This is the journey of a young woman who was profoundly affected by the war in her home country of Vietnam. She was thrown into the tragedy of the collapse of South Vietnam in 1975, escaped alone to the United States and established her life here as a medical doctor. She struggled with the profound cultural shock, learned to grow and deal with the prejudices against her perceived unconventional lifestyle, and protected her integrity. The second part of the book is about the saga to adopt an infant from Vietnam alone; how she fought all the obstacles and the stigma of single motherhood in her culture to triumphantly bring the child to the US. In doing so, she managed to raise her child alone as a full-time professional and found happiness and peace of mind. A deeply moving, emotionally-harrowing tale of one woman's journey of immigration--first as an emigrant to the United States from her home in Vietnam, next as a single woman striving to adopt a child from her native country. Ngan Ha 's remarkable story is a triumph, one propelled by the author's dreams and fierce determination. --Amy Friedman, author of Desperado's Wife

This is not your grandmother's gardening book. You Grow Girl is a hip, humorous how-to for crafty gals everywhere who are discovering a passion for gardening but lack the know-how to turn their dreams of homegrown tomatoes and fresh-cut flowers into a reality. Gayla Trail, creator of YouGrowGirl.com, provides guidance for both beginning and intermediate gardeners with engaging tips, projects, and recipes -- whether you have access to a small backyard or merely to a fire escape. You Grow Girl eliminates the intimidation factor and reveals how easy and enjoyable it can be to cultivate plants and flowers even when resources and space are limited. Divided into accessible sections like Plan, Plant, and Grow, You Grow Girl takes readers through the entire gardening experience: Preparing soil Nurturing seedlings Fending off critters Reaping the bounty Readying plants for winter Preparing for the seasons ahead Gayla also includes a wealth of ingenious and creative projects, such as: Transforming your garden's harvest into lush bath and beauty products Converting household junk into canny containers Growing and bagging herbal tea Concocting homemade pest repellents ...and much, much more. Witty, wise, and as practical as it is stylish, You Grow Girl is guaranteed to show you how to get your garden on. All you need is a windowsill and a dream!

Dragon fruit (pitaya) is a perennial climbing cactus, native to the tropical areas of North, Central and South America. It is suited to tropical and subtropical regions and is commercially grown in an increasing number of countries, including Israel, Australia and the USA. Dragon fruit generates considerable consumer interest because of its exotic appearance and potential health benefits. The fruit is rich in nutrients and phytochemical compounds. It can be eaten fresh or used in the preparation of juices, jellies, jams, etc. The natural bioactive compounds in pitaya have the potential to be exploited in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Increasingly cultivated worldwide, the plant is drought-resistant, easily adapts to light intensity and high temperatures, and has a tolerance to a wide range of soil salinities. With ongoing global warming, dragon fruit has great potential as a new crop for many more countries. This book is a compilation of the current state of knowledge on dragon fruit physiology, cultivation, production technology, postharvest management and processing, and is written by leading international authors.

"'The Boy Who Grew Dragons' is good-hearted fantasy fun."-New York Times Book Review "This gently funny title is a must-purchase for public libraries, and a great recommendation for readers of all ages"-School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW "Never has so much toilet humor been so charming."-Kirkus Reviews "Readers will be eager for more."-Booklist This hilarious middle-grade novel with illustrations throughout sees Tomas discover that he can grow dragons in his own garden! When Tomas discovers a strange old tree at the bottom of his grandfather's garden, he doesn't think much of it. But he takes the funny fruit from the tree back into the house and gets the shock of his life when a tiny dragon hatches! The tree is a dragon fruit tree, and Tomas now has his very own dragon, Flicker! While Tomas finds out that life with Flicker is fun, he also finds that it is very...unpredictable. Yes, dragons are wonderful, but they also set fire to your toothbrush and leave your underwear hanging from the TV antenna. Tomas has to learn how to look after Flicker---and quickly! And then something extraordinary happens: More dragon fruits appear on the tree! Now it's official, Tomas is growing dragons.

"First published in the United Kingdom by Ebury Press in 2015."--Title page verso.

--- Hardcover edition contains COLOR IMAGES --- "I don't want to suppose. I want to know." -Julia Frances Morton "Fruits of Warm Climates" is "the" encyclopedia for those who want to know. In one definitive volume, Morton explores the world of tropical and subtropical fruit, providing information on the history of the plants, cultivation techniques, food and alternative uses, nutrition, varieties, and much more. Written in a professional yet accessible voice, "Fruits of Warm Climates" is a must-have for anyone interested in tropical horticulture. Valuable for researchers as well as home and commercial growers, "Fruits of Warm Climates" masterfully packages the essential information on familiar and not-so-familiar tropical fruit. With over 400 pages containing hundreds of images, the volume is overflowing with information on countless varieties of fruits. Years after its original publication, "Fruits of Warm Climates" remains a leading text on the subject and the pinnacle work of economic botanist Julia F. Morton. It is an important resource for every agricultural, research, and science library. Julia F. Morton was Research Professor of Biology and Director of the Morton Collectanea (a research and information center devoted to economic botany) at the University of Miami. She received a D. Sc. from Florida State University in 1973 and was elected Fellow of the Linnean Society of London in 1974. She has held numerous positions in the field including President of the Florida State Horticulture Society, a member of the Board of Trustees of Fairchild Tropical Garden, and served on the Board of Directors of the Florida National Parks and Monuments Association. She is the author of 10 books and co-author of 12 others.