Twenty years ago, Dan Pearson was invited to make a garden at the 240- hectare Tokachi Millennium Forest in Hokkaido, Japan. Part of the intention was to entice city dwellers to reconnect with nature and improve land that had been lost to intensive agriculture, and this was achieved along with much more. By tuning into the physical and cultural essence of the place and applying a light touch in terms of cultivation, this world class designer has created a remarkable place which has its heart in Japan's long-held respect for nature and its head in contemporary ecological planting design. The bold, uplifting sweep of the Meadow Garden mixes garden plants with natives while the undulating landforms of the Earth Garden bring sculptural connection with the mountains beyond. Under the skillful custodianship of Midori Shintani, the garden has evolved beautifully to reflect principles that lie at the heart of Japanese culture: observation of seasonal changes, practical tasks carried out with care and an awareness of the interconnectedness of all living things. This beautiful, instructive book allows us all to experience something of the Tokachi effect, gain expert insights into how to plant gardens that feel right for their location, and reconnect with the land and wildlife that surround us.

Sergei Boutenko’s groundbreaking field guide to the art and science of foraging and preparing wild edible plants—includes 300+ photos of 60 plants **An Amazon Editors' Pick -- Best Cookbooks, Food & Wine** In Wild Edibles, Sergei Boutenko’s bestselling work on the art and science of live-food wildcrafting, readers will learn how to safely identify 60 delicious trailside weeds, herbs, fruits, and greens growing all around us. It also outlines basic rules for safe wild-food foraging and discusses poisonous plants, plant identification protocols, gathering etiquette, and conservation strategies. But the journey doesn’t end there. Rooted in Boutenko’s robust foraging experience, botanary science, and fresh dietary perspectives, this practical companion gives hikers, backpackers, raw foodists, gardeners, chefs, foodies, DIYers, survivalists, and off-the-grid enthusiasts the necessary tools to transform their simple harvests into safe, delicious, and nutrient-rich recipes. Special features include: 60 edible plant descriptions, most of them found worldwide 300+ color photos that make plant identification easy and safe 67 tasty, high-nutrient plant-based recipes, including green smoothies, salads and salad dressings, spreads and crackers, main courses, juices, and sweets For the wildly adventurous and playfully rebellious, Wild Edibles will expand your food options, providing readers with the inspiration and essential know-how to live more healthy (yet thrifty), more satisfying (yet sustainable) lives.

This guide to common and unique plants found in forests of the Southeast thoroughly covers 330 species of forbs (herbaceous plants), grasses, vines, and shrubs, with a special emphasis on the plants role in wildlife sustenance. Packed with detailed color photographs, the book is a must-have for forest landowners, game and wildlife managers, biologists, outdoors enthusiasts, students--anyone with an interest in the intricate and often unexpected interrelationships between the flora and fauna of our regions forests. Features: Descriptions of native and nonnative (exotic or invasive) plants, including 330 species of forbs, in 180 genera: grasses, sedges, and rushes; woody vines and semiwoody plants; shrubs; palms and yucca; cane; cactus; ferns; and ground lichen 650 color photos Map of physiographic provinces 56 simple black-and-white drawings of flower parts, flower types, and inflorescences, leaf arrangements, leaf divisions, shapes, and margins, and parts of a grass plant Glossary Index of genera by family, index by wildlife species, and index of scientific and common names

Here is the most inclusive field guide available to the wildflowers in the northeastern United States. Designed for easy use, the book features two-page spreads with descriptive text and range maps on one side facing pages of color photos on the other. The descriptions are concise, but thorough, and the range maps show both where the plant grows and what time of year it is likely to be in bloom. Plants are grouped by flower color, usually the feature first noticed by the observer. The species are subsequently grouped by petal arrangement, type of leaves, and number of flower parts as indicated in the "quick characters" box at the top of each page.