RHS How Do Worms Work?: A Gardener's Collection of Curious Questions and Astonishing Answers

by Guy Barter, Royal Horticultural Society

This book provides expert answers to the questions every gardener wants to ask - and a few they've never dreamed of, from 'Why do flowers close at night?' to 'How do you attract butterflies?' It's a great, accessible educational resource for young and old - the essential companion for the curious gardener.

Ever wondered how worms breathe? Or why exactly trees are so big? This book covers all aspects of gardens and gardening, and will satisfy all your horticultural curiosity. Packed with photographs, vintage engravings and diagrams, this book will answer everything from the practical to the quirky and whimsical. Feature boxes provide practical guidance, so that you can apply your new-found knowledge to your own garden.

Written by the head of the Royal Horticultural Society Members' Advisory Service, and updated to suit Australian and New Zealand readers, this book is the ideal gift for fact-loving gardeners with curious minds.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Horticulture, Nature

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 2016

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is designed to be dipped in to. Say I will not be surprised if in a year or so time it will not appear again on my reading list.

Now basically it has taken a number of questions about the natural world and more specifically the plants and gardens we so recognise. Not surprising considering its published by the Royal Horticultural Society - as I am sure these questions in some form or other have crossed their doors.

So what we have here are a series of questions - now each answer is spread over between one or two pages depending on the length of answer. There is a quick answer box which reduces the explanation down to about 10 words with anecdotes and side pieces laid out along with illustrations and diagrams

The book is so easy to read and very additive as you just want to read one more answer. The only criticism I would have is that would it have hurt to give some answers a little longer explanations (or were they limited as if this book has reused articles from another publication).

There is an extensive index and further reading although its not that easy linking the reading from the articles to the books but these are minor issues I am picking fault with in an otherwise fascinating book I can see will be referred back to in many a conversation.

[Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling · Rating 4 out of 5]

My View:
This is a fun fact filled read- suitable for the gardener, the school room, the nature lover or for anyone who has children who have asked:

• Why do flowers close at night?
• Does a severed worm grow into two worms?
• What is the difference between a fruit and a vegetable?
• Why is compost hot?
• When is a plant a weed?

And so much more knowledge crammed into this easy read book.

I hate to be the first one to mention this (and most likely I am not) but that major gift giving time of the year is fast approaching: Christmas. This is an ideal book to add to your gift buying list, there is something in these pages for everyone.

[Accio_sunshine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable book!
Gotta attract those butterflies and build a flowery garden 🌸🪷🌷🌼

[Andrii Mykhailov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read with great illustrations - learned number of interesting things from this book.

[Maya Panika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated and presented, this little book is an absolute delight. Apparently aimed at gardeners, but it would surely fascinate anyone - particularly older children - with an interest in the natural world. It covers worms, of course, and soils, seeds, roots and rot, the colours of leaves and flowers, the life cycles and ways of animals, birds and insects… The sheer wealth of information is far too much to list everything. I have degrees in natural sciences but I found much here that I didn't know, or snippets and factoids that enhanced existing knowledge. All the sections are very short, succinct and easily absorbed, but not at all childish or simplistic. The information is detailed, but pared down to the basics. And it all so beautifully presented; everything from the rich red endpapers and bookmark ribbon to the delightfully detailed and thoroughly lovely illustrations that make this book, not just a fascinating journey through so many aspects of the garden and beyond but a thoroughly lovely thing that brought me enormous pleasure and comfort during a recent illness, when I couldn't get out and about at all; the short chapters make it ideal for dipping in and out - perfect reading when one is tired and unwell. It was as if a breath of fresh air and the sights, sounds and smells of the natural world had blown into into my room, sandwiched between the covers of a lovely book.

[~Annaki~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many fun and quirky facts- and educational :)

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

How Do Worms Work? A Gardener's Collection of Curious Questions and Astounding Answers by Gary Barter is one of those 'happy accident' books. I discovered it while reading a book that was just okay, but not great. Since I love gardening, I decided to check it out. Unfortunately, the book was published in the UK and was hard to track down. I ended up buying it on eBay. The questions were all interesting and I learned a lot from many of the answers. A few questions were UK centered, as was some of the language. It was fun to read and informative. Gary Barter is/or was head of the Royal Horticultural Society Members' Advisory Service. How Do Worms Work was definitely worth the search. It is an excellent addition to my gardening bookshelf.

[Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein wirklicher sehr schönes Buch über verschiedene Aspekte des Gartens, im Grunde eine Art Was-ist-Was? für Interessierte aller Altersstufen. Setzt mehr auf einen lockeren oder spannenden Zugang als auf "tiefe" Erklärung.
Geeignet um Durchlesen, habe ich gemacht, und zum Wiederreinblättern, wird sicher noch folgen.

Kleiner Wermutstropfen, der es zu einem 3,5 Sterne-Buch macht: Meine deutsche Übersetzung ist stellenweise nicht gut und schlecht lektoriert. Das fällt gerade bei dieser absichtlich knackig-kurzen Form der Wissensvermittlung deutlich auf.

[Book Grocer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purchase How Do Worms Work? here for just $12!

As someone who does not have a green thumb, this book was incredible, providing answers to so many questions that would be useful for everyone from children to expert gardeners. There is a very helpful index and the answers are relatively short, allowing you to learn a lot without feeling overwhelmed with information.

Elisa - The Book Grocer

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was brilliantly done, with loads of information, spread out in such a way as to keep the reader intrigued and paying attention. I learnt a heck of a lot reading this book - keen for a busy day in the garden tomorrow!
I think the title is misleading - I expected this book to be quite mundane and boring, but I was pleasantly surprised. This book is an all rounder and not just about worms.

[Alessia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a curious person, and an enthusiastic gardener (who isn't the best gardener). This book was perfect for me. Each page was a different question surrounding gardening, and answered many questions that I had (and many that I didn't know I needed the answers to). Much of the book also included Australian native flora/ environments, which I find to be one of the biggest barriers to me understanding gardening books. Would recommend to the novice gardener like me.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, some technical information but it's all useful.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and informative for someone who loves the natural sciences and learning how things work!

[Martini · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say that I oscillated between fascinated with some questions and ennui with others but overall very informative. The subject of horticulture is truly broad and while I would've hoped that this book encaptured the subject matter... I suspect that I have barely scratched the surface

[Mannie Willies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lot's of helpful information in short bites. Beautiful illustrations. I really like how old fashioned the design of this book feels. A great book to go back to again and again.