{"title":"Books by Noel Kingsbury","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9780226437132","title":"Hybrid – The History and Science of Plant Breeding","description":"Disheartened by the shrink-wrapped, Styrofoam-packed state of contemporary supermarket fruits and vegetables, many shoppers hark back to a more innocent time, to visions of succulent red tomatoes plucked straight from the vine, gleaming orange carrots pulled from loamy brown soil, swirling heads of green lettuce basking in the sun. With \"Hybrid\", Noel Kingsbury reveals that even those imaginary perfect foods are themselves far from anything that could properly be called natural; rather, they represent the end of a millennia-long history of selective breeding and hybridization. Drawing on historical and scientific accounts, as well as a rich trove of anecdotes, Kingsbury shows how scientists, amateur breeders, and countless anonymous farmers and gardeners slowly caused the evolutionary pressures of nature to be supplanted by those of human needs.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56227645129077,"sku":"9780226437132","price":21.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780226437132_2f757ed1-3af6-40c5-a6ee-0e91f3f5e082.jpg?v=1786012476"},{"product_id":"9780857829207","title":"The Story of Flowers","description":"Throughout history flowers have been an integral part of human survival and culture – as food, for medicine, to express feelings, as symbols, to commemorate and celebrate, and to decorate. Their shapes, colors, scents and textures have always attracted us, as they do animals and insects. Flowers are used as luxury spices (saffron), and as coloring and flavoring agents – marigolds fed to chickens make eggs more yellow and lavender was Elizabeth I's favorite flavor of jam. Flowers are full of symbolic meaning: violets represent modesty, daises purity and daffodils unrequited love. And they have always played an important role in culture through myths and legends, literature and the decorative arts. This delightful new book brings together 100 of the world's flowers to tell their remarkable stories. Each flower is richly illustrated in color and accompanied by facts about each species and what role it has played in our culture and history.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56295059620213,"sku":"9780857829207","price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780857829207_2deefd55-74f5-4f0c-8c98-a197d5168a7e.jpg?v=1786016303"},{"product_id":"9781739903961","title":"A Beautiful Obsession","description":"Jimi Blake has spent 25 years collecting the most interesting plants he could get his hands on. At Hunting Brook, these come together in a unique fusion of funky foliage, perennial, and woodland styles to make a flamboyant, surprising, experimental garden that is overflowing with ideas for enthusiastic gardeners. Exotic-leaved plants from the Far East and South America rub shoulders with temperate perennials to excite the eye. Trees are pollarded, salvias and dahlias are present in abundance, and borders are unconstrained. Jimi's eagle eye for flaws means plants that don't quite cut the mustard are ruthlessly dispatched and the garden is constantly being scrutinized and reinvented. A Beautiful Obsession inspires new garden projects, rewrites the rule book about combining plants, and will have plant enthusiasts reaching for specialist nursery catalogues.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56304143761781,"sku":"9781739903961","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781739903961_b59413c8-d7b5-423e-8859-e556c972f8ff.jpg?v=1786024346"},{"product_id":"9781604693706","title":"Planting","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Indispensable.” —\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Piet Oudolf’s gardens—unique combinations of long-lived perennials and woody plants that are rich in texture and sophisticated in color—are breathtaking and have deep emotional resonance. With \u003ci\u003ePlanting\u003c\/i\u003e, designers and home gardeners can recreate these plant-rich, beautiful gardens that support biodiversity and nourish the human spirit.\u003cbr\u003e An intimate knowledge of plants is essential to the success of modern landscape design, and \u003ci\u003ePlanting\u003c\/i\u003e shares Oudolf’s considerable understanding of plant ecology, explaining how plants behave in different situations, what goes on underground, and which species make good neighbors. Extensive plant charts and planting plans will help you choose plants for their structure, color, and texture. A detailed directory shares details like each plant’s life expectancy, the persistence of its seedheads, and its propensity to self-seed.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56305107501429,"sku":"9781604693706","price":34.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781604693706_5d6dd277-258f-4574-8578-b9506e55a89d.jpg?v=1786023253"},{"product_id":"9781838661052","title":"Wild","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e‘This extraordinarily useful compendium should be required reading for anyone aspiring to … a gorgeous garden.’ – \u003ci\u003eNew York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA stunning exploration of one of the hottest trends in garden design, nature-based planting with an eco-aware approach, featuring the work of leading designers such as Sean Hogan, Piet Oudolf, and Dan Pearson\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eForget the mild, manicured gardens of the past: planting today is undergoing a revolution in taste and aesthetics. This is the first comprehensive overview of a new planting approach that is wild and natural by nature, reflecting the global turn towards sustainability and the current zeitgeist in garden design. Featuring over 40 gardens – from a perennial meadow in East Sussex, England to a private, drought-resistant garden in Australia – each garden in this stunning book is brought to life with beautiful photography and insightful text.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56308010647925,"sku":"9781838661052","price":39.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781838661052_f41e2388-2a30-49f1-8534-0fcd59add288.jpg?v=1786028032"},{"product_id":"9781999734596","title":"Gardens Under Big Skies","description":"The Netherlands is steeped in horticultural history and its gardens have long been a place for innovation and progressive thinking, exemplified by iconic figures such as the landscape architect Mien Ruys and naturalistic plant pioneer Piet Oudolf.   In this book, Noel Kingsbury and Maayke de Ridder explore how the particularities of landscape, history and culture in the Netherlands have given rise to distinctive gardens and demonstrates how a new generation of Dutch designers are reimagining outdoor space in such a revolutionary way.   At the heart of the story is a people intimately engaged with their surroundings, as proud of the feats of engineering used to reclaim their land from the sea as they are passionate about nature and biodiversity. This creative tension is played out in their parks and gardens: a clean, pared-back aesthetic contrasts with billowing planting; water is managed and made accessible with boardwalks; and meandering paths lead to inviting outbuildings for work and relaxation.   These inspiring examples of sustainable, modern, liveable outdoor spaces will appeal to forward-looking garden makers wherever they live.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56313253921141,"sku":"9781999734596","price":40.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781999734596_0b8c2284-99b8-45b8-854f-81ab0c2b0fde.jpg?v=1786031822"},{"product_id":"9781805704454","title":"New Small Garden","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTransform even the smallest outdoor space into a vibrant, beautifully designed garden with \u003ci\u003eNew Small Garden\u003c\/i\u003e, now repackaged into a flexible paperback edition. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eSmall gardens can be some of the most rewarding spaces we tend and also some of the most challenging. In this practical and inspiring book, \u003cb\u003eplanting expert Noel Kingsbury\u003c\/b\u003e teaches you how to see compact spaces differently, revealing how thoughtful design can turn any tiny space into a thriving green haven.  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eDrawing on decades of horticultural expertise and the latest approaches in sustainable gardening, Kingsbury shows how limited area doesn’t restrict creativity. Instead, it offers opportunities for \u003cb\u003esmarter choices and more intentional design. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAcross beautifully photographed real gardens, he explores the combinations that work best for small spaces. Whether you’re a beginner looking to plant your first border or a seasoned gardener rethinking an existing space, this book offers eye‑opening guidance that will \u003cb\u003eelevate what you grow and how you grow it. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eFor example, you will learn how to:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDesign for small spaces using \u003cb\u003evisual illusions, diagonal sightlines, and layered planting\u003c\/b\u003e that makes compact gardens feel larger. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eChoose the right plants for the upper, middle, and ground layers,\u003c\/b\u003e including perennials, shrubs, climbers, grasses, and bulbs. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUse \u003cb\u003esustainable practices\u003c\/b\u003e such as rain‑garden features, permeable surfaces, water‑smart planting, and wildlife‑supportive design. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWork with \u003cb\u003emicroclimates and urban conditions\u003c\/b\u003e to grow healthier, more resilient plants. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eIncorporate vertical planting\u003c\/b\u003e to maximize growing area and add height. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eCreate character and continuity\u003c\/b\u003e with focal points, containers, repeated materials, and seasonal planting schemes. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eSupport biodiversity\u003c\/b\u003e by designing habitats that welcome beneficial species.  \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLearn from \u003cb\u003ereal-life examples\u003c\/b\u003e, including six whole‑garden case studies showcasing successful small gardens and the thinking behind them. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe book is complete with more than \u003cb\u003e450 stunning photographs \u003c\/b\u003eby renowned lifestyle photographer, Maayke de Ridder, illustrating every concept through lush, real-world inspiration. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhether you’re working with a courtyard, balcony, terrace, or backyard, \u003ci\u003eNew Small Garden\u003c\/i\u003e gives you the tools and confidence to create a beautiful and deeply personal outdoor space, no matter its size.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56369240113525,"sku":"9781805704454","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781805704454_4f542657-6fd5-4c0d-bbdd-c735b61bffb0.jpg?v=1786028346"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-noel-kingsbury.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}