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Smoke And Roses: A Steampunk Language Of Flowers: Pocketbook Edition
Rosemary is for remembrance. You give yellow roses to a friend and lilies to the bereaved. Ever wondered why? In this full-color illustrated volume you will discover the history of the symbolic code daring Victorian ladies and gents used to pass messages in the roots of the practice in Turkey, its rise in Europe and its fascinating cultural connotations on both sides of the Atlantic. You'll learn how a mispronounced word gave the tulip its name and why the colors of the rose have so many meanings. Included are recipes for bouquets useful in your own life, including the Bugger Off Bouquet, to be given to those you would rather not see again. Let this fully illustrated volume lead you up the historical garden path.
142 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 10, 2019
In the days before texting and instant messaging via technology, young couples practiced the art of sending hidden messages with flower bouquets. This now quaint and nearly lost artform has seen a resurgence in recent years along with the popularity of all things Victoriana, reinvented in the Steampunk craze. Here is a blending of both worlds, charming old world folklore with reinvented uses, some a bit irreverent and comical.
Sending flowers has long been seen as a means to share warm, loving, comforting thoughts. But what if you want to send a message to someone that says, "Bugger off" or even "Put on your big kid panties"? Yes! There are flowers that can fill the bill on even those not-so-warm messages but in a more subtle, diplomatic way that might be lost on the recipient but not the sender. Or perhaps they might get the message and thank you for the soft correction. Every flower, from common to obscure, has its own message to send, based on centuries of folklore, scientific identification and just plain fun. It's all here in Smoke and Roses: A Steampunk Language of Flowers.
Olivia Wylie shares her wealth of knowledge about botanicals and the language of flowers along with her lush illustrations, reminiscent of an antiquated botanical book hidden away in some rare book room. But this one can be available for readers to enjoy and reference anytime in both digital and paperback form. I enjoyed the digital and keep it handy on my tablet for easy reference. Plus it allows me to enlarge the exquisite illustrations to see more details of the flowers and easily scan to whatever purpose I might need to coordinate a bouquet of flowers to send that "special" someone just the right message and let them know how I feel. The paperback would make a unique and thoughtful gift for anyone interested in botanicals, history, or just looking for a unique coffee table conversation piece. Great for wedding planners, historical fiction authors, Steampunk enthusiasts, gardeners, and anyone who has ever sent flowers or strolled through a garden.
Sending flowers has long been seen as a means to share warm, loving, comforting thoughts. But what if you want to send a message to someone that says, "Bugger off" or even "Put on your big kid panties"? Yes! There are flowers that can fill the bill on even those not-so-warm messages but in a more subtle, diplomatic way that might be lost on the recipient but not the sender. Or perhaps they might get the message and thank you for the soft correction. Every flower, from common to obscure, has its own message to send, based on centuries of folklore, scientific identification and just plain fun. It's all here in Smoke and Roses: A Steampunk Language of Flowers.
Olivia Wylie shares her wealth of knowledge about botanicals and the language of flowers along with her lush illustrations, reminiscent of an antiquated botanical book hidden away in some rare book room. But this one can be available for readers to enjoy and reference anytime in both digital and paperback form. I enjoyed the digital and keep it handy on my tablet for easy reference. Plus it allows me to enlarge the exquisite illustrations to see more details of the flowers and easily scan to whatever purpose I might need to coordinate a bouquet of flowers to send that "special" someone just the right message and let them know how I feel. The paperback would make a unique and thoughtful gift for anyone interested in botanicals, history, or just looking for a unique coffee table conversation piece. Great for wedding planners, historical fiction authors, Steampunk enthusiasts, gardeners, and anyone who has ever sent flowers or strolled through a garden.
February 7, 2019
This is a great coffee table book, wonderful photos and the intro is done very well. I'll head over to this often just to look at the photos.
February 7, 2019
5-Stars!
Smoke And Roses by Olivia Wylie is a very informative, fun read. The cover is beautifully hand-drawn as well as the flowers inside the book. This is my favorite book for research in romance writing.
The writing is strong and educational with a fun feel. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and I cannot wait to use a recipe or two. Even if you don’t give a fig about flowers and what they mean, you will find something useful in Smoke And Roses.
I loved all the information of what flowers mean, and my most favorite part was the bouquet ingredients. I’ve got some in mind to send to people who need a pick-me-up or a dressing down. The wedding anniversary flowers are extremely helpful for anyone you know with an anniversary coming up. Each year of marriage has a flower.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this, and once I started, I couldn’t put it down. The drawings are beautiful. I feel this book is going to come in handy for all kinds of stuff, and now I can’t wait to send some flowers to someone. I absolutely loved the paper the story is written on, it gives a great feel of reading an old book from the 1800s. I could almost smell the dusty pages.
We need to get back to the giving of flowers to brighten people’s day, and Smoke And Roses is just the book to bring us back to the tradition.
I recommend this book to everyone. You are sure to find something useful. And, it’s pretty.
Smoke And Roses by Olivia Wylie is a very informative, fun read. The cover is beautifully hand-drawn as well as the flowers inside the book. This is my favorite book for research in romance writing.
The writing is strong and educational with a fun feel. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and I cannot wait to use a recipe or two. Even if you don’t give a fig about flowers and what they mean, you will find something useful in Smoke And Roses.
I loved all the information of what flowers mean, and my most favorite part was the bouquet ingredients. I’ve got some in mind to send to people who need a pick-me-up or a dressing down. The wedding anniversary flowers are extremely helpful for anyone you know with an anniversary coming up. Each year of marriage has a flower.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this, and once I started, I couldn’t put it down. The drawings are beautiful. I feel this book is going to come in handy for all kinds of stuff, and now I can’t wait to send some flowers to someone. I absolutely loved the paper the story is written on, it gives a great feel of reading an old book from the 1800s. I could almost smell the dusty pages.
We need to get back to the giving of flowers to brighten people’s day, and Smoke And Roses is just the book to bring us back to the tradition.
I recommend this book to everyone. You are sure to find something useful. And, it’s pretty.
February 13, 2019
The cover and title drew me in and then I couldn't put it down. Such lovely illustrations and a wealth of information about flowers and the quaint Victorian practice of sending flower arrangements with a hidden message. Packed with fun facts and tongue-and-cheek humor, this book makes both a great reference tool and a fun non-fiction picture book for all ages.
December 20, 2022
Loved finding this book. I'm always interested to learn more about plants and flowers, and this book had delightful illustrations and descriptions.
July 17, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews