been abandoned and forgotten. From the once-crumbling grandeur of the Villa d'Este and the magic of the Lost Gardens of Heligan, to the sculptural surrealism of Las Pozas and the colourful rebirth of Le Jardin Majorelle, there are countless gardens around the world with fascinating stories to tell.
Author and journalist Sandra Lawrence takes readers on a tour of 40 horticultural gems from around the world that have been lost either through neglect, abandonment or destruction.
