Love them or loathe them, we can't avoid insects.From aphids to flies, ladybirds to wasps, insects of all shapes and sizes share our homes and gardens. Now in updated edition, the bestselling Backyard Insects explores the secrets and habits of more than one hundred little critters that are common to backyard Australia. Crawling with full-colour, larger-than-life photographs for easy identification, Backyard Insects is an indispensable guide for nature lovers, gard...

The Japanese and Chinese have been creating bonsai trees for centuries and it is now an internationally popular pastime. This compact and stylish guide will provide everything you need to know to grow bonsai successfully, including shaping with wires, watering, seasonal maintenance, tackling common ailments, choosing the right container, feeding and repotting. A directory of over 90 of the most popular species, illustrated with beautiful photographs, will enable you to find the tree that i...

Help your artistic talent bloom by capturing the beauty of flowers with your brushstrokes from realistic close-ups to impressionistic landscapes.From Agapanthus to Water Lily, this unique artist's reference provides easy-to-follow, plant-specific information on how to paint fifty of today's most popular flowers.• Learn to draw each basic flower shape and then paint a single detailed bloom• Gain full, practical guidance for painting each flower through ...

Master and combine different media in your drawing—from soft pencils to graphite powder, ballpoint to fiber-tip pens, conté sticks to watercolor pencils.This visual directory of drawing techniques beyond the pencil provides you with the skills to explore and experiment with all the different techniques and mediums. Use it as a handy reference for when you want to know how to use a particular tool, or as a catalogue of inspiration when seeking new ideas to try....

An essential guide to every species of tree found in the British Isles – outside of arboretumsThis easy-to-use guide covers the 360 species of tree that are found in Britain & Ireland. Each species is covered in detail with information on how to identify, whether from a leaf, twig, bark or whole tree, plus extra information on where the tree grows (including a map), how high they grow, what uses it is put to and history.Every species is also comprehensively illustrated with...

The classic easy-reference field guide with more than 1500 photographs: "An almost foolproof practical reference book." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)This useful book for botanists, horticulturists, and nature lovers is made up of two parts: Pictorial Keys and Master Pages. The Keys are designed for easy visual comparison of details that look alike, narrowing the identification of a tree to one of a small group—the family or genus. Then, in the Master P...

The ideal portable companion, the world-renowned Collins Gem series returns with a fresh new look and updated material.This is the perfect pocket guide for nature enthusiasts keen to identify the most commonly seen trees, whether they are out on the town or strolling through the countryside.Authoritative text, beautiful photographs and detailed illustrations show not only the overall shape of the tree but also details of leaf shape, flowers, fruits and bark.Features...

Essential Perennials focuses on what every gardener needs to know to choose from the thousands of perennials available, and care for the ones you already have. This A-to-Z guide is packed with more than 2,700 plants, with each entry listing flower color, bloom time, foliage characteristics, size, and light and temperature requirements. Each profile is supported by stunning color photography that showcases the flower and foliage that make each plant unique.

This fun book will have kids bugging out! Explore the fascinating miniature world of spiders, beetles, grasshoppers, butterflies, and more as stunning photography combines with expert information to create an up-close-and-personal look at the hidden lives of these tiny backyard residents. Watch each creature progress through different life stages as they eat, grow, and learn in a natural setting. Surprising and captivating, this one-of-a-kind introduction to the crawlers and flyers just ou...

Create the flower garden of your dreams with this comprehensive guide that includes expert advice on everything from choosing an appropriate growing site to maximizing the lifespan of your plants.Charming illustrations and photographs accompany helpful tips on how to improve soil, fight off pests, and make all your flowers bloom with radiant color. Lewis and Nancy Hill will guide you through every aspect of flower gardening.With this complete reference book...

The ideal portable companion, the world-renowned Collins Gem series returns with a fresh new look and updated material.This is the perfect pocket guide for nature enthusiasts keen to identify the most commonly seen insects in Britain and northern Europe.Authoritative text and beautiful photographs show the distinguishing features of each insect to aid identification.Features information on size, habitat, geographical range and months when they can be spotted, as wel...

Sasol First Field Guide to Grasses of Southern Africa provides an introduction to grasses and a guide to 44 southern African species. These represent conspicuous, widespread grasses, weedy roadside species, invasive aliens, and horticulturally useful grasses as well as important indigenous food species. Full-colour photographs, distribution maps and easy-to-read text make this a useful guide for the beginner and budding naturalist and a pathway to discovering the unique features and uses o...