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.

Dr. Noel Kinsbury is an internationally known writer on horticulture and has contributed to The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian and The New York Times. His many books include Natural Garden Style (2009), Daffodil: The Remarkable Story of the World's Most Popular Spring Flower (2013) and Garden Flora (2016).

Charlotte Day trained first with the Royal Horticultural Society before completing a Master's degree at Chelsea College of Art. Her floral illustration clients include Waterstones, Penguin Random House, The Royal Collections Trust and LUSH Cosmetics.