Every square inch of soil is rich with energy and life and nowhere is this more evident than in the garden At the tips of our trowels a sun driven world of microbes insects roots and stems awaits and it is a world no one knows better than James Nardi A charming guide to all things green and growing Nardi is as at home in prairies forests and wetlands as he is in the vegetable patch And with Discoveries in the Garden he shows us that these spaces aren t as different as we might think that nature flourishes in our backyards schoolyards and even indoors To find it we ve only got to get down into the dirt Leading us through the garden gate Nardi reveals the extraordinary daily lives and life cycles of a quick growing widely available and very accommodating group of study subjects garden plants Through close observations and simple experiments we all can replicate at home we learn the hidden stories behind how these plants grow flower set seeds and produce fruits as well as the vital role dead and decomposing plants play in nourishing the soil From pollinators to parasites plant calisthenics to the wisdom of weeds Nardi s tale also introduces us to our fellow animal and microbial gardeners the community of creatures both macro and microscopic with whom we share our raised beds Featuring a copse of original informative illustrations that are as lush as the garden plants themselves Discoveries in the Garden is an enlightening romp through the natural history science beauty and wonder of these essential green places