When Pinwheel Plant Shop delivery driver, Amos Finch, who is hard of hearing, accidentally mixes up the cards on two Valentine’s Day deliveries, he ends up giving wannabe ASL interpreter Petra Dylan a heartleaf philodendron from a secret admirer who isn’t admiring her. Which Amos thinks is a shame, because Petra is just the kind of woman he admires. Petra, whose “for now” job is at the Secondhand Rose vintage thrift shop, has noticed cute deaf guy Amos around Old Town before and much to her surprise, he’s noticed her too. As a fat woman, Petra is used to being the recipient of more disgusted glares than interested glances. The two spend Valentine’s Day together, delivering plants and food, strolling through residential Old Town Braverton, visiting friends, and talking, talking, talking. Things take a turn when the conversation veers toward being viewed as other by society, something Amos and Petra have both experienced, but in different ways, and they find for the first time that day they can’t agree. Can what began as their weirdest and most wonderful Valentine’s Day be salvaged despite them using their mouths to offend when they could be kissing? The Sweetheart Plant is the sixth book in the Pinwheel Plant Shop thread of the Old Town Braverton Sweet Romance Series. sweet romance, clean romance, fat girl romance, curvy girl romance, deaf hero, hard of hearing hero, disabled hero, Valentine's Day, small town romance, fat heroine, curvy heroine, happily ever after, christian romance with fat girl, christian romance with deaf man, christian romance with deaf main character, romance with deaf main characters, romance with fat main character, inspirational romance, wholesome romance with fat main character, wholesome romance with deaf main character

Summer Rayne Oakes, an urban houseplant expert and environmental scientist, is the icon of wellness-minded millennials who want to bring nature indoors, according to a New York Times profile. Summer has managed to grow 1,000 houseplants in her Brooklyn apartment (and they're thriving!) Her secret? She approaches her relationships with plants as intentionally as if they were people. Everyone deserves to feel the inner peace that comes from taking care of greenery. Beyond the obvious benefits--beauty and cleaner air--there's a strong psychological benefit to nurturing plants as a path to mindfulness. They can reduce our stress level, lower our blood pressure, and improve our overall outlook. And they offer a rare opportunity to find joy by caring for another living being. When Summer Rayne Oakes moved to Brooklyn from the Pennsylvania countryside, she knew that bringing nature indoors was her only chance to stay sane. She found them by the side of the road, in long-forgotten window boxes, at farmers' markets, and in local garden shops. She found ways to shelve, hang, tuck, anchor, secure, and suspend them. She even installed a 150-foot expandable hose that connects to pipes under her kitchen sink, so she only has to spend about a half-hour a day tending to her plants--an activity that she describes as a "moving meditation." This is Summer's guidebook for cultivating an entirely new relationship with your plant children. Inside, you'll learn to: Pause for the flowers and greenery all around you, even the ones sprouting bravely between cracked pavement Trust that your apartment jungle offers you far more than pretty décor See the world from a plant's perspective, trading modern consumerism for sustainability Serve your chlorophyllic friends by learning to identify the right species for your home and to recreate their natural habitat (Bonus: your indoor garden won't die!) When we become plant parents, we also become better caretakers of ourselves, the people around us, and our planet. So, let's step inside the world of plants and discover how we can begin cultivating our own personal green space--in our homes, in our minds, and in our hearts.

Grow in the Dark puts the spotlight on 50 of the best houseplants you can grow in your dim or dark apartment. Author Lisa Eldred-Steinkopf, known as the Houseplant Guru, shares the knowledge she’s gained tending to her own personal jungle of over 1,000 houseplants. Having a south-facing window doesn’t always guarantee you the best light to grow plants—especially if your window faces an alley or a tree-lined street. What’s the point of growing an urban jungle if tall buildings are blocking all your sunshine? This compact guide, designed to look as good on your shelf as it is useful, will help you learn how to make the most of your light so you can reap the physical and emotional benefits of living with plants. Detailed profiles include tips on watering your plants just right, properly potting them, and troubleshooting pests and diseases. You’ll also learn which plants are safe to keep around your pets. Whether you live in a shady top-floor apartment or a dungeon-y garden level, this book will help you grow your plant collection to its healthiest for its Instagram debut.

Professional-Quality Succulent Arrangements Made Simple! Add a splash of style to your home or garden with beautiful and lush succulent designs that are simple to make and will last for months. This how-to resource will guide you through 40 unique and creative projects using popular varieties of succulents, air plants and other easy-care botanicals. Learn to make a variety of living centerpieces, transform an old fountain into a succulent-filled garden or add sophisticated charm to your front door with a splashy hand-wired succulent wreath that’s easy to adapt to your preferred aesthetic. Botanical designer Jessica Cain has a project for every occasion or whim, whether you’re looking to add a statement piece inside your home, enhance your backyard with outdoor décor or incorporate succulents into a wedding or event. Best of all, because these arrangements are planted in soil or moss and include fail-proof care instructions, you’re creating long-lasting living art that will thrive. The possibilities are endless with these step-by-step, simple-to-follow projects that will fill your home with vibrant beauty.

The Indispensable Guide to the Successful Garden. Now comprehensively revised and updated: over 40% of plants are NEW entries; all photographs are NEW; includes more detailed and NEW information -- USDA hardiness zones, additional plants of interest, etc; and two completely NEW chapters. You will find more than 1,470 plants organized by: GROWING CONDITIONS Plants that will grow in: Shallow soils over chalk Acid soils Heavy clay soils Polluted atmosphere Windswept, seaside sites Dry soils in hot, sunny sites Damp and wet soils Dry shade Dense shade PURPOSE Plants that can be used for: Ground-cover Climbers Hedges Fillers for crevices in paving Growing in containers (trees, shrubs and climbers) APPEARANCE Plants with: Variegated leaves Gray, blue-gray or silver leaves Red, purple or bronze leaves Yellow or yellow-green leaves Decorative, green foliage Colourful autumn foliage Aromatic leaves Ornamental fruit Ornamental bark and twigs Flowers suitable for cutting and drying Fragrant flowers Winter flowers Green flowers 'Black' plants A long, continuous flowering period Each plant is illustrated with a full color photograph and accompanied by a detailed description of its size, flowering season, needs and care. Right Plant, Right Place compresses a shelf full of reference books and a pile of seed catalogs into a single comprehensive guide to plant selection.

Which are delicate and which indestructible? – We show how to find the right home for your plants and the right plants for your home. The Kew Gardener’s Guide to Growing House Plants is a beautifully illustrated giftable gardening reference book, combining exquisite botanical illustrations with practical indoor projects. Readers can discover over 75 life-changing plants and 12 home-transforming projects. Each project is described and illustrated with step-by-step photographs. Starting from the premise that we want to show how to grow the right plant in the right place, we demonstrate the benefits of all common house plants and how to care and curate them in the home. Includes cacti, succulents, bromeliads including air plants, foliage house plants, flowering house plants, and house plants for scent and air freshening.