Peonies

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A Little Book of Flowers

by Tara Austen Weaver

This charming celebration of the peony reads like a “very smart love letter to cultivating beauty” and features 60+ vintage-inspired full-color botanical illustrations (Seattle Times).

“Delightful…Next time you are lucky enough to be someone’s houseguest, consider arriving with a bouquet of either one of the Little Book of Flowers.”-The New York Times

Peonies are queens of the spring garden, a romantic flower long popular in bridal bouquets (symbolizing prosperity and a happy marriage). In bloom for only a few weeks, they have passionate fans who love them despite—or perhaps because of—their short season. They can live to be 100 years, and are one of the easiest flowers to grow, with many different shapes and colors available, and a delicate scent.
This charming little hardcover book includes:

60+ full-color botanical illustrations
basic botany and history
everything you need to know to grow gorgeous blooms in the garden
tips for creating beautiful arrangements and preserving flowers
quotes, lore, and notable gardens and growers

Like a bouquet of peonies, this book is an affordable little luxury for gardeners and flower lovers—the perfect hostess gift or Mother’s Day present. It’s part of the collectible mini gift book series Little Book of Natural Wonders.

Feb 01, 2022 | Price: $14.95

TARA AUSTEN WEAVER is a freelance writer, editor, and author of The Butcher & The Vegetarian (Rodale, 2010) and Orchard House: How a Neglected Garden Taught One Family to Grow (Ballantine, 2015), a memoir that chronicles how she and her family attempted to revive a long neglected Seattle garden and orchard. Tara's food blog, Tea & Cookies, established in 2006, was selected as one of the top 50 food sites in the world by both the Times of London and The Independent (UK) and has been featured on The Food Network, Saveur, Oprah.com, Apartment Therapy, The Kitchn, Reddit, and Bonappetit.com. She is a trained Master Gardener, Permaculture Designer, and Master Composter/Soil Builder.Emily Poole is a freelance illustrator, born and raised in the mountain town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Illustration and is currently located in Eugene, Oregon. She has created work for the Teton Raptor Center, World Wildlife Fund Guyana, and the National Museum of Wildlife Art.

"Next time you are lucky enough to be someone’s houseguest, consider arriving with a bouquet of either one of the Little Book of Flowers. . . Each book includes snappy discussions of the origins of the species, cultivation techniques and suggestions for display. The charm lies in Poole’s art. . . there’s a distinctly retro appeal to the watercolors here, which slow you down to linger over crinkled petals and bombshell flower heads. These books don’t pretend to be encyclopedic; rather, Weaver is discerning in her choices."
—New York Times

"In 'A Little Book of Flowers,' a new series of single bloom titles, author Tara Austen Weaver weaves together basic botany and culture. Each posey-size volume reads like a very smart love letter to cultivating beauty. . . Charming illustrations by Emily Poole and numerous quotes tug at our horticultural heartstrings, while a serviceable glossary and resource section at the back of each book indulge our yearning to grow more flowers and deepen our knowledge of the natural world."
—Seattle Times, Pacific NW Magazine