Strangers in the Garden: The Secret Lives of Our Favorite Flowers

by Andrew Smith

We all – gardeners or not – appreciate the beauty of familiar garden flowers. But how well do we really know these everyday plants? When do we stop to consider a flower’s personality, or to discover the dramatic events that have contributed to its particular identity? What adventures took place as these plants, now part of our daily lives, were transported – often by explorers or botanists who were quirky characters themselves – from their birthplaces in Asia, Africa, or the Americas?Strangers in the Garden , illustrated with over a hundred stunning photographs, prints, and drawings, reveals the characters and personal histories of ten popular fl´owers – the chrysanthemum, the clematis, the crocus, the dahlia, the geranium, the iris, the lilac, the peony, the rhododendron, and the tulip – by tracking their fascinating journeys from misty peaks, arid valleys, and exotic hillsides to our gardens, decks, and patios.

144 pages, Hardcover

First published February 24, 2004

About the author

Andrew Smith was born in Liverpool, England and now lives in Toronto and London. He has taken creative writing courses at the University of Toronto, and has also graduated as a graphic designer. His short fiction has appeared in some of the most repected literary magazines in North America. He has published two non-fiction books: Strangers in the Garden, an illustrated history of flowers and Highlights, an illustrated history of cannabis. He is also an award-winning travel writer. Edith’s War, his first novel, won a gold medal for fiction at the Independent Publisher's Awards in New York. His second novel, The Speech, was published by Urbane Publications in United Kingdom in October, 2016.

Reviews

[Amanda C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a blast learning all the things about 10 major flower types (all of which I either have in my garden or intend to have in my garden). The photography used was beautiful, and the history was enlightening.

Safe to say, gardens and the flowers they house will always be in fashion 💐😍