A delectable consumers' guide to local foods in Indiana

“With the twinned calamities of climate change and mass extinction weighing heavier and heavier on my nature-besotted soul, here were concrete, affordable actions that I could take, that anyone could take, to help our wild neighbors thrive in the built human environment. And it all starts with nothing more than a seed. Bringing Nature Home is a miracle: a book that summons butterflies." —Margaret Renkl, The Washington Post As development and habitat destruction accelerate, there are increasing pressures on wildlife populations. 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. Luckily, there is an important and simple step we can all take to help reverse this alarming trend: everyone with access to a patch of earth can make a significant contribution toward sustaining biodiversity by simply choosing native plants. By acting on Douglas Tallamy's practical and achievable recommendations, we can all make a difference.

Florida can seem like a child's dream of paradise: endless sunny days, trips to the beach to swim and build sandcastles, bike riding without a jacket in the middle of January, and magical themeparks only a short drive away. But what was life really like for those who grew up here? During a recent reunion, writers Bill McKeen, Tim Dorsey, and Jeff Klinkenberg found themselves lamenting that so many of their childhood memories were fading away. For them, and for many, Florida is not just a place people go to, it’s where they come from. That can mean many things to many people, as the stellar cast of writers, journalists, and musicians eloquently reveal in Homegrown in Florida. This utterly satisfying and powerful anthology aims at the heart of the glories of childhood and the pain of growing up. Both a celebration of the exotic, untamed wilderness of a youth filled with moss-draped oaks and citrus fields, evergreen winters and palmetto fronds, and a reminder that innocence often gave way to experience as bike paths became private developments, and swimming holes were paved over by interstates, Homegrown in Florida is filled with tears and laughter alike. Featuring contributions from Carl Hiaasen, Tom Petty, Zora Neale Hurston, Michael Connelly, and many more, this is a book for every child of old Florida, and every child at heart.

Master the Indiana gardening climate with this photographic guide to more than 150 state-specific plants. It's no secret that the post-glacial soils of Indiana are some of the most fertile that the midwestern United States has to offer. If you're lucky enough to live there - be it on the shores of Lake Michigan in Gary, nestled along the Ohio River in Evansville, or in a small town near one of the state's 1,000-plus lakes - you've found yourself in one of the nation's best gardening countries. In Indiana Getting Started Garden Guide, internationally renowned gardening expert and Indiana native Shawna Coronado presents foolproof planting advice for over 150 species, handpicked for their ability to flourish in the Hoosier State. Organized alphabetically by plant type and common name, this book's format makes it as simple to come upon plants you've never heard of as it is to look up your old favorites. Every species - from annuals and perennials to shrubs, natives, and trees - is featured with gorgeous full-color photography, a name pronunciation guide, instructions for planting and care, and a list of ideal companion plants. A smart set of icons acts as a quick reference for sun and shade requirements and plant-specific benefits, and a color-coded USDA map lets you find your specific plant hardiness zone. So whether you're craving the colorful fall pop of burning bush or the springtime splendor of Siberian squill, Indiana Getting Started Garden Guide is your manual for harnessing that beautiful Indiana countryside.