Plant Science

A heady blend of international intrigue, social theory, botanical lore, and ecological study, The Cactus Hunters offers complex insight into species extinction, conservation, and more-than-human care.

In Monarchs and Milkweed, Anurag Agrawal presents a vivid investigation into how the monarch butterfly has evolved closely alongside the milkweed - a toxic plant named for the sticky white substance emitted when its leaves are damaged - and how this inextricable and intimate relationship has been like an arms race over the millennia, a battle of exploitation and defense between two fascinating species.

In his follow-up to the best-selling Around the World in 80 Trees, Jonathan Drori takes another trip across the globe, bringing to life the science of plants by revealing how their worlds are intricately entwined with our own history, culture and folklore. From the seemingly familiar tomato and dandelion to the eerie mandrake and Spanish 'moss' of Louisiana, each of these stories is full of surprises. Some have a troubling past, while others have ignited human creativity or enabled whole civilizations to flourish.

Embarking on your gardening journey is an exciting adventure, filled with daily wonders from the sight of blossoming flowers to the satisfaction of tasting homegrown produce. However, as a novice gardener, worries about soil health, maximizing crop yields, and addressing climate impact may dampen your enthusiasm. The key to overcoming these challenges lies in understanding the simple science of soil.

There Plant Eyes probes the ways in which blindness has shaped our ocularcentric culture, challenging deeply ingrained ideas about what it means to be “blind”. For millennia, blind­ness has been used to signify such things as thoughtlessness (“blind faith”), irrationality (“blind rage”), and unconsciousness (“blind evolution”). But at the same time, blind people have been othered as the recipients of special powers as compensation for lost sight (from the poetic gifts of John Milton to the heightened senses of the comic book hero Daredevil).

This audiobook features music and special effects. Listen along and enjoy the fun that is Nerdy Babies: Ocean. Nerdy Babies is a new series that will ignite curiosity in even the youngest listeners and encourage them to ask questions and explore the world around them. In Nerdy Babies: Ocean...

Through cutting-edge data and research, drawing on science, psychology, history, and philosophy, The Eight Master Lessons of Nature will leave listeners with a feeling of hope, excitement, and joy. It is a dazzling statement about the powers of physical, mental, and spiritual wellness that come from reclaiming our relationship with Mother Nature. Lessons about mystery, loss, the fine art of rising again, how animals make us smarter, and how the planet’s elders make us better at life are unforgettable and transformative.

Have you ever wished you could be more healthy without spending a ton of extra money? Ever wondered how to make your own natural medicine? You don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own home. Dr Lemmon will take you on a guided tour of all your living spaces, inside and out. In Natural Home & Herbal Healing, you will learn step-by-step how to change your life by tapping into the healing remedies that are hiding in plain sight all around your home. With just a few changes, you can have more joy, energy, strength, and peace of mind than ever before.

Von der guten Kraft der Natur. Schon lange haben wir es geahnt, aber bisher war es nicht wissenschaftlich erwiesen: Kathy Willis liefert in diesem Hörbuch den Nachweis, dass die sinnliche Wahrnehmung von Pflanzen ursächlich ist für eine bessere Gesundheit und Stimmung sowie ein langes Leben. Die Forscherin zeigt viele, teils überraschende Wege, wie die Natur unser Leben positiv beeinflussen kann: Die Berührung von Holz beruhigt, Zedernholz stärkt die Krebsbekämpfungszellen in unserem Immunsystem, der Duft von Rosen trägt dazu bei, entspannt und sicherer Auto zu fahren.

From Darjeeling to Lapsang Souchon, from India to Japan-a fresh, concise, world-encompassing exploration of the way tea has shaped politics, culture, and the environment throughout history. From the fourth century BC in China, where it was used as an aid in Buddhist meditation, to the Boston Tea Party in 1773, to its present-day role as the most consumed substance on the planet, the humble Camellia plant has had profound effects on civilization.

Have you ever wondered why the leaves of the Swiss cheese plant have holes? How aloe vera came to be harnessed as a medicinal powerhouse? Or why—despite your best efforts—you can’t keep your Venus flytrap alive? You are not alone: houseplant expert Jane Perrone has asked herself those very questions, and in Legends of the Leaf she digs deep beneath the surface to reveal the answers.

Award-winning poet and novelist Helen Humphreys returns to her series of nature meditations in this gorgeously written and illustrated book that takes a deep look at the forgotten world of herbariums and the people who amassed collections of plant specimens in the 19th and 20th centuries. From Emily Dickinson’s and Henry David Thoreau’s collections to the amateur naturalists whose names are forgotten but whose collections still grace our world, herbariums are the records of the often-humble plants that are still with us and those that are lost.

What can smell like bubblegum, glow neon green at night, be poisonous and yet still eaten by humans, and even help create rain? The answer is mushrooms! From their hidden networks underground to the fruiting body above, mushrooms can do incredible things. But don't call them plants - mushrooms are fungi. They're more closely related to animals like you!

In autumn, a strong wind blows flower seeds high in the air and carries them far across the land. One by one, many of the seeds are lost — burned by the sun, fallen into the ocean, eaten by a bird.

The "My First Encyclopedia Set" series takes you on a journey through time, immersing you in the era of dinosaurs, allowing you to sense the power of life, and experience the fascinating realm of science.

Inspired by a personal obsession with this singular exotic fruit, Feijoa is a sweeping, global tale about the dance between people and plants...

In Push the Zone: The Good Guide to Growing Tropical Plants Beyond the Tropics, David the Good shares his successes and failures in expanding plant ranges, and equips you with the knowledge you need to add a growing zone or two to your own backyard. Based on original research done in North Florida, Push the Zone is useful for northern gardeners as well. Discover microclimates in your yard, use the thermal mass of walls to grow impossible plants, and uncover growing secrets that will change your entire view of what can grow where!

Are plants intelligent? Can they solve problems, communicate, and navigate their surroundings? Or are they passive, incapable of independent action or social behavior? Philosophers and scientists have pondered these questions since ancient Greece, most often concluding that plants are unthinking and inert: they are too silent, too sedentary - just too different from us. Yet discoveries over the past 50 years have challenged these ideas, shedding new light on the extraordinary capabilities and complex interior lives of plants.

Budding backyard scientists can start exploring their world with this stunning introduction to these flowery show-stoppers - from seeds to roots to blooms. Learning how flowers grow gives kids beautiful building blocks of science and inquiry.

In a world without rain, the desert sands are controlled by the only group with the technology and infrastructure to give water to the thirsty: The Distributor. When Friedrich, a nerdy engineer, discovers a bug in the Distributor’s systems, he realizes this is a chance to overthrow their oppressive regime. Friedrich’s tech can offer a better life to thousands in the Barrens, but he’ll need to reach the Distributor across hundreds of miles of empty desert.