I love gardening. While the garden shops at the local hardware stores are still bare, I am pouring over catalogues and ordering, anticipating the spring and summer. While I do grow a few annuals, by far my favorite flowers are those the perennials because they reward my efforts year after year.
Martha's Flowers has selected some favorite perennials from the three growing seasons and featured them in this handsome new guide. Within the pages, Stewart and Sharkey have featured daffodils, tulips, rhododendron and azalea, lilacs, allium, peony, roses, poppies, clematis, delphinium, hydrangea, lily, sunflowers and rudbeckia, and dahlias. I list these so you know what is enclosed in the cover in case these aren't your flowers of choice.
Each flower/bush has a dedicated section with a story from Martha then specific, detailed directions regarding growing them and suggestions with how to arrange each cut flower with beautiful photographs the reader can mimic. In many places, the authors drop the names of reputable companies you can order from. Not only is Martha's Flowers full of information, it is a beautiful book to simply look through for ideas or just to appreciate. Following the sections on the specific flowers is an area dedicated to arranging flowers with suggested tools, supports, vessels and techniques.
The hardbound volume is sturdy, the pages a bit on the glossy side so I wipe off my dirty prints as I come in from the garden for a break. I am excited to use this as a new coffee table volume as spring is around the corner but gardening just isn't that likely yet. I can easily recommend this volume for anyone who loves gardening or as a perfect Mother's Day gift. It is beautiful and cheery inside and out.
I did receive this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and was in no way obligated to write a positive one.
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