The Old Country : Australian Landscapes, Plants And People

Local Description

2006. A near fine copy only marked by very light spotting on the top and bottom edges.

Description

We are a nation of gardeners, and we take pleasure in tending our backyards. But this pleasure sits uneasily with our knowledge that the places where most of us live are running out of water. We suspect that our lawns and many of our plants from the damp climates of northern European gardens are too demanding of scarce supplies, but can't imagine our streets and gardens without them. The Old Country opens our eyes, and minds, to other possibilities. It does so by telling us stories about our natural landscape. George Seddon believes that the better we understand the delicacy and beauty of our natural environment, the more 'at home' we will feel as Australians. This passionate, wise and witty book, enriched with breathtakingly beautiful illustrations, suggests that the answers to our water problems lie here, at home.

Author description

George Seddon AM is an Emeritus Professor of Environmental Science at the University of Melbourne and a Senior Research Associate at the University of Western Australia. He has held chairs in four disciplines and taught in universities across Europe and North America. His recent books include Landprints: Reflections on Place and Landscape (Cambridge University Press, 1996).

Table of contents

1. Introduction; 2. First encounters; 3. The Boab; 4. Learning; 5. The Conifers; 6. The Banksias; 7. Mediterraneity; 8. On being deciduous; 9. By design; 10. Weeds; Epilogue.