The Album of Plant Families : An Illustrated Exploration of Nature's Beauty and Bounty

A spectacular poster-sized book that illustrates the family connections between the plants around us, deepening our appreciation of nature. Much like our own family, plant families share characteristics, often in the arrangement of their flowers, leaves, and stems. In this oversized book, acclaimed botanical artist Wendy Hollender depicts 24 plant families most commonly encountered in the garden and in the wild. Her superb full-page illustrations, featuring subjects rendered from life in colour pencil and watercolour, help us visualise the sometimes surprising connections between different plants—for example, between the zinnia, the dandelion, and romaine lettuce, all members of the sunflower family, Asteraceae. For each family, Hollender’s lively writings aided by additional illustrations highlight the similarities between family members, and describe her adventures in collecting the subjects (from her backyard garden to the Hawaiian wilderness). Guest essays from a variety of distinguished contributors—including Marta McDowell, the best-selling garden writer; Susan Pell, executive director of the US Botanic Garden; and Dina Falconi, the well-known clinical herbalist—lend fascinating perspectives on the featured plant families. The Album of Plant Families will be the ultimate gift for all gardeners, foragers, and nature lovers.