How To Draw Cool Stuff by Catherine V. Holmes

I have honestly not read a more beautifully designed, themed and simple drawing book before now!

I have an array of drawing books and none of them are at all like this one. In this book, set up in months of the year and themed with each month's major events such as; Easter with drawing rainy puddles, rabbits and daffodils.
I have also never managed to draw a convincing rose that didn't end up looking like layered semicircles, but with this books detailed illustrations and instructions, I managed it!

If you can't draw, can do a little but want more confidence or a complete novice, this book is sure to fire you up and make you proud of yourself and your talent as you will grow confident in tackling the most tricky of designs as have I!

I hope you pursue purchasing this book and giving it a whole hearted go, thank you to the publisher for allowing me a copy to review for you all!

Succulents by Robin Stockwell

Filled with history to inspiring growing plants at all, this book is beautiful with photographs that are high quality, rich with colours so vibrant you feel you're by the plants not just reading a book!

From pots, edgings, roof gardens and more we are shown that everywhere and anywhere can make way for a succulent or a few. There are plenty of tips and tricks to help get your own display started in many various forms you are sure to find inspiration for a modern, classic or own style succulent garden of some kind. There's even ideas for gifts, hair accessories along with funky indoor planter or outdoor hanging succulents too.

Complete with a guide to the various names along with pictures of the succulents you may come across, it is sure to teach you many things all in one handy book.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Plantopedia by Adrienne Barman

I was drawn to this plant guide as despite being a children's non fiction guide, the illustration is very eye-catching, set into colour pages such as all black plants, aquatic plants featuring animals too, dyes from plants, types of trees, fruit and veg, herbs and medicinal healing plants, this guide shares everything across all types of outdoor wildlife flower, tree and plant wise in a perfect way for children.

The guide also warns of the dangers plants like cactus can pose as well as a guide to poisonous plants to be wary of.

Packed with colours popping from the page and simple plant labelling for kids to follow, this book would be a great introduction to learning what plants are safe or not and maybe even get them involved in gardening too.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

How To Train Your Cactus by Tonwen Jones

I was inspired by my local botanical garden's cactus house to get a succulent myself to grow and keep at home. Months later at the end of last summer, I acquired a small succulent which is still with me and healthy to this day!

However I do wish I had this book back then as I would've saved hours researching how to care for it properly!

From discussing types of them available, tools you will need from a simple trowel and pot to gravel, guide to growing from seeds and how to train certain types of succulents to thrive daily.

Each plant type has a simple page of typed instructions on care and upkeep while the second page of the double page layout features a colourful illustration of what the chosen cacti/succulent looks like so you know what to expect it to grow like.

The cover is a simple green with a colourful cactus on the cover centred to stand out for the subject alike the title anyway. The guide is clear and concise for all ages to be able to follow easily and learn from.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Gardenlust by Chris Woods

I am reading this outside under the Spring sunshine which seems a fitting location as Gardenlust is to take me on a tour of the world's best new gardens which have been unearthed or discovered if you prefer, in the more recent of years. Chris Woods evidently has a passion for gardens having his career beginning at the Kew gardens and thriving to go on creating with gardens and produce books leading up to this one now.

Set to a backdrop of gorgeously captured, crisp photographs of various forms of outdoor nature at it's best, from flowers to trees, details in seating arrangements, various statues and beyond, this book is a small sanctuary to those of us whom wish to be out in all weather's in a garden of some form.

The gardens we are introduced to are picturesque with complementing colours displayed and in all areas of countries these little gardens or not so little gardens in many cases can be found to explore. They are all different and have many similar but never the exact same features, from bridges to statues to the rare weird yet wonderful plants on offer in their displays.

I myself may be English, but I have always been drawn to and appreciate Japanese and Chinese gardens after our town centre's park has mini ones of those designs mixed in, the UK also boasts many botanical gardens alike we read about in this book many a time and if this book sends out any kind of message to those of us living in cities or villages, it's to escape into a new bliss, of a garden we have yet to explore and make it a top priority to take time to relax, distress and unwind there.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!