Monarchs Under the Sassafras Tree


Book Description

It's an unusually warm autumn, 1929, and O.T. Lawrence is about as content as a cotton farmer can be in Five Forks, Georgia. Nothing--not poverty, drought, or even the boll weevi--can spoil the idyllic life he shares with his doting wife and children and his beloved twin brother Walt. Until illness and Black Tuesday take everything O.T. ever held dear in one fell swoop. Grieving, drinking, and careening toward homelessness, O.T. is on the brink of ending it all when he receives an odd letter from a teenage acquaintance, the enigmatic Sivvy Hargrove, who is locked away in Milledgeville's asylum for the insane. Traveling through desperate antebellum towns, O.T. and his daughter Ginny are determined to find Sivvy and discover her story. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, Monarchs Under the Sassafras Tree is a love story to Georgia and the spirit of its people--a story of family, unconditional love, poverty, injustice, and finding the strength inside to keep on going when all is lost.




The Humane Gardener


Book Description

In this eloquent plea for compassion and respect for all species, journalist and gardener Nancy Lawson describes why and how to welcome wildlife to our backyards. Through engaging anecdotes and inspired advice, profiles of home gardeners throughout the country, and interviews with scientists and horticulturalists, Lawson applies the broader lessons of ecology to our own outdoor spaces. Detailed chapters address planting for wildlife by choosing native species; providing habitats that shelter baby animals, as well as birds, bees, and butterflies; creating safe zones in the garden; cohabiting with creatures often regarded as pests; letting nature be your garden designer; and encouraging natural processes and evolution in the garden. The Humane Gardener fills a unique niche in describing simple principles for both attracting wildlife and peacefully resolving conflicts with all the creatures that share our world.




Two Winters


Book Description

The winter of 1997 is a tragedy waiting to happen. Small-town life isn't easy for seventeen-year-old bisexual and closeted Paulina, especially when her best friend Mia becomes pregnant and doesn’t want to tell the baby's father, Paulina's other best friend, Tesla. Meanwhile, Paulina's secret relationship with volleyball star Ani is about to go public. One fateful night, everything changes forever. In the winter of 2014, Perdita, bi and proud in Chicago, is weeks away from turning seventeen. She loves her two moms, but why won’t they talk about her adoption? When Perdita meets improv performer Fenton, she discovers both a kindred soul and a willing accomplice in her search for the truth. Will Perdita find what she's looking for? Two Winters is a contemporary YA retelling of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale about birth, death, Catholic school, improv comedy, and the healing nature of time.




Tomorrow & Tomorrow


Book Description

Rock, Love, and Betrayal: Dive into the High-Stakes Shakespearean World of "Tomorrow and Tomorrow" In a tale of friendship, ambition, and dark secrets, join the journey of an all-female rock band as they navigate the treacherous world of music and uncover the chilling truth that threatens to tear them apart. New Beginnings and Unbreakable Bonds When Duff O'Brien moves to Hiawassee, Georgia to escape her traumatic past, she finds solace in her friendship with the ambitious and fierce Marian "Mac" Shepherd. Together with the enigmatic Quincy Banks, they form The Scottish Play, North Georgia's hardest-rocking all-female band. Rising Stars and Shrouded Secrets Five years later, the band is living their dream in Athens, Georgia, playing gigs and enjoying their newfound fame. When the captivating Lawrence MacLaren enters their lives, love blossoms between him and Mac, and he envisions even greater success for the band. But when tragedy strikes, and two of their closest allies die under mysterious circumstances, Duff and bandmate Ross begin to suspect that Mac and Lawrence may be involved. A Journey to Unveil the Truth As The Scottish Play embarks on a trip to Scotland's historic Glamis Castle for the performance of a lifetime, Duff must confront the prophecies of The Hecks, a trio of bewitching witches from her past—one of whom she is now dating. With danger lurking around every corner, she questions if she ever truly knew her best friend Mac and wonders if she could be the next target. Immerse yourself in "Tomorrow and Tomorrow," a gripping story of rock, love, and betrayal, as Duff and her bandmates unravel a twisted mystery that could change their lives forever.




Take Her Down


Book Description

In this queer YA retelling of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, stakes at Augustus Magnet School are cutthroat, scheming is creative, and loyalty is ever-changing. Overnight, Bronwyn St. James goes from junior class queen to daughter of an imprisoned felon, and she lands in the care of her aunt and younger cousin Cass, a competitive cheerleader who Bronwyn barely knows. Life gets worse when her ex-best friend, the always-cool Jude Cuthbert, ostracizes Bronwyn from the queer social elite for dating a boy, Porter Kendrick. Bronwyn and Jude are both running for student body president, and that means war. But after Bronwyn, Porter, and Cass share a video of Jude in a compromising position, Jude suddenly goes missing. No one has seen her for weeks and it might be all Bronwyn’s fault. Will Jude ever be found? Or will Bronwyn finally have to reckon with what she’s won—and what she’s lost? Content Advisory: Depictions of sexual assault.




Monarchs of the Forest


Book Description

Discusses the three species of redwood trees, which now grow naturally only in California, Oregon, and China.







Annual Report


Book Description




Sustainable Landscaping


Book Description

Sustainable landscaping involves a set of practices implemented by landscape practitioners to help solve environmental concerns. Continuing in the tradition of its predecessor, the second edition of Sustainable Landscaping: Principles and Practices examines underlying landscaping issues that adversely affect the environment and illustrates alternative methods that result in positive outcomes. This textbook examines all phases of landscaping in both residential and commercial environments, from design to construction and implementation to maintenance. Firmly anchoring landscaping practices in the context of sustainability, this book explores topics including choosing appropriate plants and using plants for specific effects, such as shading, water quality and quantity, soil health and optimal preservation techniques, pesticide usage and its inherent dangers, energy consumption, and resource management and waste reduction. Sustainable Landscaping also provides a thorough grounding in pertinent issues and terminology for each topic, followed by practical solutions applied by landscape professionals. Each chapter includes learning objectives and case studies of actual sustainable landscape activities. Contains updated government statistics and data, graphs, tables, and color photographs throughout. Provides background information and sustainable solutions for students, homeowners, and landscaping professionals to effectively design and manage landscapes. Author Dr. Marietta Loehrlein is a Professor Emeritus of Horticulture and Landscaping at Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL, USA. While there, she developed a new course, "Sustainable Landscaping," and wrote the first edition of this textbook, which was also the first of its kind to address the subject.




Gardening for Butterflies


Book Description

“No matter the size or shape of your growing area, this will guide you through creating a butterfly-friendly space.” —Mother Earth News Welcome the world’s most exquisite visitors to your garden! Gardening for Butterflies, by the experts at the Xerces Society, introduces you to a variety of butterflies who need our help, and shows you how to design a habitat where they will thrive. This optimistic call to arms is packed with everything you need to create a beautiful, pollinator-friendly garden. You will learn why butterflies matter, why they are in danger, and what simple steps we can take to make a difference. You'll also learn how to choose the right plants and how to create a garden that flutters and flourishes with life.