Marine algae are the supreme eco-engineers of life: they oxygenate the waters, create habitat for countless other organisms, and form the base of a food chain that keeps our planet unique in the universe as we know it. In this beautiful volume Josie Iselin explores both the artistic and the biological presence of sixteen seaweeds and kelps that live in the thin region where the Pacific Ocean converges with the North American continent--a place of incomparable richness. Each species receives a detailed description of its structure, ecological importance, and humans' scientific inquiry into it, told in scientifically illuminating yet deeply reverent and inspired prose. Throughout the writings are historical botanical illustrations and Iselin's signature, Marimekko-like portraits of each specimen that reveal their vibrant colors--whether rosy, "olivaceous," or grass-green--and whimsical shapes. Iselin posits that we can learn not only about the seaweeds but also from them: their resilience, their resourcefulness, their poetry and magic.

In this captivating book, artist and avid beachcomber Josie Iselin reveals the unexpected beauty of seaweed. Produced on a flatbed scanner, Iselin's vibrant portraits of ocean flora reveal the exquisite color and extraordinary forms of more than two hundred specimens gathered from tidal pools along the California and Maine coasts. Her engaging text, which accompanies the images, blends personal observation and philosophical musings with scientific fact. Now available in paperback for the first time, this edition includes a new foreword and updated nomenclature. An Ocean Garden is a poetic and compelling tribute to the natural world and the wonder it evokes.

Iselin, author of "Beach Stones," has put together a magical collection of 100 heart stones, each one expressing a universal feeling such as love, passion, admiration, obsession, reassurance, joy, intrigue, comfort, wonder, and many other emotions.

Champions seaweed as a staple food while simultaneously explaining its biology, ecology, cultural history, and gastronomy.

Seashells celebrates some of nature's loveliest objects and illuminates the mysteries of life undersea.

'[Seaweed] is like dynamite - [it has] fiber, nutrients, all the minerals, [it] aids digestion - unbelievable' Jamie Oliver Seaweed is one of the best superfoods on the planet and eating it provides a wide range of health benefits. From aiding weight loss to regulating blood sugar levels, this hero ingredient is an excellent source of vitamin C, protein and iron. In fact, it is the food source with the broadest range of minerals, and is readily available across the UK. In The Seaweed Cookbook, seaweed expert Xa Milne offers over 75 delicious, nutritious recipes. From snacks and small plates to drinks, mains and sweet treats, there's something for any time of the day, for all occasions: - Beetroot seaweed hummus - Salsa Verde with added umami - Life-saver seaweed rice - Grilled sea bass with tarragon, lemon and Shony - Lean green seaweed tonic smoothie - White bean and sausage stew with Dulse aioli - Thai pork balls with Kombu and chilli - Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's foil-baked fish with smoked Dulse and garlic - Damson cranachan - Coconut, carrot and seaweed loaf As a healthy substitute for salt or as the centrepiece of your meal, incorporating seaweed into your daily diet is effortless with The Seaweed Cookbook.

Say "algae" and most people think of pond scum. What they don't know is that without algae, none of us would exist.