This is a very pretty book--both the illustrations and the poetry. It is organized by flower types, with a poem or prose excerpt matched to each type. They range from the 1590s to the 1990s, from Shakespeare to Theodore Roethke, and from Greater Burnet Saxifrage to Dandelion. There is an index in the back to search poems by first lines and authors, as well as credit for all images. I had a digital copy but I would love to see the print version.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is a collection of poems and prose from different writers and artists about a range of topics. Each poem is accompanied by artworks of curated gardens and flowers from the Royal Horticultural Society's Lindley Library.

This was an interesting read.

This is the book you need if you are not adept at describing flowers and plants in your writing. I enjoyed this collection because it spanned decades and centuries, giving the reader a well-rounded look at the topic of flowers. I would definitely revisit this whenever I wanted some inspiration from a poet's perspective on nature.

This book is amazing: great poetry and wonderful illustrations.
A book I loved and can be appreciated bu gardeners and lovers of poetry.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book in return for an honest review.

The art is beautiful and I love the poetry! It is nice to be introduced to more poets as I like poetry but I have never really gone into looking at a bunch of poets so this is nice as I can build off of this and look at some of the poets introduced within the book.

Rating: 5⭐
Would I Read It Again? Yes! I want a physical copy
Would I Recommend it? Yes

This was a beautiful book that I am very appreciative to have had a chance to read! I loved the combination of nature and poetry. All the poems were really well thought out and the book was really well put together.

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group/White Lion - Francis Lincoln for a temporary digital copy via NetGalley of ‘The RHS Book of Flower Poetry and Prose’ selected and introduced by Charles Elliott in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a collection of poems and prose linked to flowers. Each of its sixty-two entries is accompanied by a full colour illustration from the Royal Horticultural Society's Lindley Library, which is acknowledged as the world's finest horticultural library.

I purchased its hardback edition and have found it a useful aid to relaxation. I select an entry at random and then read aloud and contemplate its meaning while focusing on the accompanying image.

Overall, an exquisite collection that would also make a thoughtful gift for gardeners, nature and poetry lovers.

A beautiful book. Both poems and pictures are lovely. One you can dip in and out of so easily. Would also make a lovely gift.

Another lovely collection by the RHS where I appreciated the writing, but fell in love with the botanical prints.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honet review.

This book is a wonderful celebration of flowers through poetry and prose. I had such a delightful time while reading it. I took my time, of course, while reading and discovering the content of this beautiful book for each poem was a work of outstanding creativity and imagination. Also, I loved all the amazing vintage illustrations of the flowers. I really enjoyed most of the poems and it could have been better if there were only poems. For those who love both poetry and flowers alike this is the best book to have and to read during the Spring season. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did and perhaps you will be inspired by these flowers to write your own poems.

This anthology of poetry is both picturesque and beautiful. Complete with illustrations of the different flowers, if you love visual aid alongside your reading, then this book is for you.

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 <a href="www.netgalley.com">NetGalley</a> in return for an honest review.

Another fine RHS collection. The choices do tend towards the traditional with the likes of Lewis Carroll, Shakespeare, Betjeman, Burns and DH Lawrence featuring, but the volume is well edited and most of the poems are enjoyable, and uplifting. The book also includes over 100 illustrations with adds to the soothing feel of the experience. Ideal for dipping into. Would recommend for gardening enthusiasts and nature lovers.

I read a digital ARC version of this book, though if other RHS collections are anything to go by, the printed copy will be handsomely designed, making for an ideal gift.

The RHS Book of Flower Poetry and Prose is an exquisitely presented book of poetry and extracts divided by flower type from Crocus to Orchid, Jasmine to Forget-Me-Not, each flower species has a poem dedicated to it from some more prominent poets such as William Wordsworth, DH Lawrence and John Clare to lesser known prose experts, including Reginald Farrer, Anne Ridler and Margery Fish; there is something in this beautiful collection to please everyone. Accompanied by captivating botanical art taken from the archives of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Lindley Library every piece is as eye catching and engaging as the last, albeit in different ways.

It is a truly delightful book that will no doubt appeal to gardeners and poetry lovers alike. The verse are illustrated throughout primarily by colour prints but also a few interesting black and white images, all which complement the poems exceptionally well. It is the sort of book that is wonderful to have as a coffee table piece allowing you to dip in and out of it at leisure as it would be a welcome addition to many people's homes and would also make a fantastic present for those who are green fingered nature lovers or those with a deep appreciation of the English language.

Most of the pieces are full length poems yet others are excerpts from stories or plays such as those of William Shakespeare. They all fit with the thematic nature of the anthology. As someone who is shielding due to poor health this allows me to venture out into the garden on a fine day to read and dream of exploring nature in all its splendour when we escape this situation. For now I shall celebrate the beauty within these pages and the RHS' timely celebration of the benefits of getting back to nature through this lovely collection. Highly recommended.

this collection was written beautifully and the writing was wonderful to read. every poem laid thought-provoking ideas that carried such a sincere and honest tone. it felt eye-opening, allowing one to envision an experience they could never have.
The Royal Horticultural Society offers another exquisitely illustrated book, this time featuring poetry and prose inspired by flowers. With elegant pieces from Shakespeare to Sitwell, Rossetti to Roethke, this would make a splendid gift for birthdays or special occasions for loved ones who adore art and blooms.

This is a beautiful keepsake book, the illustrations are amazing, such a pretty book, i will keep coming back to it for a long time, this would be perfect for a gift, for anyone who loves flowers, written beautifully easy to read, I would highly recommend this,

The beautiful illustrations and the selections of prose and poetry make this book one that I would love to read and look at in a hard copy version. The paintings of the various flowers are delicate, detailed, and colorful, and the selection of prose and poetry is well-chosen for a variety of styles, its authors spanning the centuries from ancient time through to the twentieth. This is a lovely book to display and peruse at leisure.

Initially published in 2006, this edition of “The RHS Book of Flower Poetry and Prose” is to be published in March 2021 by Frances Lincoln Limited, an imprint of The Quarto Group.

Charles Elliott has assembled a variety of poems and prose pieces which, when combined, burst into a celebratory bouquet spanning the centuries.

Classical favourites by William Shakespeare, Andrew Marvell, John Milton, Robert Burns, William Wordsworth, John Clare and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow sit side by side with poems by William Carlos Williams, D.H. Lawrence, Theodore Roethke, Ruth Pitter, John Betjeman, Marianne Moore, Anne Stevenson and Anne Ridler. I particularly enjoyed the prose extracts as I hadn’t previously read any of them.

Each poem and prose extract is accompanied by an exquisitely detailed, vibrant illustration from the remarkable collection of botanical art at the Royal Horticultural Society's Lindley Library, acknowledged as the world’s finest horticultural library.

Whether you are a poetry lover, a gardener, or enjoy trips to the outdoor market to select a simple bunch of flowers, there is much to observe and learn from the life rhythms of flowers and from their generous, unselfconscious beauty. Flowers are totally spontaneous, filling spaces with the energy and unpredictability of the natural world. This anthology encourages you to slow down, look at life anew and, as May Sarton put it “[be] floated on their moments”.

A huge thank you to @NetGalley and @FrancisLincolnPub for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The RHS Book of Flower Poetry and Prose is a beautifully curated collection of poetry and short prose excerpts accompanied by garden related images from the RHS' Lindley Library collection. First published in 2006, this reformat and re-release is due out 9th March 2021 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint. It's 144 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is such a restful and pretty book. The images are varied and beautiful and the text selections are well curated. The text and images are related to specific flowers, from the humble violet to the noble rose. There are selections from incomparably famous poets and writers as well as ones who were previously unfamiliar to me. The illustrations are mostly 18th-early 20th century botanical prints.

The book also includes a couple of useful appendices in the form of first lines from the included offerings along with an image index.

This would make a superlative gift for a gardening friend (or oneself), as well as a lovely acquisition for public library, and gardening club lending library use.

Five stars, with the codicil that the re-read value might be somewhat limited.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

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