Finding Solace in Plants and Nature with the Help of a Few Inspiring Books

It’s alive.

The Well-Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature

By Sue Stuart-Smith

The garden is often seen as a refuge, a place to forget worldly cares, removed from the “real” life that lies outside. But when we get our hands in the earth, we connect with the cycle of life in nature through which destruction and decay are followed by regrowth and renewal. Gardening is one of the quintessential nurturing activities, yet we understand so little about it. The Well-Gardened Mind provides a new perspective on the power of gardening to change people’s lives. Here, Sue Stuart-Smith investigates the many ways in which mind and garden can interact and explores how the process of tending a plot can be a way of sustaining an innermost self.

Available at {pages} a bookstore, pagesabookstore.com

Wild Interiors: Beautiful Plants in Beautiful Spaces

By Hilton Carter

Best-selling author Hilton Carter brings his unique eye and love of plants to show you how to create luscious interiors that not only look amazing but are good for your well-being too. Hilton first guides you through his own plant journey, his inspirations and his top 10 favorite houseplants. He then takes you on a “journey in greenery,” where he showcases the homes of 12 inspiring plant parents that demonstrate the versatility of decorating with plants. Packed full of interior design advice such as using “statement plants” like fiddle-leaf figs to create a focal point, how to layer your greenery by using hanging baskets and how to assemble the perfect plant shelf, Hilton shows you how bringing houseplants into your home creates instant impact.

Available at Gum Tree in Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach, gumtreela.com

The Forests of California: A California Field Atlas

By Obi Kaufmann

From the author of The California Field Atlas (#1 San Francisco Chronicle best seller) comes a major work that not only guides readers through the Golden State’s forested lands but also presents a profoundly original vision of nature in the 21st century. The Forests of California features an abundance of Obi Kaufmann’s signature watercolor maps and trail paintings, weaving them into an expansive and accessible exploration of the biodiversity that defines California in the global imagination. Expanding on the style of the Field Atlas, Kaufmann tells an epic story that spans millions of years, nearly 100 species of trees and an astonishing richness of ecosystems.

Available at Barnes & Noble, barnesandnoble.com