Medieval Flowers [Paperback]

Miranda Innes (Author), Clay Perry (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2002

Featuring plants that grew in the UK and Europe's most famous medieval gardens, and which are still cultivated today the most beautiful, best and most naturally coloured species with the purest fragrance. This is a truly inventive, well-researched book, highlighting the beauty of flowers cultivated and wild, as well as gardens and bowers. Clay Perry's photographs include a lush series of studio flower portraits as well as shots of existing medieval gardens, chamomile lawns and fruit trees in blossom. From Peony to Poppy, Solomon's Seal and Columbine to Lily and Iris, the photographs emphasise the contemplative atmosphere of the gardens, all of which can be recreated today.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Perry’s photographs are timeless.” -- Rosemary Verey, THE SUNDAY TIMES

From the Publisher

It was in medieval gardens that the healing arts, poetry, spirituality, a sense of order in the cosmos, and an appreciation of beauty took root and were cultivated. Flowers had significance almost incomprehensible to the modern–day gardener. Precious as jewels, painted and praised, they played a part in every courtly ritual and village romance. From peony to poppy, columbine to lily and iris, Medieval Flowers celebrates the species that grew then and still grow today. Master photographer Clay Perry reveals their stunning beauty in 140 color images, as Miranda Innes explores the rituals and festivals in which flowers played a major role. She also details the medicinal, cosmetic, and herbal uses of each plant, surveys the designs of physic, kitchen, and pleasure gardens, and introduces us to medieval gardens that can still be visited today. Complete with an illustrated directory that provides cultivation details for each flower, this is a book that will be coveted by all gardeners.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Kyle Cathie Limited (October 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1856264181
• ISBN-13: 978-1856264181
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,840,440 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, September 30, 2003

By 

Valerie Adolph "Coast Journal" (Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Medieval Flowers (Paperback)

The best part of this book is Clay Perry's flower photography. He is one of the finest flower and garden photographers and his illustrations of growing flowers in this book are classic. Mind you, some of the illustrations of flowers picked and arranged are a little too cute for my taste.

The text of the book is just average. It's literate enough, but it has no spark of life or interest. The research is O.K too, but it covers no new ground and offers no new insights. I found that disappointing because this topic has opened up in recent years and more rigorous research and more lively writing could have enriched the book and offered the reader greater awareness and understanding of a seminal period in our garden history.

The material is well organized and there is a decent bibliography. With some flair and vision this might have been a book worth reading.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, September 30, 2003

By 

Valerie Adolph "Coast Journal" (Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Medieval Flowers (Paperback)

The best part of this book is Clay Perry’s flower photography. He is one of the finest flower and garden photographers and his illustrations of growing flowers in this book are classic. Mind you, some of the illustrations of flowers picked and arranged are far too cute for my taste.

The text of the book is just average. It’s literate enough, but it has no spark of life or interest. The research is O.K too, but it covers no new ground and offers no new insights. I found that disappointing because this topic has opened up in recent years and more rigorous research and more lively writing could have enriched the book and offered the reader greater awareness and understanding of a seminal period in our garden history.

The material is well organized and there is a decent bibliography. With some flair and vision this might have been a book worth reading.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Less than expected, May 23, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Medieval Flowers (Paperback)

Good for a coffee-table book, with some spectacular photography. However, the actual information on the plants is not in-depth, and the book does not cover a very wide range of plants. I would not recommend this book for a serious gardener or researcher, as there is not enough information to make it worthwhile.