Martha Stewart Living

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Recommended by Martha Stewart Living

Jessica Walliser lets readers in on the secrets to a garden that buzzes with activity. Her profiles, on the insects that fight pests and the best plants for attracting them, offer clear, practical tips. (from Amazon)

This revised and updated edition of Jessica Walliser’s award-winning Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden offers a valuable and science-backed plan for bringing balance back to the garden. With this indispensable gardening reference—now updated with new research, insights, and voices—learn how to create a healthy, balanced, and diverse garden capable of supporting a hard-working crew of beneficial pest-eating insects and eliminate the need for synthetic chemical pesticides. After a fascinating introduction to the predator and prey cycle and its importance to both wild ecosystems and home gardens, you’ll meet dozens of pest-munching beneficial insects (the predators) that feast on garden pests (their prey). From ladybugs and lacewings to parasitic wasps and syrphid flies, these good guys of the bug world keep the natural system of checks and balances in prime working order. They help limit pest damage and also serve a valuable role in the garden's food web. But, they won't call your garden home if you don't have the resources they need to survive. With a hearty population of beneficial insects present in your garden, you’ll say goodbye to common garden pests like aphids, cabbage worms, bean beetles, leafhoppers, and hornworms, without reaching for a spray can. To encourage these good guys to stick around and do their important work, you'll learn how to create a welcoming habitat and fill your garden with the best plants to support them. Inside you’ll find: Bug profiles introducing dozens of beneficial insects and the down-and-dirty details on how they catch and eat their preyPlant profiles featuring the best plants for supporting beneficialsInterviews with entomologists who focus their life's work on understanding the value of insects, including Doug Tallamy, Paula Shrewsbury, Leslie Allee, Dan Herms, and othersAn inspiring look at how plants and insects intersect in the most incredible waysWhy gardening for bugs is just as important to the greater world as it is to your gardenTips for creating insectary plantings and borders to support a broad range of beneficialsThe acclaimed first edition of Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden ushered in a new way to garden; one that appreciates and understands of the power of returning a natural balance to the garden. This revised and updated edition continues to herald and expands on that same important message. Review Praise for the first edition of Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: “Jessica Walliser lets readers in on the secrets to a garden that buzzes with activity. Her profiles, on the insects that fight pests and the best plants for attracting them, offer clear, practical tips.” —Martha Stewart Living “An aid for teachers as well as gardeners, who want to know more about the insects in their world.” —The Indianapolis Star “With [Jessica Walliser’s] help, you can learn how to control pests through your gardening practices rather than your choice of insecticide.” —Gardening How-To “A detailed, wholistic, and wonderfully illustrated guide to the lifestyles of all the insects that inhabit the organic garden as well as creating the conditions needed to encourage those you want in the fight against those you don’t.” —Planet Natural “A delight! Easy to read and entertaining, yet packed with information not only on the beneficial insects themselves, but on the plants that can attract and support them, and on how to incorporate them into your garden. Highly recommended!” —It’s Not Work, It’s Gardening “Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden by Jessica Walliser, is a fresh look at an unavoidable part of the gardening experience.... a must-have tool for new and experienced gardeners alike.” —Free Press “Learn to identify good bugs and bad bugs…and what to plant to lure the cavalry.” —Newsday "In this new version, Walliser offers even more science-based advice to gardeners. I recommend reading (her) updated work to get off to a running start."―Horticulture "...offers a sciencebacked plan for bringing balance back to the garden. Filled with new research, insights, and voices, the book will help you create a healthy and diverse garden capable of supporting beneficial, pest-eating insects and eliminate the need for synthetic chemical pesticides."―Michigan Gardener About the Author Jessica Walliser is a horticulturist and the award-winning author of seven gardening books. In addition, she is co-founder of the popular website SavvyGardening.com. Jessica is a two-time winner of the prestigious American Horticultural Society Book Award for her books Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control and Plant Partners: Science-based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden. For 15 years, Jessica contributed two weekly columns to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review where she had the pleasure of covering a wide range of gardening topics. Jessica was also the long-time co-host of The Organic Gardeners, an award-winning program on KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has a degree in horticulture from the Pennsylvania State University and is the former owner of a 25-acre organic market farm.

Recommended by Martha Stewart Living

San Francisco florists Amanda Luu and Ivanka Matsuba give the traditional Japanese art form a California spin. (from Amazon)

Named a Best Interior Design Book of 2020 by Food52 "A modern take on a centuries-old art that’s breathtakingly simple.” —Booklist, starred review At its heart, the Japanese art of ikebana is about celebrating an intimate connection with nature. To practice ikebana is to find inspiration in the seasons, favor unassuming blooms and branches, seek balance and simplicity, and remain fully present in the moment. It is a beautiful, pure antidote to our age of distraction and excess. Honoring the lineage of ikebana while making the art their own, Amanda Luu and Ivanka Matsuba of Studio Mondine show us new ways to tell stories with flowers. They offer step-by-step instructions for dozens of stunning, seasonal arrangements, while in the process introducing readers to the themes and stylistic signatures of the art. In Studio Mondine’s hands, this centuries-old practice feels undeniably fresh—and readers are given the gift of learning to create unique, meaningful, and authentic arrangements.

Recommended by Martha Stewart Living

Oenophiles Grant Reynolds and Chris Stang put highfalutin sommelier-speak into casual terms you’d actually use with friends, so that you can shop like a pro. (from Amazon)

From grape to glass, this highly readable, charmingly illustrated guide will teach you everything you need to know to enjoy wine. “How to Drink Wine demystifies this topic, taking out the BS and replacing it with fun.”—Mike D, the Beastie Boys NAMED ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR BY BON APPÉTIT Everybody knows that the world of wine can be vast and intimidating and complex. But what few people seem to know is where to start when it comes to learning the basics. How to Drink Wine solves that problem. The path to drinking wine with confidence begins with this very informative, very relatable, very entertaining book, thanks to award-winning sommelier and restaurateur Grant Reynolds and acclaimed writer and founder of The Infatuation, Chris Stang. By reading How to Drink Wine, you will: • Acquire some foundational terminology. Cuvée, maceration, sul tes . . . what does it all mean?• Learn of the twenty-nine wines you need to know—and about important producers.• Find answers to questions you might be embarrassed to ask, like exactly how is rosé made?• Start to pair wines with your life instead of your plate.• Be able to navigate a wine list and/or store. You probably already know what you like to drink. This book will help you better understand why. And as a result, your knowledge, curiosity, and wine collection will expand. So will your number of friends.

Recommended by Martha Stewart Living

In her new book, Down to Earth: Laid Back Interiors for Modern Living, designer Lauren Liess shares how she imbues any space with warmth and energy. She walks us through an arts-and-crafts charmer in Washington, D.C., that she renovated into an action-packed family home (from Amazon)

“In Down to Earth: Laid-back Interiors for Modern Living, designer Lauren Liess shares how she imbues any space with warmth and energy.” ―Martha Stewart Living Let Lauren Liess, star of HGTV’s Best House on the Block, walk you through her decorating process step-by-step. Lauren takes you beyond the basics and invites readers to incorporate the main components of her familiar design aesthetic: nature, easy living, and approachability. She wants to help you create a home where humble materials and found objects are celebrated, a home in which both style and soul might endure throughout the years. With evocative photos and substantive design advice, Down to Earth focuses on creating a lifestyle that inspires creativity and functionality. Chapters here include Point of View; Timelessness; Something Old, Something New; Nature; and Simplicity. Lauren believes that creating a home means creating the lifestyle you want—relaxed, unplugged, natural, and full of beauty. Here she shows readers how to incorporate six guiding principles in six unique homes: A new farmhouseA classic American historical homeA lakeside contemporary houseA modern villaA turn-of-the-century American foursquareA cedar and glass house on a bluff Lauren writes, “Down to Earth explores the key elements of my aesthetic through a collection of homes that I believe embody the natural, relaxed, collected, and easy way of living I’ve come to love so much. . . . I hope this exploration into what down-to-earth means to me inspires you to create your own carefree, easy, and most important, fully present kind of life at home.”

Recommended by Martha Stewart Living

Made for Living invites you into dreamy homes that are light, bright, and—key these days—comfortable. (from Amazon)

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The trendsetting designer known for her effortless style shares the secrets of the art of layering, with more than 250 gorgeous photographs of her signature interiors. “Livability is my true north. The materials I use time and again all change with age and wear. Not only is that okay, it’s how you achieve more than a re-creation of what you’ve already seen, or what somebody else has done. You can do this, too—I promise.”—from the introduction Designing a room with all the vibes comes down to how you layer your décor. The more you can mix the elements of your room—your pillows, objects, patterns, and lighting—the more finished it’ll feel: not too new, not too old, but just right. Known for her eclectic approach that stems from her California cool, Amber Lewis trains your eye in Made for Living, offering friendly advice on everything from nailing that perfect shade of paint to mismatching patterns with wild abandon to choosing a stone finish for new countertops.  These pages will help you design a home that's made to be lived in.

Recommended by Martha Stewart Living

Brimming with insights on living with houseplants, including how to feed, water, pot, and style them. (from Amazon)

Make your home a healthier and more beautiful place to be with Hilton Carter’s inspirational ideas. "Hilton Carter's love for plants is infectious... His lush and exuberant displays are inspiring reminders that plants can be so much more than neat little containers on a window sill." Grace Bonney, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Design*Sponge Take a tour through Hilton’s own apartment and other lush spaces, filled with a huge array of thriving plants, and learn all you need to know to create your own urban jungle. As the owner of over 200 plants, Hilton feels strongly about the role of plants in one’s home—not just for the beauty they add, but for health benefits as well: ‘having plants in your home not only adds life, but changes the airflow throughout. It’s also a key design element when styling your place. For me, it wasn’t about just having greenery, but having the right variety of greenery. I like to see the different textures of foliage all grouped together. You take a fiddle leaf fig and sandwich it between a birds of paradise and a monstera and…. yes!’ You will be armed with the know-how you need to care for your plants, where to place them, how to propagate, how to find the right pot, and much more, and most importantly, how to arrange them so that they look their best. Combine sizes and leaf shapes to stunning effect, grow your own succulents from leaf cuttings, create your own air plant display, and more.

Recommended by Martha Stewart Living

Expand a home chef’s borders with Sonoko Sakai’s essential guide to Japanese home cooking. (from Amazon)

The essential guide to Japanese home cooking—the ingredients, techniques, and over 100 recipes—for seasoned cooks and beginners who are craving authentic Japanese flavors. Using high-quality, seasonal ingredients in simple preparations, Sonoko Sakai offers recipes with a gentle voice and a passion for authentic Japanese cooking. Beginning with the pantry, the flavors of this cuisine are explored alongside fundamental recipes, such as dashi and pickles, and traditional techniques, like making noodles and properly cooking rice. Use these building blocks to cook an abundance of everyday recipes with dishes like Grilled Onigiri (rice balls) and Japanese Chicken Curry. From there, the book expands into an exploration of dishes organized by breakfast; vegetables and grains; meat; fish; noodles, dumplings, and savory pancakes; and sweets and beverages. With classic dishes like Kenchin-jiru (Hearty Vegetable Soup with Sobagaki Buckwheat Dumplings), Temaki Zushi (Sushi Hand Rolls), and Oden (Vegetable, Seafood, and Meat Hot Pot) to more inventive dishes like Mochi Waffles with Tatsuta (Fried Chicken) and Maple Yuzu Kosho, First Garden Soba Salad with Lemon-White Miso Vinaigrette, and Amazake (Fermented Rice Drink) Ice Pops with Pickled Cherry Blossoms this is a rich guide to Japanese home cooking. Featuring stunning photographs by Rick Poon, the book also includes stories of food purveyors in California and Japan. This is a generous and authoritative book that will appeal to home cooks of all levels.

Recommended by Martha Stewart Living

Rose's latest masterwork is full of precise measurements, fastidious instructions, and, most important, recipes that work. This book will walk you through the intricacies of a pastry chef's kitchen -- and out the other side with more than a few delicious tricks up your sleeve. (from Amazon)

The Baking Bible book cover

by Rose Levy Beranbaum·You?

The latest and most comprehensive baking book yet from best-selling author and “diva of desserts” Rose Levy Beranbaum and winner of the 2015 IACP Cookbook Award for Baking Legendary baker Rose Levy Beranbaum is back with her most extensive “bible” yet. With all-new recipes for the best cakes, pies, tarts, cookies, candies, pastries, breads, and more, this magnum opus draws from Rose’s passion and expertise in every category of baking. As is to be expected from the woman who’s been called “the most meticulous cook who ever lived,” each sumptuous recipe is truly foolproof—with detail-oriented instructions that eliminate guesswork, “plan-aheads,” ingenious tips, and highlights for success. From simple everyday crowd-pleasers (Coffee Crumb Cake Muffins, Gingersnaps, Gooseberry Crisp) to show-stopping stunners (Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse Tart, Mango Bango Cheesecake, White Christmas Peppermint Cake) to bakery-style pastries developed for the home kitchen (the famous French Kouign Amann), every recipe proves that delicious perfection is within reach for any baker.