The Old Time Blue Ribbon Gardener S Handbook

"The Old-Time, Blue-Ribbon Gardener's Handbook: Tips, Techniques, and Projects" brings back the days of the big backyard and the home-oriented pleasure of days gone by. Full of visually appealing vintage art that exudes old-fashioned warmth and a wealth of classic, time-tested gardening know-how, this stunning volume is a classic that will delight beginning and experienced gardeners of all ages as well as those interested in popular culture and graphic design. This is the first gardening book of its kind to offer basic gardening information and projects illustrated with authentic vintage art, which ranges from charming seed packets and colorful gardening catalogs and advertisements to photographs and step-by-step line drawings from gardening magazines and rarely seen books. Chapters cover all the timeless basics: planning; equipment; soil; lawns; trees and shrubs; annuals and perennials; roses; bulbs, tubers, and corms; vegetable gardening; berries and fruit trees; weeds, pests, and diseases; and special projects. Tip boxes and anecdotal sidebars provide helpful information and a witty, historical perspective throughout. Beautifully designed and printed on heavy paper stock that authentically replicates the artwork, this volume is an indispensable reference of tried-and-true gardening tips and techniques that is as useful as it is collectible.

Offers household hints and practical solutions to everyday problems, covering such diverse topics as clutter control, gardening, baking, and cleaning.

Win the blue ribbon every time! Master Gardener Jodi Torpey offers all the information you need to grow champion vegetables — beans, beets, cabbages, cucumbers, eggplants, onions, peppers, pumpkins, squash, and tomatoes — covering everything from choosing the right varieties and scheduling planting dates to harvesting, preparing, and transporting your produce. She also walks you through every aspect of competitive showing, with useful tips for thinking like a judge. This book will delight you with lively photos of mammoth pumpkins, truly gigantic onions, perfectly pear-shaped eggplants, and the farmers and gardeners who grow them. Filled with the excitement of a county fair, it’s a fun read as well as a solid guide to growing the biggest, tastiest, best-looking vegetables for miles around.

This extraordinary compendium provides extensive information and critical comment on the books, periodicals, catalogues, nurseries, societies, and services for every aspect of home gardening.

"Illinois Gardener's Guide" offers state-specific information on the what, when, where, why and how of Illinois gardening rather than regional or national information other publications contain.