My mate Pete Pete Smelly Feet (Gardener to the stars) gave me a copy of Flora Britannica by Richard Mabey. At first glance it looked like one of those books that you leave lying around the house to pretend to guests that you’re not all beer and skittles. Happily it is too, all beer and skittles.
Rikki talks about the native and naturalised plants that inhabit our Isles. However he doesn’t just bang on about genres and families and latin names that sound like punishments but instead leads us through a joyous festival of folklore and plant lust.
It describes itself on the cover as’ The definitive new guide to wildflowers, plants and trees’, I can assure you dear readers that it is just this and more. I swear there is magic lurking amongst these pages, hiding amongst the well woven words.
Try not to die before reading this…obviously try not to die just by default…but if you do happen to die…give this book to your kids in your will. Maybe you are dying but taking your time over it?….well this is a great opportunity to read Flora Britannica…it will (along with the morphine) make you happy.
Happily for me I am only half way through…so plenty more fun for me to be had…and if you are wondering how I can write such a glowing review for a book I have got nowhere near to finishing…well…it’s my blog…I’ll do what I like.
Kind regards
Benji
August 1, 2011 @ 9:51 pm
It’s a wonderful book, I dip into it all the time, and found it helpful when studying for RHS exams as there is so much information on everything. Don’t think I’ll ever finish it though!
July 30, 2011 @ 2:32 pm
Sounds interesting, I shall borrow it first to see if it lives up to your review ;)