- Table View
- List View
Weeds in the Urban Landscape: Where They Come from, Why They're Here, and How to Live with Them
by Richard OrlandoA comprehensive identification guide to 189 common weeds in the urban environment, explaining their families and characteristics, with strategies for managing their presence in the garden and fieldsThis engaging field guide for the urban explorer, gardener, or armchair enthusiast traces the history of weeds as they migrated out of the Middle East with human tribes and spread across Europe and the Americas, details the folklore surrounding them, and explains their role in the evolution of agriculture and human civilizations as well as their many uses for medicine, food, animal fodder, and soil enhancement. Richard Orlando provides detailed descriptions of 189 common weeds—found across the U.S.—describing their families and characteristics, and suggesting strategies for managing their presence in the garden and field. Abundant illustrations enhance the text and facilitate plant identification. An annotated bibliography and index of botanical names, in addition to a detailed explanation of Integrated Pest Management, make this an essential reference for anyone with an interest in the world outside our doors.
Weeds of North America
by France Royer Richard DickinsonAmerican Horticultural Society Book Award Winner: “An essential reference for all who wish to understand the science of the all-powerful weed.” —Better Homes and Gardens“What is a weed,” opined Emerson, “but a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered?” While that may be a worthy notion in theory, these plants of undiscovered virtue cause endless hours of toil for backyard gardeners. Wherever they take root, weeds compete for resources, and most often win. They also wreak havoc on industry—from agriculture to golf courses to civic landscape projects, vast amounts of money are spent to eradicate these virile and versatile invaders. With so much at stake, reliable information on weeds and their characteristics is crucial. Richard Dickinson and France Royer shed light on this complex world with Weeds of North America.Organized by plant family, this encyclopedic volume features over five hundred species in two-page spreads with images and text identification keys. Species are arranged within family alphabetically by scientific name, and entries include vital information on seed viability and germination requirements. No matter what your philosophy on weeds, this guide provides much-needed background on these intrusive organisms. In the battle with weeds, knowledge truly is power, and Weeds of North America is perfect for gardeners, botanists, nature lovers, or anyone working in the business of weed ecology and control.“Royer’s photographs are almost perversely alluring. . . . How can you not be ensnared by a book populated by prostrate pigweed, tansy ragwort and dog-strangling vine?” —New York Times Book Review
Weeds of the Pacific Northwest: 368 Unwanted Plants and How to Control Them
by Mark Turner Sami GrayA comprehensive guide to the most common weeds of the Pacific Northwest, with essential information on their management and eradication Weeds are everywhere. They crowd out valuable agricultural crops, compete with the tomatoes and beans in your vegetable garden, spread rampantly along roadsides, and pop up from the tiniest cracks in sidewalks. In order to manage them, we must first learn how to identify them. Weeds of the Pacific Northwest is a guide to identifying, controlling, and eradicating over 300 species of weeds that gardeners and homeowners are likely to encounter in Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Though they can all cause trouble, each weed is different. The hundreds of user-friendly photographs and detailed descriptions of each species here ensure that you can spot and treat any weed in your path. As the experts behind this book demonstrate, some plants can be killed by eating them, some by digging, some by smothering, and some only by the judicious application of chemical herbicides—and it is very important for you and your neighbors to know and understand the differences.
Weeds: In Defense of Nature's Most Unloved Plants
by Richard Mabey“[A] witty and beguiling meditation on weeds and their wily ways….You will never look at a weed, or flourish a garden fork, in the same way again.”—Richard Holmes, author of The Age of Wonder“In this fascinating, richly detailed book, Richard Mabey gives weeds their full due.”—Carl Zimmer, author of EvolutionRichard Mabey, Great Britain’s Britain’s “greatest living nature writer” (London Times), has written a stirring and passionate defense of nature’s most unloved plants. Weeds is a fascinating, eye-opening, and vastly entertaining appreciation of the natural world’s unappreciated wildflowers that will appeal to fans of David Attenborough, Robert Sullivan’s Rats, Amy Stewart’s Wicked Plants, and to armchair gardeners, horticulturists, green-thumbs, all those who stop to smell the flowers.
Weekend Handmade: More Than 40 Projects and Ideas for Inspired Crafting (Weekend Craft Ser.)
by Kelly Wilkinson&“Weekend Handmade provides instructions for quirky crafts that virtually anyone can do . . . Think hipster Martha Stewart&” (NPR Weekend Edition). In Weekend Handmade, author Kelly Wilkinson encourages readers to celebrate the joy of crafting, both for the satisfaction of making something by hand, and because the finished items serve as reminders of time taken to slow down and create—no matter the day of the week. The book is organized into three sections: &“Make&” offers projects to wear or decorate with; &“Grow&” presents projects inspired by gardens, fields, and farmer&’s markets; and &“Gather&” spotlights projects that enrich casual get-togethers. With clear, step-by-step instructions, every project in Weekend Handmade—from aprons, tablecloths, and marmalade to a memory box and a chandelier—can be completed in a few hours or over the course of a weekend. &“Think you can&’t make anything—or, more importantly, that you don&’t have the time to? Wilkinson&’s undowdy projects—luminarias, table decorations—are all designed to be completed in a couple of hours.&” —Entertainment Weekly
Weekend Refresh: Home Design in 48 Hours or Less: An Interior Design Book
by TastemadeTastemade&’s design experts are here with innovative and accessible ideas, tips, and projects to make over your home—one weekend at a time.Time to spruce up your space! Whether you have a few hours or an entire weekend to spare, the easy-to-follow DIYs in this book include illustrations, photos, and diagrams to help you achieve transformational results—from a portrait gallery wall to a succulent coffee table to a vintage trunk bar cart. And when you need a quick fix, you&’ll find plenty of inspiration for small tweaks that require no tools, such as making a mood board to direct your vision, styling your entryway, or being a good plant parent.Design is for everyone, and whether you&’re a renter, new homeowner, or DIY-aholic—even if you&’re working with a small space or a tight budget—your home should make you feel good. With Weekend Refresh, you&’ll be on your way to personalized, intentional, and well-thought-out rooms.
Weight Watchers Family Power: 5 Simple Rules for a Healthy-Weight Home
by Karen Miller-KovachFamily Power is a comprehensive guide to healthful weight management for all members of the family, including children and adolescents. The latest scientific research has shown that children are strongly influenced by the food- and physical activity-related decisions made by parents and other family members, and this knowledge provides the basis for the advice in this breakthrough book.
Weird Homes: The People and Places That Keep Austin Strangely Wonderful
by David J. Neff Thanin ViriyakiHave you ever walked through your neighborhood, taken a look at a weird house, and thought “Who lives there?” or, “What in the world does it look like inside?” We’ve all been curious, which is why the founders of the Weird Homes Tour™ began their strange and wonderful journey. Three years later, they’ve opened the doors and unlatched the windows of dozens of Texas’s strangest homes for thousands of onlookers. Why? To show that design really has no boundaries. And that we would rather neighbors be strange than be strangers. Like many other communities around the world, Austin can be fun, irreverent, outside the box, innovative, dynamic, proud, strange, and so much more. You just need to know where to look. This gorgeous book features the one-of-a-kind Austin homes that started it all for the Weird Homes Tour. Page by page, we proudly present these homes and the weird people who live in them, many of whom designed and built their awe-inspiring dwellings by hand. From grand, historic haunts to treehouses and dumpster dwellings, you’re guaranteed to find something that will inspire design changes in your own home.
Welcome Home
by Rebecca DilibertoThis luxe little gift book holds the key to making a home harmonious. From the front door to the bedroom, every square inch of a dwelling can bring its occupants luck, and Welcome Home shows readers how. Compiled with vintage appeal, easy-to-peruse entries explain how to ward off negativity with dill, boost health with green accents in the kitchen, and more. This illustrated collection of superstitions and rituals gathered from across the globe and throughout the ages will help newlyweds, new home owners, feng shui fans, decorators, or those simply feeling down on their luck to conjure the health, wealth, and happiness they so richly deserve.
Welcome Home: A Cozy Minimalist Guide to Decorating and Hosting All Year Round
by Myquillyn SmithDecorating for each season doesn't have to be overwhelming or expensive. Your home can be festive, stylish, and cozy with minimal effort and a limited budget--just ask The Nester! In Welcome Home, Myquillyn Smith guides you through creating and enjoying a seasonally decorated home with more style and less stuff.No matter what the world says, embracing the seasons does not require bins of factory-made décor or loads of time. In fact, it's possible to decorate for each season without frustration, going overboard, or blowing your budget.Drawing from the cozy-minimalist principles in Cozy Minimalist Home, stylist and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Myquillyn Smith will help you create a home that's fresh, meaningful, beautiful, and (bonus!) always ready to host. With engaging how-tos and inspiring photos, she guides you step by step through purposeful design decisions to cultivate a space where loved ones gather, meaningful connections are celebrated, and lasting memories are made.Myquillyn's realistic and down-to-earth design tips will teach you how to:Seasonalize your living spaces with simple, actionable stepsCultivate easy, seasonal rhythms of change in your homeIncorporate the beauty of the natural world through the five sensesFeel confident in volunteering your house for gatherings, parties, and impromptu get-togethersKnow what to focus on and what not to worry about as a relaxed and confident hostessBigger than the latest and greatest trends, Welcome Home aims to usher in the seasons without using more resources, money, or stuff than needed.
Welcome to Woodworking: 20 Simple & Stylish Projects for Your Home & Garden
by Moa Brännström OttLearn the basic carpentry skills needed to furnish your home and garden with beautiful and useful wood items. Twenty accessible, step-by-step projects guide you through the essential techniques without large power tools. This book contains practical knowledge, including • how to choose good types of wood and the characteristics of the wood, • a tool review with an emphasis on hand tools, and • the methods used to measure, saw, plan, join, carve, and finish your wood creations. The projects feature clean, modern designs, including knife racks, cutting boards, shelves, stools, bookends, and benches. For those interested in gardening, there are flower tables, plant trellises, and more. The projects include easy-to-follow diagrams, and the levels of difficulty are adapted to readers who aren't used to working with wood, but who like its organic feel and expression. Explore the skills and techniques that make home carpentry a fun and rewarding craft.
Welcome to the Jungle: Rare Tropical Houseplants to Collect, Grow, and Love
by Enid OffolterGraduate from ordinary houseplants to extraordinary ones with these 50 desirable, dramatic plants and expert tips on how to obtain, grow, and propagate them. &“A visually stunning book with great information for rare plant collectors.&”—Morgan Doane and Erin Harding, authors of How to Raise a Plant and Make It Love You BackIf you&’re bored with the same old entry-level houseplants and long for something new, up your game with Enid Offolter. Called &“the Houseplant Queen&” by the New York Times, Offolter and her company, NSE Tropicals, are celebrities within the rare plant community, with legions of obsessed Instagram followers and plants that sell in heated auctions for thousands of dollars. In Welcome to the Jungle, Offolter shows you how to grow and propagate some of these exceptional botanicals on your own.From the king anthurium with its deeply pleated leaves to velvety Colombian beauties known to make collectors drop to their knees, to plants with hot-pink leaves, bizarre corkscrew-shaped flower spikes, lacy fenestration, and dramatic variegation, these amazing aroids (a family of plants known for its extravagant foliage) bring a lush, tropical aesthetic to your home that will make you the envy of all your plant-loving friends. If you&’re ready to rise up to the next level, Welcome to the Jungle is full of tips, professional advice, behind-the-scenes stories from fellow plant collectors, and the inspiration you need to grow plants that make a statement.
Welding Know-how: Tips & Techniques of Master Welders
by Frank M. MarlowThis book contains years of welding knowledge all in one easy-to-understand book. Filled with insights you won’t find anywhere else, Welding Know-How has step-by-step instructions for dozens of projects, plans for welding jigs and fixtures, and ideas to modify existing tools so they really work. Welding Know-How contains over 600 clear and detailed line drawings, and includes chapters on the major welding processes: shielded metal arc, wire feed, and gas tungsten arc welding, along with chapters on the major cutting processes, oxyacetylene, plasma arc, water jet, oxygen lance and burning bar. In addition, there are chapters on brazing and soldering, bending and flame straightening. There is an entire chapter on pipe and tubing plus a chapter on welding safety, and one covering welding power supplies and electrical safety. With this book you’ll finally gain control of your stick, TIG or wire feed outfit and learn how to get your “buzz box” to make more than just noise. After reading Welding Know-How you’ll see that there are no secrets in the welding shop, just knowledge that has never been written down—until now. Frank Marlow is the author of the popular shop books, Machine Shop Essentials and Machine Shop Know-How.
Wellness Architecture and Urban Design
by Phillip James Tabb Lahra TatrieleWellness is a contemporary concept with deep ancient roots promoting preventative and holistic activities, lifestyle choices, and salient architecture and urban design practices. Wellness Architecture and Urban Design presents definitions, an analysis of the wellness literature, and a brief history of the wellness movement. Specific planning and design strategies are presented citing examples worldwide and emphasizing the importance of wellness considerations at all scales of the built environment from rooms to cities. Both case studies offer fully integrated and comprehensive wellness design approaches creating resilient and life-enhancing wellness through each of the architecture and urban design scales. The book will be of interest to practitioners and students working in urban design, landscape architecture, architecture, planning, and affiliated fields.
Wellness by Design: A Room-by-Room Guide to Optimizing Your Home for Health, Fitness, and Happiness
by Jamie GoldDesign your home to optimize your healthy lifestyle with this room-by-room guide from certified kitchen designer and wellness design consultant Jamie Gold. Residential designer Jamie Gold has spent years exploring how simple changes to things like lighting, fixtures, storage, and outdoor space can impact our health and wellness. In Wellness by Design, Gold offers a room-by-room guide to refreshing your space so that it supports your wellness journey. Good news, it doesn&’t require a yoga room and can be done in small apartments as well as large houses. This book explains how simple changes can make a huge difference in how you feel every day. You&’ll learn: - How to maximize accessibility and organization in your kitchen for faster, healthier, and more delicious meals. - How to make easy fixes to your ventilation system to help ease symptoms of asthma and allergies - How to optimize your home office to eliminate back, neck, and foot pain. - How to enhance your bathroom tub and shower spaces to support fitness goals and simplify family life. - And much more! It&’s time for your home to work as hard as you do to support your health. With the right organization and interior design, your home can help you maintain and improve your health in a variety of ways, from improving health and preventing disease to encouraging clean eating, sustainable living, safety, fitness, serenity, and joy. Whether you&’re building your dream home or decorating your new rental, this book will help you keep your fitness goals and stay on track for a long and healthy life.
Weltraum – Extreme Lebensräume und deren Bewohnbarkeit: Gestaltung im Kontext von isolierten und eingeschränkten Bedingungen - auf der Erde und im Weltraum
by Sandra Häuplik-Meusburger Sheryl BishopDieses Buch erforscht kreative Lösungen für die einzigartigen Herausforderungen, die mit der Gestaltung bewohnbarer Räume in extra-terrestrischen Umgebungen verbunden sind. Ziel ist es, einen konstruktiven Dialog zwischen den Forschern und Planern zukünftiger (Weltraum-)Lebensräume zu fördern. Die Autoren untersuchen die verschiedenen Konzepte des Begriffs Habitability [auf Deutsch Bewohnbarkeit] aus der Perspektive der Bewohner sowie der Planer und Sozialwissenschaften. Das Buch gibt einen Überblick über die Entwicklung und die Fortschritte in der Gestaltung von Lebensräumen für bemannte Raumfahrzeuge und -habitate, und inkludiert auch analoge Forschungs- und Simulationseinrichtungen in extremen Umgebungen auf der Erde. Es zeigt auf, wie verschiedene Konzepte der Habitabilität gestalterisch umgesetzt wurden und welche noch fehlen. Der Schwerpunkt dieses Buches liegt auf der Identifizierung der wesentlichen Faktoren und kreativer Lösungen zur Schaffung von Lebensräumen, in denen sich Menschen wohlfühlen. Ausgewählte Aspekte werden vor einem sozial-räumlichen fachlichen Hintergrund diskutiert und mögliche Anwendungen aufgezeigt. Human Factors und Habitability Design sind wichtige Themen für jedwede Arbeits- und Lebensräume. Für die bemannte Erforschung des Weltraums sind sie von entscheidender Bedeutung. Zwar wurden menschliche Faktoren und bestimmte Aspekte der Bewohnbarkeit in den Entwurfsprozess von bemannten Raumfahrzeugen integriert, doch besteht die Dringlichkeit von der reinen funktionalen Überlebensfähigkeit, in ein den Menschen unterstützendes Design überzugehen. Seit einigen Jahren anerkennt die NASA das Risiko eines inkompatiblen Fahrzeug- oder Habitatdesigns als ein Hauptrisiko für die menschliche Gesundheit und Leistungsfähigkeit im Weltraum an. Die Bewohnbarkeit und die menschlichen Faktoren werden für die Gestaltung künftiger langfristiger und kommerzieller Weltraumeinrichtungen noch wichtiger werden, wenn größere und unterschiedlichere Gruppen Lebensräume außerhalb der Erde nutzen. Das Buch wird nicht nur Personen und Organisationen zugutekommen, die für bemannte Raumfahrtmissionen und Missionssimulatoren verantwortlich sind, sondern bietet auch relevante Informationen für Gestalter terrestrischer rauer Umgebungen (z. B. abgelegene Betriebs- und Forschungseinrichtungen, Krankenhäuser, Gefängnisse, Produktionsstätten). Darüber hinaus werden Erkenntnisse über die sozio-räumliche Beziehung vorgestellt, die für Sozialwissenschaftler, Ingenieure und Architekten im Allgemeinen von Interesse sind. Inhaltsverzeichnis Kurz : 1. Einleitung.- 2. Habitability / Bewohnbarkeit: Vom ORT zum (Lebens) RAUM.- 3. Bewohnbarkeit als (Lebens) RAUM.- 4. Rezension: Studien zur Bewohnbarkeit und Architektur von Mockups und simulierten Umgebungen.- 5. Rezension: Studien zur Bewohnbarkeit und Architektur in In-Situ-Umgebungen.- 6. Projektionen.- 7. Blick in die Zukunft: Wie man eine Blechbüchse in ein Zuhause verwandelt: Lösungen für ausgewählte Dimensionen der (sozialräumlichen) Bewohnbarkeit.
Western Landscaping: Companion to the Best-selling Western Garden Book
by Sunset Publishing Staff Kathleen Norris BrenzelThis all-new second edition, the companion book to the much-beloved Western Garden Book, promises to be just as successful as the first. Packed with expert advice from landscape designers, gardeners, and others, it addresses climatic, soil, and topographical challenge sand solutions for Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and southwestern Canada. Features n The only landscaping guide designed specifically for Western gardeners n Over 600 photographs and dozens of ready-to-use landscape plans n Step-by-step illustrations and exploded views show easy, do-it-yourself solutions n Seasonal gardening guides and checklists ensure year-round success for experienced and novice gardeners alike n Easy-to-understand plant selection and growing instructions
Westminster Part I: The Art, Architecture and Archaeology of the Royal Abbey (The British Archaeological Association Conference Transactions)
by Warwick Rodwell; Tim Tatton-BrownThe British Archaeological Association’s 2013 conference was devoted to the study of Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster. It also embraced Westminster School, which was founded at the Reformation in the Abbey precinct. Collectively, these institutions occupy a remarkable assemblage of medieval and later buildings, most of which are well documented. Although the Association had held a conference at Westminster in 1902, this was the first time that the internationally important complex of historic buildings was examined holistically, and the papers published here cover a wide range of subject matter. Westminster came into existence in the later Anglo-Saxon period, and by the mid-11th century, when Edward the Confessor’s great new abbey was built, it was a major royal centre two miles south-west of the City of London. Within a century or so, it had become the principal seat of government in England, and this series of twenty-eight papers covers new research on the topography, buildings, art-history, architecture and archaeology of Westminster’s two great establishments — Abbey and Palace. Part I begins with studies of the topography of the area, an account of its Roman-period finds and an historiographical overview of the archaeology of the Abbey. Edward the Confessor’s enigmatic church plan is discussed and the evidence for later Romanesque structures is assembled for the first time. Five papers examine aspects of Henry III’s vast new Abbey church and its decoration. A further four cover aspects of the later medieval period, coronation, and Sir George Gilbert Scott’s impact as the Abbey’s greatest Surveyor of the Fabric. A pair of papers examines the development of the northern precinct of the Abbey, around St Margaret’s Church, and the remarkable buildings of Westminster School, created within the remains of the monastery in the 17th and 18th centuries. Part II part deals with the Palace of Westminster and its wider topography between the late 11th century and the devastating fire of 1834 that largely destroyed the medieval palace. William Rufus’s enormous hall and its famous roofs are completely reassessed, and comparisons discussed between this structure and the great hall at Caen. Other essays reconsider Henry III’s palace, St Stephen’s chapel, the king’s great chamber (the ‘Painted Chamber’) and the enigmatic Jewel Tower. The final papers examine the meeting places of Parliament and the living accommodation of the MPs who attended it, the topography of the Palace between the Reformation and the fire of 1834, and the building of the New Palace which is better known today as the Houses of Parliament.
Westonbirt Arboretum’s Plant and Flower Spotter’s Guide
by Dan Crowley Matt ParrattGet back to nature with this easy to use guide to Britain's greenery. From the experts at Westonbirt Arboretum in the depths of the Cotswolds, with one of the most beautiful gardens in the world, comes this beautiful pocket guide covering 100 popular wild plants and flowers.Categorised by type of plant, the simple layout ensures that this text is easy to use ‘on the go’. Meadow Saffron, Sweet Woodruff and Solomon’s Seal are just a few examples of the vibrant entries - each accompanied by two beautiful images and a short description.Illustrated with enchanting colour artwork, depicting each plant and their individual bloom or sprig, this covetable book will educate and entertain with text by two leading experts from the Arboretum and the Forestry Commission.
Westonbirt Arboretum’s Tree Spotter’s Guide: The Definitive Guide to Britain’s 100 Best Trees
by Dan CrowleyIn the depths of the Cotswolds, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire, lies one of the most beautiful tree gardens in the world, known as Westonbirt Arboretum. Here you can find around 15,000 trees, each one lovingly labelled. They offer the perfect, picturesque setting for escaping from the pressures of everyday life.Now, for the first time, 100 of the most popular British trees form the basis of this beautiful pocket guide. Illustrated with artwork depicting the tree and leaf, this covetable little book will educate and entertain with wonderfully concise text by one of the world’s leading tree experts from the Arboretum. Pop this book in your pocket for a great day out spotting some of the most celebrated features of our landscape!
Wetlands
by Ben A. LepageThe science of wetlands and our understanding of these complex ecosystems have improved considerably. The emergence of multidisciplinary strategies is providing new opportunities and innovative approaches to address issues such as climate change and coastal protection. This book, with contributions from 19 specialists from academia, government, and industry, provides a trans-disciplinary approach to the understanding wetlands science, drawing together a wide range of expertise. Topics covered include the physical aspects that shape different wetlands around the world, as well as wetlands ecology, regulation, policy, and related social and economic issues. Featuring contributions from some of the world's leading wetlands researchers and practitioners, this book provides an invaluable resource for undergraduate and post-graduate training in all aspects of wetlands management, conservation, and construction. It is also a useful auxiliary text for researchers working across disciplines in fields such as wetlands science, law, landscape architecture, environmental engineering, conservation ecology, and related disciplines.
What Color Is Your Swimming Pool?: A Homeowner's Guide to Trouble-Free Pool, Spa, and Hot Tub Maintenance
by Alan SanderfootKeep your swimming pool, spa, or hot tub clean and inviting with beautiful sparkling water. Covering all essential maintenance procedures, this easy-to-use guide shows you how to expertly and inexpensively care for your backyard water features. With advice on everything from basic cleaning routines to doing your own repairs, Alan E. Sanderfoot tells you what you need to know about water filtration systems, pumps, motors, heaters, winterizing, and more. Enjoy the pleasures of healthy, crystal-clear water for less money and less trouble! This publication conforms to the EPUB Accessibility specification at WCAG 2.0 Level AA.
What Every Gardener Should Know About Earthworms: Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletin A-21 (Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin Ser.)
by Henry HoppSince 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.
What Is Landscape?
by John R. StilgoeA lexicon and guide for discovering the essence of landscape.“Mr. Stilgoe does not ask that we take his book outdoors with us; he believes that reading and experiencing landscapes are activities that should be kept separate. But, as I learned in his book, the hollow storage area in a car driver's door was once a holster, the 'secure nesting place of a pistol.' I recommend you stow your copy there.”—The Wall Street JournalLandscape, John Stilgoe tells us, is a noun. From the old Frisian language (once spoken in coastal parts of the Netherlands and Germany), it meant shoveled land: landschop. Sixteenth-century Englishmen misheard or mispronounced this as landskep, which became landskip, then landscape, designating the surface of the earth shaped for human habitation. In What Is Landscape? Stilgoe maps the discovery of landscape by putting words to things, zeroing in on landscape's essence but also leading sideways expeditions through such sources as children's picture books, folklore, deeds, antique terminology, out-of-print dictionaries, and conversations with locals. (“What is that?” “Well, it's not really a slough, not really, it's a bayou...”) He offers a highly original, cogent, compact, gracefully written narrative lexicon of landscape as word, concept, and path to discoveries.What Is Landscape? is an invitation to walk, to notice, to ask: to see a sandcastle with a pinwheel at the beach and think of Dutch windmills—icons of triumph, markers of territory won from the sea; to walk in the woods and be amused by the Elizabethans' misuse of the Latin silvaticus (people of the woods) to coin the word savages; to see in a suburban front lawn a representation of the meadow of a medieval freehold.Discovering landscape is good exercise for body and for mind. This book is an essential guide and companion to that exercise—to understanding, literally and figuratively, what landscape is.
What Is Lighting Design?: A Genealogy of People and Ideas
by Michael ChybowskiWhat Is Lighting Design?: A Genealogy of People and Ideas explains what lighting design is by looking at the history of ideas that are a part of this craft and how those ideas developed. Lighting design began in the West with the Renaissance, and each historical period since then has modified how and why light is used in performance, the methods for producing light, and the consensus around what its purpose is. Exploring each lighting design era and the basic components of lighting design, the book discusses how the central ideas of this craft developed over the past 500 years, what today’s lighting designers are concerned with, and how lighting design contributes to performances. This book is designed as a main course text for History of Lighting Design university courses and a supplementary text for and Introduction to Lighting Design, Stagecraft, and Scenography courses. It will also be of interest to directors, choreographers, and working lighting designers who wish to explore the history and meaning of their craft.