Gardening

At the turn of the 20th century, gardening was changing. Where formerly the plant had been the servant of the gardener, now the gardener was the servant of the plant. At the same time, gardening was turning from the pastime of dukes, to the recreation of millions. This new kind of gardening needed evangelists, but got more than it bargained for in the impossibly egotistical Reginald Farrer, whose passion for the most difficult of all plants, alpines, would nevertheless inspire generations of gardeners with a love of flowers with th... read more

There are over 1000 entries of remarkable information about flowers, vegetables, fruits, trees, herbs, insects, birds, water, soil, tools, composts, climate, recipes, gardens and gardeners, myths, superstitions, biodynamics. This is a short collection as profuse and variegated as gardening itself. Woven into this wealth of knowledge are famous quotations, anecdotes, traditional says, lines of verse, and words of rural wisdom. The spirit and focus of the Almanac is British but the wider picture is international as so much of our gar... read more

A fascinating history of Britain's plant biodiversity and a unique account of how our garden landscape has been transformed over 1000 years, from 200 species of plant in the year 1000 to the astonishing variety of plants we can all see today. Thousands of plants have been introduced into Britain since 1066 by travellers, warriors, explorers and plant hunters - plants that we now take for granted such as rhododendron from the Far East, gladiolus from Africa and exotic plants like the monkey puzzle tree from Chile. Both a plant histo... read more

Do you fiave a clue about what's actually going on in your garden? While the British are happy to call themselves a nation of gardeners, they rarely have any idea of the science that is happening before their very eyes. How did plants get to be the way they are? Why do they have pretty flowers? How different would things have been if the wrong kind of pollinators had got the upper hand? Why are Latin names complicated, and why Latin anyway? Why is a weed-free lawn an ecological impossibility? This entertaining book gives the ... read more

In an age of instant gratification, convenience living and superficial makeovers, people don't have time to garden - let alone wait while their garden matures. This book understand all this and so offers numerous solutions to satisfy our desire for an instant transformation.

In a dynamic new approach to gardening, NEW FORMAL GARDENS exoplores how traditional formal desgin is being reinterpreted to suit today's limited spare time, the opportunity to experiment within a well-ordered framework. The results show how subtly organised spaces and wll-chosen plants and new materials can create a restful outdoor space requiring the minimum of maintenance - perfect for the way we garden now. Paperback

This new book tells the amazing story of red deer in New Zealand since their introduction in the 1850s to provide sport for the settlers. Before long they were declared a pest and various control measures were implemented that created a hunting subculture encompassing all levels of society including deer cullers, private shooters, entrepreneurs and farmers. This book provides a detailed, highly readable overview that draws upon a lifetime's experience in the worlds of deer farming and hunting.

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Book of the Year and Winner of the Non-Fiction section, 2002 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards. Penguins have a curious magnetism that compels us to love them. Is this because they seem like us? They walk like us. They dress in tuxedos like us. And perhaps, because of this we think they should act like us. We've created a human image of penguins; cute clones that marry for life and live happily ever after as devoted parents, rearing their families in a world of snow and ice. Lloyd Spencer Davis sets out to dispel the fair... read more

Edna Walling's legacy of garden design and inspired writings is now enriched by this collection of over 50 of her classic watercolour plans. Many new classic Walling gardens have been discovered covering most Australian states. This comprehensive study includes garden descriptions, design principles and an overview of her career.

David Austin has an international following as a rose grower with an intimate knowledge of his chosen flower. In this wide-ranging book, he examines the historical development of the rose and discusses its place in the garden scene. He then selects and describes the best and most beautiful roses for today's gardens in chapters on Old Roses, Hybrid Teas and Floribundas, Small Roses, Species Roses, Shrub Roses, Climbing Roses and Rambling Roses.The English Roses that he has developed over fifty years of painstaking hybridisation are ... read more

Coastal gardening is challenging. This book takes a world tour of coastal gardens on four different continents: from a rocky outcrop in Maine to a sub-tropical in Durban on the Indian ocean, from California's dune gardens to a seaside garden in New Zealand. Hardback

There are hundreds of species of native plants of all shapes and sizes suitable for the garden, but which are the best? Which will be the easiest to grow and the most likely to succeed in a variety of climates with minimal care and maintenance. Offers a selection of readily available, hardy, versatile and attractive trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, ferns, vines and groundcovers. From the interlacing divaricates to the bold-leaved puka, from the flowing grasses to the structural lancewoods, this book suggests ways of combining diff... read more

The harder gardeners work, the more the problems seem to multiply. However, if we allow them to, plants can do much of the hard work we have been taught is an essential part of gardening. Originally published in 1997, this new, updated edition explores the theme of combining plants successfully into self-governing communities to create naturalistic, low-maintenance gardens. The universal principles of 'matrix' gardening are explained, along with case studies, including three New Zealand examples, showing detailed applications and g... read more

This title covers the ideal growing conditions for each plant, it contains: an alphabetical list of plants; an alphabetical list of common plant problems; recipes for alternative approaches to pest and disease and pest control; and a guide to chemicals used for controlling pests and diseases.

The essence of successful tree growing is choosing the right tree for the purpose and the climatic and physical restraints of the site. This text provides a reference to over 400 commerically available tree genera, species and cultivars, guiding the reader through different aspects of tree growing.

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Organic Gardening for New Zealand Gardeners is a richly textured and comprehensive guide to organic gardening, designed to help the reader create a beautiful, productive, and chemical-free garden in harmony with the earth. Simple techniques for harvesting and propagating are combined with exhaustive guides to vegetables, herbs, fruits, and ornamental flowering plants. Whether you are a novice or expert gardener, the owner of a city apartment or a large garden, the abundance of fresh ideas gathered together here from around the w... read more

The second spectacular full-colour garden design book from Jamie Durie, host of the hugely successful Backyard Blitz and The Block.The Outdoor Room is the follow-up to the best-selling Patio. In this glorious new book of inspirational garden designs, Jamie Durie shares his philosophy on how to create a living space outside the home.Walls, floors, lights, furnishings, water features and much more - Durie covers all the aspects of a functional and uniquely beautiful garden. The Outdoor Room is packed with information, handy hints and... read more

One woman's slightly obsessed search for the history and meaning of compost.Say the word 'compost' at any social gathering and chances are you'll get a lively discussion. There might be a couple of faintly apologetic people who can't compost due to domestic circumstances, or a few who feign compliance out of political correctness, but there are always the true believers who compost with a passion. For them, composting gives a practical connection to the earth, it transforms the worthless into the useful, it is a spiritual phenomeno... read more