The Wild Gardener

In this eloquent plea for compassion and respect for all species, journalist and gardener Nancy Lawson describes why and how to welcome wildlife to our backyards. Through engaging anecdotes and inspired advice, profiles of home gardeners throughout the country, and interviews with scientists and horticulturalists, Lawson applies the broader lessons of ecology to our own outdoor spaces. Detailed chapters address planting for wildlife by choosing native species; providing habitats that shelter baby animals, as well as birds, bees, and butterflies; creating safe zones in the garden; cohabiting with creatures often regarded as pests; letting nature be your garden designer; and encouraging natural processes and evolution in the garden. The Humane Gardener fills a unique niche in describing simple principles for both attracting wildlife and peacefully resolving conflicts with all the creatures that share our world.

Eloquent text and stunning illustrations combine to explore the many ways seeds are distributed, including animals, weather and wind, human action, and even the plants themselves. A farmer and her son carefully plant seeds in their garden. In the wild garden, many seeds are planted too, but not by farmers' hands. Different kinds of animals transport seeds, often without knowing it. Sometimes rain washes seeds away to a new location. And sometimes something extraordinary occurs, like when the pods of Scotch broom burst open explosively in the summer heat, scattering seeds everywhere like popcorn. Kathryn Galbraith's lyrical prose seamlessly combines with Wendy Halperin's elegant, crisp illustrations to show how many elements work together through the seasons to create and sustain the wild meadow garden.

Selected as one of the 75 Great Garden Books by the American Horticultural Society Winner of the Garden Writers of America Art of Communication Award, 1991 In this modern classic of gardening, noted author and artist Peter Loewer explores native American plants for the wild garden, whether it's a green sanctuary in the midst of a concrete landscape or a natural area on the edge of virgin forest. The book includes reliable information on cultivating and propagating the best wildflowers and shrubs and offers curious folklore and historical footnotes on wild flora and fauna.

Reproduction of the original: The Wild Garden by W. Robinson

William Robinson, 5 July 1838 - 17 May 1935, was an Irish practical gardener and journalist. Alfred William Parsons, 2 December 1847 - 16 Jan 1920, was an English artist, illustrator, landscape painter and garden designer.

Like his contemporary Gertrude Jekyll, William Robinson made enormous contributions to the world of gardening. More than any other gardener, he was responsible for sweeping out the rigid Victorian style and ushering in a more relaxed look that used native plants. Here, Richard Bisgrove explores Robinson's design principles and his transformative role in English gardening. Robinson's groundbreaking ideas are displayed in numerous illustrations, including photographs of Robinsonian gardens at Gravetye Manor and elsewhere and engravings from his classic books.