Resources for Adults

Douglas W. Tallamy, Rick Darke

In his groundbreaking book Bringing Nature Home, Douglas W. Tallamy reveals the unbreakable link between native plant species and native wildlife–native insects cannot, or will not, eat alien plants. When native plants disappear, the insects disappear, impoverishing the food source for birds and other animals. As development and habitat destruction accelerate, there are increasing pressures on wildlife populations.

Douglas W. Tallamy

In How Can I Help?, Tallamy tackles the questions commonly asked at his popular lectures and shares compelling and actionable answers that will help gardeners and homeowners take the next step in their ecological journey. Topics range from ecology, evolution, biodiversity and conservation to restoration, native plants, invasive species, pest control, and supporting wildlife at home. Tallamy keenly understands that most people want to take part in conservation efforts but often feel powerless to do so as individuals. But one person can make a difference, and How Can I Help? details how.

Rebecca Lexa

Habitat loss is the single biggest cause of species becoming endangered or extinct. Thankfully, we can help our local animals, plants, and other beings by restoring their habitat–even in our own backyards, gardens, and porches! Whether you’re an experienced gardener wanting to grow native plants, or a nature-lover trying to make your corner of the world a little better place, Habitat Restoration will get you started on your own small-scale habitat restoration project

Nancy Lawson

An eloquent plea for compassion and respect for all species, The Humane Gardener “does the important work of speaking for the trees–and the bees, butterflies, and other living creatures that need healthy ecosystems” (BookPage). In these beautifully illustrated pages, master naturalist Nancy Lawson uses engaging anecdotes and inspired advice, profiles of home gardeners throughout the United States, and interviews with scientists and horticulturalists to demonstrate how and why to welcome wildlife to our backyards and how we can apply the broader lessons of ecology to our own outdoor spaces.

Rick Darke, Douglas W. Tallamy

Many gardeners today want a home landscape that nourishes and fosters wildlife, but they also want beauty, a space for the kids to play, privacy, and maybe even a vegetable patch. Sure, it’s a tall order, but The Living Landscape shows you how to do it. You’ll learn the strategies for making and maintaining a diverse, layered landscape

Douglas W. Tallamy

Nature’s Best Hope shows how homeowners everywhere can turn their yards into conservation corridors that provide wildlife habitats. Because this approach relies on the initiatives of private individuals, it is immune from the whims of government policy. Even more important, it’s practical, effective, and easy—you will walk away with specific suggestions you can incorporate into your own yard. If you’re concerned about doing something good for the environment, Nature’s Best Hope is the blueprint you need. By acting now, you can help preserve our precious wildlife—and the planet—for future generations.

Piet Oudolf, Henk Gerritsen

Packed with practical information and visual inspiration, Planting the Natural Garden zeroes in on the New Perennial Movement’s power to move us, making its distinctive plant palette available to all. For enthusiasts of these vibrant landscapes, it is an essential text; for gardeners who love the dreamy moods and colors that Oudolf and Gerritsen celebrate, it’s the key to a magic kingdom of garden beauty.

Flora Incognita is a free mobile app for identifying wild plants. It uses artificial intelligence and deep learning algorithms, trained on millions of plant images, to analyze photos of plants and provide species-level identification. The app also offers additional information about the identified plants, including fact sheets and location-based data.

PictureThis offers a powerful plant identifier to identify flowers, leaves, trees, herbs, and more in seconds. It provides detailed information about each plant, including its name, care requirements, and even whether it’s toxic. The app also offers features like a water tracker, light exposure monitoring, and the ability to manage your plant collection.

Pl@ntNet is an application that allows you to identify plants simply by photographing them with your smartphone. Very useful when you don’t have a botanist on hand! Pl@ntNet is also a great citizen science project: all the plants you photograph are collected and analysed by scientists around the world to better understand the evolution of plant biodiversity and to better preserve it.

Sylvan Ramsey Kaufman, Wallace Kaufman

Invasive Plants is an easy-to-use, wide-ranging guide to invasive plants in North America. Features full-color photos and descriptions of more than 250 alien species—both terrestrial and aquatic—that are in some cases changing the landscape to an almost unimaginable degree. Accompanying text describes the plant’s environmental and economic impacts as well as management techniques used to control it. Also includes an explanation of what an invasive is and a step-by-step identification key. An essential guide to understanding this unprecedented environmental challenge.