Ever wonder if plants sleep or why their leaves are shaped a certain
way? The inner workings of the plants you love are revealed and
celebrated in this guide by botany expert Dr. Scott Zona.
*2023 American Horticultural Society Award Winner*
A Gardener's Guide to Botany is not just another book on how to grow
plants. Instead, it's a lushly illustrated botanical journey into what
makes plants tick, delivered in layman's terms that are easily
understood and appreciated by both advanced gardeners and
first-timers. It's the chlorophyll-infused science behind the plants
you know and love, whether you grow them indoors or out.
You'll learn how different plant parts function (do you know what
stomata are and why every leaf has hundreds of them?), the traits that
separate plants from animals, and how through eons of evolution the
plants we grow in our gardens and homes have developed a million
different fascinating adaptations that allow them to survive and thrive.
From their leaf shape and growth habit to how they have sex and
metabolize the nutrients they absorb, A Gardener's Guide to Botany
covers it all in an accessible and thought-provoking way.
Divided into chapters based on what plants need to survive, some of
the topics you'll discover include:
-
How plants convert water, air, and sunshine into roots, stems, leaves,
and flowers through photosynthesis
-
How plants react to their environment and "know" when it's right for
supporting growth and reproduction
-
How light can inhibit or facilitate chemical reactions in a plant
-
How plants access and use water and different nutrients, including
through lifelong partnerships with other living organisms
-
How plants reproduce in some pretty ingenious ways, both with and
without sex
-
How plant genes are dispersed via seeds spread by wind, water,
animals, or by the mechanics of the plant or the seed itself
Up your #plantnerd status by going on a knowledge expedition to learn
about all things botanical, including the enlightening science of
plant communication, hormones, insect relationships, and even plant
sleep. Plus, learn the many varied ways plants protect themselves,
from growing spines and producing toxic leaf compounds to emitting
volatile chemicals that serve as messages to insect predators or warning
signals to neighboring plants. Through beautiful illustrations,
full-color photographs of plants from around the world, and
fascinating and relatable text, get to know your plant family like
you never have before!
Whether you grow houseplants on a windowsill, vegetables in raised beds,
or shrubs and perennials along your front walk, A Gardener's Guide to
Botany takes you on a beautiful adventure into the amazing kingdom of
plants.
