Private paradises nestled in the backyards of homes. Rooftops that act as community gardens. Edible patches of beauty hidden within city blocks. Evergreen shows the verdant path city dwellers can take to bring nature back into their everyday lives. Living with plants is mutually beneficial; beyond the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen, leaves, flowers and stems bring a salubrious, grounding charisma to any space. Throughout this engaging collection of projects, urban gardening is complimented by a softer side: balconies that add an extra relaxing touch to a morning cup of coffee, flowers that provide calming fragrances throughout the home, or romantic blooms that feed the soul rather than fill a plate.

Evergreen also inspires those who already live in the midst of lush horticultural and sustainable oases. Straightforward plans and examples illustrate how to transform spaces, both indoors and out, into flourishing and functional patches. Sketched floor plans visually detail a myriad of projects and particulars, such as which plants thrive in dark living room corners or which foliage enjoys the damp environment of a bathroom.

Within its pages, the profiles of plant lovers (both professional and hobbyist alike) provide an engaging guide to productively getting one’s hands dirty; rooftop gardens, greenhouses that double as living spaces and cooperative community gardens all awaken an intrinsic love of plants that most of us feel. From cactus farmers and florists to shop owners and activists, Evergreen’s cast of characters will guide the reader in making and maintaining their own green utopia.