The RHS Book of Flower Poetry and Prose by Charles Elliott Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion

This book makes you want to go out in a garden in an English spring with its inspiring and beautiful descriptions of flowers by great poets and botanical writers. There are Gerard Manley Hopkins with his bluebells who graciously bid to each other, Flora Thompson's 'glowing gypsy heather' and Anna Seward's 'scarlett poppy of the pathless field'. Reginald Farrer, a botanical writer, fell in love with the forget-me-not 'clinging to life in frost and withering salt blast'. There aren't many descriptions of tropical flowers, unfortunately, but there are a few. This book mostly focuses on very European or American flowers. These are mainly by the botanical writers who travelled. I especially enjoyed their writing, although the poetry is beautiful. However, it is a soothing and relaxing book to read, especially if you are spending travel restrictions dreaming of going to England again and seeing Green Park covered in daffodils. I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.