BOOK CLUB

Informative and inspiring manuals for those dedicated to life outdoors. 1. Garden Plants & Flowers by Ian Spence (Dorling Kindersley, $49.99) This handy reference manual has recently been reissued as a landscape edition. Produced in association with the Royal Horticultural Society, it is packed with information (including tips on cultivation) and photographs on thousands of plants in an easy-to-navigate A–Z format. 2. Practical Self Sufficiency by Dick and James Strawbridge (Dorling Kindersley, $49.99) From designing a permaculture garden to building your own small-scale irrigation systems, animal husbandry and using garden produce in the kitchen, this comprehensive guide by a father and son duo advises on living lightly on the land and getttting the most from your garden. Rich with information and photographed step-by-step projects.