Flowers: The Book of Floral Design

Rating:
Summary: Flowers at their best!
Review: Any book on flowers by Malcolm Hillier is bound to be a winner. His passion for fresh and dried flower arrangements spans more than thirty years and his experience and innate sense of design is brilliantly displayed in this latest effort on fresh floral design.  This 500 page full color coffee table book is hard to put down. Page after page of floral arrangements are displayed with lists of ingredients, tips on display vessels, and alternative suggestions should the original design not quite suit the surroundings or available materials.

It is a fun book with suggestions most of us would not readily think of like, Peonies arranged in Chinese lettuce. Instructions are given for choosing the peonies, conditioning the flowers, extending the life of the lettuce leaves, or chicory if you prefer, and suitable conditions under which to use such an arrangement.

Or, how about a box with a wok inside to hold water for hosta leaves, iris flowers and a rose, appropriately named the Blue Lagoon.

There is so much to read and try in this book that the senses cannot take it all in in one sitting. And, yet many of the decorations contain only a few carefully chosen elements.

Chapters include Elements of Design, Inspirations for the Home, Seasonal Arrangements, and Special Occasion. The chapters on Practical Techniques are presented by a master and his words are personal and direct.

The A-Z Directory of plants is a work of art all its own. Each plant is presented in color in flower with its most often used common name, its scientific name, the season it flowers, care tips for extending vase life and and estimate of vase life.

Perhaps, the only thing better than Mr. Hillier's lusty flower arrangements and explicit directions are the incredibly beautiful photographs taken by Stephen Hayward.

This book will take your breath away and reward you with a little bit of heaven.

Rating:
Summary: Just Great Book
Review: This book is just great. If you love flowers, I think you will absolutely love this book. The pictures are remarkable. Just buy!

Rating:
Summary: Difficult to top!
Review: This book is tops! I am trying to find another book on flower arranging as a gift for my mother-in-law who loves the subject, but I keep coming back to this one. Creativly inspired and visually stunning, just browsing through it is amazing.