Showing 1–20 of 48 results

  • Kirstenbosch: Most Beautiful Garden in Africa

    The view from this spot … is the most picturesque of any I had seen in the vicinity of Cape Town.
    William Burchell — Travels in the Interior of South Africa, 1822

    Kirstenbosch is a name that resonates around the world as the home of a uniquely rich flora in a setting of unsurpassed beauty. Established soon after the unification of South Africa in 1910, the Garden continues to draw both tourists and locals to its enchanting spaces and botanical riches.

    This book tells of how the Garden came to be, its setbacks and triumphs, its benefactors and heroes. It outlines the Garden’s scientific eminence as the repository of knowledge on our prized flora and presents its many attractions.

    In this new edition, the story is brought up to date with details of new developments and attractions, making it a quality memento for visitors and the thousands of locals who flock there annually.

    R400.00
  • Pocket Guide Trees of Zambia

    The most recent addition to the popular POCKET GUIDE series, Trees of Zambia features 140 indigenous tree species and four naturalised exotics likely to be seen in Zambia and its 20 national parks. The trees are organised in five groups, each with a unique set of characteristics, to help narrow down options in identifying a tree. Each page describes a single tree species, combining concise text and photographs.

    Features include:

    • Succinct species descriptions including bark, leaves, owers and fruit
    • Full-colour photographs of trees and their parts
    • Up-to-date distribution maps
    • A brief introduction covering vegetation types
    • Table of family names and tree characteristics
    • Local names for trees
    • Best viewing locations, including national parks

    An invaluable guide for anyone interested in Zambia’s trees!

    R250.00
  • African Baobab

    Baobab trees are living monuments, the oldest natural things in Africa, outlasting every plant and animal around them. Surviving in some of the driest, rockiest areas of this continent, paradoxically they live longer and grow larger than most other trees in the world.

    In this absorbing and inspired new edition of The African Baobab,  author Rupert Watson explores the life and times of this fascinating tree, from its early Madagascan beginnings to its present status on the continent and its future in a changing Africa. It is a compelling read on an African icon that has intrigued travelers for hundreds of years.

    The narrative effortlessly blends natural science, history and personal observations, sometimes drawing on extracts from the journals of early explorers. There are intriguing accounts of the baobab’s eccentric growth and reproductive habits, its present-day distribution, and its wide impact on everyday African life. Watson also takes a close look at the relationship between humans and baobabs, and the tree’s myriad uses over the ages, from shelters to medicinal and spiritual applications.

    Aimed at naturalists, environmentalists, botanical enthusiasts, travellers, and anyone awed by the wonders of plants, this book cannot but inspire.

    R300.00
  • The Ways and Wonders of South African Trees

    A celebration of the rich diversity and beauty of indigenous trees, The Ways and Wonders of South African Trees uncovers the fascinating world of trees and how they function.

    Presented in two parts, the first explores the physiology and behaviour of trees and the second the grandeur of a select number of species, richly supported by photographs. A comprehensive introduction focuses on the complex life of trees, uncovering how they grow, compete for water, defend themselves and make use of photosynthesis to survive; their role in pollination; and the symbiotic relationships they have with each other and other life forms. Record-breakers such as the oldest, tallest and biggest trees are also featured.

    The second half of the book showcases some 160 conspicuous species, including the iconic baobab, sausage tree and mopane tree, as well as lesser-known but interesting trees such as baboon’s breakfast. These accounts describe the unique traits of different trees and their various parts, and discusses how they are used by animals and birds, and by humans.

    R480.00
  • Veld: Gardens & Landscapes of Patrick Watson

    Patrick Watson is currently South Africa’s most innovative and versatile landscape architect. Known for designing extensive mega-sites, such as Sun City and an entire Indian Ocean Island, he is also the creator of exquisite small home gardens and quiet spaces for reflection, such as at the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. A highly sought-after designer, he has created over 200 gardens in Africa and many others elsewhere.

    He seldom works from carefully drawn plans, instead combining artistic intuition with extensive botanical knowledge and a deep concern for the conservation and restoration of nature. His projects are creative, fresh with inspiration, and often bold, and he uses mostly indigenous plants, colours, landforms and space to create visual and emotional experiences.

    Covering 23 gardens and landscapes, and richly supported by exquisite photographs and specially commissioned artworks, Veld is a beautiful tribute to a remarkable talent and visionary whose work is deeply informed by nature. It recognises and celebrates the combination of knowledge, skill and instinct that make up the man, and the radical influence he has had on his profession, and the landscapes he has restored.

    R650.00
  • Ericas of the Fynbos

    Ericas come in an astonishing array of sizes, shapes and colours. Some 760 species, many of them found nowhere else, occur in the Cape Floristic region – a centre of unparalleled diversity for the genus and home to one of the world’s richest floras.

    Even when in bloom, telling these delicate flowers apart is extremely challenging. In Ericas of the Fynbos, 170 of the region’s most common plants are described in detail, with key ID features highlighted for quick reference. In addition, information is given on distribution, flowering times, subspecies and similar species – providing more tools to aid accurate identification. Vivid full-colour photographs of each species showcase the astonishing variety and stunning beauty of the flowers. An informative introduction unpacks biology, pollination and distribution of erica species.

    Enriched by a lively design, this innovative guide will give all flower enthusiasts, gardeners and hikers, the confidence to accurately identify ericas in the wild.

    R320.00
  • Kirstenbosch: A Visitor’s Guide – New Edition

    This visitor’s guide has been fully updated and revised to include changing garden exhibits and new features, such as the the Boomslang elevated walkway. An attractive memento and guide to Cape Town’s world-famous botanical garden, it traces the history and development of Kirstenbosch, from its establishment in 1913 to the showcase of indigenous flora it is today.

    It includes:

    • Prominent garden features (the Protea, Erica and Cycad gardens, Dell,
    • Boomslang Tree Canopy Walkway, Conservatory, and more).
    • Floral highlights of all four seasons.
    • A detailed map (with walking, climbing and mountain bike routes).
    • Spectacular photographs (many against Table Mountain).
    R150.00
  • What’s That Tree Southern Africa

    Amateur and more seasoned tree-spotters will welcome this latest addition to the What’s that? series. Accessible and straightforward, this book groups trees together into their broad families, based on the features that related species share. This allows readers to narrow down their choices to a few likely possibilities before tackling the detail of species identification.

    The book offers: simple, authoritative text; side-bars with interesting additional information; multiple full-colour photographs, including of key diagnostic features and an illustrated glossary of plant parts.

    This helpful introduction should provide an invaluable entry point for anyone with an interest in the trees of the region.

    Ook beskikbaar in Afrikaans

    R320.00
  • Watter Boom is dit Suider Afrika

    Vir die beginner kan die groot aantal boomspesies wat in Suider- Afrika voorkom – sowat 1700 inheemse en ingevoerde spesies – oorweldigend wees. Hierdie nuutste toevoeging tot die Watter?-reeks help met hierdie probleem deur die aanskoulike, algemene, opvallende en soms buitengewone spesies in terme van hul ‘familiegroepe’ te beskryf. Kennis van die boomfamilies help met die herkenning van verwante bome se gemeenskaplike kenmerke en ook die eienskappe waaraan spesies van mekaar onderskei word.

    Die boek bied: Talle volkleurfoto’s van die diagnostiese kenmerke van bome; Opsommings van groepkenmerke in verstaanbare taal; ’n Geïllustreerde woordelys van plantdele; Notas met interessante bykomende inligting.

    Alle boomliefhebbers, veral beginners, sal hierdie boek baie nuttig vind.

    Also available in English

    R300.00
  • Kirstenbosch Most Beautiful Garden In HB

    Kirstenbosch is a name that resonates round the world as the home of a uniquely rich flora in a setting of unsurpassed beauty, and in 2013 Kirstenbosch celebrates its 100th anniversary. This centenary publication tells the story of its establishment, its setbacks and triumphs, its benefactors and heroes.

    It outlines the Garden’s scientific eminence – as the repository of knowledge on our prized flora – and details the many attractions that make it a favourite destination for Capetonians and visitors alike.

    With a finely crafted text by acclaimed ecologist Brian Huntley, and lavishly illustrated with photographs and artworks that tell the history and reflect the beauty of the Garden, this will be a sought-after volume – a quality memento for visitors to Kirstenbosch and a keepsake for the many thousands of locals who flock there annually. Beautifully presented in a colourful dustjacket, this book will be a tasteful, all-occasions gift, and one to cherish.

    Also available: Special Boxed Edition

    Click here to view some pages from inside the book!

    R350.00
  • Grasses & Grazers of Botswana & Surround

    An accessible reference to the grasses and grazers of this region, Veronica Roodt’s book details the fascinating ways in which these plants and animals have evolved together. The book covers:

    – some 100 grass species (includes sketches and photographs of each species) that are preferred
    livestock and wild game fodder and that serve as indicators of veld condition
    – the role of grasses in the food chain
    – grass anatomy and growth
    – how grazers have evolved to survive on grasses, both physically and in terms of their behaviour
    – significant grazers that occur in the region and that play a vital role in shaping the savanna biome
    – effective grassland management practices.

    Nature lovers, farmers, students and tourists who seek an in-depth look at the interactions between grasses and the grazers that depend on them for life need look no further than this invaluable guide.

    R290.00
  • Gardening for Butterflies

    Eco-friendly gardening is fast catching on. Butterflies are visible signs of a healthy garden, and, with their whimsical flight patterns and glorious colours, they are among the most alluring ofour aerial visitors.

    Gardening for Butterflies shows how to attract these beautiful insects, giving step-by-step instructions for planning and planting a garden that will cater for the greatest number anddiversity of butterflies. Using a Durban garden as a case study, it includes a recommended layout and plant lists for this area, as well as for other regions around the country.

    The book showcases 95 garden butterflies and moths, showing their full life cycle, including pupa, eggs and caterpillar. Stunning photography and point-form text ensure accurate identification of each stage in the cycle, and an interesting introduction discusses such topics as the extraordinary process of metamorphosis and the curious habits of these mercurial insects.

    Whether you’re tempted to undertake a full-scale transformation of your garden to attract butterflies, make smaller adjustments to it, or if you simply want to identify those insects already visiting your space, this book will amaze and enchant you.

    R250.00
  • Common Wild Flowers of Table Mountain

    Common Wild Flowers of Table Mountain has proved to be a valuable guide for flower-lovers, hikers and mountain climbers who wish to know more about the flowers they encounter on their outings. Now expanded to take in the expansive Silvermine reserve, and generally updated for the entire area, this new edition will appeal to an even wider market. It offers Flowers grouped according to colour to enable quick ID; Some 260 flowers that can be seen along the way; Clear photographs and concise, informative text for each species; A variety of walking routes that crisscross the mountain and reserve, plotted on accompanying route maps. For anyone with an interest in identifying the flowers of the mountain and reserve, this will be an indispensable guide.

    R90.00
  • 100 New Herbs

    Margaret Roberts is a well-known proponent of the use of natural products to enhance health and wellbeing. In 100 New Herbs she introduces readers to an exciting range of new plants that can be used in the kitchen, and medicinally.

    Margaret offers practical advice on how and when to plant, grow and harvest the featured herbs, and includes recipes that harness the medicinal, cosmetic and edible nature of these plants. The accessible, down-to-earth text is laced with personal anecdotes and historical information about the use of herbs. Colourful photographs aid identification in this beautifully designed book.

    An indispensable guide for anyone interested in health, wellness, organic gardening and the use of herbs to enhance cooking.

    R320.00
  • Plants of the Baviaanskloof

    Tucked away in the southwestern corner of the Eastern Cape lies a narrow valley, flanked by the Baviaanskloof and Kouga mountain ranges. Named after the chacma baboons that long ago made this 200-km-long kloof their home, the Baviaanskloof is part of the Cape Floral Region World Heritage Site. It is a meeting point of several different ecosystems, with almost all of South Africa’s eight biomes represented, making for an exceptional diversity of species, including many endemics.

    Plants of the Baviaanskloof describes well over 1,000 plant species. It includes:
    – Succinct descriptions of each plant species with full-colour photographs
    – Brief family and genus descriptions, and species counts for the area
    – An introduction covering the geology, climate and vegetation types of the region

    Compiled over two decades, Plants of the Baviaanskloof is sure to become an enduring record of the diversity of plant life found here. The only botanical guide for this area, it is a must-have for botanists, gardeners, road-trippers, hikers, travellers and all who have a deep interest in plants.

    R500.00
  • Nature Now Trees of Kruger

    This book describes and illustrates 80 of the larger, more conspicuous and common tree species likely to be seen while travelling in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
    Intended as a handy guide to accurate identification, each spread shows the tree in full display along with a selection of supplementary images such as leaves, flowers, fruit and bark.
    Succinct text with minimal botanical jargon supports the images, and informative boxes describe the uses of plant parts.
    A series of maps demarcating 35 different vegetation zones or ‘landscapes’ within the Park helps readers to determine which tree species are likely to be seen in which area.

    R250.00
  • An Illustrated Guide to Medicinal Plants of East Africa

    Medicinal Plants of East Africa is the first photographically illustrated guide to showcase the most important healing plants of the region. e book describes 136 plant species in everyday use in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Brief descriptions of each species cover that plant’s appearance, ecology and specific medicinal uses. To aid identification, more than 600 colour photographs have been included. Also included are recipes for remedies to treat a wide range of ailments. An easy-to-understand summary of the science behind the treatments concludes each section.

    Supplementary features:
    – Introduction to the medicinal virtues and active ingredients of plants
    – Common methods of preparing medicines from plant materials
    – Summary of ailments and the plants prescribed to treat them
    – Glossaries of medical and botanical terminology and extensive reference lists.

    Medicinal Plants of East Africa will appeal to ethnobotanists, health and wellness practitioners, travellers and all with an interest in the remarkable healing properties of plants.

    R450.00
  • Burchell’s African Odyssey

    The English naturalist William Burchell set from Cape Town in June 1811 to explore the flora and fauna of the vast southern African interior. Over a four-year period, and travelling in a custom-built ox wagon, he amassed an astonishing 63 000 specimens of plants, bulbs, insects, reptiles and mammals – many not previously documented for science – and produced more than 500 paintings and illustrations. While the outbound trek is well described in Burchell’s famous Travels in the Interior of Southern Africa, the challenges
    and discoveries made on his return journey to Cape Town, from 1812-1815 have not been described. In Burchell’s African Odyssey, authors Roger Stewart and Marion Whitehead embark on a similarly daunting task – to reveal the homeward leg of
    Burchell’s epic trek from the southern Kalahari via the Karoo and southern coastal belt back to Cape Town. Drawing on primary and secondary sources, including Burchell’s letters, his handwritten records archived at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the detailed
    map he created to record his trek, the authors have crafted a thought-provoking and beautifully illustrated account that encompasses both the genius of the man and the natural history of the region that so intrigued him.

    R450.00
  • Field Guide to the Amaryllis Family of Southern Africa and Surrounding Territories

    The Amaryllidaceae family is distributed in warm temperate and tropical parts of the world. With 18 genera and 265 taxa occurring in the region, southern Africa is recognised as a major centre of diversity for this intriguing family. This compelling guide features all the species found in the region, conveniently grouped according to the biome of their natural habitat, and includes a useful key to genera and species.

    Species accounts feature:
    – Comprehensive text suitable for laypersons and scientists
    – Information on distribution, similar taxons, life cycle and flowering period
    – Notes on cultivation, history, medicinal properties and conservation
    – Distribution maps
    – Colour photographs and watercolour plates

    An invaluable addition to the library of any plant or nature lover.

    R500.00
  • Grasses of East Africa

    Grasses of East Africa describes 100 species of common, ecologically important or remarkable grasses found in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. Grasses comprise one of the largest plant families on Earth, but are possibly the most overlooked. Yet it is these biquitous and important plants that have the greatest impact on our daily lives – providing a wide range of staple foods for humans globally, a fundamental source of grazing for livestock, and food and shelter for an infinite variety of wildlife.

    R350.00