Strangers In The Garden: The Secret Lives Of Our Favorite Flowers

We all - gardeners or not - appreciate the beauty of familiar garden flowers. But how well do we really know these everyday plants? When do we stop to consider a flower's personality, or to discover the dramatic events that have contributed to its particular identity? What adventures took place as these plants, now part of our daily lives, were transported - often by explorers or botanists who were quirky characters themselves - from their birthplaces in Asia, Africa, or the Americas?

Strangers in the Garden, illustrated with over a hundred stunning photographs, prints, and drawings, reveals the characters and personal histories of ten popular fl´owers - the chrysanthemum, the clematis, the crocus, the dahlia, the geranium, the iris, the lilac, the peony, the rhododendron, and the tulip - by tracking their fascinating journeys from misty peaks, arid valleys, and exotic hillsides to our gardens, decks, and patios.