Showing titles in Botany & Plants

From the quiet beauty of sugar maple forests to the high-tech, high-stakes world of syrup production, this book takes you on a remarkable journey into one of Canada’s most beloved traditions. Led by Peter Kuitenbrouwer, a forester with a deep appreciation for the land, this beautifully illustrated narrative uncovers the rich Indigenous heritage of maple syrup, explores its cultural significance and reveals the complex industry that sustains it today, where vast warehouses store a product so valuable it became the target of the Great Maple Syrup Heist, one of Canada’s most infamous thefts.

Collections of preserved plant specimens, known as herbaria, have existed for nearly five centuries. These pressed and labeled plants have been essential resources for scientists, allowing them to describe and differentiate species and to document and research plant changes and biodiversity over time—including changes related to climate. Maura C. Flannery tells the history of herbaria, from the earliest collections belonging to such advocates of the technique as sixteenth-century botanist Luca Ghini, to the collections of poets, politicians, and painters, and to the digitization today.

Succulents is a concise field guide to 50 varieties of succulents. It provides illustrations accompanied by profiles detailing each plant’s natural habitat, identifying characteristics, care and keeping tips, common pests and diseases, purchasing notes, and more. Whether you want a crash course on succulents or are interested in interior design and potted arrangements, this is the perfect garden companion.

When he first envisioned becoming a farmer, author Emmet Van Driesche never imagined his main crop would be Christmas trees, nor that such a tree farm could be more of a managed forest than the conventional grid of perfectly sheared trees. Carving Out a Living on the Land tells the story of how Van Driesche navigated changing life circumstances, took advantage of unexpected opportunities, and leveraged new and old skills to piece together an economically viable living, while at the same time respecting the land’s complex ecological relationships.

Who could have thought that a small thorny tree could be considered one of the most precious plants here on Earth? Myrrh is a unique herbal plant that has been revered since ancient times. King Solomon and the Romans praised it. Even today, many still swear by its unique special properties for healing and cleansing. If you're wondering how you can use myrrh for yourself, this book will be essential. From using myrrh for skincare, for health, or for spiritual and space cleansing, this book will serve as your guide into the wonderful world of myrrh.

A deft blend of science reporting and travel writing, The Journeys of Trees explores the evolving movements of forests by focusing on five trees: giant sequoia, ash, black spruce, Florida torreya, and Monterey pine.

Over seven billion people depend on plants for healthy, productive, secure lives, but few of us stop to consider the origin of the plant kingdom that turned the world green and made our lives possible. And as the human population continues to escalate, our survival depends on how we treat the plant kingdom and the soils that sustain it. Understanding the evolutionary history of our land floras, the story of how plant life emerged from water and conquered the continents to dominate the planet, is fundamental to our own existence.

In Tree Thieves, Lyndsie Bourgon takes us deep into the underbelly of the illegal timber market. As she traces three timber poaching cases, she introduces us to tree poachers, law enforcement, forensic wood specialists, the enigmatic residents of former logging communities, environmental activists, international timber cartels and Indigenous communities along the way.

Succulents are fascinating plants. They have the reputation of being resilient and easy to grow and maintain. But that isn’t always what everyone experiences when they first get one. While it is true that succulents are tough, they can also become delicate and hard to please. This can happen when they are watered the same way as non-drought-tolerant plants.

Stephanie Kaza's heartfelt meditations on the singular presence of trees have helped thousands of listeners feel a sense of spiritual connection to our ancient relatives. Through her attentive, loving encounters with trees, Kaza asks vital questions about what it means to reinhabit place, live simply, and speak from the truth of experience. More pertinent now than ever, her intimate exploration of the lives of individual trees demonstrates the possibility of personal and ecological sanity in our time.

What can beer teach us about biology, history, and the natural world? From ancient Mesopotamian fermentation practices to the resurgent American craft brewery, authors Rob DeSalle and Ian Tattersall peruse the historical record and traverse the globe for engaging and often surprising stories about beer. They explain how we came to drink beer, what ingredients combine to give beers their distinctive flavors, how beer's chemistry works at the molecular level, and how various societies have regulated the production and consumption of beer.

Eliminate the guesswork out of setting up your very own hydroponic garden and learn how to grow your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs right in the comfort of your backyard! Hydroponic gardening is the practice of growing useful and edible plants without soil. In this highly practical guide, you'll find useful insights and practical step-by-step instructions to help you set up your very first or next hydroponic garden and grow robust, vibrant plants.

A living legend, “Wildman” Steve Brill leads us on a lively and entertaining tour through the Northeastern United States as he shares tips on foraging in densely populated areas like New York’s Central Park and rural areas throughout New England. We follow the seasons: wild ramps in the spring, the first mushrooms of summer, and in autumn, wild edible berries in Central Park—more than you’ll find at your local supermarket!—plus roots and nuts you can keep all winter long.

Come le piante navigano intorno al mondo, come portano la vita su isole sterili, come sono state in grado di crescere in luoghi inaccessibili e inospitali, come riescono a viaggiare attraverso il tempo, come convincono gli animali a farsi trasportare ovunque. Sono solo alcune delle incredibili storie raccontate da Stefano Mancuso.

In When Trees Testify, award-winning plant biologist Beronda L. Montgomery explores the way seven trees—as well as the cotton shrub—are intertwined with Black history and culture. She reveals how knowledge surrounding these trees has shaped America since the very beginning. As Montgomery shows, trees are material witnesses to the lives of enslaved Africans and their descendants.

Plants are commonly considered immobile, in contrast to humans and other animals. But vegetal existence involves many place-based forms of change: stems growing upward, roots spreading outward, fronds unfurling in response to sunlight, seeds traveling across wide distances, and other intricate relationships with the surrounding world. How do plants as sessile, growing, decaying, and metamorphosing beings shape the places they inhabit, and how are they shaped by them?

Von der Autorin des Welt-Bestsellers Geflochtenes Süßgras. »Vom Horten zum Kreislauf, von der Unabhängigkeit zur Interdependenz, vom Verwunden zum Heilen; nur so können wir auch in Zukunft gedeihen.« Was können wir von einem Baum lernen? Alles! Wie man sich einbringt, wie man teilt, wie man lebt. Die Felsenbirne – mit ihren köstlichen dunkelroten Beeren – steht hier als Sinnbild für alles, was wichtig ist: selbstloses Geben und verantwortungsvolles Nehmen. Für Gemeinschaft, Verbundenheit, Dankbarkeit. Dieses Buch lässt uns staunen über die Natur und über uns selbst.

Embark on an unparalleled journey into the heart of nature with "The Magic of Mycology: An Enthusiasts Guide to Cultivating and Understanding Psilocybin Mushrooms" by Chris J. Conlan. This meticulously crafted book serves as a comprehensive guide to the enchanting world of psilocybin mushrooms, blending historical insights, scientific research, and practical cultivation advice to offer a rich and multifaceted exploration of these mystical fungi.

In Evergreen, Cornell University professor Trent Preszler takes us on a riveting journey through history, culture, and science, exploring America’s story through the lives of its most resilient and cherished trees. From the annual hunt for the perfect Rockefeller Center spruce, back to the earliest days when Ancestral Puebloan builders crafted remarkable dwellings from pine beams, Evergreen reveals surprising connections between past and present that fueled America’s rise to global prominence.

Journalist Marguerite Holloway arrives at the Women's Tree Climbing Workshop as a climbing novice, but with a passion for trees and a deep concern about their future. Run by twin sister tree doctors Bear LeVangie and Melissa LeVangie Ingersoll, the workshop helps people develop impressive technical skills and ascend into the canopy.