Booklists for Adults & Teens
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"Although the definition of 'high concept' science fiction isn't easy to pin down, many fans of hard science fiction would point to the work of Cixin Liu as a prime example: challenging and imaginative in its use of hard and theoretical sciences, intricately plotted on a sweeping galactic scale, and culturally and intellectually provocative. Liu's novels pose and explore new concepts of astrophysics, extraterrestrial life, artificial intelligence, and other mind-bending ideas, all set against the backdrop of 20th and 21st century China". ~NoveList Plus
Try our list of readalikes that explore humanity's role in space, hard science fiction, intricate world-building, human nature, and first contact.
While most of these listings link by default to a print copy, many are available in other formats (eBook and eAudiobook). Don't forget to check the catalog by title or author if you prefer digital!
Vagabonds by
A century after the Martian war of independence, a group of kids are sent to Earth as delegates from Mars, but when they return home, they are caught between the two worlds, unable to reconcile the beauty and culture of Mars with their experiences on Earth in this spellbinding novel from Hugo Award-winning author Hao Jingfang. This genre-bending novel is set on Earth in the wake of a second civil war...not between two factions in one nation, but two factions in one solar system: Mars and Earth. In an attempt to repair increasing tensions, the colonies of Mars send a group of young people to live on Earth to help reconcile humanity. But the group finds itself with no real home, no friends, and fractured allegiances as they struggle to find a sense of community and identity, trapped between two worlds. Fans of Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go and Naomi Alderman's The Power will fall in love with this novel about lost innocence, an uncertain future, and never feeling at home, no matter where you are in the universe. Translated by Ken Liu, bestselling author of The Paper Menagerie and translator of Cixin Liu's The Three-Body Problem, Vagabonds is the first novel from Hao Jingfang, the first Chinese woman to ever win the esteemed Hugo Award.
Ball Lightning by
From theNew York Timesbestselling author of the Three-Body Trilogy, Cixin Liu'sBall Lightning is the story of what happens when the beauty of scientific inquiry runs up against the drive to harness new discoveries with no consideration of their possible consequences. When Chen's parents are incinerated before his eyes by a blast of ball lightning, he devotes his life to cracking the secret of this mysterious natural phenomenon. His search takes him to stormy mountaintops, an experimental military weapons lab, and an old Soviet science station. The more he learns, the more he comes to realize that ball lightning is just the tip of an entirely new frontier. While Chen's quest for answers gives purpose to his lonely life, it also pits him against soldiers and scientists with motives of their own: a beautiful army major with an obsession with dangerous weaponry, and a physicist who has no place for ethical considerations in his single-minded pursuit of knowledge. "Wildly imaginative."--Barack Obama on The Three-Body Problem trilogy Tor books by Cixin Liu The Three-Body Problem Series #1 The Three-Body Problem #2 The Dark Forest #3 Death's End
Leviathan Wakes by
From a New York Times bestselling and Hugo award-winning author comes a modern masterwork of science fiction, introducing a captain, his crew, and a detective as they unravel a horrifying solar system wide conspiracy that begins with a single missing girl. Now a Prime Original series. Humanity has colonized the solar system--Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt and beyond--but the stars are still out of our reach. Jim Holden is XO of an ice miner making runs from the rings of Saturn to the mining stations of the Belt. When he and his crew stumble upon a derelict ship, the Scopuli, they find themselves in possession of a secret they never wanted. A secret that someone is willing to kill for--and kill on a scale unfathomable to Jim and his crew. War is brewing in the system unless he can find out who left the ship and why. Detective Miller is looking for a girl. One girl in a system of billions, but her parents have money and money talks. When the trail leads him to the Scopuli and rebel sympathizer Holden, he realizes that this girl may be the key to everything. Holden and Miller must thread the needle between the Earth government, the Outer Planet revolutionaries, and secretive corporations--and the odds are against them. But out in the Belt, the rules are different, and one small ship can change the fate of the universe. "Interplanetary adventure the way it ought to be written." --George R. R. Martin The Expanse Leviathan Wakes Caliban's War Abaddon's Gate Cibola Burn Nemesis Games Babylon's Ashes Persepolis Rising Tiamat's Wrath ​Leviathan Falls Memory's Legion The Expanse Short Fiction Drive The Butcher of Anderson Station Gods of Risk The Churn The Vital Abyss Strange Dogs Auberon The Sins of Our Fathers
Ender's Game by
Orson Scott Card's science fiction classic Ender's Game is the winner of the 1985 Nebula Award for Best Novel and the 1986 Hugo Award for Best Novel. In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut--young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training. Ender's skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders. His psychological battles include loneliness, fear that he is becoming like the cruel brother he remembers, and fanning the flames of devotion to his beloved sister. Is Ender the general Earth needs? But Ender is not the only result of the genetic experiments. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Ender's two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If, that is, the world survives. THE ENDER UNIVERSE Ender series Ender's Game / Ender in Exile / Speaker for the Dead / Xenocide / Children of the Mind Ender's Shadow series Ender's Shadow / Shadow of the Hegemon / Shadow Puppets / Shadow of the Giant / Shadows in Flight Children of the Fleet The First Formic War (with Aaron Johnston) Earth Unaware / Earth Afire / Earth Awakens The Second Formic War (with Aaron Johnston) The Swarm /The Hive Ender novellas A War of Gifts /First Meetings
Children of Time by
Adrian Tchaikovksy's Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning novel Children of Time is the epic story of humanity's battle for survival on a terraformed planet. Who will inherit this new Earth? The last remnants of the human race left a dying Earth, desperate to find a new home among the stars. Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, they discover the greatest treasure of the past age -- a world terraformed and prepared for human life. But all is not right in this new Eden. In the long years since the planet was abandoned, the work of its architects has borne disastrous fruit. The planet is not waiting for them, pristine and unoccupied. New masters have turned it from a refuge into mankind's worst nightmare. Now two civilizations are on a collision course, both testing the boundaries of what they will do to survive. As the fate of humanity hangs in the balance, who are the true heirs of this new Earth?
The Sparrow by
A visionary work that combines speculative fiction with deep philosophical inquiry, The Sparrow tells the story of a charismatic Jesuit priest and linguist, Emilio Sandoz, who leads a scientific mission entrusted with a profound task: to make first contact with intelligent extraterrestrial life. The mission begins in faith, hope, and beauty, but a series of small misunderstandings brings it to a catastrophic end. Praise for The Sparrow "A startling, engrossing, and moral work of fiction."--The New York Times Book Review "Important novels leave deep cracks in our beliefs, our prejudices, and our blinders. The Sparrow is one of them."--Entertainment Weekly "Powerful . . . The Sparrow tackles a difficult subject with grace and intelligence."--San Francisco Chronicle "Provocative, challenging . . . recalls both Arthur C. Clarke and H. G. Wells, with a dash of Ray Bradbury for good measure."--The Dallas Morning News "[Mary Doria] Russell shows herself to be a skillful storyteller who subtly and expertly builds suspense."--USA Today
Seveneves by
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Anathem, Reamde, and Cryptonomicon comes an exciting and thought-provoking science fiction epic--a grand story of annihilation and survival spanning five thousand years. What would happen if the world were ending? A catastrophic event renders the earth a ticking time bomb. In a feverish race against the inevitable, nations around the globe band together to devise an ambitious plan to ensure the survival of humanity far beyond our atmosphere, in outer space. But the complexities and unpredictability of human nature coupled with unforeseen challenges and dangers threaten the intrepid pioneers, until only a handful of survivors remain . . . Five thousand years later, their progeny--seven distinct races now three billion strong--embark on yet another audacious journey into the unknown . . . to an alien world utterly transformed by cataclysm and time: Earth. A writer of dazzling genius and imaginative vision, Neal Stephenson combines science, philosophy, technology, psychology, and literature in a magnificent work of speculative fiction that offers a portrait of a future that is both extraordinary and eerily recognizable. As he did in Anathem, Cryptonomicon, the Baroque Cycle, and Reamde, Stephenson explores some of our biggest ideas and perplexing challenges in a breathtaking saga that is daring, engrossing, and altogether brilliant.
Dune by
* DUNE: PART TWO * THE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE NOW IN THEATERS Directed by Denis Villeneuve, screenplay by Denis Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts, based on the novel Dune by Frank Herbert * Starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Léa Seydoux, with Stellan Skarsgård, with Charlotte Rampling, and Javier Bardem Frank Herbert's classic masterpiece--a triumph of the imagination and one of the bestselling science fiction novels of all time. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of Paul Atreides--who would become known as Muad'Dib--and of a great family's ambition to bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream. A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism and politics, Dune won the first Nebula Award, shared the Hugo Award, and formed the basis of what is undoubtedly the grandest epic in science fiction.
Semiosis by
Human survival hinges on an bizarre alliance inSemiosis,acharacter driven science fiction novel of first contact bydebut author Sue Burke. 2019 Campbell Memorial Award Finalist 2019 Locus Finalist for Best Science Fiction Novel Locus 2018 Recommended Reading List New York Public Library--Best of 2018 Forbes--Best Science Fiction Books of 2019-2019 The Verge--Best of 2018 Thrillist--Best Books of 2018 Vulture--10 Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of 2018 Chicago Review of Books--The 10 Best Science Fiction Books of 2018 Texas Library Association--Lariat List Top Books for 2019 Colonists from Earth wanted the perfect home, but they'll have to survive on the one they found. They don't realize another life form watches...and waits... Only mutual communication can forge an alliance with the planet's sentient species and prove that humans are more than tools.
Noumenon by
With nods to Arthur C. Clarke's Rama series and the real science of Neal Stephenson's Seveneves, a touch of Hugh Howey's Wool, and echoes of Octavia Butler's voice, a powerful tale of space travel, adventure, discovery, and humanity that unfolds through a series of generational vignettes. In 2088, humankind is at last ready to explore beyond Earth's solar system. But one uncertainty remains: Where do we go? Astrophysicist Reggie Straifer has an idea. He's discovered an anomalous star that appears to defy the laws of physics, and proposes the creation of a deep-space mission to find out whether the star is a weird natural phenomenon, or something manufactured. The journey will take eons. In order to maintain the genetic talent of the original crew, humankind's greatest ambition--to explore the furthest reaches of the galaxy-- is undertaken by clones. But a clone is not a perfect copy, and each new generation has its own quirks, desires, and neuroses. As the centuries fly by, the society living aboard the nine ships (designated Convoy Seven) changes and evolves, but their mission remains the same: to reach Reggie's mysterious star and explore its origins--and implications. A mosaic novel of discovery, Noumenon--in a series of vignettes--examines the dedication, adventure, growth, and fear of having your entire world consist of nine ships in the vacuum of space. The men and women, and even the AI, must learn to work and live together in harmony, as their original DNA is continuously replicated and they are born again and again into a thousand new lives. With the stars their home and the unknown their destination, they are on a voyage of many lifetimes--an odyssey to understand what lies beyond the limits of human knowledge and imagination.
Ancillary Justice by
WINNER OF THE HUGO, NEBULA, AND ARTHUR C. CLARKE AWARDS The record-breaking debut novel that won every major science fiction award, Ancillary Justice is Ann Leckie's powerful and thought provoking story of a warship trapped in a human body and her search for revenge. A must read for fans of Ursula K. Le Guin and James S. A. Corey. "There are few who write science fiction like Ann Leckie can. There are few who ever could." --John Scalzi On a remote, icy planet, the soldier known as Breq is drawing closer to completing her quest. Once, she was the Justice of Toren--a colossal starship with an artificial intelligence linking thousands of soldiers in the service of the Radch, the empire that conquered the galaxy. Now, an act of treachery has ripped it all away, leaving her with one fragile human body, unanswered questions, and a burning desire for vengeance. "MIND-BLOWING." --io9.com "THRILLING, MOVING AND AWE-INSPIRING." --Guardian "UTTER PERFECTION, 10/10." --The Book Smugglers "ASTOUNDINGLY ASSURED AND GRACEFUL." --Strange Horizons "ESTABLISHES LECKIE AS AN HEIR TO BANKS." --Elizabeth Bear The Imperial Radch trilogy begins with Ancillary Justice, continues in Ancillary Sword and concludes with Ancillary Mercy
Ninefox Gambit by
New York Times Best-Selling Author - Nominated for the 2019 Hugo Award for Best Series - Winner of the 2016 Locus Award - Nominated for the Hugo, Nebula and Arthur C. Clarke Awards When Captain Kel Cheris of the hexarchate is disgraced for her unconventional tactics, Kel Command gives her a chance to redeem herself, by retaking the Fortress of Scattered Needles from the heretics. Cheris's career isn't the only thing at stake: if the fortress falls, the hexarchate itself might be next. Cheris's best hope is to ally with the undead tactician Shuos Jedao. The good news is that Jedao has never lost a battle, and he may be the only one who can figure out how to successfully besiege the fortress. The bad news is that Jedao went mad in his first life and massacred two armies, one of them his own. As the siege wears on, Cheris must decide how far she can trust Jedao - because she might be his next victim.
Too Like the Lightning by
From the winner of the 2017 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, Ada Palmer's 2017Compton Crook Award-winningpolitical science fiction,Too Like the Lightning,ventures into a human future of extraordinary originality Mycroft Canner is a convict. For his crimes he is required, as is the custom of the 25th century, to wander the world being as useful as he can to all he meets. Carlyle Foster is a sensayer--a spiritual counselor in a world that has outlawed the public practice of religion, but which also knows that the inner lives of humans cannot be wished away. The world into which Mycroft and Carlyle have been born is as strange to our 21st-century eyes as ours would be to a native of the 1500s. It is a hard-won utopia built on technologically-generated abundance, and also on complex and mandatory systems of labelling all public writing and speech. What seem to us normal gender distinctions are now distinctly taboo in most social situations. And most of the world's population is affiliated with globe-girdling clans of the like-minded, whose endless economic and cultural competition is carefully managed by central planners of inestimable subtlety. To us it seems like a mad combination of heaven and hell. To them, it seems like normal life. And in this world, Mycroft and Carlyle have stumbled on the wild card that may destabilize the system: the boy Bridger, who can effortlessly make his wishes come true. Who can, it would seem, bring inanimate objects to life...
garden
Southwest Gardening
Also check out our Home and Garden guides for more information (including about our Seed Library)!
While most of these listings link by default to a print copy, many are available in other formats (eBook and eAudiobook). Don't forget to check the catalog by title or author if you prefer digital!
The Hot Garden by
"Put your desert eyes on," is Scott Calhoun's first advice to gardeners facing arid Southwestern regions with extreme climate conditions. Then he shows how to translate the natural beauty of the region-mountains, canyons, sculptural succulents, and incandescent sky-into gorgeous yet water-thrifty landscape designs that complement existing architecture as well as the environment that surrounds it. Spectacular photographs help to tell the tale, showing flowering plants that are also tough as nails, vivid purple walls, and cacti with "punk rock hairdos," along with creative touches drawn from Native American and pop culture. Gardeners at all levels will find insight, inspiration, tips, and tricks to help them create and foster beauty in the desert.
Agaves by
Gardeners and garden designers are having a love affair with agaves. It's easy to see why--they're low maintenance, drought-tolerant, and strikingly sculptural, with an astounding range of form and color. Many species are strikingly variegated, and some have contrasting ornamental spines on the edges of their leaves. Fabulous for container gardening or in-the-ground culture, they combine versatility with easy growability. In Agaves, plant expert Greg Starr profiles 75 species, with additional cultivars and hybrids, best suited to gardens and landscapes. Each plant entry includes a detailed description of the plant, along with its cultural requirements, including hardiness, sun exposure, water needs, soil requirements, and methods of propagation. Agaves can change dramatically as they age and this comprehensive guide includes photos showing each species from youth to maturity--a valuable feature unique to this book.
A Place All Our Own by
For twenty years Mary Irish, along with her husband Gary, tended a garden in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over the years they transformed it into a lively and lovely spot that reflected both its place in the world--hot, dry, and often hostile to gardeners who don't understand its ways--and the particular passions of its two creators. Of course, not everything went as planned, and the garden talked back as much as it obeyed. But for these two gardeners, the unexpected outcome is one of gardening's great pleasures. Mary Irish is a delightful writer. With grace, wit, and obvious affection, she tells the story of how she and Gary transformed a barren half-acre plot around their house in the center of Greater Phoenix into a haven: for its creators and their friends, for the birds and insects and other critters that have discovered it, and for the plants that have made it their home. Although it describes the experience of gardening in one of the most extreme climates in the inhabited world, A Place All Our Own will interest anyone who gardens--and everyone who enjoys a well-told, true-life nature tale.
Sunset Western Garden Book of Landscaping by
The perfect companion to the best-selling The New Sunset Western Garden Book, the Western Garden Book of Landscaping is the ultimate source for ideas and expert advice to make a readers dream garden or landscape a reality. Completely redesigned and updated for today's homeowner and landscape professional, this book has the proven, reliable, expert information that readers have come to expect from the Western Garden brand. Much more than an idea book, this book is designed to inspire homeowners by showcasing the West's best garden design, and--more practically--to give Do-It-Yourselfers enough information to tackle basic projects on their own, making their gardens look and function better. Useful for beginners and expert landscapers alike, this book is ideal for those readers looking to install a new garden, renovate an existing one, or simply to make parts of their garden, whether a patio or flower border, more stylish. With gorgeous photography and the latest in garden design, this book includes the best in tips, guidelines, and step-by-step instructions throughout. Featuresincludes: More than 400 pages full of tips, advice and ideas for creating a dream garden Over 600 gorgeous full-color photos Expanded and Extensive Photo Galleries showcasing stylish Western gardens Expert Tips from expert landscape professionals to make a reader's garden the best it can be Fresh ideas for arbors, colorful effects with paint, fire pits, pools, and more Up-to-date information on designing gardens that can withstand drought, fire, wind and more Creative and Innovative uses for major plant groups including lawns, shrubs, perennials, and succulents Beginners' Advice with tips, cool ideas, and secrets from first time gardeners who have already gone through a landscape remodel and learned from it. Sunset magazine (www.sunset.com) is the premier guide to life in the West, covering the newest and best ideas in Western home design and landscaping, food and entertaining, and regional travel in 13 Western states. Sunset Magazine has a circulation of over 1.25 million and a readership of 4.864 million.
The New Western Garden Book by
As surely as gardens change with the seasons, gardening is ever changing. New plants, techniques, materials, and lifestyles are constantly broadening the choices you have and reshaping the way you garden in the West. In response to this natural evolution, the editors of Sunset-the West's most trusted source of gardening information for more than 80 years-have completely redesigned and updated The Western Garden Book in this new 2012 Ninth Edition. Following the best-selling success of the previous editions of The Western Garden Book, this edition includes a fresh new look, thousands of color photographs, fresh illustrations, and an easy-to-follow format. Written by experts for gardeners in the West, this book is an indispensable reference for beginning and expert gardeners alike. The New Western Garden Book features include: A photo gallery shows the West's most innovative gardens, from all-edibles front yards to stylish water-wise and fire-wise gardens to living walls and green roofs-all with ideas you can use. Climate Zone Maps and growing-season graphs for all regions of the West including Alaska and Hawaii. A new "Plant Finder" section helps you choose plants for their garden's problem areas or for special effects. "A to Z Plant Encyclopedia" lists some 8,000 plants that thrive in the West, including more than 500 new ones. Gorgeous color photographs illustrate all plant entries-for the first time ever in The Western Garden Book. "Gardening From Start to Finish" is a new visual guide that leads readers through all steps of making a garden, from soil prep through planting, growing and care, with special sections on natives, veggies, grasses and more.
Landscape Plants for Dry Regions by
The definitive guide to landscaping in the Southwest, featuring exotic plants of tremendous potential seldom used in Southwest landscapes.
Growing Vegetables in Drought, Desert and Dry Times by
Here is the definitive guide to growing healthy organic vegetables without wasting our precious water resources! This incredibly timely book will give dedicated home gardeners the know-how to grow delicious produce in dry times, focusing on four different low-water conditions in the western United States: voluntary water conservation, drought, and both high and low desert. Using modern techniques, as well as tips and stories from native traditions ranging from the southwestern United States to the Middle East, this guide offers the best of ancient wisdom and the newest innovations in conservation, and includes varietal recommendations and a seasonal crop guide.
Dry Gardens by
Featuring 25 indoor and outdoor gardens and landscapes each detailed project offers a different approach to incorporating the desert flora. With designs by Daniel Nolan as well as other leading garden designers such as Judy Kameon, Terremoto Studio, Mark Word, and Steve Martino, Modern Dry Garden offers techniques and designs to inspire readers to transform any available space into their own modern dry garden. Rich with bold architecture of spiny cacti, brilliant and muted sage, rosy succulents, bright, dusty sands, and red rocks, Modern Dry Garden will prove that inspiration has no geographic boundaries, and will be loved by lovers of gardens and interior design from around the world.
Growing the Southwest Garden by
Plant selection and garden style are deeply influenced by where we are gardening. To successfully grow a range of beautiful ornamental plants, every gardener has to know the specifics of the region's climate, soil, and geography. Growing the Southwest Garden, by New Mexico-based garden designer Judith Phillips, is a practical and beautiful handbook for ornamental gardening in a region known for its low rainfall and high temperatures. With more than thirty years of experience gardening in the Southwest, Phillips has created an essential guide, featuring regionally specific advice on zones, microclimates, soil, pests, and maintenance. Profiles of the best plants for the region include complete information on growth and care.
The Bold Dry Garden by
"For those of you--and your numbers are growing--gardening in drought-stricken parts of the country, The Bold Dry Garden will quench your thirst for inspiration." --New York Times Book Review Ruth Bancroft is a dry gardening pioneer. Her lifelong love of plants led to the creation of one of the most acclaimed public gardens, The Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, California. The Bold Dry Garden offers unparalleled access to the garden and the extraordinary woman responsible for it. In its stunningly photographed pages, you'll discover the history of the garden and the design principles and plant palette that make it unique. Packed with growing and maintenance tips, profiles of signature plants for a dry garden, and innovative design techniques, The Bold Dry Garden has everything you need to create a garden that is lush, waterwise, and welcoming.
Call Number: Check it out now - only available from hoopla digital!
The Colorful Dry Garden by
A design-focused, easy-to-use guide to colorful, eye-catching foliage and flowers for your whole yard, from the ground plane to the canopy, for homeowners and landscapers faced with replacing thirsty gardens in California and other dry regions in the Western US. If readers must reluctantly remove water-guzzling favorites from the garden, they need equally beautiful substitutes! This book is a visual treat that supports the transition to dry gardening by proving that gardeners can have all the gorgeous color and flowers they had in the past using just a fraction of the water. Maureen Gilmer provides chapters on design categories of plants-flowering shrubs, the ground plain, eye-catching accents, ephemeral flowers, perennials for color, animated plants and fine textures, canopy, and edibles-with profiles for each plant plus background info and top picks lists. The Colorful Dry Garden is unique because it features only bold plants that are also heavy bloomers despite heat and limited water. It also features more than just Western native plants by including varieties from the world's driest climates.
Call Number: eBook
Southwest Fruit and Vegetable Gardening, 2nd Edition by
In this updated 2nd edition of Southwest Fruit & Vegetable Gardening, you'll find much-needed advice and practical tips on growing an edible garden, no matter which part of the southwestern US you call home. Growing in the Southwest isn't easy. It's either too hot or too cold and often very dry. The region hosts a range of soils and climate conditions that can be difficult for a gardener to navigate. That's why this region-specific garden guide is a must-have for every Southwestern gardener! Botanist Jacqueline Soule simplifies the ins and outs of gardening in the Southwest and serves as your guide to success. Regardless of whether you're tending an in-ground plot, a small container garden, or a series of raised beds, Southwest Fruit & Vegetable Gardening is an invaluable resource. You'll find: Detailed profiles of over 60 edible plants that thrive in the region's distinctive growing conditions, including favorites like tomatoes, sweet potatoes, summer squash, hot peppers, and pomegranates--plus popular herbs Information on soil preparation, starting seeds, fertilizer tips, and more Techniques for safely managing the Southwest's most troublesome vegetable garden pests Helpful planting tips to keep you on track Garden maintenance advice to ensure a lush, productive, and high-yielding garden Regardless of whether you're a first-time grower or an experienced Master Gardener, the modern varieties and well-researched gardening information found here will have you going from seed to harvest with confidence and know-how. Southwest Fruit & Vegetable Gardening is part of the regional Fruit & Vegetable Gardening series from Cool Springs Press. Other books in the series include CaliforniaFruit & Vegetable Gardening, Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Gardening, TexasFruit & Vegetable Gardening, and many others.
The Water-Saving Garden by
A guide to growing beautiful gardens in drought-prone areas utilizing minimal water for maximum results. With climate change, water rationing, and drought on the rise, water conservation is more important than ever-but that doesn't mean your gardening options are limited to cacti and rocks. The Water-Saving Garden provides gardeners and homeowners with a diverse array of techniques and plentiful inspiration for creating sustainable gardens that are sobeautiful and inviting, it's hard to believe they are water-thrifty. Including a directory of 100 plants appropriate for a variety of drought-prone regions of the country, this accessible and contemporary xeriscaping guide is full of must-know information on popular gardening topics like native and drought-tolerant plants (including succulents), rainwater harvesting, greywater systems, permeable paving, and more.
Homegrown Herb Garden by
Take your home cooking to the next level by incorporating fresh, homegrown herbs! ​If you have been wanting to grow and cook with fresh herbs, this combination gardening book and cookbook is your ideal guide to getting started. You don't need lots of space for a huge herb garden, and you don't need to spend a lot of money on fresh herbs at the grocery store or farmers' market. With Homegrown Herb Garden, you can choose the herb or herbs you will use the most and build your herb garden around them. The book is divided into two sections, the first is devoted to gardening and the second to cooking. The authors chose the most widely used herbs--including staples like cilantro, dill, tarragon, parsley, rosemary, and sage--and added a few of their favorites that may be less familiar to you, such as chervil and Thai basil. In "In the Garden," you will learn when to plant, where to plant, how and when to harvest your herbs, and how to dry and store those you don't use immediately in the kitchen. In "In the Kitchen," you will learn about flavor pairings and how to use each herb in numerous ways in sweet and savory dishes and through the use of all cooking techniques. Choose your favorite herbs, learn to grow them successfully, and never be at a loss for what to do with them!
Call Number: Check it out now - only available from hoopla digital!
Native Plant Gardening for Birds, Bees and Butterflies: Southwest by
Plan Your Landscape or Garden to Help Beloved Backyard Visitors The presence of birds, bees, and butterflies suggests a healthy, earth-friendly place. These most welcome guests also bring joy to those who appreciate watching them. Now, you can turn your yard into a perfect habitat that attracts them and, more importantly, helps them thrive. Professional nature photographer and botanist George Oxford Miller provides all the information you need in this must-have guide for Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, west Texas, and Utah. Learn how to landscape and create pollinator gardens with native plants, including succulents. The book begins with an in-depth introduction to native pollinators and to birds. It's followed by a "field guide" section to more than 100 native plants that are widely available to utilize, are easy to care for, and provide great benefit to birds, bees, and butterflies. The species are organized by level of sunlight needed and then by plant types. Each species includes full-color photographs and information about hardiness zones, what they are most likely to attract, soil requirements, light levels, and George's notes. As an added bonus, you'll make use of blooming charts, tips on attracting specific species, and more! Plus, the invaluable garden plans and projects show you just what to do and can be customized to suit your own specific interests. Plan, plant, and grow your beautiful garden, with native plants that benefit your favorite creatures to watch and enjoy.
Arizona and New Mexico Getting Started Garden Guide by
Renowned Southwest gardening experts Mary Irish and Judith Phillips share their firsthand experiences with gardening in Arizona and New Mexico. The southwestern United States is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes and formations in the entire country. Alongside its famed attractions - the Grand Canyon, Rio Grande Gorge, and Havasu Falls among them - the region caters to a vast array of unique plant life, specially adapted to thrive in warm, dry climates as well as at high elevations. In Arizona & New Mexico Getting Started Garden Guide, authors and local gardening legends Mary Irish and Judith Phillips feature region-specific advice on planting, growing, and caring for more than 150 of the best-performing and most desirable plants across Arizona and New Mexico. Flowers and grasses, desert perennials and trees, shrubs and vines . . . this plant-by-plant guide includes useful information for the novice and the experienced gardener alike, paying special attention to low-water-use species that enjoy the specific climates of these two states. From the spectacular blooms of the claret-cup hedgehog to the puffballs of the Baja fairy duster, each plant is featured with full-color photography, detailed planting and care instructions, and recommendations for plants that can peacefully coexist with them. With an intuitive layout, pronunciation guides, a custom icon key for readily accessible plant facts, and color-coded USDA zone maps, Arizona & New Mexico Getting Started Garden Guide is the simplest, most foolproof plant manual for gardening everywhere from Carlsbad to Kingman.
Water for the People by
Water for the People features twenty-five essays by world-renowned acequia scholars and community members that highlight acequia culture, use, and history in New Mexico, northern Mexico, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Spain, the Middle East, Nepal, and the Philippines, situating New Mexico's acequia heritage and its inherent sustainable design within a global framework. The lush landscapes of the upper Río Grande watershed created by acequias dating from as far back as the late sixteenth century continue to irrigate their communities today despite threats of prolonged drought, urbanization, private water markets, extreme water scarcity, and climate change. Water for the People celebrates acequia practices and traditions worldwide and shows how these ancient irrigation systems continue to provide arid regions with a model for water governance, sustainable food systems, and community traditions that reaffirm a deep cultural and spiritual relationship with the land year after year.
Sunset Western Garden Easy-Care Plantings by
This book illustrates that intricate, fragrant, and well-designed gardens don't need to be time-consuming to tend. Gardeners of all levels will learn about the types of plants that make their gardens as easy to care for as they are easy on the eyes. The Sunset Western Garden Book of Easy-Care Plantings is a book about smart plants, and smart ways to combine them, focusing on specific plant groups that are especially easy, that belong together, and that take the same conditions. Featuring chapters full of plant charts with photos, brief descriptions, and care advice, readers are sure to glean inspiration, design ideas, and enough tips and tricks to build their own garden that radiates both ease and beauty.
Native Plants for High-Elevation Western Gardens by
People who live in the high-altitude regions of the American West (5,000 feet and above) are familiar with the many challenges in creating beautiful, enduring gardens, from water shortages to extremes of temperature. This authoritative guide recommends 150 species of native plants--comprising perennials, grasses, bulbs, vines, ferns, and ground covers--guaranteed to be low-maintenance successes for home gardeners.
The Regenerative Garden by
Discover how to work with nature, instead of against it, by employing permaculture techniques to create a garden that is not just more beautiful and productive, but also more resilient. While the word permaculture might sound intimidating, the principals behind it are not. The main goal of permaculture is to turn your space into a functioning ecosystem that's less reliant on external resources and better able to sustain itself through many seasons of growth and change as it resists pests, diseases, and climate extremes. Whatever the size of your space, from a tiny patio garden to a big backyard, and whether you grow food, flowers, shrubs, trees, or a combination of all, The Regenerative Garden is here to help you become a better, more eco-conscious gardener. Through 80 DIY projects, author Stephanie Rose of the popular website Garden Therapy introduces you to basic backyard permaculture concepts in an easy-to-follow, logical way. Each of the six chapters represents a living element of the garden, capable of playing a valuable role in its constant regeneration, including soil, water, plants, climate, ethics, and community. As you check these projects off your to-do list, you'll find you've reduced your long-term work load, conserved water and other resources, turned your yard into a habitat for wildlife, and learned to grow perennial foods in creative ways. The 80 featured projects include step-by-step instructions on how to: Employ intensive planting to reduce weeding and watering chores Use living mulches to amend the soil Build self-watering planters and wicking beds to reduce water use Install a rain garden to catch runoff Plant a wildlife hedge to support creatures and create a windbreak and noise buffer Compost projects and systems to repurpose waste on-site Make a butterfly migration station to support pollinators of all sorts A healthy, organic, regenerative garden is a perfect example of a self-sustaining ecosystem; everything works in tandem, is intricately connected, and comes full circle to create its own never-ending cycle of life.
Composting for a New Generation by
Whether you garden on a small city lot or on a large country property, Composting for a New Generation covers everything you need to know to make great compost quickly. Composting is not just about reducing food and yard waste; it's also about improving the health of your soiland the productivity of your garden. Compost is full of nutrients and beneficial microbes that help plants thrive, but store-bought compost is expensive and often comes packaged in non-recyclable plastic bags. Instead of running to the store to purchase compost, learn how to make your own rich, earthy compost and watch your garden thrive. Composting for a New Generation explains the complex science behind effective and efficient composting in layman's terms and includes detailed information on tried-and-true composting methods right along with new, innovative techniques. From traditional bin composting (including step-by-step instructions for building your own bin) and vermicomposting, to keyhole gardens and trench composting, you'll close the cover with all the knowledge needed to be an expert composter today. Plus, you'll learn how to use all that "home cooked" compost successfully. Composting for a New Generation is the most complete book to date on organic composting.
Hot Color, Dry Garden by
"Eye-popping proof that water-wise gardens are bold, beautiful and brilliantly hued." --San Diego Home and Garden Dry weather defines the Southwest, and it's getting dryer. As water becomes more precious, our gardens suffer. If we want to keep gardening, we must revolutionize our plant choices and garden practices. Hot Color, Dry Garden provides a joyful, color-filled way to exuberantly garden in low-water conditions. Garden expert Nan Sterman highlights inspiring examples of brilliant gardens filled with water-smart plants. You'll find information about designing for color using plants, architecture, and accessories, along with a plant directory that features drought-tolerant plants that dazzle.
Water-Smart Gardening by
You can have a colorful, striking garden that's drought resistant too with water-smart gardening! This book gives you all the tools needed to create a water-smart landscape and garden. Choose water-smart plants that survive and even thrive in low-water situations, tap into the power of evolution and use plants native to your area, time your irrigation and install water-collection devices such as cisterns and rain barrels. Gorgeous photos throughout Water-Smart Gardening will inspire you with beautiful garden ideas and help you see your way to a garden that sips water instead of gulping it.
picnic
Picnics
While most of these listings link by default to a print copy, many are available in other formats (eBook and eAudiobook). Don't forget to check the catalog by title or author if you prefer digital!
The Picnic by
Picnics are happy occasions and have always been a diversion from every day cares. We think of the picnic as an outdoor meal, set on a blanket, usually in the middle of the day, featuring a hamper filled with tasty morsels and perhaps a bottle of wine, but historically picnics came in many forms, served any time of the day. This first culinary history reveals rustic outdoor dining in its more familiar and unusual forms, the history of the word itself, the cultural context of picnics and who arranged them, and, most important, the gastronomic appeal. Drawing on various media and literature, painting, music, and even sculpture, Walter Levy provides an engaging and enlightening history of the picnic.
Picnic by
Create delicious and portable feasts for any occasion. Whether you're headed to a neighborhood park, an elegant music festival, or the top of a mountain, DeeDee Stovel shows you how to create a tasty outdoor dining experience. With 125 recipes that include dishes like cucumber soup, lobster rolls, fried chicken, and apple cake, you'll be amazed at the variety of foods that are well-suited for outdoor eating. Call up your friends, grab a blanket, and fill up your picnic basket!
The Picnic by
Winner, IACP Cookbook Award A picnic is a great escape from our day-to-day and a chance to turn a meal into something more festive and memorable. The Picnic shares everything you need to plan an effortless outdoor get-together: no-fail recipes, helpful checklists, and expert advice. With variations on everyone's favorite deviled eggs, 99 uses for a Mason jar (think cocktail shaker, firefly catcher, or cookie jar), rules for scoring lawn games, and refreshing drinks to mix up in crowd-friendly batches, let The Picnic take the stress out of your next party and leave only the fun.
Low-Carb Barbeque Book: Over 200 Recipes for the Grill and Picnic Table by
A low-carb diet manual features more than two hundred recipes for barbecued chicken, Glorious Grill Steak, popsicles, MocKahlua Frozen White Russian, and Bourbon-Laced Pork Tenderloin, as well as other delicious dishes. Original. $50,000 ad/promo.
The Outdoor Table by
April McKinney celebrates the tradition of packing up your best food and enjoying a meal outdoors. When most people say they are going out to eat, they usually mean out to a restaurant. But it could mean a front porch brunch with your closest friends; a nighttime concert in the park; a tailgate party at the stadium; a moonlit dinner at the drive-in movie theater; or a picnic at a vineyard. In The Outdoor Table, you'll find delicious dishes such as: Roasted Garlic Black-Eyed Pea Hummus Mustard-Herb Grilled Pork Chops Lime Surprise Bars Salmon with Maple Syrup Sauce Whether at a planned event or just an impromptu cookout in the backyard with your friends and neighbors, The Outdoor Table is your guide to creating portable dishes that you can prepare ahead of time and serve cold and or at room temperature when you get to your destination that your family and friends will love. It's time to pack a picnic and start making memories.
Life Is a Party by
106 killer recipes, 16 creative party themes, and 250 gorgeous photos--plus playlists and easy planning tips--make LIFE IS A PARTY the indispensable cookbook and guide for home cooks. Chef, actor, and entertaining authority David Burtka knows that every day can be a party. Over a lifetime of throwing epic gatherings, the Cordon Bleu-trained Burtka has perfected the formula for creating easy and perfect get-togethers at home. Now, in the pages of his debut cookbook, he's sharing all of his secrets and an intimate look into the lives of one of Hollywood's favorite families. Everything you need to throw a memorable party, or to make a delicious weeknight meal, can be found right here. Whether your event and budget are modest or you're going all-out, and whether the guest list is an intimate crew or it's a blowout bash, David's sixteen party themes-from cozy game nights at home to elegant New Year's fêtes-are built around doable, show-stopping menus that take the guesswork out of high-impact hosting. Complete with endless and fun ways to mix-and-match dishes, create stunning decor, prep ahead, and get guests involved, David helps you put all the elements in place to make every party a success without ever losing your cool. At the heart of the book are David's amazing recipes, including delicious twists on comfort classics like Corn Cakes with Bacon Jam, Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas, and Neapolitan Ice Cream Sandwich Cake. And you don't need to wait for a party to try recipes like Ham, Egg, and Cheese Calzones; Mint Pesto Pasta; and Thyme and Gruyère Popovers. Never one to miss the opportunity to toast friends and family, David also shows you how to make delicious cocktails for a crowd: think Mojito Slushies, Charred Peach and Plum Sangria, and Cucumber-Lime Spritzers. So raise a glass and get cooking! Because there's no better time than now to make your life a party.
The Vintage Tea Party Year by
The Vintage Tea Party Year takes you on twelve months of parties, celebrations and teatime treats as well as introducing more games and craft projects for your chosen theme. See the New Year in with vintage style, make Valentine's Day extra special, give every child their dream tea party, find inspiration for weddings and baby showers, be the talk of the town with your own summer street party and wrap up for winter with a vintage-inspired Christmas. Angel's inimitable style will take you on a seasonal journey and help you put on the perfect tea party whatever the occasion.
Picnics by
A picnic is classically defined as a meal eaten outdoors on an excursion. But why settle for that when you can experience a Sunset Romance Picnic, a Snowshoe Picnic, or even a Dinner Picnic in Bed? Join authors Hilary Heminway and Alex Heminway as they share dozens of creative ways to take a meal outside, whether the sun is just coming up for the day or romantically dropping in the sky, in the heat of summer or during a winter's chill. All-season picnics include: Sunset romance, boat ona lake, snowshoeing in the woods, rodeo tailgate, riverside barbecue, horseback riding, dog pack, picnic for children, and rainy day.From the authors of Guest Rooms
Gatherings by
The cooks of America's Test Kitchen share how they entertain at home, with 140 recipes from simple to showstopping and airtight planning strategies Toss out old rules of getting together and throw a dinner party so memorable and fuss-free that everyone will want to repeat it- even the host It's time to get excited about entertaining again. The cooks of America's Test Kitchen are shaking up the notion of what a dinner party is all about, stepping away from the test kitchen to reveal their favorite ways to entertain friends and family and sharing an all-new collection of personal recipes. After all, professional cooks want to chill out when hosting at home, just like everyone else. Be Casual (but Fancy)- Grill expert Morgan Bolling transforms a grill-smoked pork butt into the star of a giant nacho spread. Avid gardener Jack Bishop showcases late-summer produce in a whole new light for a simple pasta and salad dinner. Matthew Fairman urges everyone to dig in with their hands to his Viet-Cajun shrimp boil.Get Playful- Stephanie Pixley's dumpling dinner easily morphs into a make-your-own-dumpling party. Amanda Luchtel's vegan-optional hot dog spread features smoked carrot dogs and loads of festive toppings. Mark Huxoll's hearty Oktoberfest is a blast any time of year.Go All Out- Joe Gitter pays homage to his heritage with a proper British picnic. Leah Colins does the same with her South Philly Nonna's Sunday porchetta abbondanza. Steve Dunn has a swooningly romantic dinner that starts with cocktails and smoked salmon kettle chip "blini" and ends with a make-ahead Napoleon that looks right out of a pastry shop.Up Your Game- Cooks share all their pro tips, too, including game plans to achieve each menu and advice on shopping, make ahead, setup, and serving-all the logistical info for a fun, hitch-free gathering.Mazimize Quality Fun Time- Discover the cooks' favorite store-bought hacks for pulling together pre-dinner nibbles (and desserts), for planning drink selection and quantities, and for responding creatively when asked, "What can I bring?"
A Year of Picnics by
Savour good food and good company while lounging beneath the shady canopy of trees or under the sparkle of a starry sky. With just a picnic blanket and a little inspiration, you can transform mealtimes into an opportunity to relax, connect, and enjoy the outdoors. A Year of Picnics presents everything you need to picnic through the seasons, with over 70 picnic-perfect recipes, tips on selecting your location, advice for packing your basket, and creative ideas for outdoor activities. Through 20 themed picnics-celebrate the bounty of summer produce with a Table to Farm Picnic or revel in the colors of autumn with a Falling Leaves Picnic-you'll discover the ways food can be elevated by your surroundings. From mountaintops to meadows, rooftops to formal gardens, let your picnicking take you to new places.
Dirty Gourmet by
2018 MPIBA Reading the West Book Awards Finalist in Eating the West DOWNLOAD THREE FREE SAMPLE RECIPES FROMDIRTY GOURMET More than 120 deliciously modern recipes for day trips, car camping, and backcountry adventures Offers a fun and easy approach to planning and prepping camp food The Dirty Gourmet authors were recently featured in Sunset magazine and other national media "Dirty Gourmet" is really a lifestyle, one that celebrates delicious food, warm company, and outdoor fun. It emerged as a website and blog when friends Aimee Trudeau, Emily Nielson, and Mai-Yan Kwan joined forces to share their love of wilderness, outdoor education experiences, and knowledge of backcountry cooking through classes, workshops, catering events, and easy yet exciting recipes. Now, their new book,Dirty Gourmet: Food for Your Outdoor Adventures, extends their mission to get more people to eat well outdoors and have fun doing it! It emphasizes healthy eating with fresh ingredients, efficient techniques, and global flavors. Breakfast, trail meals, sweet and savory snacks, dinners, appetizers, side dishes, desserts, even refreshing camp drinks--it's all here! Camp cooks can choose recipes based on the type of activity they are pursuing--from picnics, day hikes, and car camping to backcountry adventures by foot, bike, or paddle--as well as find recipes perfect for large groups. Recipes are organized by activity: Car campers can relax around the fire with Ember Roasted Baba Ghanoush and Mason Jar Sangria before diving into One Pot Pasta Puttanesca and Grilled Green Bean Salad, with Maple Syrup Dumplings for dessert. Day hikers will want to take a break on the trail with Spicy Tofu Jerky and Curried Chickpea Salad or maybe a Pressed Sandwich with Sundried Tomato Pesto. Backpackers can start their day with Fried Grits Scramble with Greens, Leeks, and Bacon and recharge in the evening with Soba Noodles with Sweet Chili Chicken and a Hibiscus Chia Cooler. To simplify packing and planning, each section offers a base kit checklist of needed supplies along with tips on getting organized, preparing ingredients, and cooking with different methods. Complemented by full-color photos, each recipe features insights from the authors, any additional tools needed, quick-reference icons, step-by-step instructions for what to prepare at home and in camp, plus creative variations.
The Urban Picnic by
The Urban Picnic is designed for modern gourmands and kitchen newcomers alike, to inspire them to introduce a little pleasure and picknickery into their lives. With an irreverent and highly opinionated history of the picnic, strange accounts from the 19th and 20th centuries, original illustrations, and over 200 recipes - many contributed from well known chefs such as Nigella Lawson - it's the essential how-to for anyone who was ever looking for a tasty little morsel to eat in the urban setting. A whimsical and informative book, it is sure to delight.
Call Number: Check it out now - only available from hoopla digital!
The Picnic Cookbook by
Picnics and outdoor meals are a classic theme in British food. Afternoon tea in the garden on a golden afternoon in late summer, a packed lunch consumed on a hilltop while the eyes feast on a magnificent view, and the tantalising smell of grilling from a barbecue are all part of this. Being outside sharpens the senses and the appetite, refreshes the soul and gives different perspectives – and National Trust properties provide a wealth of different environments in which to enjoy food outdoors. The book will include over 100 recipes covering picnics, barbecues and campfire food. They range from bresola rolls and lemon gin to be enjoyed as a punting picnic, to a warming minestrone and spiced parkin for bonfire night, a baba ganoush made with aubergines chargrilled on the barbecue, and mussels wrapped in seaweed and cooked on the embers of a campfire. Author Laura Mason gives tips on transporting and cooking the food in the great outdoors, as well as giving historical context to the recipes and suggesting the best National Trust places to eat outdoors.
Call Number: Check it out now - only available from hoopla digital!
The Portable Feast by
Brilliant solutions for making packed meals that are as inventive as they are convenient. Whether you're planning a picnic in the park, taking lunch on the plane, making a bag for the kids, or eating al desko--there's no reason you have to sacrifice taste or health. A packed meal can be an extraordinarily delicious meal. The Portable Feast offers up more than one hundred recipes for inventive, wholesome dishes that are ready to roam. Preparing food in advance does come with its own set of challenges, but author Jeanne Kelley has done all the work to figure out ingenious solutions. You'll find here the secrets to packing salads so they stay crisp, layering the various components in a jar to be tossed together at the last minute. Recipes in the book are vegetable-forward and feature a selection of brilliant grain bowls built to go--a more filling type of salad built on a heartier foundation. Behind The Portable Feast is a spirit of adventure: good food shouldn't be limited to the dining room. Why not ramp up your next concert in the park with Beet Hummus with Herbs End a romantic dejeuner sur l'herbe with Banoffee Pie Jars. Create envy at the office with a Chia Yogurt Parfait. Sandwiches mix up smart new combinations and forms such as Beet and Ricotta, Roast Squash with Almond Chermoula, or Banh Mi Subs. The Portable Feast is about striking the right balance--between work and play, healthy and indulgent--and creating food people want to cook and can take wherever they go.
Summer Food by
Summer Food features more than 90 recipes for light and flavorful fare for every meal of the day--from brunch favorites to light suppers, refreshing cocktails, and fruit-forward desserts. Dishes like grilled escarole with plums and goat cheese; salmon with crème fraiche and garden herbs; quinoa with capers, torn basil, and tomatoes; and lamb burgers with minty pesto celebrate the fresh flavors of the season and are well suited for sharing with friends and family at alfresco meals. Gorgeous, photography throughout the book showcases the simplicity and beauty of summer cooking. Stunning scenic photography of the seaside, finished dishes, and summer ingredients, emphasize the book's carefree nature and style. The perfect solution for home cooks who want easy, fresh recipes for light and flavorful fare that makes the most of seasonal ingredients and eating outdoors. With crowd-pleasing yet wholesome recipes like orzo with grilled corn, olives, torn basil and tomatoes; watermelon and chili salsa; grilled beets with mustard sauce; grilled pizza with pesto and prosciutto; lamb burgers with mint and feta dressing; and linguine with lox, lemon, and dill, this enticing collection is full of great ideas for low-key meals and simple menus for picnics and barbecues.
Katie Brown's Outdoor Entertaining by
Katie once again exhibits her relaxed approach to entertaining in style. From the backyard barbeque to the perfect beach afternoon, from a colorful children's party to a herb garden retreat, readers will find more than 110 creative and easy recipes, craft projects, and garden ideas. This book is a sensational companion to Katie Brown's Workshop, a new lifestyle series on PBS. Each chapter is organized to follow the signature approach of the Workshop segments: Cook, Nest, and Grow. The show's episodes will be directly tied into material from the book. Entertaining and enjoying the outdoors are a daunting combination. Katie believes in keeping it simple, and will show you how.
Porch Parties by
With this charming guide to casual outdoor entertaining by Denise Gee, belle-of-the-ball author of Southern Cocktails, party and decorating ideas have never been more simple or inspiring. Gee and acclaimed photographer Bobby Peacock crisscrossed the U.S. photographing their favorite porches and dreaming up fresh, summery spins on classic Southern drinks, resulting in 50 recipes for everything from punches to cocktailsincluding several nonalcoholic sippers and 10 uncomplicated snacks. Grab a bottle, whip up some Tipsy Tea or Prosecco Martinis, and take the party outside!
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