United States
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An enchanting, beautifully illustrated guide to seasonal plants – showing the long history of herbal remedies and their uses today
From sweet violets in spring to rosemary in winter, via marigolds, sage, elderberries, and hops, every season has its own bounty of herbs and plants.
Christina Hart-Davies presents a delightful guide to common plants as they appear throughout the year. Drawing on writers, storytellers, and poets from across the centuries, she examines the long history of herbal remedies. She shows how plants have been used for healing and unearths the stories and beliefs that surround them – including simple recipes for use at home.
Fully illustrated with exquisitely detailed watercolours, this is an inspirational guide to exploring our age-old relationship with plants. Readers will discover the hidden secrets of the plants that surround us and, through this, will be able to reconnect with our place in nature. We have relied on plants throughout our history. We still do, and, with luck, we always will.
Christina Hart-Davies is a renowned botanical illustrator and writer. Her watercolours have featured in prestigious collections worldwide and have won many awards, including six RHS gold medals. She has illustrated many books and field guides, most notably Collins Wild Flower Guide, and is the author of A Wild Plant Year, The Greenwood Trees, and The Whole Story.
"[A] charming almanac [...] Hart-Davies, a writer and botanical illustrator whose watercolors enliven her book, [...] offers a lively combination of folk history and modern science; they overlap in intriguing ways."
– Priscilla M. Jensen, Wall Street Journal
"This book is not only useful for seasoned herbalists, but is so beautifully written as to be a must for anyone with an interest in herbs, herbalism and the world that surrounds us!"
– Adele Nozedar, author of The Hedgerow Handbook
"A welcome addition to the bookshelves of anyone interested in herbalism, botany, illustration or nature. It's stunning."
– Lizzie Harper, botanical illustrator
"There is no one better than Christina Hart-Davies to paint the delightful herbs, folklore, history and remedies in this charming book."
– Dr Shirley Sherwood OBE
"A visual delight [...] Hart-Davies conveys the joy and wonder of the natural world and illustrates its beauty as few others can. I will certainly look again at many familiar wild and garden plants and see them in a new light."
– Fred Rumsey, Natural History Museum London
"A fascinating and meticulously researched mix of herbal folklore, history and botany all set in this exquisitely designed book. Truly a book to cherish."
– David Streeter MBE, Emeritus Reader in Ecology, University of Sussex
