Floral Folklore: The Forgotten Tales Behind Nature’s Most Enchanting Plants by Alison Davies

Floral Folklore: The Forgotten Tales Behind Nature’s Most Enchanting Plants Reviews

• 
  Srivalli Rekha

  4 Stars
  
  One Liner: Beautiful and informative
  
  Ever wondered what stories the flowers have to share with us? This book has the answer. Floral Folklore is a collection of folktales about forty beautiful flowers in nature. The book is divided into four sections based on the major seasons –spring, summer, fall, and winter.
  
  However, the book is not limited to stories. It also provides us with practical tips to create mindful practices and rituals using the flowers. It helps align ourselves with the flowers, seasons, and nature. The foreword by Anna Porter and the introduction by the author are compact and set the tone about what to expect from the contents.
  
  Each story has the flower’s name as the title, with the scientific name as the subtitle. We get a three-line description, the meaning of the flower, and the origin of the tale listed on the side. Then, we proceed to the story with a lovely illustration on the side. The color scheme is softer and a touch muted, which suits the book’s language. Though I prefer vibrant colors, I loved many illustrations in this one.
  
  At the end of each story, there’s a short section about how to create a ritual to connect with and use the flower for spiritual work, manifestations, etc. The story is written in simple language and is easy to read. However, it is not something everyone will like. The tone is blandish and matter-of-fact.
  
  The collection contains floral folktales from different countries, like Greece, Persia, Nepal, Israel, Scotland, China, Scandinavia, etc. Not surprisingly, quite a few stories are from Greek mythology (I know a couple of them), and some from Germany and all of Europe.
  
  There’s a story from India (Hinduism), though not for the flower I expected. I’m familiar with the base story, though not its association with the flower (and a change in a part of the tale, which is bound to happen with so many retellings floating around). Either way, this flower now has a greater significance to me!
  
  The book ends with a short summary and a few references for more information. There’s a short note of caution about allergies at the end, which I think should be at the beginning.
  
  To summarize, Floral Folklore is a worthy read that should be consumed in smaller installments to enjoy each tale to the fullest. Grab this one even if you are not into rituals and practices.
  
  Thank you, NetGalley and Quarto Publishing (Leaping Hare Press), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
  
  #NetGalley #FloralFolklore
  
  ***
  
  PSA: This book is not for kids as I assumed earlier. It’s general nonfiction about plants and nature suitable for YA and adults who like this kind of thing.
  
• 
  8stitches 9lives

  Floral Folklore attempts to get humans back in touch with the natural world around them by reintroducing readers to some of the flowers that surround us in daily life and tying their names to stories/myths cultivated and collected from around the globe. Some of these stories were absolutely beautiful with important messages at their heart.
  
  For example, the Rhododendron's refusal to be accepted by a forest partner when she is stunning and in full bloom if they cannot accept her in winter when her colour has drained and her petals are lacklustre I felt was quite touching. Brings a whole new meaning to the latter part of a Marilyn Monroe quote "...if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."
  
  Each flower has beautifully drawn artwork adorning a full page, a story/myth associated with the bloom and rituals to help you to get closer to nature. These are some generally nice mindfulness-related practices that we all should be doing some variation of, every once in a while, to reflect, bring peace and become more self aware.
  
  With stories coming from Nepal, Persia, Israel, Europe and also drawing from Greek mythology, there is something for everyone to enjoy, and you'll emerge with a better understanding of the cultural significance of the featured flowers and even more besides.
• 
  Max

  This was such a cute read! This book describes the stories and myths behind many beautiful flowers you can encounter. Accompanied by beautiful illustrations (really loved their simplicity and colour schemes!) and mindfulness-related activities, this makes for a nice way to connect closer to nature. If I can have one minor complaint: the accompanying activities were often a bit repetitive, and very generic. But I do appreciate the warnings given regarding for example avoiding the use of some essential oils for epileptics.
  
  Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC to read & review. These are my honest opinions.
• 
  B | crumbledpages

  This beautiful book has a unique concept in my opinion. There are tales dedicated to a particular flower from different locations. The tales are short and delightful, but the illustrations of the flowers are breathtaking! I absolutely loved the artwork. The flowers were drawn in a stunning way. Really loved this book. Highly recommend it.
• 
  Reading_ Tamishly

  The book is a collection of forty most interesting plants which most of us are not familiar with the folklore associated with them.
  
  Every picture and every description of each plant is quite interesting. It’s cosy. It’s interesting. It’s fun and you will get to learn a lot about these plants.
  
  The information and stories on each plant is crisp but enough information is given which I really appreciate.
  
  The illustrations are classy!
  
  Thank you, Leaping Hare Press, for the advance reading copy.
• 
  Stephanie

  I enjoyed reading this book. It emphasizes floral mythology and crosses into folk beliefs and magic. For it being hyper-focused on this side of floral science, I found the stories included here to be endearing, unique, and fun. I recommend this as good night reading or perhaps alternative bedtime stories for kids.
  
  *** Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group and Leaping Hare for providing this title in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Whitney

  Floral Folklore is a great nonfiction book for lovers of gardening, fantasy, and folklore. You'll learn about 40 different plants exploring not only the outer beauty of flowers, but also the historical context in centuries of gardening.
  
  There are beautiful illustrations for each flower and offers engaging narratives to capture the essence of each species. If you're planning a garden and have a love for information, this is a great book to have even if you want to keep it as a coffee table read.
  
  I wholeheartedly recommend "Floral Folklore" not just as a read but as an experience, a beautifully crafted bridge between our world and the ancient, whispered secrets of the plant world.
• 
  *ੈ✩‧₊˚Sassy Hippie˚₊‧✩ ੈ*

  2.4 ⭐️
  I have mixed emotions about this book. As a fan of plants and folklore, I loved the description and the idea of this book, but the delivery fell short for me.
  
  The artwork throughout the book is a whimsical cartoon style, which helps deliver the folklore concept. It’s not my preferred style, but understandable for this type of book.
  
  Each featured plant is 4 pages (1 page being an image) and tells the scientific and common name, a brief description, qualities that are often associated (like wisdom, peace, etc) the folklore origin country and story, and a suggested ritual to promote the plant’s qualities.
  
  I thought this would have a bit more of an enchanting or educational element. I’m not sure who the intended audience is or what the main purpose is. I absolutely hated the storytelling style. I really struggled to stay focused.
  
  Thank you to NetGalley, Leaping Hare Press, and Alison Davies for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
• 
  Megan Rose

  A sweet, short book, Floral Folklore takes the myths and folklore of some flowers and plants and entrances the reader with worldly wisdom from the past and present. The mythos behind flowers and plants have fascinated me for years and I'm glad I found this book. Alison Davies hit the nail on the head with this concept and presents a wholesome book perfect for a rainy day or those interested in the plants in their garden.
  
  The book, overall, is beautiful with lovely illustrations and vast amounts of wisdom and knowledge behind every flower and plant—a must-read for any green-thumbed fiend.
  
  Thank you, NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group –Leaping Hare, Leaping Hare Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
• 
  Sara Flubacher

  Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group-Leaping Hare for this ARC. This is my honest review.
  
  2.5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️
  
  Floral Folklore tells short folk stories about a variety of seasonal flowers. Included are short descriptions of the flowers and their common associations, as well as where the folklore originated from. At the end of each story is a short exercise or ritual for one to become “spiritually” closer to that flower.
  
  To start with the positives: the illustrations and graphic set-up of this book is stunning. I would hang up those illustrations as artwork in my home! I think these are great short bedtime stories for children or even adults. Very cozy and it gives a new perspective on the flowers! I thought it was cool to learn some names about flowers I didn’t know the name of and now having an ability and appreciation for the blooms, should I come across them.
  
  My critiques: first and foremost, PLEASE HAVE SOME PROOF SPELLING AND GRAMMAR. I found at LEAST 10 errors and I felt like I was skimming. This knocks so many points off a book for me. 1-2 is fine but annoying. Anything more than 3 is just sloppy. Another thing I felt lacking was more practical information about the flowers. There was really only two pages to each flower and it left me wanting more. I understand it’s about the folklore, but I just wanted to read more about the flower as well. The ritual exercises were often repeated as the same thing. Some were very creative and some I actually practiced! But I don’t want to have to read about doing a breathing exercise for a flower. For one flower it would be fine, but not for a handful. I think the Fall flowers had the best exercises.
  
  Would I buy this book? Probably not, knowing what I know now. But it would make a good coffee table book. Just for the illustrations alone.
• 
  Yoon

  this was an enjoyable and fun read! I like to read books these - where I learn not only facts about something, but also some interesting and fun stories attached to it. Like mythology and stories. I also liked the way the book was presented: with colors and illustrations of the flowers and how it would look somewhat reminiscent to how dictionaries used to look like (or encyclopedias I think). I also found the ritual regarding each flower at the end of their story a fun touch that sounds like it could provide a thoughtful and perhaps even relaxing experience and activity.
  
  I did find one spelling mistake, where the 's' in "black ones" in the tulip chapter was with two 's' and not the one. The digital copy was also a little annoying to get used to, but that was it in terms of technicality.
  
  It's a good and fun source of facts and stories for your own personal inspiration or source of information regarding flowers. And if not for writing, just an enjoyable and lighthearted way to learn some more things about the world.
  
  However, I will also say that it did unfortunately fall within my expectations that a lot of the flowers were associated with Greece, Europe, and such countries and continents.
  
  Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  LindaPf

  Subtitled “The Forgotten Tales Behind Nature’s Most Enchanting Plants,” author Davies has selected 40 mostly well known flowers and divided them into 4 chapters: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. This is a beautiful book about the folklore of each and every flower has a named tale: Anemone is “Aphrodite and Adonis;” Carnation is “The Flower of the Dead;” Phlox is “The Lost Cloud;” Violet is “The Most Beautiful Woman in the World.” You’re tempted to investigate your favorite flower or the most intriguing story title at first — but you’ll be better rewarded by engrossing yourself in each flower of the season as the book continues.
  
  Illustrated beautifully by Sarah Wildling/Wild Lune, each entry gives a description plus the flower meaning (hyacinths are associated with passion and jealousy; lady’s bedstraw with safe childbirth) and geographic folklore origin (mostly European, but others like the African Protea or Egyptian Lotus).
  
  Each story is incredibly interesting. The real surprise of the book is a “ritual” for each flower with instructions on how to carry it out —- the ritual of the pansy is meant to promote kindness and friendship and you’ll need a piece of rose quartz, pansy shrubs, compost, a small pot and water to complete.
  
  As the author concludes, flowers are magical and her rituals for each one are simple affirmations about beauty in the natural world. 5 stars!
  
  Thank you to Leaping Hare Press/Quarto Publishing and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
• 
  ⚫㊐✨Heather Mc Erlean❦㈦㊏

  "Floral Folklore: The Forgotten Tales Behind Nature’s Most Enchanting Plants" by Alison Davies, is a short overview of 40 common flowering plants.
  
  Each plant listed shows the Latin name, a brief description of the plant with some specifications, country of origin, the stories associated with the plants, and rituals you can perform to reap the benefits of the plant associations. Whether you believe in the magic of the flowers or use meditation to enhance the symbolic meanings of these plants in your life, this book will help you do just that.
  
  Most of these plants are common where I live, but some are not. I would say that most of these plants will be a part of the landscape and apply to each person. The plants are separated according to season. This book is brilliant for its depiction of each plant in the illustration. I highly recommend people read this book if they want to get an overall view of the folklore of flowering plants that are most common in most regions. I love the way you can apply the meanings of these plants to your own life.
• 
  Katie

  I loved this so much. As someone who loves flowers and also loves the meaning and lore behind things this was so much fun for me. I felt like it was so much more than just talking about flowers I also learned things about the world and history that was really interesting. And the artwork was stunning. I want as many of these pictures as possible hanging in my house
• 
  Valerie

  "they're not good enough for you, because when they look at you, they see your strength, and that makes them feel afraid"
  
  this is pretty cute and sweet, little, informative time if you have any interests in beautiful artwork, mythology, and medicinal uses and rituals all involving flowers. Super easy to binge read or to pick up with the seasons
• 
  Chanel

  4.25
  
  Loved that each flower had a description, origin, associations, myths/stories and rituals/spells.
  The writing for the stories was very basic but otherwise a fun read.
• 
  Andrea

  I really like the concept of this book. I studied horticulture formally, and the folklore stories sounded extremely interesting to me. I struggled to be excited about every flowers origin story, and some of that was due to the way the narrative began. There were several I really enjoyed. I made myself read everyone, but I would recommend skipping around and reading the ones that catch your interest.
  
  If you are not someone who is into spiritual awakening tasks, then you can skip the last section of each flower. I felt like these were not consistent. They didn't bother me that they were there because I saw them as an optional assignment. I do think that they were not completely thought out, and some seemed odd and out of place just to have something there.
  
  I did enjoy the artwork for each flower. I just wish there had been a realistic photo, especially if the target audience might not recognize every flower immediately.
  
  -Thank you to Leaping Hare Press and Netgalley for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review-
• 
  Vanessa

  When I first read the sinopsys, what mostly caught my attention was the sentence “After reading this book, you’ll never look at a bunch of flowers the same way again”. I thought that was such a bold statement and I wondered why. Would it really have that effect on me? And honestly, it did.
  
  This book explores the folklore behind flowers, organizing them by the seasons they belong to. It also offers various meditations and useful advice. I never thought I would be intrigued by a book about flowers, but I was pleasantly surprised. I truly enjoyed it. Moreover, the visuals are absolutely stunning, featuring amazing artwork.
  
  *Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Auntie Zazza

  Arranged according to season,
  Floral Folklore: The forgotten tales behind nature’s most enchanting plants is steeped in cadence and the rhythm of nature's tides, each bloom revealing it's story as the unfurling of its own tight bud, opening itself to the warmth of the sun.
  
  These are the stories kept close to the heart, rarely spoken, and yet the heart song behind the secret language of flowers given in love or friendship or wordless support in grieving.
  
  Author,
  Alison Davies' soon to be released title, Floral Folklore, is more than another pretty gardening book to adorn one's coffee table; it is heady and stirring and strangely intimate, as if the reader were inhaling deeply of an ancient perfume being lifted directly off the pages.
  
  Reminiscent of the haunting, deeply personal folk tales interpreted by Jungian analyst and bestselling author of
  Women Who Run With the Wolves,
  Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Alison Davies creates a floral tableau that is rich in intercultural myths that give us hints into our own psyche.
  
  I feel the compulsion to use words like, "enchanting" and "breathtaking" and "hypnotic" when trying to describe this work. I find that my own inner language has found a new depth of context in the shared beauty of the folklore of flora; it is as if archetypes are being revealed.
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  The Sassy Bookworm

  Book Review: Floral Folklore by Alison Davies
  
  ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 Stars
  
  Floral Folklore by Alison Davies is a captivating exploration of the enchanting stories and meanings behind over 40 of nature's most exquisite flora and fauna. Davies delves into the rich history and folklore surrounding various plants and flowers, shedding light on why buttercups glow, the origins of bluebells as 'fairy phones,' and the intriguing tale behind foxgloves being called 'Deadman's Bellows.' Through this book, readers are invited to uncover the timeless teachings hidden within these botanical wonders and learn how to apply them to modern-day life.
  
  The author skillfully weaves together myths from ancient civilizations to Victorian superstitions, offering a fresh perspective on how humans have attributed significance to plants and flowers for centuries. Each plant is accompanied by its folklore origins and a thoughtful ritual to help readers connect with the plant's teachings on a deeper level. This unique approach makes Floral Folklore a valuable resource for foragers, gardeners, and anyone with an interest in horticulture looking to expand their knowledge beyond the surface.
  
  One of the standout features of this book is its visually stunning illustrations of each flower, complemented by engaging full-page stories that transport readers across different cultures and time periods. The inclusion of mindfulness-related activities adds another layer of depth to the book, making it a delightful gift for flower and plant enthusiasts seeking not only knowledge but also a sense of tranquility and connection with nature.
  
  In conclusion, Floral Folklore is a delightful journey into the mystical world of botanical folklore, offering readers a chance to rediscover the beauty and wisdom hidden within the petals and leaves that surround us. Alison Davies has crafted a compelling and visually appealing book that is sure to enchant both seasoned nature lovers and newcomers alike.
  
  ⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
• 
  Jade aka MrsTosh

  ** Thank you to Netgalley and Leaping Hare Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **
  
  Let me start by saying what a beautiful book this is, the illustrations on the front cover and inside are just lovely, I am sure the physical copy will be something else. This is a book that can be enjoyed on its own or used for a reference to various flowers that grow all over the world, both wild and in your garden. I am pleased to say that I recognised all the flowers noted within the book, and was really please to see my own favourite featured, the beautiful Peony. It is worth saying, I live in the UK so lots of the flowers grown here in our climate and some used commonly as herbs.
  
  Featured in the book are various flowers and are listed by Seasons, starting in the Spring. You get a detailed illustration and description of the plant then a list of its attributes, and the legend behind it. The stories are folklore, handed down through generations and really interesting. Also included are affirmations you can practice if you so wish associated with the each flower.
  
  On reading the foreword from the book this passage really stood out to me personally.
  
  Reading each story in this book, I am reminded, as I often feel at sunset or when the sun sines on snow covered trees, that the ancient ways must not be forgotten, and should be protected at all costs, for within them lies the medicine that soothes and restores human weariness, and plugs us back into the vastness of universal wisdom and beauty.
  
  This is beautifully complied book, which I sure would appeal to any keep gardener, hedge witch or people just interested in different cultures and beliefs.
• 
  Panda Incognito

  This book's cover and premise appealed to me, but I ended up finding it very lacking. I was interested in reading folk tales and mythology about different flowers, but I found the author's summaries very bland, and her suggested "rituals" and activities were too repetitive and too New Age for my tastes. Every once in a while, she suggests a gardening technique, craft, or recipe, but she usually just wants you to find a patch of this flower, sit there, take deep breaths, and visualize a whole bunch of stuff about the essence of the flower and your spirit. That could not appeal to me less, and her step-by-step guides to meditating in this way seemed pretentious.
  
  Also, even though the author mentions the regional or national origin of each story, she doesn't include source notes. It is sometimes hard to tell when she is truly representing a traditional story, versus making up her own flourishes, especially when the stories end with didactic contemporary messages about self-love and self-care.
  
  I ended up just skimming through this, because it wasn't worth my time to read the whole thing. There is definitely an audience for books like this, and this will appeal to some people simply as a coffee table book, if they like the cover and want to flip through the illustrations. However, I wasn't interested in any of the rituals and practices, and if I'm reading folklore, then I want it dramatized in a more entertaining way, and I want source notes to show that it's authentic.
  
  I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Manderz♡

  I stumbled across this completely by accident, due to not being shelved under a category that I would normally read. But I'm so glad I did!
  
  Initially it was the cover that caught my eye and then the book title made me want to know more. When I read the description, I decided to take a chance on something different.
  
  I really think this book was gorgeous. The myths and folklore behind each flower is detailed but short enough to hold your attention.
  
  I would say the pages for each flower are around 4 pages each, with one being dedicated to an illustration of the flower and the other 3 containing a story of how their name came to be or how they are associated with mythology, with a short section also on how you can use the flowers to find moments of calm or manifest feelings of positivity.
  Personally, I won't be doing the rituals because that isn't really my thing but I appreciate how others will enjoy it and it was a nice little positive to add.
  
  I love mythology and folklore and enjoyed reading these stories, which were all new to me as I'd never heard of any of them, and I feel I will look at flowers in a different way going forward.
  Some of the most memorable of the stories for me were: Anenome, Iris, Daffodil, Tulip, Peony, Rhododendron , Foxglove and Daisy🌷🌸🌱
  
  And a special mention also for the illustrations of the flowers and animals which were equally gorgeous❤
  
  Thank you to Netgalley, Leaping Hare Press and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
• 
  Ifa Inziati

  Thank you Leaping Hare Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC of Floral Folklore.
  
  I was immediately hooked as soon as I saw the title. It was calling me like a candy shop to a child. I just knew that I would enjoy it in my spare time, hot tea on my other hand, rain pouring outside the window. This is the coffee table book everyone with a cottagecore heart needs in their home.
  
  The way it's formatted is the same; divided into four seasons, each bloom will have one botanical illustration of its own, an interesting folktale taken from around the world, and a tutorial of flowery ritual for those who practice it. I personally don't need the ritual tutorial, but I can see it would help many readers. Most of the stories are the ones I've never heard of at least until today, but some (like Narcissus and Sunflower) are more well-known. The retelling style itself is quite flowery/purple prose-y, maybe to add and unify the word count so it fits the page, but they're really fun to read out loud so I don't really mind. Some of my favorites are Rhododendron, Columbine, and Iris. I actually had this mind-blown moment after reading Iris, like "Oh so that's why, the song from Goo Goo Dolls!". I always know it's written for a movie about angels but it clicks just now. Although relatively less detailed than what I expect, the illustrations are pretty and do match the vibe.
  
  If you love folklores and everything magical and floral, or need a thoughtful gift for someone just like that, I gladly recommend this cozy book.
• 
  Jenna

  **I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.**
  
  Actual rating: 3.5
  
  Alison Davies presents Floral Folklore, a collection of myths and folklore surrounding flowers in various cultures. The flowers are organized by season and involve a four page spread for each flower. One page is a beautiful illustration while page two provides the flower name, a description, common symbolism, the folklore country of origin, and begins the associated tale. The following pages finish the tale and then provide an activity centered on the flower.
  
  I found the illustrations to be lovely and the color palette to be appropriate for each flower. The third and fourth pages for each flower were notably bare of both color and design. The activities were a nice addition, but not something with which I would ordinarily engage. The folklore selections were nice, but notably Euro-centric though several plants were added that were clearly attempts to diversify the selection of folklore which was appreciated if very much imbalanced in proportion.
  
  Overall, this is a fun starting point for looking into more floral meanings and more folklore and I would happily recommend it as an introductory work.
• 
  J

  I received this DRC from NetGalley.
  
  Probably 3.5 stars. I like the idea of this book. The myths associated with flowers is interesting, and I like that their symbology and some practical applications are listed. And it's nice that they're grouped by blooming season.
  
  But I think artwork in a book about flowers is very important. Some of the pieces were not great; also, because of the style of artwork, some of the flowers ended up looking like they had wrinkly skin for petals. And I also don't know if the author took little liberties in the retelling of the stories; I could be nitpicking, but one example- the flowers named after Narcissus are called Narcissus, and Daffodil is just the common name. Also, some of the flowers have their genus and species listed, but others don't.
  
  The author also includes little rituals to go with each plant, usually involving some time staring at the flower and having some thoughts about life. I don't know where these came from, but I just didn't see the point. Maybe I'm the rare plant person that doesn't include overt spirituality in my gardening.
• 
  Debra Gaynor

  Floral Folklore:
  The forgotten tales behind nature’s most enchanting plants
  Alison Davies
  This is a fascinating book that shares the old tales concerning plants. Many of these tales are a thousand years old. There are tales concerning the Greek Gods as well as the tales from the Victorian Era. This book shares the tale, the origin, and an illustration of forty plants. Many of the plants and flowers are familiar to us. Many of the stories are beautiful and have a message for us today.
  Among the tales is one concerning sage growing in the garden of a woman who is capable of ruling her house and her husband. It is said poppies grow where blood has been shed. Many of the flowers have other names: the violet is “The most beautiful woman in the world.”, Anemone is “Aphrodite and Adonis, and the Phlox is “The Lost Cloud.”
  While I enjoyed the stories and the illustrations are beautiful I am concerned about the rituals in this book. For they seem wrong to me. Each flower comes with a ritual and I equate rituals with witchcraft or magic. It is for that reason that I cannot recommend this book.
  Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book for review.
• 
  Aurelia Grey

  Flowers have been used to send messages, convey meaning and feelings, as well as be used as decor/things of beauty since the start of recorded time. Certain flowers had meaning when given and in the 1600s floriography because a way to discretely make your thoughts and feelings known in a way that was socially acceptable. Much in the way today's "left on read" or "liking" a post can convey meaning, flowers have historically done the same. An art that has fallen by the wayside and in need of an update.
  
  I enjoyed the way that this book is an homage to that time, compiling meanings not only for one culture but for several, giving us a modern way to address potential meanings between and across cultures. Personally I did not find value in the rituals/meditations for each flower; it just wasn't something I would use a book to facilitate. The art for each flower was also well done and the pages were set in a way that was both aesthetically pleasing and relaxing.
  
  Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for me to read and review.