Home, Garden, and DIY May 2019 Recent Releases Seasonal Flower Arranging: Fill Your Home with Blooms, Branches, and Foraged... by Ariella Chezar with Julie Michaels; photos by Erin Kunkel What it is: a beautifully written guide arranged by season that encourages the use of locally grown flowers and provides flexible, step-by-step instructions for 39 floral projects. Don't miss: the eye-catching color photos and the section about creating a cutting garden. Reviewers say: "a delightful companion for gardeners, florists, or armchair naturalists" (Publishers Weekly, starred review).   Deep Run Roots: Stories and Recipes from my Corner of the South by Vivian Howard; photography by Rex Miller What it is: an award-winning combination of cookbook and memoir that details more than 200 recipes and includes information about essential parts of Southern cooking, addressing ingredients, tools, seasoning meats, canning, and more. Who it's for: viewers of PBS' A Chef's Life, fans of classic Southern food, and lovers of fresh takes on Southern food. Recipes include: Grandma Hill's Hoecakes, Foolproof Grits, Blueberry BBQ Chicken, Peaches and Cream Cake, and Tempura-Fried Okra. Audubon Birdhouse Book: Building, Placing, and Maintaining Great Homes for Great Birds by Margaret A. Barker and Elissa Wolfson While it's true that birdhouses make fun craft projects and cute garden decorations, this well-researched book favors function over fashion. Here, anyone can learn how to construct and place specialized birdhouses for over 20 North American species of birds, including waterfowl and raptors. The birdhouse designs cover all skill levels, and each includes easy-to-follow blueprints, cut lists, and photographic instructions. This appealing, practical guide offers all the clarity of Popular Woodworking's Birdhouses You Can Build in a Day, but with the scientific, bird-centered perspective you'd expect from the National Audubon Society. Creating Sanctuary: Sacred Garden Spaces, Plant-Based Medicine, and Daily... by Jessi Bloom; photographs by Shawn Linehan What it is: a practical and inspirational book that clearly explains how to better connect with nature by creating a peaceful space in your own backyard that incorporates plants, benches, lanterns, and more. Don't miss: profiles of 50 special plants, such as bee balm, including their medicinal properties and self-care uses. Less Can Be More The story of seeds : from Mendel's garden to your plate, and how there's more of less to eat around the world by Nancy F. Castaldo A cautionary introduction to seed life and its indelible role in today's world includes coverage of the role seeds play in the food supply, the maintenance of secret seed vaults and the consequences of genetically modified foods on cultivation diversity. 10,000 first printing. Urban gardening for dummies by Paul Simon Covering square-foot gardening and vertical and layered gardening, this excellent resource shows how to make the most of limited space through the use of proven small-space gardening techniques, and includes guidance on pest management, irrigation and rain barrels and small-space composting. Original. 350+ Crochet Tips, Techniques, and Trade Secrets by Jan Eaton Offering a treasury of tips, techniques, and trade secrets for crocheters (both new and experienced), this wide-ranging book provides numerous projects and quick fixes for problems crocheters may encounter. It also discusses everything from choosing the right hook and yarn to creating your own designs. Step-by-step color photos enhance the text and will have readers crocheting something fine in no time.  New minimalism : decluttering and design for sustainable, intentional living by Cary Telander Fortin A professional decluttering and design team helps readers turn their homes into a beautifully designed spaces that feel clean and tidy without being sparse or prescriptive. Contact your librarian for more great books! Richmond Public Library 101 East Franklin Street Richmond, Virginia 23219 (804) 646-7223 rvalibrary.org/