This book was one of my original inspirations for Blessed Gardens. A few years ago, I had the privilege of meeting a few of the staff from Ryland, Peters & Small--the publishers of this book. I loved the style of their books and gentle spirituality I felt in many of their lines.
It was in the first weeks of creating this site that I received their catalog. I flipped open the pages and the first book I laid eyes on was The Language of Flowers. Something about the title was familiar and I glanced over at my bookshelf. There it was nestled between two huge garden books! Okay, so coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous--and to me, it was a sign that I move forward with the creation of Blessed Gardens.
What I love about this book is that it has a simple and easy to navigate layout. The photographs are breathtaking and the art direction (like all Ryland, Peters & Small products) is soothing in itself. You truly feel as though you are taking a trip through a perfect garden.
This is my favorite quick glossary of the meaning of flowers that we come across in daily life. While Ms. Lee doesn't go deeply into the origin of each flower, it truly isn't the spirit of the book, and you won't miss it.
What the author does well is break the contents down into categories that are quite helpful: Qualities & Virtues is one such section. For instance, our flower of the month for November is Chrysanthemum, and she singles out the white variety as carrying the truth. Her sections on Happiness, Friendship, and Love & Passion are thought provoking and equally fun. Canterbury Bells are about gratitude, for example. Many more ideas and simple thoughts are inside these covers, and it is on our gift list for the holidays.
This diminutive hardcover would make a wonderful gift for any spiritual gardener.
