Blooming Flowers: A Seasonal History of Plants and People

by Kasia Boddy

An evocative and richly illustrated exploration of flowers and how, over the centuries, they have given us so much sustenance, meaning, and pleasure

The bright yellow of a marigold and the cheerful red of a geranium, the evocative fragrance of a lotus or a saffron-infused paella—there is no end of reasons to love flowers. Ranging through the centuries and across the globe, Kasia Boddy looks at the wealth of floral associations that has been passed down in perfumes, poems, and paintings; in the design of buildings, clothes, and jewelry; in songs, TV shows, and children’s names; and in nearly every religious, social, and political ritual.

Exploring the first daffodils of spring and the last chrysanthemums of autumn, this is also a book about seasons. In vibrant detail and drawing on a rich array of illustrations, Boddy considers how the sunflower, poppy, rose, lily—and many others—have given rise to meaning, value, and inspiration throughout history, and why they are integral to so many different cultures.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, History, Science, Plants, Gardening, Folklore

256 pages, Hardcover

First published June 23, 2020

About the author

Kasia Boddy teaches in the English Department at University College London. She has written extensively on twentieth-century American literature.

Reviews

[Krystelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the way that this book approached the seasons and the changing of the flowers that make themselves apparent throughout, and there was certainly some really interesting material regarding the meaning of the flowers and their cultural impact through the decades. The illustrations and selected historical materials were beautiful, and it was quite the experience to see something so gorgeously put together. The passion here for the botanical world was very evident, and this is the perfect light nature book to pick up and read, especially if you're not overly interested in the more scientific side of things!

I did think, however, that it was a bit disjointed, and sometimes the movement from one section to the next felt a little clunky. The fact that there weren't more flowers that were looked at as well made me a little sad- I wanted to know more and see a far wider selection than what was there!

[bookventures_of_a_wildflower · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very excited to read this book, since the cover is stunning, the introduction was intriguing and I am in love with all things floral.
To start with the positive parts. The design is stunning, if I went to the store and saw this book on the shelf with this blurb, I would be very much tempted to purchase it.
I was a big fan of the seasonal division and the writer taking the time to explain how seasonal differences come to define what blooms in different parts of the world. I also loved how it was highlighted that these seasonal differences might not be reflected in the commercially available flowers of each season.
A big positive was the flowers chosen by the writer, though I kind of wished for a wider selection.
The biggest problem of this book is a general chaos. All the interesting and capturing information/stories are there, but they don’t form a storyline. I felt that a lot of names, dates, stories were frown in after one another without any logical thought behind their order or why they were actually mentioned in the book. A lot of stories were rushed and only mentioned as if a side note making it hard to get me or make me stay interested in what I was reading.
I couldn’t decide for whom this book was written. The writing style and some specific sections in the book clearly indicated an adult reader, yet I couldn’t define if beginner florists, flower enthusiasts or people with more in-depth botanical knowledge were targeted.
I also struggled with understanding why certain - in my opinion unnecessary - images were chosen to be included in the book, whilst images of flowers mentioned were not.
I would recommend this book to people who are looking for a lighter read to be “naturally” entertained rather than expect to learn the fundamentals of botanics.

[Andrew Spink · Rating 4 out of 5]

The subject matter of the book is something that I find fascinating. I studied botany at university, many years ago, and have had a lifelong fascination with plants, including cultural attitudes ever since. The book is a charming collection of anecdotes, literary references and etymology about a selection of common plants. The author has done her best to bring some structure into the narrative, but it remains more of a book for dipping into than reading cover to cover. The selection of what to include and what not is somewhat arbitrary. For instance there is quite a long section on roses, but the English War of the Roses doesn't get a mention. The literature is mostly English, some American (perhaps because of the US publisher) and with a smattering of Caribbean, and Continental references, plus a little other, like Japanese. Presumably this is what the authors happened to be familiar with, but that's probably as good a ground for a selection as any. There is a famous Dutch novel (by Jan Siebelink) (sort of) about violets, which could have gone in that chapter, but I can hardly blame her for not knowing that. The book has something of the scope of the monumental Flora Britanica by Richard Mabey (which I'm proud to have contributed a few sentences to myself), but less systematic and more anecdotal.
In summary, for readers like myself with a particular interest in the topic; an interesting read.

Disclosure: My copy of the book was a free copy obtained in return for an honest review from NetGalley.

[Madelyn Hlas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. It was not what I expected or wanted from a book titled “Blooming Flowers: a Seasonal History of Plants and People.” The organization of the book is fine, but each chapter is messy and confusing, almost like the author was attempting to be poetic and instead created chaos. I was also put off by the phrase about daisies on page 2: “Ovid imagines it is a kind of rape with a happy ending: the nymph Chloris is seized by Zephyr, god of the wind, and then, as she is metamorphoses into the goddess Flora, flowers spill from her mouth.” Rape with a happy ending is an absolutely disgusting and disgraceful way to describe anything, and anyone who thinks that’s clever should go choke on a bouquet of daisies. The 2 stars are really only for the illustrations and color photos included on each flower discussed.

[Rianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

27/55 books read in 2020.
Provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was ok. I really enjoyed the way Kasia Boddy focused on more than just an American perspective. I also quite enjoyed the quirky little facts (I'm one of those walking encyclopedias but stuck on the random setting) and the art included. However, the stories felt pretty disjointed. Some of the transitions were clunky and I would have loved a larger selection of flowers and more pictures to visualize them all.

[Stella B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I must droop
Upon my stalk, I cannot reach his sphere;
To mine he cannot stoop."
- Dora Greenwell (the author connected this with sunflowers)

what a brilliant read even tho I expected something entirely else (more from a socio-historical point, not just literary and artistic one)

[HopeF · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable, if occasionally meandering read.

[Annie Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blooming Flowers by Kasia Boddy: Yale University Press

I am writing this review on behalf of the members of the Bolton U3A Reading Group. Thanks to the publisher for the free copies we received in exchange for a fair review. The books were delivered to my address and arrived on a cold, grey, dull day. As I opened the box, it was a pleasure to see the bright and beautiful dust jacket, which instantly lifted my mood. It instantly struck me as a great book to read in the middle of a pandemic.

Everyone in the group agreed that the book is beautifully presented and we all enjoyed the illustrations immensely and found them interesting and well chosen in the context of the themes of the book. We liked the division of the book by seasons, beginning with Spring, with each division including chapters on flowers appropriate to that season.

Beyond that I suspect that this might be a bit of a ‘marmite’ book, and the response to it from group members was mixed. Some people loved the book and found it fascinating, as witness the comments quoted below:

‘A very informative and interesting book to read, which is also very nicely illustrated. I thought at first that the flowers chosen had an American twist would matter, but it didn't really. She covered all areas. i.e. the orange lilies. Didn't know about that. Also the connection between roses and gonorrhoea. Didn't know that! Lots of facts like that made it really interesting, and I wish that she could have carried on with more flowers!!’ (Moira)

‘I have read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of interesting facts.’ (Pauline)

‘So I have only looked at the first couple of pages of the book but already I know I am going to enjoy it’ (Beryl)

‘This book is a keeper’ (Sue)

Others found the structure of the book too ‘bitty’ and episodic, and might have preferred a book more straightforwardly about flowers rather than about their cultural significance and symbolism. A couple of people felt that a sentence in the chapter on the rose felt appropriate:

“At times , all this symbolism can become a little too much”

As I read the book and then listened to the discussion, it struck me that this is quite a quirky and idiosyncratic book. Kasia Boddy has chosen an interesting selection of flowers to write about, but everyone will have their own favourite flowers and may wish she had chosen others. I enjoyed her exploration of the meaning and significance of each flower in the context of human society and history, and this took us, the readers, on what I found to be a fascinating journey through social history, art, literature, sexual behaviour, politics, botany, mythology and symbolism – but of course this may not be to everyone’s taste. If you want a straightforward book about botany, this is not that book. It is a very unusual and individual celebration of flowers and their meanings for people over the course of human existence. Like Moira, I wish she could have carried on with more flowers!

All in all, we found something for everyone in this book, even those people who found the symbolism a little ‘heavy’ at times. We agreed it is a book you can dip into, rather than necessarily having to read it from cover to cover. One member, for example, started with Autumn, and will follow the seasons of the coming year with the appropriate chapters. I personally would have liked Kasia Boddy to add a final chapter bringing the themes of the book together, just as she introduced those themes in her introduction, ‘Gathering Flowers’. This is a small point, though, and did not spoil my enjoyment of the book.

We agreed we would recommend this book both for its beautiful illustrations and for its individuality and interest. As we move into winter in a pandemic, this is a book to add a bit of brightness to what might be some dark days.

For myself, I loved it. I found it a pleasure to handle and look at, and I learned a lot of things that I didn’t know before 

4/5 stars.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blooming Flowers cycles through the seasons, discussing the cultural significance and history of 16 commonly encountered flowers.

Flowers have such significance in symbolism, art, culture, and medicine. How many times have we heard cliched associations between a woman and/or her sexuality, and various forms of roses/daisies etc? Why is the Lily associated with Easter when it is a summer flower? Rarely do we stop and think about where these associations originated. Blooming Flowers looks at 16 common flowers in a comprehensive discussion on their cultural history from philosophy to mythology, art, literature, political campaigns, and science. It also discusses seasonality, and how this can vary based on where someone is in the world and their cultural upbringing.

There is a huge breadth of knowledge and variety of sources covered in this book. Artists, authors, historical figures, and mythological characters from Ovid to Tennyson, D.H. Lawrence to Ali Smith, Georgia O’Keeffe, to Salvador Dali, to Vincent Van Gogh, Thomas Fairchild, Persephone, and so many more, are referenced. Each section flows from one point to another in a coherent train of thought. There were things I knew, as well as new facts, in a context that was enjoyable to read. I loved how varied the content of this book is. It’s clearly written by someone who has not just researched for the purposes of the book, but is well read and draws links between the different areas.

This is a book best dipped in and out of. I read it in an afternoon—it’s not particularly long in length—but with prose which slips between fact and detail, I think this is best absorbed and thought on more slowly. Split into 5 main sections (introduction, spring, summer, autumn, winter), and each season further split into four sections (one for each flower), it is easy to pause and pick up later. Illustrations, historical posters, and paintings complement the text, and I imagine that this is a beautiful hardcover book.

Blooming Flowers is an interesting read which is equally not too bogged down with excessive facts. The tangents of discussion for each flower are clear in direction. I would like to have read more about the mythological associations and historical medical uses of plants, but with so much to cover, it would have been an extremely heavy book if all avenues were explored to their fullest extent! This is where narrowing it down to only 16 flowers paid off, as a good amount of discussion could be included on each.

This is a reference book of breadth rather than depth, and it is ideal for someone wanting to learn a little about lots of things (related to flowers). The bibliography is a good place to look for further reading on topics which have piqued interest. The most interesting or relevant topics for each flower are explored in greater depth, for example the section on poppies discusses the red corn poppy symbolism related to the First World War and Remembrance Day, and opiates, while also including lesser known quotes and facts. I chose poppy as an example, but many of the other flowers have less obvious associations.

Overall, Blooming Flowers is an informative starting point for someone who wants to learn more about the history of flowers, and why they are culturally significant and perceived the way they are. The hard cover book would make a great gift.

Thank you to Yale University Press and NetGalley for providing an Advance Review Copy, which I have reviewed voluntarily and based on my unbiased opinion.

[Words & Nocturnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flowers, as we know, have different significance and meanings. Blooming Flowers seeks to explore the meanings behind selected flowers. With the large number of flora out in the world, it would be difficult to cover every single one of them. Blooming Flowers solves this by selecting just a few flowers and categorising them into the four seasons.

Although this book is centred around flowers in Europe and America, some of these flowers originated in the East, from countries like India and China. Blooming Flowers explores the different meanings of flowers drawn from many cultures and even ideas in a vast number of literature, including the likes of Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde. By doing this, the book effectively explores the history of these flowers and what they symbolised in both fiction and reality. 

Flowers are strewn all over history, over prominent events, over religious and spiritual beliefs. As we are told in this book, flowers connect. They speak and communicate, but only with the meanings we have imposed on them.

This book was informative, and managed to keep it interesting throughout the book. Besides introducing the flowers and providing small illustrations to give an idea to the reader of what the flowers look like, related art or photographs were slipped in between all the information. This gives the book brief breaks between text and gives a clearer picture of what the author is describing. As a plus, it does make the book more aesthetically pleasing and more inviting to read.

I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn more about these flowers. Not about their structure specifically, but of the history and the significance of each individual flower. Of what makes them well-known and preserved in long-lasting literature, how their meanings can evolve with the times. As life and human thought thrives and changes, so will the importance of significance of these flowers.

Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Netgalley, Yale University Press, and Kasia Boddy for giving me the chance to read Blooming Flowers

From Words & Nocturnes.

[Violet Laflamme · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What I liked

This was a well researched and well-illustrated history of flowers and other types of plants. I had it as an e-book but I would love to see the physical copy to experience all the pictures in the book better. I found that what the author chose to cover, she never seemed to speed through, and yet in spite of the fact that the book isn't super long, still she managed to cover quite a few topics. I also liked that it was broken up into seasons, according to what blooms when.

What I didn't like

So, in spite of the fact that the author took pains to talk about other parts of the world, the book still did end up feeling eurocentric to me. I guess we can chalk that up to information available to her as a British author and the fact that this book was primarily written for a eurocentric/western audience, but it did leave a bit to be desired. I also felt the writing could have been slightly more engaging in some parts. Most of it was quite interesting, but at points it felt like lists of facts were just being read out.

Overall

I think my 4* rating proves that overall I did enjoy this book a lot. I would recommend it to anyone who likes flowers, as I thought it was pretty interesting. She doesn't just talk about the plants themselves but also the impacts they've had on people and culture along the way.

[joyce w. laudon · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this time of Covid, my  walks take me past two neighborhood parks.  Each day, no matter how tired I am of this time in our lives, seeing the flowers that are in bloom brings some cheer.  Because my walks have been daily, I think that I am more aware of each bloom that fades as others come forth during the spring and summer seasons.


Blooming Flowers is a title that plays homage to this bounty.  It is organized by seasons and filled with gorgeous illustrations.  So, for example, for spring there are the daisy, the daffodil, the lily and more, while for summer we see the rose and sunflower among others and so on through the snowdrop and violet in winter.


The author's love of all things floral shines through in this appealing title as does her deep knowledge of her subject.  Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read in exchange for an honest review.

[Wpn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting body of information regarding flowers, history, and mythology. Its a BIG book so not something to be read in one shot. Perfect for someone who wants a resource about the history and cultural meaning behind specific flowers/plants. Not much in there about medicine from what I can tell so probably not the right resource for someone searching for that. But the author, Kasia Boddy, clearly knows a lot about the web of connectivity that these flowers have represented in our communities around the world. The posters and imagery are lovely, i think they would be beautiful to flip through in hardcover/print. I read this book in its digital version which makes it easy to search but would be a nice book to hold in your hand!!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daffodils are like 'ruffled birds on their perches'; the carnation hugs its petals to its heart as it dies; and that Queen of Flowers, the rose, if the 'flower of martyrs and miracles'. This book about the history and legends of flowers is a delight to read. There are also many accounts of how flowers are featured in the classics, and other books and stories. Kasia Boddy's meticulous research and beautiful writing makes it easy reading and it was lovely to read it in the midst of such grim news.



It does focus on English and American flowers but sometimes tropical flowers are mentioned, such as lotus flowers in India and Africa, and almond flowers in Egypt



I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Dawn Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blooming Flowers A Seasonal History of Plants and People by Kasia Boddy

256 Pages
Publisher: Yales University Press
Release Date: June 23, 2020

Nonfiction, Outdoors, Nature, Flowers, Plants, Botanical, Emotions

The book is divided into the following sections.

Spring: Daisy Daffodil Lily Carnation
Summer Rose Lotus Cotton Sunflower
Autumn Saffron Chrysanthemum Marigold Poppy
Winter Violet Snowdrop Almond
Literary Seeds and Sources

This book covers several plants for each season. Although I do not consider myself a spring person, two of my favorite flowers, lily and carnation, are included. The author does a good job detailing the different plants and their properties. If you enjoy gardening or like working with flowers, you may enjoy reading this book.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is visually stunning and the artwork throughout is compelling and fascinating. I enjoyed this book and it was a quick read. It is not what I expected at all. The author takes flowers & plants and breaks them down into seasons in each chapters. The author explores the floral associations in literature, poetry, artwork and paintings, music, architecture, food, fashion, fragrance, television and film. The folklore of flora & fauna, historical connotations and floral connections with religious, political, social and cultural ceremonies.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating, well-written, personal anthology with many eclectic anecdotes and facts  about sixteen different flowers, four for each season in European latitudes. It is beautifully illustrated.
I am grateful to have received a copy from the publisher and Netgalley as a free ebook in exchange for this honest review. Having read it, I intend to buy the hard copy for myself. I shall also be buying copies as presents for my like-minded friends and relations.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover of the book is misleading as it (not to judge a book by the cover) leads the reader to imagine there will be many colourful and exciting pictures of flowers within. The text was interesting but I found the pictures bland and disappointing.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a complimentary eARC for review purposes*

If you're looking for a lot of information on a few flowers this is a great book. If you're looking for lots of illustrations to go with the text, as suggested by the cover, this isn't such a great book.

I did enjoy the level detail, it just wasn't what I expected coming into the book

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful and fascinating book about flowers and what they mean both historically and in the present day. The symbolism of certain flowers was very interesting and certainly educated me more about the human connection to flowers. It's a book to pick up and read a chapter when you feel as though you need a little lift. A perfect coffee table book, and/or one for those who are avid nature lovers.
I received a digital copy of the book from NetGallery in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
I really enjoyed how this book was fragmented into seasons and then flowers. I found the historical, literary and cultural references to be fascinating. The pictures were also a delight to look at. It to be well-written and easy to read.

[betta.read.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

the right amount of history on each season's flowers written.
Boddy does an amazing job at writing about the importance and beauty of flowers.
especially loved how many different authors and their works are mentioned, and the stunning pictures and paintings within this beautiful book.

[Tamzin Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a loose, rambling narrative of 16 different flowers. While some of the stories were fascinating, it was hard at times to stay focused as the stories jumped all over the place. The book also ended quite abruptly for me. Overall, enjoyed it, probably would not read again.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have an interest in flowers, this book is an interesting opener, with beautiful content within.
I'm not totally familiar with flowers so it was nice to learn more and have a discussion with my mum an avid gardener and flower-fanatic about what I had been reading :)

[Andrew Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books like this. A walk through flowers both as historical and cultural markers. Lots of diverting facts and figures keep this lively and diverting.

[MKF]

DNF
Not what I expected.

[Edwina Kung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and fun facts about history and stories of flowers

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The chapters vary widely but for the most part, this is packed with fun facts and interesting global cultural touchstones of a plant's popularity at different points in time.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

quick and easy beach read - interesting if you're into flowers!

[Suzanna Strauss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sigh. I want to live in this book it is so gorgie