Engelska

Sempervivum have long fascinated gardeners and are useful plants for gardening situations in which other plants might fail. Many people are aware of only a single, rather uninteresting green cultivar, but selections from the wild and the work of hybridizers have resulted in over 7,000 cultivars with a range in size from 1/2 in. to over one foot in diameter and colors from gold to black. Clearly the gardener has never had a better choice. This book covers all aspects of their history, taxonomy, culture, propagation, hybridizing, people involved in the production of Sempervivum, and a long list of cultivars that are recommended for the gardener. Color illustrations show not only the cultivars, but garden uses and cultural practices.

Dwarf and median bearded irises are the little floral jewels of the gardening world, extending the iris season by six to eight weeks with great panache. Relatively new on the horticultural scene, these small and miniature replicas of larger bearded irises have nevertheless taken it by storm, because their 4-to-27-inch height makes them the perfect size for most American gardens. Dr. Kevin Vaughn, who has hybridized these irises over a 50-year period in diverse climates, describes all five dwarf and median bearded-iris classes. He offers suggestions both for historical and modern cultivars, describes best cultivation practices, and details hybridizing methods. Lavishly illustrated with nearly 200 color photos of outstanding specimens, this comprehensive book is both for beginners who want to try some of the hottest perennials on the market, and for seasoned iris growers who want to learn more about their favorite plant.

Over 340 striking color photos introduce readers to the quintessential flower of the Cape and the Islands, the hydrangea. The lucky people who live in the region revel in these lush flowers flourishing in a maritime climate. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the beautiful displays of hydrangeas in home gardens, outside restaurants and inns, and especially in waterfront areas, where hydrangeas thrive in the sea air. Blue blooms predominate, their naturally cheerful colors echoing the blue of the sea and the sky. Regional gardeners also delight in creating tapestries of color in shades of pink, purple, and blue. This book captures the beauty of hydrangeas and their wide range of uses, both outdoors and indoors, including their frequent appearance in wedding bouquets. From the lacy white flowers of climbing hydrangeas in early spring to the rich burgundy blooms of late fall, hydrangeas bring accents of beauty throughout the growing season.

A follow up to the hugely successful The Thoughtful Gardener (2017), What Makes a Garden is the second book by Jinny Blom, one of the world's leading garden designers.

<p><b>In <i>The Propagation Handbook</i>, plant stylist Hilton Carter reveals how to grow and increase your own plant family by propagating existing plants.</b></p> <p>Not only a plant lover, Hilton is passionate about propagation, the process of growing a brand new healthy and happy plant from part of an existing one. In this, his fifth book, Hilton talks us through the process of propagating houseplants and explains all the necessary techniques, from the very simplest to more complex methods, such as air layering and grafting. He describes which method to use for different types of plant, and lists essential tools for the process. In Hilton's words: "You hear so much about plant 'parenthood', but knowing how to propagate and then watching as your little plant takes shape and develops into a full-grown plant is the very definition of this." </p>

For beginner and experienced painters who want to try their hand at painting flowers with acrylics. Ruth Alice Kosnick teaches you how to transform the beauty of nature into true color explosions on large canvases in her intensely colorful and dynamic style. Her vibrant painting style shifts between marked representationalism and abstract images. The vivacity and abundance of her floral motifs are accentuated by a loose style of painting. She teaches you specialized techniques for using negative space, overlapping layers, color, shape, and contrast to fill a canvas of any size with a beautiful edge-to-edge painting. Learn to paint 22 different flowers-roses, tulips, dandelions, sunflowers, delphiniums, snapdragons, and many more. By applying Kosnick&#39;s techniques to your paintings, make compositions of flowers and petals an emotional and sensual experience.