I think if it follows you home from the garden centre, you have a moral obligation to look after it.
Book review: Growing Heirloom Flowers by Chris McLaughlin.
Growing Heirloom Flowers – Chris McLaughlin (2018, Cool Springs Press, The Quarto Group, Minnesota)
This has got to be one of my favourite gardening books of the year so far! And it’s not just the eye candy aspect, although that’s a huge part of it – Nadeen Flynn’s photographs are absolutely sumptuous and I can’t stop flipping through the pages in wonder. It’s the inspiration that practically drips from every page, making me want to rush out to try everything in my own garden.
Beginning with a definition of heirloom flowers and notes about seed saving, Chris McLaughlin launches into detailed chapters covering cutting flowers (dahlias, larkspur, glads), fragrant flowers (nicotiana, lilacs, bee balm), flowers for handcrafting (calendula, lavender), and traditional cottage flowers (blue flax, cosmos). A few recipes and beautiful DIY projects make delightful additions. This is a gorgeous, informative book I know I will keep returning to.
(The Quarto Group very generously provided me with a copy of Growing Heirloom Flowers but, as always, my opinions are 100 percent my own).
Book review: Murder on the Ballarat Train by Kerry Greenwood.
Kerry Greenwood – Murder on the Ballarat Train (2007, Poisoned Pen Press, Arizona)
When a fellow passenger is murdered and nearly everyone else is poisoned while on a train voyage, Phryne Fisher doesn’t hesitate to take on the case with her usual smarts, skill, and style. In between tracking down suspects, Phryne manages to seduce a member of the local rowing club and attempts to suss out the mysterious appearance of a traumatized, amnesiac young girl – who may or may not be connected to the murder on the train. With this, the third installment in the series, Greenwood shows more polish than the first two books, as Phryne and her supporting cast become a bit less caricature and take on fuller lives. An entertaining, quick read!
Book review: Red Planet Blues by Robert J. Sawyer.
Red Planet Blues – Robert J. Sawyer (2013, Viking, Toronto)
Life in the Martian city of New Klondike is a bit akin to the wild west, gritty and shady (albeit with some serious tech). When exiled private eye Alex Lomax is called upon to work a case of a missing man who has recently undergone a body transfer, he is quickly embroiled in a complicated mystery involving fossilized treasure, a secret diary, and the long-buried facts behind a historical planetary landing. When people truly aren’t who they appear to be and the body count begins to mount, Lomax has to use all of his street smarts, charm, and brute force to save his own skin and solve the case. This is crafty science fiction noir with a generous side of humour and a few deft, creative turns. The occasionally annoying first-person narrative may rankle some readers, and Lomax’ sexist opinions are a turn off (remember, however, that this is an homage to classic noir, where that type of attitude prevailed), but the actual storytelling is entertaining and the pacing is appropriately speedy. A fun book to kick back with in the lawn chair this summer.
Flowery Friday.
I sneezed the whole time I was there, but it was absolutely glorious!
Lilacs on a grand scale at the Reader Rock Garden, here in Calgary, last week.
Flowery Prose turns 8!
Well, Flowery Prose The Blog turned 8 years old a little while back and I meant to write a little something to celebrate, but somehow it was overlooked, and here I am, a few weeks-ish late. I would like to offer a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who generously and kindly gives FP a read, and/or stops in to comment – you all rock and I’m very grateful to you!*
Just for fun, I thought I’d share my top three favourite posts I’ve done so far – I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did writing them.
The Don’ts of Bird Photography. Timing is very important when taking bird photos. You’ll see what I mean. (Be sure to click on the image in the link for full, glorious effect).
Bookmarks. Since I wrote this post (and transferred to another library branch in the city), I am delighted (bewildered?) to add a child’s pink one-piece swimsuit to the list. I am not joking.
Fun with Search Terms, Flowery Prose Edition.
Why not celebrate with me and put a link to your favourite post that you’ve done on your own blog in the comments?
*even if things get supremely busy and I don’t get around to replying for weeks on end and then pretty much the season is over and done with or whatever I’ve written about is completely irrelevant and yet you are still so patient and wonderful and I truly appreciate it
Flowery Friday.
I didn’t quite realize it before we moved in last summer, but our new home is situated on a property containing a delightfully large number of apple trees. There appears to be several different cultivars. I have no idea what they are (it’s a bit easier to narrow the ID on them when they fruit!), but what a treat to see them blooming right now. The sight – and lovely sweet scent! – makes me smile each time I head out the door.
Which fragrant flowers in your garden are your favourites?
