Pick a Posey of Prose
“Dahlias” and “Peonies” by Tara Austen Weaver, with illustrations by Emily Poole, Sasquatch Books, 2022
The ‘Little Book of Flowers’ series debuts with beautiful and practical explorations of botany, culture and inspiration.
Gardening is filled with romance and science, folklore, and history. But often, when it comes to flower books, we’re forced to choose between a practical growing guide or a beautiful inspirational ode to blooms. In “A Little Book of Flowers,” a new series of single bloom titles, local author Tara Austen Weaver weaves together basic botany and culture. Each posey-sized volume reads like a very smart love letter to cultivating beauty.
The series launches this winter with the release of “Peonies” and “Dahlias,” surely two of the world’s best loved blooms. Each small-format, hardcover book opens with “Origin of the Species,” a brief chapter on the plant’s history that digs deeper than European discovery. For instance, dahlias can trace their roots to Mexico and Central America where they were cultivated and gathered by the Aztecs. While peonies, which are considered native to Asia, North America, and throughout the Mediterranean, have a history that stretches back to ancient times. Exploring the roots of those blooms we cherish today is an exercise that grounds us in the context of history, both human and horticultural. That’s a good thing.
Read the entire story in the link below