Behind the cedar scent of fresh pencil shavings and the slightly bitter tang of orange in our marmalade are untold stories of human interactions with the natural world. Celebrating the human heritage of these and other natural phenomena, the new Hidden Natural Histories series offers fascinating insight into the cultivation and use of the bits of nature we take for granted in our daily lives. In Trees, noted garden writer Noel Kingsbury turns his pen—or pencil—to the leafy life-forms that have warmed our hearths, framed our boats for ocean voyaging, and provided us shade on summer afternoons. From the fortitude of the ancient ginkgo tree to artistic depictions of quince fruit in the ruins of Pompeii, Kingsbury explores the culinary, medicinal, cultural, and practical uses of a forest of tree species. Packed with informative and beautiful illustrations—both new and from historical archives—Trees will charm and enlighten anyone interested in our relationship with the natural world and will be a special delight for every gardener, chef, and climber of trees.

Hidden Natural Histories: Trees

Science & Math

Kingsbury, Noël

Biological Sciences

University of Chicago Press

Disheartened by the shrink-wrapped, Styrofoam-packed state of contemporary supermarket fruits and vegetables, many shoppers hark back to a more innocent time, to visions of succulent red tomatoes plucked straight from the vine, gleaming orange carrots pulled from loamy brown soil, swirling heads of green lettuce basking in the sun. With Hybrid, Noel Kingsbury reveals that even those imaginary perfect foods are themselves far from anything that could properly be called natural; rather, they represent the end of a millennia-long history of selective breeding and hybridization. Starting his story at the birth of agriculture, Kingsbury traces the history of human attempts to make plants more reliable, productive, and nutritious—a story that owes as much to accident and error as to innovation and experiment. Drawing on historical and scientific accounts, as well as a rich trove of anecdotes, Kingsbury shows how scientists, amateur breeders, and countless anonymous farmers and gardeners slowly caused the evolutionary pressures of nature to be supplanted by those of human needs—and thus led us from sparse wild grasses to succulent corn cobs, and from mealy, white wild carrots to the juicy vegetables we enjoy today. At the same time, Kingsbury reminds us that contemporary controversies over the Green Revolution and genetically modified crops are not new; plant breeding has always had a political dimension. A powerful reminder of the complicated and ever-evolving relationship between humans and the natural world, Hybrid will give readers a thoughtful new perspective on—and a renewed appreciation of—the cereal crops, vegetables, fruits, and flowers that are central to our way of life.

Hybrid: The History and Science of Plant Breeding

Crafts, Hobbies & Home

Gardening & Landscape Design

For gardeners, inspiration can come from the most unexpected places. Perennial enthusiasts around the world might be surprised to find their muse in the middle of a bustling city. Lurie Garden, a nearly three-acre botanic garden in the center of Chicago’s lakefront in Millennium Park, is a veritable living lab of prairie perennials, with a rich array of plant life that both fascinates and educates as it grows, flowers, and dies back throughout the year. Thousands of visitors pass through each year, and many leave wondering how they might bring some of the magic of Lurie to their own home gardens. With Gardening with Perennials horticulturalist and garden writer Noel Kingsbury brings a global perspective to the Lurie oasis through a wonderful introduction to the world of perennial gardening. He shows how perennials have much to offer home gardeners, from sustainability—perennials require less water than their annual counterparts—to continuity, as perennials’ longevity makes them a dependable staple. Kingsbury also explains why Lurie is a perfect case study for gardeners of all locales. The plants represented in this urban oasis were chosen specifically for reliability and longevity. The majority will thrive on a wide range of soils and across a wide climatic range. These plants also can thrive with minimal irrigation, and without fertilizers or chemical control of pests and diseases. Including a special emphasis on plants that flourish in sun, and featuring many species native to the Midwest region, Gardening with Perennials will inspire gardeners around the world to try Chicago-style sustainable gardening.

Gardening with Perennials: Lessons from Chicago's Lurie Garden

Design and Plant a Mixed Border

The mixed border is important in ornamental gardens, and the range of plants suitable for use is vast. This book addresses a theme of relevance to gardeners: how to combine trees, shrubs, climbers, perennials, bulbs and annuals into a scheme that achieves year-round interest in the garden. It demonstrates how to build up a border plant by plant, making the most of plant shape, texture, colour and seasons. After information on the mixed border in garden design (function, shape and size, backdrop and small spaces), the book looks at choosing a site, taking into account such issues as aspect and soil conditions. Next, a chapter on planning and planting discusses shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses, bulbs, climbers, annuals and fruit and vegetables. Finally, there are practical points such as preparing the site, selecting plants, planting and border maintenance.

Ward Lock Ltd.

Quarto, PP.224, Creating Beautiful Displays For Plants And Nature

The Ultimate Planting Guide

Work garden magic! These fabulous design schemes, carefully selected collections of eye-catching plants, and novel ideas for color combinations will bring any backyard to life again. Establish exciting focal points and try out expert tips for treating those hard-to-solve problem areas. Stunning color photographs will serve as a guide and an inspiration. A Selection of The Garden Book Club.

Plants to Transform Your Garden

Arts & Photography

A complete guide to creating successful planting schemes in every area of the garden, this book offers original ideas for island beds, planting around water, and planting to direct the view. Each type of plant is described in close detail and its role in the garden is considered in full. There is information on how to combine plants in numerous ways, according to height, form and habit, season, colour and rhythm and unity. Introductory chapters explain clearly all about site, situations and soil types, and advice is given to readers on how to assess their own gardens, with guidance on the best plants for any given condition.

Sterling Pub. Co., Inc.

That kind of look do you want in your garden -- showy summer colors, pastel borders, rhododendron glory? From classic formality to wetland foliage to windowboxes for a town home, these 25 great designs will offer something that's just right for your climate, landscape, and sense of beauty. For each type, you'll see how much maintenance is required, what site works best, and in which season it flourishes most brightly. A general guide to garden styles, choosing plants, and planting plans will get you started. Try a garden for wildlife, filled with a diverse selection of local trees, shrubs, and wildflowers; a subtly elegant Far Eastern look; a relaxed cottage garden in light shade, a foolproof family garden, herb and rose gardens, a prairie garden, and even one suitable for someone in a wheelchair!

25 Best Planting Plans

Grego, Peter

Long, Sharron

All in color! Rethink the typical garden design of extensive lawn and narrow border. Instead, explore islands of flowers, thick lines of plants, and mixtures of shrubs, roses, perennials, and annuals growing together in perfect harmony. This mingled arrangement maintains its beauty longer, extends the value of the planting area, and lies at the heart of today's ornamental garden. If you aren't aware of the wide variety of mixed border types that exist, you're missing a valuable opportunity to make optimum use of natural resources. Dozens of photos show different approaches, from highly formal to almost wild. Trim size: 8 x 10.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Kingsbury, Noël. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Kingsbury, Noël

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Kingsbury, Noël. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Hidden Natural Histories: Trees

Hybrid: The History and Science of Plant Breeding

Hybrid: The History and Science of Plant Breeding

Gardening with Perennials: Lessons from Chicago's Lurie Garden

Design and Plant a Mixed Border

The Ultimate Planting Guide

Plants to Transform Your Garden

The Ultimate Planting Guide

25 Best Planting Plans

Design and Plant a Mixed Border