Talking Leaves, Familiar Trees
Written by Julius King with illustrations by Evan Thurber, TALKING LEAVES is a wonderful little book showing 59 or our most familiar trees. They are grouped by families.

Noting that ‘Talking Leaves’ is the Indian name for a book, the author directs the reader to take a leaf and match it with a picture. Then the paper leaves will ‘talk’ and tell you what tree your leaf came from. Shown on each page is a color drawing of a leaf, the tree’s flowers and fruit, its typical size and shape, and a map of the U.S. showing where it grows. The botanical name is shown, along with the common name and a brief description.

Copyrighted in 1934 by Harter Publishing, Cleveland, the 62-page book hardbound book is a treasure for the young botanist! Condition is only Good-, however, because of damage to the covers. The spine is missing and there is edge/corner and spine end wear all around. The back cover is present, yet detached, and both covers show some scuffs. Inside pages, on the other hand, show no apparent defects beyond a previous owner’s name at top of the title page. It doesn’t look great – but it’s filled with great information! (5302)

Publisher: Harter Publishing
ISBN: None  

Illustrated INDOOR PLANTS Written by Lowell Benjamin and published in 1973 by Octopus Books, New York, INDOOR PLANTS is a beautiful 10- by 13-inch hardbound book that will be a welcome addition to any plant lover’s library!

The 104-page book, with 150 color illustrations, is a complete guide to growing plants for your home. There is a general introduction which discusses the care and cultivation of indoor plants – of particular interest is the section describing the effect of modern lighting and heating on plants in the home.

Following chapters cover foliage and flowering plants, bulbs, palms and ferns, bonsai, cacti and bottle gardens. Each group of plants is graded, beginning with descriptions of those which are easiest to grow and progressing to those which require more attention. There is even a section on orchids, showing that the simpler species of this exotic plant can be grown easily at home.

It’s a lovely book – and in Very Good condition with no apparent defects inside or out! The dust jacket is present, but shows some creases and tears on the edges. (5952)


Publisher: Octopus Books
ISBN: 0706402790  

BH&G FLOWER ARRANGING
Traditional, Modern and Oriental styles are described in pictures and text to inspire your creativity in this BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS FLOWER ARRANGING book. Published in 1965 by Meredith Publishing, Des Moines IA, the 160-page hardbound book is a virtual scrapbook of wonderful color photos – along with information on how you can be a skilled and creative flower arranger.

Chapters include:
Bring Beauty into Your Home with Flowers (good design elements, color harmony, shapes of arrangements, arranging styles),
These Aids Make Flower Arranging Easy (good mechanical equipment, vases and containers, tricks to get professional looks, making cut flowers last longer, cutting and preparing garden flowers, using shells/rocks/wood),
Enjoy Each of the Seasons in Its Turn (force-flowering branches, arranging spring bulbs, lilacs/peonies/iris/ poppies/roses/lilies/marigolds/zinnias/day lilies/gladiolus, fall arrangements, grasses, wildflowers, foliage only),
Flowers Can Make Your Tables Festive (coordinating flowers and table settings, rose centerpieces, party tables, seasonal centerpieces, Valentine’s/Easter/Thanksgiving/Christmas tables), and
Here’s What It Takes to Win a Prize (National Council of State Garden Clubs, garden show rules, do’s and don’ts, tasteful use of accessories, prizewinning examples of designed by outstanding arrangers.)

The book is a great addition to any gardener’s library and will offer some great ideas for using the beauty grown in the yard and garden. It’s in Very Good+ condition, with very minor edge/corner wear and residue from a sticker on the front cover. There are no apparent defects inside. If you grow flowers – you’ll love it! (4862)

Publisher: Meredith Publishing
ISBN: none  

Flowers, Fruits, Seeds 1941

Written by Bertha Morris Parker and checked for scientific accuracy by Orlin D. Frank, both of the University of Chicago Laboratory School, FLOWERS, FRUITS, SEEDS is a part of the Basic Science Education Series published by Row, Peterson and Company, Evanston, IL. The 36-page softcover book was published in 1941 and features drawings by Olive Earle, as well as a number of wonderful color and black/white photos.

Topics are as varied as How peaches come from peach blossoms, Pistils and stamens, Pollen travels, Sepals and petals, Fruits, Plant families, Seeds we eat, Fruits we eat, Flowers we raise, and more. It's written at a level that younger children can probably understand - and offers information that even this old-timer didn't understand before! The details are clear and the illustrations make the topics even more interesting!

Condition is Very good, although there is some edge/corner wear on the covers and a small crease at top front corner. Inside pages are apparently without defects! It's a neat little book. (2980)
Publisher: Row, Peterson and Company
ISBN: None  

Crockett's Indoor Garden -– First Edition!

This is a FIRST EDITION copy of CROCKETT’S INDOOR GARDEN, published in 1978 by Little, Brown & Co., Boston. Written by public television’s gardener James Underwood Crockett, the 325-page softbound book offers a month-by-month guide for the inside gardener, complete with 175 full-color photos, step-by-step drawings and clear, easy to understand advice.

Crockett discusses his 30 favorite inside plants, offering information on their culture and availability. Other plants are discussed in terms of their water requirements, culture, propagation methods, history and varieties. Monthly features concern houseplant care and culture; an appendix explains their Latin names; botanical drawings will help you in plant identification. It’s a treasure trove of information for the houseplant lover!

Condition is Very Good, with some very slight scuffs on the back cover and light edge/corner wear. It’s a great one! (3126)
Publisher: Little, Brown
ISBN: 0316161268  

Timeless Ideas for Indoor Gardens
Ware Budlong's INDOOR GARDENS: A COLLECTION OF NOVEL IDEAS FOR HOUSE PLANT GROUPING offers a wealth of ideas for arranging plants in unusual combinations, each with a theme of its own. Published in this book club edition in 1967 by Hawthorn Books, New York, the 174-page hardbound book provides striking photos in both color and black/white of more than two indoor gardens created by the author.

With simple, step-by-step instructions and helpful diagrams, she shows every kind of gardener - including the beginner - how to make rock gardens, waterfall gardens, nostalgia gardens, miniature gardens, gardens with a particular geographic flavor (mountain, topical, desert), herb gardens, seasonal gardens and gardens for children. An entire chapter is devoted to no-sun gardens, showing how to maintain and indoor garden in a dark corner of an urban apartment.

Aside from its value as a source of inspiration to the indoor gardener, this book is also a practical guide to the essential details of gardening - translating, soils, watering and containers. It's a book that's both entertaining and instructive!

Condition is Very Good with no defects. The dust jacket is present, but shows some wear/tears on edges and corners. Still, a nice gift idea! (1789)
Publisher: Hawthorn Books
ISBN: none