The Story of Flowers: And How They Changed the Way We Live

Throughout history flowers have been an integral part of human survival and culture - as food, for medicine, to express feelings, as symbols, to commemorate and celebrate, and to decorate. Their shapes, colors, scents and textures have always attracted us, as they do animals and insects. Flowers are used as luxury spices (saffron), and as coloring and flavoring agents - marigolds fed to chickens make eggs more yellow and lavender was Elizabeth I's favorite flavor of jam. Flowers are full of symbolic meaning: violets represent modesty, daises purity and daffodils unrequited love. And they have always played an important role in culture through myths and legends, literature and the decorative arts. This delightful new book brings together 100 of the world's flowers to tell their remarkable stories. Each flower is richly illustrated in color and accompanied by facts about each species and what role it has played in our culture and history. New book in the Story of... series, following on from The Story of Trees

An original and informative presentation of 100 great flower species from across the world by leading garden writer Noel Kinsbury

Over 300 beautiful, and botanically accurate, illustrations by gardener and illustrator Charlotte Dayay