The fascinating stories of the plants that changed civilizations. Fifty Plants that Changed the Course of History is a beautifully presented guide to the plants that have had the greatest impact on human civilization. Entries feature a description of the plant, its botanical name, its native range and its primary functions -- edible, medicinal, commercial or practical. Concise text is highlighted by elegant botanical drawings, paintings and photographs as well as insightful quotes. Many of the plants are well known, such as rice, tea, cotton, rubber, wheat, sugarcane, tobacco, wine grapes and corn. However, there are also many whose stories are less known. These history-changing plants include: Agave, used to make sisal, poison arrows, bullets, tequila and surgical thread Pineapple, which influenced the construction of greenhouses and conservatories Hemp, used for hangman's rope, sustainable plastics, the Declaration of Independence and Levi's jeans Coconut, used for coir fiber, soap, margarine, cream, sterile IV drips and coagulants Eucalyptus, used in mouthwash, diuretics, vitamins, honey, underwear and fire-resistant uniforms Sweet pea, which Gregor Mendel used in his research on genetic heredity White mulberry, used to make silk English oak, used for fire-resistant structures, dyes, leather tanning, charcoal, casks and ships White willow, used in the manufacture of aspirin, cricket bats, hot-air balloon baskets and coffins This attractive reference provides an innovative perspective on both botanical and human history.

Product Description: A green thumb is not the only tool one needs to garden well—at least that’s what the makers of gardening catalogs and the designers of the dizzying aisle displays in lawn- and-garden stores would have us believe. Need to plant a bulb, aerate some soil, or keep out a hungry critter? Well, there’s a specific tool for almost everything...read more

Starting at the front door, this book takes a look at our homes through different eyes, revealing the history of every part from the bricks and beams to pelmets, lights and water pipes; from wallpaper, windows and paints to floors, fires and fitted kitchens.

Filled with stories about the strange lives of vegetables, this lively, fun collection of anecdotes runs the gamut from genetic modification to political intrigue and the history of various vegetables.

Celebrates the gardens of twenty artists, including Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Peter Paul Rubens, Paul Cezanne, and Claude Monet, exploring the link between their gardens and their work (view table of contents)

Product Description: An architectural tour of the French countryside

Product Description: Book by Laws, Bill

Product Description: Offering a delightful escape to the simple country life, The Perfect Country Cottage includes lively photographs of small country houses from Cornwall to Maine, from Scandinavia to Greece, making it an essential companion for everyone wanting to decorate and style a country retreat...read more

Product Description: The English farmhouse evolved at an unhurried pace. Some, held in trust by generations of the same farming family, represent the finest examples of vernacular architecture; others have fallen victim to the ravages of time and place or have been made vulnerable by changes in modern farming...read more