The Accidental Botanist: A Deconstructed Flower Book

by Robbie Honey

Global adventurer Robbie Honey has spent the last ten years dissecting some of the world’s most exotic flowers. No plant is beyond his reach; whether growing deep in the Amazon rainforest or by the roadside in a Harare suburb, Robbie will jump, climb and clamber over whatever lies in his way to secure his floral prize. Dissecting the flower then and there, Robbie creates a miniature photographic portrait of each one following the traditional rules of botany, but with an aesthetic flair that transforms them into contemporary art. Over 100 flowers and plants are dissected, and organised into chapters on colour – reds, purples, whites, yellows, blues – together with information on what they are, where found, how to use them and other unusual facts. Robbie’s Instagram feed has inspired over 20K loyal followers who are passionate about his flower dissections and the way he photographs them.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Photography, Nature

160 pages, Hardcover

Published July 10, 2018

Reviews

[Vittoria · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have always been fascinated with natural structures, I remember how illuminating it was as a child to segment a banana and marvel at its symmetries and the fun I had decorticating carrots' taproots. Many plants have since suffered my investigative attentions.
This book seemed written for me but turned out not to be the right fit after all.
While it isn't exactly small, there isn't a lot of variety when it comes to plants - and while many very popular and emblematic representatives from around the world are shown, I can't help but think that I'd have preferred a different approach to the subject (It needn't have been enciclopedic in its scope but I'd have liked more scientific organization of the plants maybe with attention given to similarities of genus or function - the subject would have lent itself spectacularly to a visual presentation and comparison.)
The photographs are more artistic than scientific and aren't as crisp and focused as I'd have preferred them to be - I found them a bit disappointing and frustrating, not being able to look at the minute details of the beautiful sections and segments.
Hell, I remember how enraptured I was while squinting at the cross section of a daisy halved after being treated a bit too roughly in the making of a chain - to see a magnified example of that would have been terrific : ) .
The subjects are pretty enough, nature's colours and variety are displayed but, sadly, not at their fullest potential.

[Juli Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not quite sure what this book is supposed to be? Not really botany, not really flower arranging, not really memoir. The photos weren't high enough quality to really be the main event, but that it how the book is presented.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gorgeous. A treasure trove of flower names, color, terminology, lore. Great for writer or artist inspiration or just for the sheer beauty of the photographic spreads.

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful photos - really helping dispel this lengthy WI winter!