News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

Autumn is well and truly here and we can start thinking about getting the garden ready to withstand those winter woes. We can also prepare for the spring by planning what bulbs to plant in the backyard. Our selection will help you do these two things and more: how to make your garden beautiful for both seasons. We also have books for you to get your home ready for a Mid-Winter Feast with plenty of Kiwi recipes to make the occasion a success. Enjoy!

Backyard winter gardening : vegetables fresh and simple, in any climate, without artificial heat or electricity – the way it’s been done for 2,000 years / Caleb Warnock.
“Without fresh, all-natural winter gardening in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries people would have starved to death. The good news is that feeding your family fresh food from your own backyard garden all winter long is far easier and less time-consuming than you might imagine. And you won’t find better-tasting food at any price!” (Amazon.com summary)

The winter garden : structure, planting and romance in the garden in winter / Eluned Price, photographs by Clive Nichols.
“After the exuberance of summer, the garden in its winter transformation is every gardener’s greatest challenge. The Winter Garden looks at the ways of creating a garden that is beautiful in adversity, when the weather is cold and inclement. With the loss of the rich colours of autumn, it explores the importance of shape and form, of choosing trees as much for their leafless winter frosts as for their summer foliage and textures. Using beautiful and varied gardens as examples, it looks at ways of shaping the garden with topiary, trellis and tunnels, of providing form with architectural planting, of using statuary, urns and tubs. This beautifully illustrated book explores what it is that makes the winter garden magical, unpacking the aesthetic thrill that goes with the sight of the ghostly white arcs of bramble or the flaming wands of dogwood, the clean frame of yew hedging or the filigree of interlaced leafless branches.” (Amazon.co.uk summary)

Best winter plants / Stefan Buczacki ; special photography Andrew Lawson.
“Gardening expert Stefan Buczacki presents advice and information on growing the best winter plants. A reference for both beginning and expert gardeners about all aspects of plant care from propogation and pruning, to problem solving.” (Amazon.co.uk summary)

Spring bulbs / Peter McHoy ; photography by Peter Anderson.
“Tolerant and trouble free, spring bulbs can play an essential part in any garden. This guide for growers is full of advice on cultivating bulbs and protecting them from harm done by pests and diseases.” (Amazon.co.uk summary)

Winter house / Charlotte Moss ; written with Jennifer Cegielski ; photographs by Jason Dewey.
“One of America’s top interior designers presents a beautifully illustrated guidebook for creating a comfortable, inviting winter home. With 200 color photographs.” (Syndetics summary)

The garden in autumn / by Allen Lacy.
“Gardeners who believe that autumn brings merely clean-up tasks and the occasional frowsy chrysanthemum will think differently after reading this book. Lacy ( Farther Afield ), gardening writer for the New York Times , has a vested interest: “to encourage fellow gardeners to pay attention to the neglected but glorious possibilities of the fall garden.” Before reading more than a handful of pages, any floraphile will be feverishly taking notes on new plants and plant combinations to try, and eagerly awaiting the waning of the year. Rather than offer gardening advice for the whole U.S., Lacy sticks to what he knows: the plants that thrive in his region of southern New Jersey. But as he points out, in quoting Spanish philosopher Miguel de Unamuno, “the universal is the particular and the concrete, not the abstract or the general”–plenty of information here pertains to gardens in any climate. Lacy devotes a chapter each to lingering summer perennials, fall-flowering perennials, bulbs, grasses, annuals and woody plants. An epilogue describing blooms in December will have gardeners in higher latitudes sighing enviously. Included are an extensive list of nurseries, a bibliography and an index of plant names and nurseries. Photos not seen by PW. Advertising; author tour; Garden Book Club main selection; first serial to HG; second serial to Horticulture and Organic Gardening. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly)

Taste of New Zealand winter / Robyn Martin.
“A recipe book for the winter months, illustrated with full colour photograph. The chapters range from ’stock pot saviours’ and ‘fireside meals’ through ‘hot and hearty’ and ‘things to make on rainy days’ to ‘winter puds’. It is a companion book to Taste of New Zealand Summer. The author is food editor of the New Zealand Woman’s Weekly.” (Syndetics summary)

How gardens affect us and what constitutes good taste in a garden are some of the questions Rory Stuart asks in his book “What are gardens for?”  In this post you will see that philosophising on gardening  is a major theme for these recent picks.  The other theme popping up here is that of history, the tracing of traditions and personal stories.

 The glory of the garden : a horticultural celebration from the pages of Country Life / Country Life editor Mark Hedges ; compiled and edited by Sam Carter & Kate Gatacre ; series consultant John Goodall.
“Gardening writing goes to the heart of the iconic brand that is Country Life. Gertrude Jekyll, the doyenne of gardening art, was a driving force at the birth of Country Life in 1897, and set the standard for some of the best English gardening writing. The influence of this writing on twentieth century English garden design is hard to overestimate. Yet here all is presented in accessible articles and choice photos. Within the pages of The Glory of the Garden you can trace the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement, the Edwardian revolution in garden design, the Italianate obsessions and the eccentric longing for an Olde English style.” (Syndetics summary)      
                                                                            
Philosophy in the garden / Damon Young ; text illustrations by Daniel Keating. 
“Why did Marcel Proust have bonsai beside his bed? What was Jane Austen doing, coveting an apricot? How was Friedrich Nietzsche inspired by his ‘thought tree’? In Philosophy in the Garden, Damon Young explores one of literature’s most intimate relationships: authors and their gardens. For some, the garden provided a retreat from workaday labour; for others, solitude’s quiet counsel. For all, it played a philosophical role: giving their ideas a new life. Philosophy in the Garden reveals the profound thoughts discovered in parks, backyards and pot-plants. It does not provide tips for mowing overgrown cooch grass, or mulching a dry Japanese maple. It is a philosophical companion to the garden’s labours and joys.”(Syndetics summary)

What are gardens for? / Rory Stuart.  
“What do we expect of gardens – when we make them and when we visit them? Could we get more from them, if we thought harder about what it is we want and why we make gardens? This book approaches the experience of being in a garden from many different angles, questioning many of our easily-adopted assumptions and suggesting ways of getting more from any garden, whether it is our own or one we are visiting.” (Syndetics summary) 

    Flowers in the world’s most beautiful gardens / photographed by Alain Le Toquin ; text by Yves-Marie Allain ; translated from the French by Nicholas Elliott.  
“Flowers in the World’s Most Beautiful Gardensputs the spotlight on the star of the garden—the flower. Tracing the history of flower gardens from the Middle Ages to today, the book discusses the types of flowers commonly planted, the landscape designs, the advances in technology, and how these practices have changed throughout the centuries. Illustrated with more than 180 exquisite photographs by Alain Le Toquin, this book features the world’s most extraordinary flower gardens, showcasing gardens in countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, New Zealand, Russia, the United States, Thailand, and many more.” (Adapted from Syndetics Summary)

Growing honest food : an oasis of Italian tradition in the suburbs / Gabriella Gomersal-Hubbard.
“A barren block of land in the Australian suburbs has, over a period of 30 years, been transformed by the Sicilianos’ passion, daring, perserverance and hard work into a slice of the Calabrian countryside – a lush and wonderful oasis. At a mere 1.2 ha., Rose Creek Estate is probably the smallest vineyard in the nation and, at less than 17 kilometres from the city centre, certainly the most urban. Yet it is astounding just how productive this small piece of land in a quiet residential corner of Melbourne is. Cherished family and regional traditions, steeped in an ancient culture, remain a large part of this couple’s lives, guiding them in their efforts to create their own piece of paradise. The Sicilianos’ enterprise is the embodiment of these ideas and living proof that such pursuits can build both a profitable business and a healthy and intensely satisfying way of life.” (Adapted from Syndetics Summary)

Fern fever : the story of Pteridomania / Sarah Whittingham. 
“Of all the many passions and crazes in nineteenth-century gardening and natural history, none was as long lasting or as wide reaching as fern fever, or Pteridomania as it became known.  The obsession with ferns was not confined to a few professional botanists but it affected men, women and children from all classes through the British Isles, the Empire and America. Their overwhelming desire to ‘capture’ a rare specimen led them to wade through streams, scale rock faces, descend gorges and lean over fast-flowing rivers.  Accidents were common, sometimes fatal, and over-collecting and even fern stealing were rife. Of all the many passions and crazes in nineteenth-century gardening and natural history, none was as long lasting or as wide reaching as fern fever, or Pteridomania as it became known Fern Fever.” (Adapted from Syndetics Summary)

Adagio : living & gardening mindfully / Trisha Dixon.
“Adagio is a charming treatise on slow gardening and the importance of slowing down and enjoying life. At the same time, it has an environmental message regarding living ethically and sustainably. This message is delivered in Trisha Dixon’s inimitable style, as she seamlessly blends personal anecdote with musings and facts, drawing on her gardening background and her wide-ranging interests in philosophy, music, art, nature and the environment. It will appeal to gardeners and dreamers alike – anyone, in fact, who yearns for a more environmentally-attuned life.” (Syndetics Summary)

Wartime farm / Peter Ginn, Ruth Goodman & Alex Langlands. 
“During World War Two Britain had to look to the land to provide the produce it had previously shipped in from abroad, meaning huge changes on both the agricultural and domestic scenes. Accompanying an 8-part BBC series and written by the three presenters who spend a year living on a reconstructed farm from the era, Wartime Farm sets these changes within a historical context and looks at the day-to-day life of that time. Exploring a fascinating chapter in Britain’s recent history, we see how our predecessors lived and thrived in difficult conditions with extreme frugality and ingenuity. From growing your own vegetables and keeping chickens in the back yard, to having to ‘make do and mend’, many of the challenges faced by wartime Britons have resonance today. Fascinating historical detail and atmospheric story-telling make this a truly compelling read.” (Amazon)

Auckland’s remarkable urban forest / Mike D. Wilcox.  ”
“A comprehensive account of the trees and forests of Auckland City, New Zealand. It covers native bush remnants, native revegetation, exotic woodlands, parks, campuses, cemeteries, historic homesteads, street trees, home gardens, notable trees, flowering trees, tree health, and utilisation of the urban forest. A particular feature is the description of the parks in each of Auckland’s Local Board areas. The book will be of interest and relevance to park users, gardeners, botanists and ecologists, arborists, dendrologists, Council managers, planners, developers, environmental volunteer groups, and citizens and visitors to Auckland in general.” (Fishpond)

We have some beautiful and also useful new garden books that have been recently added to our collection.

Private edens : beautiful country gardens / Jack Staub ; photographs by Rob Cardillo.
“Garden design expert Jack Staub presents more than twenty beautiful and sumptuous private country gardens in Virginia, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Massachusetts. From a romantic garden with cottagey plantings that pays homage to the best of English garden vernacular to a splendid Eden of Maryland countryside meets Himalayan serenity, these garden paradises stand alone on their own terms but offer us examples of what we can all achieve with a modicum of respect, partnership and imagination.” (Syndetics Summary)

Creating your garden farm : how to grow fruit and vegetables and raise chickens and bees / Nicki Trench.
“If you dream of growing, harvesting and eating your own produce, here’s how to begin. Author Nicki Trench, who has created her own garden farm from scratch, shares with you everything there is to know about growing vegetables, fruit and herbs, including making your own compost, growing in raised beds and protecting your crops from pests and disease.Private country paradises boasting remarkable plant palettes and combinations.” (Amazon)

Teeny tiny gardening : 35 step-by-step projects and inspirational ideas for gardening in tiny spaces / Emma Hardy.
“Teeny Tiny Gardening is horticulture on the smallest of scales. No matter how tiny your space – indoor or outdoor, garden, yard, balcony or even just a windowsill or tabletop – here you will find original, fun and inspiring ideas. There are edible gardens, including fruit bushes planted in catering-sized kitchen pans and a vertical garden of herbs grown on a wooden stepladder. You will find lots of ideas for using recycled and salvaged containers, such as a metal bathtub filled with vegetable plants, metal food tins used for an indoor garden of wildflowers and a stack of wooden drawers filled with trailing plants. And at the teeniest end of the scale, there are even miniature tabletop gardens created in eggshells and bottle tops!  Whether you are looking for ideas for all-year foliage or for a summer display of flowers, wanting to grow your own veggies and herbs, or needing to revamp your balcony, Teeny Tiny Gardening will provide you with all the inspiration and practical knowledge you need.” (Adapted Syndetics Summary)

Step-by-step veg patch / Lucy Halsall.
“Foolproof vegetable growing for gardeners with little space but big ambitions. Step-by-Step Veg Patch is brilliantly simple explaining everything you need to know to squeeze the most out of your plot. Step-by-step, foolproof instructions and bright photographs and artworks will get you growing the 60 vegetables and 15 fruit crops featured in no time plus ‘at a glance’ crop planners help you decide what’s right for your growing space. Troubleshooting advice also helps nip any problems in the bud.Help your plot reach its full potential and be part of the grow-your-own phenomenon with RHS Step-by-Step Veg Patch.” (Syndetics Summary)

The Timber Press encyclopedia of flowering shrubs / Jim Gardiner.
“Gardiner (director of horticulture, Royal Horticultural Society, UK) drew on several decades of experience to make his selections of the best shrubs. Organized alphabetically by botanical name (a common name index is included), this thoughtfully prepared and well designed encyclopedia offers readers quick access to identification and cultivation information. Roughly 1,700 plants are presented, each briefly described and illustrated–with a total of 2,000 color photos. Home gardeners as well as professional landscape designers will appreciate this informed and informative reference. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)” (Syndetics summary)

Making more plants : the science, art, and joy of propagation / Ken Druse.
“For people who love gardens, propagation – the practice of growing whatever you want, whenever you want – is gardening itself. In this paperback reissue of the successful book Making More Plants, Druse, one of America’s foremost gardening authorities, presents innovative, practical techniques for expanding any plant collection, along with more than 500 photographs. Based on years of personal research, this is a practical manual as well as a beautiful garden book, presenting procedures Ken Druse has tested and adapted, as well as photographed step by step.” (Syndetics Summary)

Sustainable market farming : intensive vegetable production on a few acres / Pam Dawling ; foreword by Lynn Byczynski.
“Across North America, an agricultural renaissance is unfolding. A growing number of market gardeners are emerging to feed our appetite for organic, regional produce. But most of the available resources on food production are aimed at the backyard or hobby gardener who wants to supplement their family’s diet with a few homegrown fruits and vegetables. Targeted at serious growers in every climate zone, Sustainable Market Farming is a comprehensive manual for small-scale farmers raising organic crops sustainably on a few acres.”(Adpated Syndetics Summary)

Everyday roses : how to grow Knock Out® and other easy-care garden roses / Paul Zimmerman.
“In this book, rose expert Paul Zimmerman debunks common rose myths and outdated care instructions, and instead imparts practical rose care advice in a fun and accessible voice.  Aimed at gardeners who want the beauty of roses without the fuss, this book offers an approach that is more accessible and environmentally friendly than competing volumes—and no other book in the current market focuses exclusively on modern roses and getting the most out of them.” (Adapted Syndetic Summary)

Allotment handbook / Simon Akeroyd.
“Handbook has everything you need to leave the supermarket behind in favour of tastier and healthier home-grown fruit and veg. Avoid bland, pesticide-tainted produce flown in from the other side of the world and start growing your own with this reassuring guide, complete with a glossary of gardening terms and a picture gallery of common weeds. Whether you prefer to start small with a few herbs and veg staples or you are more ambitious and intend to feed your whole family all year round, Allotment Handbook will show you how.” (Adapted Syndetics Summary)

With the main focus on food gardening the these recent additions to our collection offer lots of helpful advice  and inspiration for new and experienced gardeners alike.

The vegetable gardener’s guide to permaculture : creating an edible ecosystem / Christopher Shein with Julie Thompson.
“Its origins may come from the Land Down Under, yet permaculture gardening is rapidly becoming a top-notch way of incorporating ancient practices into contemporary food production. Design concepts such as layering, horticultural practices such as planting in mutually beneficial communities, and ecological considerations such as soil enrichment and resource conservation take permaculture beyond methodology and into a committed philosophical approach to garden management. Along with detailed plans and lavish illustrations, Shein’s straightforward, practical guide describes techniques and deciphers terminology to encourage gardening practices built on principles of caring for the planet and sharing its bounty, whether one is feeding a family or a village. A worthy reference for those interested in ethical gardening.–Haggas, Carol Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)(Adapted Syndetics Summary)

The foliage garden : tapestries of color, shape, and texture / Becke Davis.
“Shows how to create a garden primarily of leafy plants, adding interest with different leaf & plant forms, variations in leaf color, & ornamental bark & berries.” (Syndetics Summary)

The speedy vegetable garden / Mark Diacono and Lia Leendertz.
“Here’s the book for vegetable gardeners in a hurry. Highlighting plants that are not traditionally quick to harvest, but are actually improved by being picked when immature. Think sweet, tender baby carrots, for example. Sunflower and radish sprouts can be ready for sprinkling on salads in less than a week. Micro greens, tiny seedlings of arugula, fennel, cilantro, and various herbs, provide bursts of concentrated flavor as salad ingredients and flavorings when harvested a week or so after germination.  With sources and index, this unusual vegetable-growing book should attract everyone interested in planting a kitchen garden.–Scott, Whitney Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)(Adapted Syndetics Summary)

The beginner’s garden : your simple guide to growing the ultimate kitchen garden / David Haynes.
“Covering the most common and easy-to-grow vegetables, herbs and berries … offers sound and practical advice to assist you in determining what kind of garden will suit your space and inclination, climate and soil, what to plant, season by season, how to grow from seed or seedling, when and how best to harvest, plant care and dealing with pests and diseases, organic and chemical-free options. This is gardening for absolute beginners.” (Syndetics Summary)

The edible landscape : creating a beautiful and bountiful garden with vegetables, fruits and flowers / Emily Tepe ; photography by Paul Markert.
“As the fresh food revolution sweeps the nation, more and more people are seeking out delicious offerings from local growers. Inspired by these events, people have started growing food in the most unlikely places, including rooftops, abandoned parking lots, and tiny balconies and backyards on average city streets. Creating an attractive and productive garden in your small space might seem impossible, but throughout this book, you’ll see examples of some wonderful things that can be done, from interesting plant combinations to unique structures and planting beds. The Edible Landscapewill help you explore some ideas for transforming your yard into a feast for both the eyes and the table.”(Adapted Syndetics Summary)

Stand up and garden / Mary Moss-Sprague ; [illustrations by Kathren Moss ; photography by Greg Aspinall].
“Baby boomers near retirement age as, concurrently, food safety and costs become crucial issues for growing numbers of Americans who want more protection, self-sufficiency, and direct control by growing their own vegetables.  Moss-Sprague explains how containers, trellises, and raised beds can be used to create accessible, vertical locations for a large range of herbs and vegetables. She provides clearly explained, step-by-step instructions illustrated with numerous line drawings and color photographs. Chapters highlight weed containment using barriers as basic as biodegradable newspapers and wood mulch; containers, including low-cost dollar-store polyethylene dishpans drilled with drainage holes; construction of trellises and straw-based raised beds complete with instructions and lists of needed materials and tools; and the finer points of soil a mixture of organic matter and rock fragments that is biologically active and permeable.”–Scott, Whitney Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)(Adapted Syndetics summary)

Window-box allotment / [Penelope Bennett ; photographs: Clive Boursnell].
“A revised, expanded and illustrated version of Penelope Bennett’s popular guide to growing fruit, vegetables and herbs in a tiny space”–Flap p. 1 of dust jacket. In a space that measures only 5 x 2.5m (16 x 8 ft), outside her kitchen window, high up on a London rooftop, Penelope Bennett cultivates a garden that includes artichokes, beans, peas, tomatoes, peppers, alpine strawberries, raspberries, herbs (and saffron), 31 kinds of potato and six different fruit trees. With Window-box Allotment as your guide you can make your outdoor space, however tiny, equally prolific. And as you learn how to do it you will be endlessly entertained.” (Amazon)

Grow it yourself fruit & nuts / Andrew Steens.
“Growing fruit in the home garden is becoming increasingly popular now that space-saving new dwarf varieties ideal for today’s smaller gardens and multigrafted trees that are more resistant to pests and diseases are readily available. A-Z of over 30 fruit and nut varieties best suited to New Zealand growing conditions. Advice on how, where and when to plant and harvest, feeding, watering, mulching, pruning, pollination, fruit set and thinning. Handy charts for most crops include harvest tiems, brief descriptions and main characteristics of each vairety. Integrated pest and disease management; common pesticides for the home garden. Garden plans for a small, medium and larger garden, plus a useful guide to harvesting times for all varieties described.” (Syndetics Summary)

These recent additions to our collection are useful and beautiful to look at.  Well worth a pickup is “Flowers” by Carolyne Roehm this beautiful large book is full of sumptuous photographs and for inspiration, the home-grown sophistication of ”Contemporary Gardens of New Zealand” is another highlight. 

Flowers / Carolyne Roehm ; photography by Carolyne Roehm and Sylvie Becquet ; written with Marc Kristal ; designed by Doug Turshen with David Huang.
“It has been more than a decade since Carolyne Roehm first shared her love of gardening and flower arranging. Now, for the first time ever, she turns her own photographic lens to that passion with Flowers, showcasing more than 300 images of the varieties in her abundant gardens, all captured at their most vibrant and exquisite moments throughout the season. With a gardener’s intimate understanding and a designer’s elegant eye, Roehm shows us the flowers she has cultivated for decades in and around Weatherstone, her historic Connecticut home. While alternating dramatic close-ups with portraits of lovely arrangements and sweeping views of her land, Roehm writes with wit, emotion, and affection of what flowers have meant to her, as well as of the joys and travails of the committed gardener’s life. What began as a casual hobby ultimately became a multi-year endeavor, as Roehm used her camera to explore the special relationship a gardener enjoys with her carefully nurtured beauties. The outcome is a remarkably personal visual essay: sumptuous, surprising, and as revealing of the sensibility behind the camera as the magnificent species that stand before it. This beautiful objet d’art a flower garden in a book is Carolyne Roehm’s most significant and singular volume yet”. (Syndetics summary)
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Contemporary gardens of New Zealand / Carol Bucknell & Sally Tagg.
“Showcases a spectacular range of unique gardens by more than 20 of the country’s leading landscape designers. Utilising an exciting range of planting styles and architectural forms they have created inspiring gardens that enhance the houses they surround and beautifully complement the environments in which they are located”–Cover flap. (Syndetics summary)

Heritage fruits & vegetables / text by Toby Musgrave ; photographs by Clay Perry ; foreword by Raymond Blanc.
“A sumptuous celebration in words and photographs of the fascinating riches of heritage fruits and vegetables. Published in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society and presented by season for growers and seasonally minded cooks, this book introduces heritage fruits and vegetables in entertaining stories and beautifully composed photographs that highlight all the unusual colours, shapes and textures of heritage varieties in a painterly way. It offers full descriptions of each type of fruit and vegetable and includes stories about their origins, development, the reception they received upon introduction to various countries, as well as the folklore associated with them. No one interested in food, plant cultivation or history will fail to be captivated by this glorious tribute to the food we so often take for granted”. (Syndetics summary)

Landscape ideas you can use : how to choose structures, surfaces & plants that transform your yard / Chris Peterson.
“A beautiful, inspiring book featuring well-chosen examples of landscape designs that succeed. This book goes beyond pretty pictures to include specific information on plant and hardscaping options so you can make an informed decision on which options make sense for your yard. Subjects covered include: Understanding landscape styles, landscape materials, landscape elements, gardens & border plantings, landscape structures, firepits & fireplaces, landscape lighting, and many more.” (Syndetics summary)

Gardens for all seasons / Mary Horsfall.
“Gardens for All Seasons is a gardening lifestyle book by bestselling author Mary Horsfall, celebrating the role of gardens in our lives and advising on the timing of jobs in the gardening year throughout Australia. Monthly chapters include topics such as planning, bushfire preparation, watering, pot plant care, mulching, weeding, fertilising, pruning, propagating, pest control, what to plant for different climate zones and what garden venues and events to visit.  Each chapter includes a special topic of the month, such as fun for kids in the garden, biodiversity, manipulating microclimate, and fragrance and first aid”. (Syndetics summary)

Growing for food & colour / Graham Clarke.
“Graham Clarke shows that it is possible to cultivate fruits, vegetables and herbs alongside flowers – and that the beauty of the garden can be enhanced rather than compromised by productive plants”. (Syndetics summary)

Salads year-round : a planting guide / Dennis Greville.
“Includes descriptive planting notes and recipes which are accompanied by his own colourful photographs making this a useful kitchen-garden handbook. Salads year-round is the perfect companion for any cook keen to create simple and delicious salads with ingredients picked straight from the garden”–Back cover. (Syndetics summary)

The perfect plot : starting an allotment from scratch / photography by Kim Sayer ; foreword by Christine Walkden ; [writer, Jo Monroe].
“The Perfect Plot paints a vivid picture of how to start an allotment from scratch. Told through the inspirational story of the Cornworthy site, it is a perfect guide for beginners. By following the successes and failures through the seasons of the Cornworthy villagers, budding allotmenteers will learn how they too can set up their own allotment and keep it going and growing. But this book is not just about the allotment – it is also about a community, a cast of characters who describe in their own words their triumphs and disasters, as well as the new methods and growing techniques (some very surprising) they have discovered along the way. Above all, though, it is the story of a diverse group of people united by a shared passion for growing produce”. (Syndetics summary)

The NZ vegetable garden : the complete guide to growing vegetables and herbs in New Zealand / Rachel Vogan ; with recipes by Helen Jackson.
“A practical, highly illustrated guide to planting and maintaining a vegetable garden that will become an essential reference for gardeners of all skill levels seeking to grow some, or all, of their own food.This newly revised and updated third edition of The Tui NZ Vegetable Garden contains all the essential information you need, from how to condition the soil to how and where to plant, what kind of yield to expect from each plant variety and tips on planting and harvesting to acheive the best results in your garden. There is also a section on how to combat pests and diseases in order to build a healthy and thriving garden – whether you aim to grow just a few tomatoes in pots on your balcony or enough food to feed a family.Including more than 70 common and more exotic vegetables and herbs, each entry concludes with ideas for turning produce into tasty meals. There is also a garden diary that advises what needs to be done in the garden each month to create a flourishing vegetable patch”. (Syndetics summary)

Seedswap : the gardener’s guide to saving and swapping seeds / Josie Jeffery.
“Josie Jeffery shares her passionate expertise in this introduction to seed-swapping, sowing practical information in the context of an exciting global movement. It covers simple husbandry and harvesting techniques plus guidelines on designing your own seedbank.” (Syndetics summary)

It’s all about the New Year in January and it was very tempting to offer you a selection of what’s new on the Home & Garden front in 2013. What about what is not so new and what you can re-use or recycle at home or in the garden? That might be a New Year resolution of yours to do less in the garden and to keep and transform home wares instead of chucking it away and buying new and expensive. And why not! We have a selection of books that might convince you to do just that.

Tomorrow’s garden : design and inspiration for a new age of sustainable gardening / text and photographs by Stephen Orr.
“Stephen Orr (gardening editorial director Martha Stewart Living magazine) shares his vision of 21st century gardening in over 200 gorgeous photographs he has taken of gardens in 10 US cities. Gardens now (and will in the future), he says, take into account local climates and ecosystems without sacrificing aesthetics. In sections titled “Garden where you live,” “Consider the materials,” and “Edible gardens and community” he indeed has his finger on the pulse of modern gardening’s commitment to sustainability coupled with fabulous design and passion for invoking a commonality of purpose. Street gardens, an urban apiary, gardens of stone and water, a modernist children’s garden, seaside gardens, and a family farm are but a few of the featured spaces, which along with Orr’s engaging narrative and judicious advice, make this a likely favorite among this year’s crop of gardening books. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)” (Syndetics summary)

Perennials for every purpose : choose the plants you need for your conditions, your garden, and your taste / Larry Hodgson.
“Perennials for Every Purpose This is a plant encyclopedia with a purpose! You’ll discover more than 1,000 perennials, organized by special feature (that’s the “purpose!”), such as bloom time or site condition. This makes it simple for you to choose plants according to your needs. You can go directly to the chapters that interest you most, whether they’re perennials that require very little care or ones that thrive in cool-summer climates. Plant lover Larry Hodgson lives in Quebec, where the winters are punishing to perennials. Undaunted, he has ventured where most gardeners wouldn’t dare, attempting to grow perennials that “just aren’t hardy there”– and succeeding! He has nursed usually tender perennials like hakone grass and monkey flowers through tough Quebec winters even though they’re supposedly not hardy north of Pennsylvania. He’s glad to share his tips for success.” (Syndetics summary)

Caring for perennials : what to do and when to do it / Janet Macunovich ; photographs by Steven Nikkila.
“With Macunovich’s techniques for prioritizing, planning, and record keeping, you’ll be able to grow a world-class perennial garden in an average of one hour of maintenance per 100 square feet per month.” (Syndetics summary)

Remake it : home : the essential guide to resourceful living with over 500 tricks, tips and inspirational designs / Henrietta Thompson ; illustrations by Neal Whittington.
“This is the indispensible, inspirational and practical guide to being resourceful by design in your home. Save money, save the planet and stay ahead in the style stakes: if theres something going spare, theres a use for it somewhere. With a wealth of tricks and tips, design examples from leading luminaries such as Jasper Morrison and Marcel Waanders, and step-by-step projects you can try around the house, Remake It: Home provides design inspiration and practical know how in equal measure. Smart, savvy, entertaining and fully illustrated throughout, this book will show you how to make the most of the things you already have in style.” (Amazon.co.uk summary)

Restore. Recycle. Repurpose. {create a beautiful home} / Randy Florke ; with Nancy J. Becker.
“Florke (Your House, Your Home) explores decorating every room of the home with flea market finds, a trend that’s been popular for years, with an eye toward sustainability. He intersperses his grandmother’s advice on household frugality with trivia about waste in the United States. Recommended where green-living guides are popular. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.” (Library Journal)

Salvage style : 45 home and garden projects using reclaimed architectural details / Joe Rhatigan with Dana Irwin.
“”Create something new with all the elegance of the original.”–”Better Homes & Gardens Decorating” “Recommended.”–”Library Journal” Even as a building gets renovated or demolished, it often yields authentic, irreplaceable, and sometimes historic architectural detailing. Out of the wreckage come one-of-a-kind, ornate weathered doorknobs, flooring, mantels, windows, and doors. Forty-five projects, developed by the finest craftspeople, focus on transforming your finds and giving them a whole new function. You’ll obtain tips on locating and selecting the best of these materials and crafting with wood, metal, glass, and mirrors. Begin your creative handiwork with such intriguing pieces as a Cabinet Door Picture Frame, Iron, and Funky Miscellany.” (Syndetics summary)

Leftover gourmet / Richard Till.
“Create delicious meals with this brilliant guide to making the most of the leftover food in your fridge, freezer or pantry.”(Syndetics summary)

We have an inspiring, visual and anedoctal garden book line up this month. “Seeds: Time Capsules of life” is certainly a notable entry and a bit different from the usual fare. The supermagnified closeup images  of different seeds are truly stunning and verge on the miraculous. There is something here for anyone who has a love for gardens, plants and flowers. 

Seeds : time capsules of life / Rob Kesseler & Wolfgang Stuppy ; preface by HRH the Prince of Wales ; edited by Alexandra Papadakis.
“Seeds are the most complex organs plants ever produce. A major keystone in the evolution of land plants, the first seeds appeared some 360 million years ago. Since then they have developed into highly sophisticated propagules that have enabled plants to dominate the Earth’s surface and conquer almost every possible habitat from the Antarctic to the hottest deserts. The diversity of shapes and sizes encountered in seeds is nearly endless and ranges from the impressive Seychelles nut at twenty kilos to the dustlike seeds of the orchids. No matter how small, packed into every seed is the complete genetic information needed to give rise to a new plant, whether it is a tiny herb or a giant rainforest tree. True time capsules of life, seeds may travel thousands of miles and, if necessary, wait for hundreds of years before germinating”. (Amazon.com)

The roots of my obsession : thirty great gardeners reveal why they garden / Thomas C. Cooper, editor.
“Collects essays by thirty world-famous gardeners on why they garden, whether it be for aesthetic beauty, food production, or environmental sustainability, and includes contributions by Stephen Orr, Anne Raver, and Helen Dillon.” (Syndetics Summary)

The seed underground : a growing revolution to save food / Janisse Ray.
“The Seed Underground is a journey to the frontier of seed-saving. It is driven by stories, both the author’s own and those from people who are waging a lush and quiet revolution in thousands of gardens across America to preserve our traditional cornucopia of food by simply growing old varieties and eating them. The Seed Underground pays tribute to time-honored and threatened varieties, deconstructs the politics and genetics of seeds, and reveals the astonishing characters who grow, study, and save them”. (Amazon.com)

Permaculture design : a step-by-step guide / by Aranya.
“Are you excited about permaculture but unclear how to put it into practice for yourself? In this unique, full colour guide, experienced permaculture teacher Aranya leads you through the design process from beginning to end, using clear explanations, flowcharts and diagrams. It is based on course worksheets which have been designed, refined and tested on students over time. Linking theory to practice, he places the ethics, principles, philosophies, tools and techniques directly into the context of the process itself. While written for anyone with a basic grasp of permaculture, this book also has plenty to offer the more experienced designer.This guide covers:Systems and patterns ~ Working as part of a design team ~ Land and non-land based design ~ Design frameworks ~ Site surveying and map making ~ Interviewing clients ~ Working with large client groups ~ Identifying functions ~ Choosing systems and elements ~ Placement and integration ~ Creating a design proposal ~ Project management ~ Presenting your ideas to clients ~ and much more.A great reference for anyone who has done, or is thinking of doing, any kind of permaculture course.” (Syndetics summary)
 
The gardenist : a new way to create inspiring garden spaces / text and photography by Michael McCoy.
” Michael McCoy is ‘The Gardenist’: garden designer, author, broadcaster and obsessive home gardener. In this bold new look at gardens, he shares the secret to understanding what makes a good garden, and shows you how to plan and create your own. ‘The Gardenist’ teases out the anatomy of gardens to discover the different roles plant types play”.(Syndetics summary).

 Natural companions : the garden lover’s guide to plant combinations / Ken Druse ; botanical photographs by Ellen Hoverkamp.
“In Natural Companions, acclaimed garden writer Ken Druse presents recipes for perfect plant pairings using diverse species that look great together and bloom at the same time. Organized by theme within seasons, topics include color, fragrance, foliage, grasses, edible flowers and much more, all presented in photographs of gardens that show planted combinations from a wide variety of climates and conditions. Natural Companions also features more than one hundred special botanical images of amazing depth and color created in collaboration with artist Ellen Hoverkamp using modern digital technology.Filled with an incredible amount of horticultural guidance, useful plant recommendations, and gardening lore—all written in Druse’s charming, witty style—this book is a must-have for gardeners and lovers of plants and flowers. ” (Syndetics summary)

The thrifty gardener / Alys Fowler ; photography by Simon Wheeler. 
“Gardner’s World presenter Alys Fowler shows us how gardening is something you do, not something you buy. You don’t have to spend money to have a great garden. Slow gardening – like slow food – is taking time to savour. It’s the process, not this sudden transformation that matters. When you build a little, dig a bit, plant a little, harvest often and more importantly don’t try and do it all at once, nature will work for you. For this is gardening that won’t cost the earth. This is a book that will eliminate the intimidation factor and reveal the ins and outs of soil, seeds, sowing and growing. Designed to be highly appropriate for beginners, it will cover the basics like planning, planting and pruning using organic and inexpensive methods. Its quirky projects and thrifty ethic will mean that it reaches beyond the usual gardening audience – this book is for those who would rather be found hunting through a skip than be seen in a garden centre”. (Amazon.co.uk)

Gardens for all seasons / Mary Horsfall.
“Gardens for All Seasons is a gardening lifestyle book by bestselling author Mary Horsfall, celebrating the role of gardens in our lives and advising on the timing of jobs in the gardening year throughout Australia. Monthly chapters include topics such as planning, bushfire preparation, watering, pot plant care, mulching, weeding, fertilising, pruning, propagating, pest control, what to plant for different climate zones and what garden venues and events to visit. Mary details her own gardening year, including jobs done, fruits and vegetables harvested, food cooked based on the harvest, what was in flower and wildlife observations – all on a month by month basis. Each chapter includes a special topic of the month, such as fun for kids in the garden, biodiversity, manipulating microclimate, and fragrance and first aid.” (Syndetics summary)

Want some tips on how to make your backyard an urban santuary? What is gardenalia? How can you work reclaimed materials into your  home and make it stylish?  These questions and more are covered in our picks of the new gardening and DIY books for October. These books are packed with advice on how to grow food, make your garden dog-friendly, and run your life with the minimum fuss and with maximum flair! Have a browse!

Urban sanctuary : designing small gardens / Janine Mendel.
“Australian landscape design is eclectic but there is no doubt that we love to be outdoors, and with the population set to rise, whether we like it or not we will be left with smaller and smaller outdoor spaces in which to enjoy our way of life.” (Library Catalogue)

Gardenalia : furnishing your garden with flea market finds, country collectables and architectural salvage / Sally Coulthard.
“Gardenalia provides the inspiration and the know-how for creating a perfect outdoor room. In the first section of the book Sally Coulthard guides the reader through the myriad choices of recycled and reclaimed materials and objects you can employ in your garden to inject style and personality.  All types of furniture – from classical benches to weather-beaten old tables and retro deckchairs – can create stylish areas for dining and relaxing, while containers and tools provide the perfect finishing touches.  A host of inventive ideas show you how to breathe new life and uses into salvaged pieces. Gardenalia offers practical guidance for the perennial garden tasks of planning your space, incorporating seating and eating areas and creating exciting backdrops and structures for your plants.” (Amazon)

The great Reclaiming style / by Maria Speake & Adam Hills of Retrouvius ; words by Hettie Judah ; photography by Debi Treloar.
“Adam Hills and Maria Speake, the partners behind architectural salvage and design business Retrouvius, combine their salvage work with one of the most sought-after interior design practices in Britain. Reclaiming Style goes with them behind the scenes, from the demolition site to the warehouse to the process of designing with reclaimed materials. Charted over twelve locations, ranging from a 17th-century cottage to a converted barn to a 1970s towerblock apartment, the company’s unique style goes far beyond a mere commitment to salvage and sustainable design and offers an inspiring new vision for sophisticated, thoughtfully constructed living spaces” .(Amazon)

James Wong’s homegrown revolution : grow your own amazing edibles from saffron to sweet potatoes in any back garden / [James Wong].
“James’s idea is simple and revolutionary. For 100 years, gardening books have said the same old thing about growing the same old fruit and vegetables. But in the wider world, as well as closer to home, there is a huge variety of delicious and often simple-to-grow incredible edibles suitable for temperate climates. Often common plants grown for flowers, like fuchsia, have delicious fruits or hips but we have long forgotten their use as edible plants. As the demand for ‘home-grown’ produce increases, this is the perfect time to introduce a whole new range of tasty, healthy and productive alternatives to the humble spud or lettuce. And who better to blaze the trail than the vastly knowledgeable and enthusiastic James Wong who tells us what to grow, how to grow it, and how to cook and eat it as well as the special properties of 100 new plants.” (Amazon)

The simple things : creating an organised home, a happy family and a life worth living / Antonia Kidman and Sally Collings.
“Organise your household and run your life with the minimum fuss and the maximum flair, from broadcaster and mother of five, Antonia Kidman, and author and mother of two, Sally Collings.” (Library Catalogue)

The small food garden : growing organic fruit & vegetables at home / Diana Anthony.
“Based on organic principles, this practical, well-illustrated guide takes you through all the basics: choosing what to plant and where to put it; advice on organic pest and disease control; watering and plant nutrition; using space-saving containers and raised beds; the benefits of companion planting as well as making your own compost – and that’s just for starters. A combination of previously published companion volumes, The Small Edible Garden and The Edible Garden Planner, the content for this book has been substantially revised and updated to include numerous new varieties of vegetables, fruit and herbs chosen for their suitability for growing in most climatic conditions around the world.” (Library Catalogue)

The beauty of trees / Michael Jordan ; consultant, Tony Kirkham.
“This illustrated tour of the world’s most extraordinary trees provides an insight into some of the natural world’s most astonishing structures. Through 100 photographs, The Beauty of Trees tells the story of our relationship with trees throughout history. Each image is supported by information about the botany of the tree, along with the stories, traditions and legends associated with it. From the giant sequoias of California to the bonsai of Japan, the pink tulip tree of the Himalayas to the Scots pine – and even the humble acorn – award-standard photography and insightful text bring the majesty and mystery of the world’s trees to life.” (Library Catalogue)

Paul Bangay’s guide to plants / photography by Simon Griffiths.
“Rich with anecdotes about what has worked best over the years, and with a special focus on plants for our changing climate, this collection showcases Paul’s A-list plants with photography from the best in the business, Simon Griffiths. Whether 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.” (Library Journal)

National Geographic guide to medicinal herbs : the world’s most effective healing plants / Rebecca L. Johnson … [et al.] ; photography by Steven Foster ; foreword by Andrew Weil.National Geographic Guide to Medicinal Herbs: The World’s Most Effective Healing Plants
“This is an excellent herbal written by physicians trained in integrative medicine. It has more comprehensive information than that found in more basic works like Holly Bellebuono’s The Essential Herbal for Natural Health and Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs, both reviewed left. Highly recommended.” (Library Journal)

Dog-friendly gardening : creating a safe haven for you and your dog / Karen Bush.
“Does your garden look more like a prison exercise yard than somewhere to relax? Or is it a beautiful haven that you’d like to stay that way when your new dog arrives’from dealing with the practicalities of escape-proof fencing, to discouraging unwanted toilet activities in the rockery, this book will help you solve the problems that other gardening and dog-care books don’t touch on. Green fingers are an asset, but not essential — these tips are useful for everyone. Whatever your budget or plot size, with a little effort and imagination you can create an attractive outdoor environment that will actively enhance your relationship with your dog; a place where you can enjoy playing and relaxing together.Covering safety, planting, garden projects, and much more, this book is packed with practical advice and innovative ideas to help you and your dog enjoy your garden” (Publisher’s description)

Here are some new gardening books that will help inspire you to make a garden and home  that reflects your personal style. Your little piece of kiwi paradise no matter how grand or simple it is.  Nothing beats the taste of home-grown veggies and that feeling when harvesting something you have sown, planted and grown yourself, nor the delight of seeing your garden coming alive with colour.

Making home : adapting our homes and our lives to settle in place / Sharon Astyk.
“Other books tell us how to live the good life — but you might have to win the lottery to do it. Making Home is about improving life with the real people around us and the resources we already have. While encouraging us to be more resilient in the face of hard times, author Sharon Astyk also points out the beauty, grace and elegance that result, because getting the most out of everything we use is a way of transforming our lives into something much more fulfilling. Written from the perspective of a family who has already made this transition, Making Home show readers how to turn the challenge of living with less into settling for more – more happiness, more security and more peace of mind. Learn simple but effective strategies to: save money on everything from heating and cooling to refrigeration, laundry, water, sanitation, cooking and cleaning; create a stronger, more resilient family; and preserve more for future generations. We must make fundamental changes to our way of life in the face of ongoing economic crisis and energy depletion. Making Home takes the fear out of this prospect, and invites us to embrace a simpler, more abundant reality.” (Syndetics summary).

Landscaping : principles and practices / Jack E. Ingels.
“Newly reorganized and updated, the fifth edition of this popular text offers a comprehensive introduction to landscape management. To present a balanced view of the industry as a process, the text is now organized by the industry’s three career areas – design, contracting, and maintenance – to illustrate the interdependence of these areas. New material covers such current topics as xeriscaping and landscape calculations, providing students with the latest in landscaping techniques and management. Excellent for launching students into landscaping careers!” (Syndetics summary)

Rain gardens : sustainable landscaping for a beautiful yard and a healthy world / Lynn M. Steiner and Robert W. Domm.
“Rain gardens are at the forefront of the green revolution. This environmentally friendly landscaping captures rainwater runoff rather than redirecting it into storm drains. The result is less erosion, less water pollution, and a beautiful, low-maintenance, sustainable garden. This is the first rain garden handbook for the backyard home gardener. Co-authors Robert Domm and Lynn Steiner draw on hands-on experience to help homeowners build beautiful rain gardens in their own yards. Illustrated with color photography, this instructive book offers specific advice about planning, building, planting, and maintaining your garden. Learn about city grants, how to calculate runoff, rain barrels, attracting wildlife, gray water recycling, and much more.” (Syndetics summary)

The ornamental edible garden / Diana Anthony ; photographs by Gil Hanly.
“Combine creativity, aesthetics and practicality in your very own garden with an inspired mix of fruit, vegetable, herbs and flowers. This beautifully illustrated book gives practical information on everything you need to know to design and plant an ornamental edible garden, including advice on laying pathways and edgings, building raised beds, erecting plant supports, hedging and enclosures, how to espalier, as well as plans for traditional ground layouts for any garden size or shape.” (Syndetics summary)

30 minute gardening / Jenny Hendy ; [photography by Peter Anderson & Brian North].
“Shameless shortcuts for a great garden super-fastLove being in the garden but not keen on spending the whole weekend making it look perfect? If so, then 30 Minute Gardening is just the book you’ve been looking for. This will have you sitting down enjoying a drink on the patio after just 30 minutes of stress-free, guilt-free gardening. Packed full of shameless shortcuts and practical tips and ideas that have instant impact, all the know-how is broken down into simple steps and picture sequences including 122 projects on creating beautiful borders, perfect patio pots and how to keep your salad growing all summer.30 Minute Gardening is the perfect rescue remedy for anyone who loves gardening but has little time on their hands. It’s all about how to have a neat garden, a pretty garden, a productive garden…and still have a life.” (Syndetics summary)

The anxious gardener’s book of answers / Teri Dunn Chace ; illustrations by Colleen Coover.
“In the tradition of classics like Beverly Nichols’s Merry Hall, this is a marvelous account of how one gardener created his garden and a sense of place. It’s an essential title in the “how I did it” genre of garden writing”.-Bonnie Poquette, Whitefish Bay, WI (c) Copyright 2012.

Garden DIY / Chris Maton … [et al.].
“Garden DIY provides a thorough grounding in basic garden landscaping skills and offers a host of inspiring projects to show how to put them into practice. Ideal for experienced and novice DIY enthusiasts alike, this book covers a wide range of different garden features including boundaries, surfaces and water features”. (Syndetics summary)

The garden source : inspirational design ideas for gardens and landscapes / Andrea Jones ; foreword by James van Sweden.
“This is a must-have for anyone looking for garden design ideas. Hundreds of full-color images are cleverly arranged to offer thousands of possible design solutions and inspirations for any type of garden. The book includes gardens from all over the world and features projects by the best contemporary designers at work today, including Topher Delaney, James van Sweden, Piet Oudolf, Rick Darke, Sean Hogan, and many others. Alongside never-before-seen private gardens, the book also includes celebrated public spaces such as Manhattan’s High Line-a disused elevated freight track redesigned into innovative, naturalistic plantings-whose ideas can be adapted for the home garden.
The book is divided into four sections: “Connect” looks at design features that act either as connecting or dividing elements; “Divide” considers elements that can be used to create rooms within gardens; “Space” explores different spatial types; and “Styles” covers every type of garden style throughout history, from cottage gardens to today’s minimalist designs. Rounded out with a series of useful directories on designers, sources, and public gardens, this is the book for garden design ideas.” (Syndetics summary).

This month we have a smorgasboard of books showcasing creative ideas for garden and home on offer.  A particular favourite is “My cool caravan”. Check it out.

My cool caravan : an inspirational guide to retro-style caravans / Jane Field-Lewis + Chris Haddon ; photography by Hilary Walker.
“A weekend away in a stylish caravan provides the perfect antidote to 21st-century living, and more and more people are now breathing fresh “retro” vibes into the humble recreational vehicle. Old-style campers also tap into the nostalgia/retro market and the desire for a simpler lifestyle. “My Cool Caravan” aims to inspire a new generation of camper owners and provide an idiosyncratic sourcebook for the design conscious. This book looks at 30 styled campers in detail, covering themes such as Country Cottage, Rustic, Romany, Funky 1970s, Airstream, Trailer Park Treasures, and Recycled.” – (adpated from Syndetics summary)

Fleamarket chic : the thrifty way to create a stylish home / Liz Bauwens and Alexandra Campbell ; photography by Simon Brown.
“This hunting and foraging how-to features collections of china, jewelry, kitchenalia, frames, mirrors, fabrics and furniture arranged in innovative interiors. Mixing, not matching, is extolled and family heirlooms mingle with IKEA. Clever tricks of the design trade are plied with confidence and skill as a home’s floorboards are painted with a tile motif from the Alhambra. Even a leather sofa is painted red: “if you haven’t paid much for them in the first place, then you have much less to lose.” Investment tips are shared on vintage and modern collectibles and there is sound buyer-beware advice on Internet purchases.(Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.” – (adapted from Publisher Weekly summary)

Food@home / Christine Dann. 
“Author/gardener/cook Christine Dann looks at the ways in which food production, distribution, preparation and service are being brought back home to produce superior food with minimal environmental impact. Christine’s journey starts with the rediscovery of home food gardening traditions of both Maori and Pakeha, and ends at the dining table where a delicious healthy feast is being served. Her route takes her to community gardens, farmers’ markets, artisan food producers, the Slow Food Movement, organic orchards, school gardens, backyard edible empires, the Spud in a Bucket programme, foraging, freeganism and fine ecological dining. And along the way she shows how everyone can get a piece of this delicious action.” – (adapted from Fishpond summary)

Bringing nature home : floral arrangements inspired by nature / text & photography by Ngoe Minh Ngo ; arrangements by Nicolette Owen ; foreword by Deborah Needleman.
“This is the first volume to showcase how to be inspired by nature’s seasonal bounty and bring that nature into the home through floral arrangements.
From the well-known lifestyle photographer Ngoc Minh Ngo and Nicolette Owen of Brooklyn’s Little Flower School, “Bringing Nature Home” presents a portfolio of unique and original floral arrangements directly inspired by the seasons and the local environment, with sources ranging from farmers’ market offerings to the backyard garden. A how-to section offers advice on the selection, trimming, and care of the arrangements and on repurposed and unique containers, making this book practical as well as inspiring.” – (adapted from Fishpond summary)

Greenhouse gardening / Peter Blackburne-Maze.
“Packed with advice and tips, this practical book explains how to get the most from your greenhouse. By first looking at the design and site of the greenhouse, it leads the gardener through the joys and opportunities of growing a large range of plants, both edible and ornamental, under glass that would be impossible in the open.” – (adapted from Fishpond summary)

Starting out with bulbs : easy-to-grow and collectable bulbs for the gardener and bulb enthusiast / David L. Jones.
“Not only are bulbs such as daffodils and tulips beautiful, many such as garlic or onion can also be eaten. With practical information about where to plant, when to prune and how to feed, this book features information about 200 species of these plants, organised by family and including great colour photos. A comprehensive index is included for quick reference.” – (adapted from Fishpond summary)

Magical gardens : cultivating soil & spirit / Patricia Monaghan ; foreword by John Dromgoole.
“Discover the spirituality in your own gardening experience with the meditations, journal exercises, and simple rituals contained in this fascinating book. Featured are 16 schematics for unique gardens, including an angel garden, a fairy garden, a witch’s garden, two sun gardens, and Kuan-Yin’s Garden of Mercy. color insert.” – (adapted from Fishpond summary)

The homemade home for children : 50 thrifty and chic projects for creative parents / Sania Pell.
“Following the success of The Homemade Home, Sania Pell now turns her attention to a younger audience, creating a stylish, innovative, contemporary and child-friendly collection of 50 projects for parents to make with and for their offspring. There are ideas for decorating the nursery and children’s bedrooms, with great storage tricks, display ideas, and decorations ranging from a nautical-themed bed throw to a banner embellished with silk flowers. When it’s playtime, choose from making planes from balsa wood, sewing simple yet fun costumes, or creating a fabulous play boat from a metal bath tub and a canvas sail. There are suggestions for the garden too, including a waterproof picnic rug and a play tent which utilises the washing line rather than cumbersome tent poles. There are even quick ways to customise children’s highstreet clothing by adding collars, applique and buttons. If you can thread a needle, hold a paintbrush or wield a glue gun, you will find this book packed with inspirational ideas.” – (adapted from Fishpond summary)

Sabrina Soto home design : a layer-by-layer approach to turning your ideas into the home of your dreams / by Sabrina Soto.
“The thing that stands between most homeowners and the home design they dream of is the lack of a simple, effective decorating process. They have the ideas, but they’re hungry for the “how.” In this accessible design manual, Sabrina Soto helps you realize your design visions one step at a time. Packed with useful and time-tested tips and shortcuts like those Sabrina features on her TV shows and website, the book also shows you how to save money, time, and effort without sacrificing style.* The process works for any room, or for a whole house, and applies to any decorating style” – (adapted from Fishpond summary)

Playful home : creative style ideas for living with kids / Andrew Weaving.
“Tapping into today’s trend to return to unstructured playtime and move away from over-scheduling and electronic games, “Playful Home” is perfectly suited to the times. Andrew Weaving celebrates the best of childhood, from his favorite games and crafts projects to the whimsical decor that kids love. The result is kids’ rooms designed to feed and inspire the imagination, as well as to hold fabulous collections of toys and books. With the philosophy of integrating play into our daily lives, “Playful Home” looks at twelve family homes designed with children in mind, from the foyer to the back door, which stylishly embrace kids’ activities and interests. The featured spaces are the kids’ rooms, which combine flair and fun so successfully that they end up being the hub of the entire house.” – (adapted from Fishpond summary)