how to have to the most stunning flowers crunch or not, 24 Nov 2008
this is in my opinion the most beautiful of jane packers books to date. several of my friends who looked through it said it was so beautiful they felt emotional after. i thought it was just me.
seriously, credit crunch or not, you can have all the wedding flowers of your dreams by following the instructions in the book.
so cleverly done , it does not come across as a how to book but one that would grace any table. covers also large displays and simple few bloom ideas . a great gift for any friend the least bit creative, or who is getting married and needs to watch the pennies without losing out on great style. I have bought three as presents. simply gorgeous. mrs b.

how to have to the most stunning flowers crunch or not, 24 Nov 2008
this is in my opinion the most beautiful of jane packers books to date. several of my friends who looked through it said it was so beautiful they felt emotional after. i thought it was just me.
seriously, credit crunch or not, you can have all the wedding flowers of your dreams by following the instructions in the book.
so cleverly done , it does not come across as a how to book but one that would grace any table. covers also large displays and simple few bloom ideas . a great gift for any friend the least bit creative, or who is getting married and needs to watch the pennies without losing out on great style. I have bought three as presents. simply gorgeous. mrs b.

Ideal Present, 17 Oct 2008
I followed the advice of the previous reviewers as I needed a present for a friend. I was not disappointed. This is a super book. It is useful because it has all kinds of designs, not just huge displays which not everyone wants to make. There are simple methods to follow so designs can be tried out easily at home. I like the history of flower designs too which is presented interestingly with some historical photos. There are also large glossy pictures for just browsing. This book is an ideal present. I have never been very tempted to try out flower arranging myself but this flower design encyclopaedia is a real inspiration and has given even me some ideas.

Best flower arranging book, 27 Sep 2008
I am a flower-arranging novice and this book was recommended to me by someone who has run (for a couple of decades) one of the many NAFAS branches dedicated to flower arranging, after I complained that all the flower books from my library basically just had many pretty pictures that didn't really support me in creating good arrangements for myself, based on bunches I could get at the supermarket. I wanted a flower arranging book with principles and theories, a really good teaching book.

I was more than impressed with this one: over two dozen classic and modern design principles for bigger arrangements plus easy-to-follow smaller ideas, examples of show-work, equipment and techniques, how to condition the plant material (vital if you want your arrangement to continue looking good for more than a couple of days), and much more. Clear text and great photos. If you only want one book on flower arranging, this is it. For a collection, this is a must-add or a wonderful starting point.


Excellent Book!, 01 Sep 2008
This is book is jam-packed with techniques, tips & advice.
It has loads of info on various styles & flowers, with very clear instructions for beginners. Highly Recomended!

Just what I wanted, 08 Sep 2006
Lovely photographs and great contents just about sums this book up. There is lots to inspire you in this book and I, being a novice, particularly found the Equipment & Techniques chapter very useful. The flowers and foliage chapter is also a good guide to what is available. There is a hell of a lot in this book and I think it is great value for money.

how to have to the most stunning flowers crunch or not, 24 Nov 2008
this is in my opinion the most beautiful of jane packers books to date. several of my friends who looked through it said it was so beautiful they felt emotional after. i thought it was just me.
seriously, credit crunch or not, you can have all the wedding flowers of your dreams by following the instructions in the book.
so cleverly done , it does not come across as a how to book but one that would grace any table. covers also large displays and simple few bloom ideas . a great gift for any friend the least bit creative, or who is getting married and needs to watch the pennies without losing out on great style. I have bought three as presents. simply gorgeous. mrs b.

Ideal Present, 17 Oct 2008
I followed the advice of the previous reviewers as I needed a present for a friend. I was not disappointed. This is a super book. It is useful because it has all kinds of designs, not just huge displays which not everyone wants to make. There are simple methods to follow so designs can be tried out easily at home. I like the history of flower designs too which is presented interestingly with some historical photos. There are also large glossy pictures for just browsing. This book is an ideal present. I have never been very tempted to try out flower arranging myself but this flower design encyclopaedia is a real inspiration and has given even me some ideas.

Best flower arranging book, 27 Sep 2008
I am a flower-arranging novice and this book was recommended to me by someone who has run (for a couple of decades) one of the many NAFAS branches dedicated to flower arranging, after I complained that all the flower books from my library basically just had many pretty pictures that didn't really support me in creating good arrangements for myself, based on bunches I could get at the supermarket. I wanted a flower arranging book with principles and theories, a really good teaching book.

I was more than impressed with this one: over two dozen classic and modern design principles for bigger arrangements plus easy-to-follow smaller ideas, examples of show-work, equipment and techniques, how to condition the plant material (vital if you want your arrangement to continue looking good for more than a couple of days), and much more. Clear text and great photos. If you only want one book on flower arranging, this is it. For a collection, this is a must-add or a wonderful starting point.


Excellent Book!, 01 Sep 2008
This is book is jam-packed with techniques, tips & advice.
It has loads of info on various styles & flowers, with very clear instructions for beginners. Highly Recomended!

Just what I wanted, 08 Sep 2006
Lovely photographs and great contents just about sums this book up. There is lots to inspire you in this book and I, being a novice, particularly found the Equipment & Techniques chapter very useful. The flowers and foliage chapter is also a good guide to what is available. There is a hell of a lot in this book and I think it is great value for money.

Fab little flower arranging book!, 24 Mar 2006
If like me, you fancy trying to replicate some of those more trendy bouquets, wreathes or arrangements you see in the florists (that normally cost a bomb) - this is the book for you! It is full of projects and techniques - all well illustrated and taught me a lot. I didn't follow the colours or the flowers she used slavishly; I just used the idea and learnt the techniques and it inspired me enough to tackle all my wedding flowers! Great for the novice!

Great Guide, 27 May 2001
As a complete novice to flower arranging, I was looking for an easy-to-follow, informative book that would give me some background knowledge. I wasn't disappointed. The photography is clear and shows the displays to their full beauty. The text is simple and doesn't use jargon.

I think this book would suit any flowr-arranging novice and offers some great ideas to try.

how to have to the most stunning flowers crunch or not, 24 Nov 2008
this is in my opinion the most beautiful of jane packers books to date. several of my friends who looked through it said it was so beautiful they felt emotional after. i thought it was just me.
seriously, credit crunch or not, you can have all the wedding flowers of your dreams by following the instructions in the book.
so cleverly done , it does not come across as a how to book but one that would grace any table. covers also large displays and simple few bloom ideas . a great gift for any friend the least bit creative, or who is getting married and needs to watch the pennies without losing out on great style. I have bought three as presents. simply gorgeous. mrs b.

Ideal Present, 17 Oct 2008
I followed the advice of the previous reviewers as I needed a present for a friend. I was not disappointed. This is a super book. It is useful because it has all kinds of designs, not just huge displays which not everyone wants to make. There are simple methods to follow so designs can be tried out easily at home. I like the history of flower designs too which is presented interestingly with some historical photos. There are also large glossy pictures for just browsing. This book is an ideal present. I have never been very tempted to try out flower arranging myself but this flower design encyclopaedia is a real inspiration and has given even me some ideas.

Best flower arranging book, 27 Sep 2008
I am a flower-arranging novice and this book was recommended to me by someone who has run (for a couple of decades) one of the many NAFAS branches dedicated to flower arranging, after I complained that all the flower books from my library basically just had many pretty pictures that didn't really support me in creating good arrangements for myself, based on bunches I could get at the supermarket. I wanted a flower arranging book with principles and theories, a really good teaching book.

I was more than impressed with this one: over two dozen classic and modern design principles for bigger arrangements plus easy-to-follow smaller ideas, examples of show-work, equipment and techniques, how to condition the plant material (vital if you want your arrangement to continue looking good for more than a couple of days), and much more. Clear text and great photos. If you only want one book on flower arranging, this is it. For a collection, this is a must-add or a wonderful starting point.


Excellent Book!, 01 Sep 2008
This is book is jam-packed with techniques, tips & advice.
It has loads of info on various styles & flowers, with very clear instructions for beginners. Highly Recomended!

Just what I wanted, 08 Sep 2006
Lovely photographs and great contents just about sums this book up. There is lots to inspire you in this book and I, being a novice, particularly found the Equipment & Techniques chapter very useful. The flowers and foliage chapter is also a good guide to what is available. There is a hell of a lot in this book and I think it is great value for money.

Fab little flower arranging book!, 24 Mar 2006
If like me, you fancy trying to replicate some of those more trendy bouquets, wreathes or arrangements you see in the florists (that normally cost a bomb) - this is the book for you! It is full of projects and techniques - all well illustrated and taught me a lot. I didn't follow the colours or the flowers she used slavishly; I just used the idea and learnt the techniques and it inspired me enough to tackle all my wedding flowers! Great for the novice!

Great Guide, 27 May 2001
As a complete novice to flower arranging, I was looking for an easy-to-follow, informative book that would give me some background knowledge. I wasn't disappointed. The photography is clear and shows the displays to their full beauty. The text is simple and doesn't use jargon.

I think this book would suit any flowr-arranging novice and offers some great ideas to try.

If you only buy one book this is it., 19 Nov 2005
A fantastic book for anyone who is interested in floristery. Full of pictures and instructions, beautifully laid out.
A brilliant buy and a must have.

Excellent, 29 Mar 2004
Purchasing this book was money well spent. It is extremely comprehensive covering all aspects of floristry in easy to follow steps. I found both the modern and traditional designs extremely well illustrated and they were easily understood. This book is a must buy for anyone and everyone who is interested in floristry, whether or not they are in the profession!

excellent, 15 Feb 2004
i am a student currently studying Floristry, my boyfriend bought me this book for valentines day, and i have to say it is excellent. It gives so much information on a variety of subjects from conditioning flowers to tips on taking a wedding booking. Alot of the info works well with what i am studying at college, and the pics and descriptions are great. this book is a must, take my advise!

PROFESSIONAL FLORISTRY TECHNIQUES, 08 Jan 2004
I found this book very useful as I am currently studying floristry at college. There were lots of helpful pieces of information to help me with my coursework.

professional floristry techniques, 03 Nov 2003
This book is just simply fantastic, It show's you in great detail all floristry techniques hence the title.
I am on a floristry course and the book's that were recomended were not as useful as this book.
This book cover's all and more of our course and is a fabulous reference book.
It cover's buying, care and storage,
colour, balance, scale and proportion,
Wiring, Hand-tied, flower arrangements,
weddings, funeral and much, much more.
As I have said this book is great for a ref: and would be of great use to anybody in the floristry industry be it college or in the work place.
If you are looking for way-out design's then this is not the book for you, this book teaches the foundation's of floristry, the core to perfection once you have mastered this book you can the move on to "way out" and be a success!
Good luck on the jouney to floral heaven.

how to have to the most stunning flowers crunch or not, 24 Nov 2008
this is in my opinion the most beautiful of jane packers books to date. several of my friends who looked through it said it was so beautiful they felt emotional after. i thought it was just me.
seriously, credit crunch or not, you can have all the wedding flowers of your dreams by following the instructions in the book.
so cleverly done , it does not come across as a how to book but one that would grace any table. covers also large displays and simple few bloom ideas . a great gift for any friend the least bit creative, or who is getting married and needs to watch the pennies without losing out on great style. I have bought three as presents. simply gorgeous. mrs b.

Ideal Present, 17 Oct 2008
I followed the advice of the previous reviewers as I needed a present for a friend. I was not disappointed. This is a super book. It is useful because it has all kinds of designs, not just huge displays which not everyone wants to make. There are simple methods to follow so designs can be tried out easily at home. I like the history of flower designs too which is presented interestingly with some historical photos. There are also large glossy pictures for just browsing. This book is an ideal present. I have never been very tempted to try out flower arranging myself but this flower design encyclopaedia is a real inspiration and has given even me some ideas.

Best flower arranging book, 27 Sep 2008
I am a flower-arranging novice and this book was recommended to me by someone who has run (for a couple of decades) one of the many NAFAS branches dedicated to flower arranging, after I complained that all the flower books from my library basically just had many pretty pictures that didn't really support me in creating good arrangements for myself, based on bunches I could get at the supermarket. I wanted a flower arranging book with principles and theories, a really good teaching book.

I was more than impressed with this one: over two dozen classic and modern design principles for bigger arrangements plus easy-to-follow smaller ideas, examples of show-work, equipment and techniques, how to condition the plant material (vital if you want your arrangement to continue looking good for more than a couple of days), and much more. Clear text and great photos. If you only want one book on flower arranging, this is it. For a collection, this is a must-add or a wonderful starting point.


Excellent Book!, 01 Sep 2008
This is book is jam-packed with techniques, tips & advice.
It has loads of info on various styles & flowers, with very clear instructions for beginners. Highly Recomended!

Just what I wanted, 08 Sep 2006
Lovely photographs and great contents just about sums this book up. There is lots to inspire you in this book and I, being a novice, particularly found the Equipment & Techniques chapter very useful. The flowers and foliage chapter is also a good guide to what is available. There is a hell of a lot in this book and I think it is great value for money.

Fab little flower arranging book!, 24 Mar 2006
If like me, you fancy trying to replicate some of those more trendy bouquets, wreathes or arrangements you see in the florists (that normally cost a bomb) - this is the book for you! It is full of projects and techniques - all well illustrated and taught me a lot. I didn't follow the colours or the flowers she used slavishly; I just used the idea and learnt the techniques and it inspired me enough to tackle all my wedding flowers! Great for the novice!

Great Guide, 27 May 2001
As a complete novice to flower arranging, I was looking for an easy-to-follow, informative book that would give me some background knowledge. I wasn't disappointed. The photography is clear and shows the displays to their full beauty. The text is simple and doesn't use jargon.

I think this book would suit any flowr-arranging novice and offers some great ideas to try.

If you only buy one book this is it., 19 Nov 2005
A fantastic book for anyone who is interested in floristery. Full of pictures and instructions, beautifully laid out.
A brilliant buy and a must have.

Excellent, 29 Mar 2004
Purchasing this book was money well spent. It is extremely comprehensive covering all aspects of floristry in easy to follow steps. I found both the modern and traditional designs extremely well illustrated and they were easily understood. This book is a must buy for anyone and everyone who is interested in floristry, whether or not they are in the profession!

excellent, 15 Feb 2004
i am a student currently studying Floristry, my boyfriend bought me this book for valentines day, and i have to say it is excellent. It gives so much information on a variety of subjects from conditioning flowers to tips on taking a wedding booking. Alot of the info works well with what i am studying at college, and the pics and descriptions are great. this book is a must, take my advise!

PROFESSIONAL FLORISTRY TECHNIQUES, 08 Jan 2004
I found this book very useful as I am currently studying floristry at college. There were lots of helpful pieces of information to help me with my coursework.

professional floristry techniques, 03 Nov 2003
This book is just simply fantastic, It show's you in great detail all floristry techniques hence the title.
I am on a floristry course and the book's that were recomended were not as useful as this book.
This book cover's all and more of our course and is a fabulous reference book.
It cover's buying, care and storage,
colour, balance, scale and proportion,
Wiring, Hand-tied, flower arrangements,
weddings, funeral and much, much more.
As I have said this book is great for a ref: and would be of great use to anybody in the floristry industry be it college or in the work place.
If you are looking for way-out design's then this is not the book for you, this book teaches the foundation's of floristry, the core to perfection once you have mastered this book you can the move on to "way out" and be a success!
Good luck on the jouney to floral heaven.

I adore this book, 12 Dec 2007
The pictures in this book gets you excited and you just want to recreate the images.There is also a number of step by step guides to follow in order to make wonderful designs.worth buying!

A lovely book, 05 Apr 2006
Lots of good ideas from more traditional to contemporary. Also details what is in season when. Nicely presented

Inspiration for every bride, 10 Aug 2005
This is a great book to inspire any bride-to-be. I used it constantly for ideas for my own wedding as it features a myriad of real life weddings. It did illustrate a few practical projects, which I admit is why I bought the book initially. In the end, even though, I did all my own wedding flowers, I never used the project bits and simply used this for ideas on colour and styles! The photography is great and there are little stories about each wedding which makes it really enjoyable to flick through.

an inspiration, 19 Jan 2004
Paula Pryke has done it again! This book is as good as her previous ones! I a florist, found so many inspirational ideas from this book, beautiful photos, with clear and easy to read explanations and tutorials for those who need them!
Try as i might i can't find anything negative to say about it!!
I would reccomend this book to everyone!

how to have to the most stunning flowers crunch or not, 24 Nov 2008
this is in my opinion the most beautiful of jane packers books to date. several of my friends who looked through it said it was so beautiful they felt emotional after. i thought it was just me.
seriously, credit crunch or not, you can have all the wedding flowers of your dreams by following the instructions in the book.
so cleverly done , it does not come across as a how to book but one that would grace any table. covers also large displays and simple few bloom ideas . a great gift for any friend the least bit creative, or who is getting married and needs to watch the pennies without losing out on great style. I have bought three as presents. simply gorgeous. mrs b.

Ideal Present, 17 Oct 2008
I followed the advice of the previous reviewers as I needed a present for a friend. I was not disappointed. This is a super book. It is useful because it has all kinds of designs, not just huge displays which not everyone wants to make. There are simple methods to follow so designs can be tried out easily at home. I like the history of flower designs too which is presented interestingly with some historical photos. There are also large glossy pictures for just browsing. This book is an ideal present. I have never been very tempted to try out flower arranging myself but this flower design encyclopaedia is a real inspiration and has given even me some ideas.

Best flower arranging book, 27 Sep 2008
I am a flower-arranging novice and this book was recommended to me by someone who has run (for a couple of decades) one of the many NAFAS branches dedicated to flower arranging, after I complained that all the flower books from my library basically just had many pretty pictures that didn't really support me in creating good arrangements for myself, based on bunches I could get at the supermarket. I wanted a flower arranging book with principles and theories, a really good teaching book.

I was more than impressed with this one: over two dozen classic and modern design principles for bigger arrangements plus easy-to-follow smaller ideas, examples of show-work, equipment and techniques, how to condition the plant material (vital if you want your arrangement to continue looking good for more than a couple of days), and much more. Clear text and great photos. If you only want one book on flower arranging, this is it. For a collection, this is a must-add or a wonderful starting point.


Excellent Book!, 01 Sep 2008
This is book is jam-packed with techniques, tips & advice.
It has loads of info on various styles & flowers, with very clear instructions for beginners. Highly Recomended!

Just what I wanted, 08 Sep 2006
Lovely photographs and great contents just about sums this book up. There is lots to inspire you in this book and I, being a novice, particularly found the Equipment & Techniques chapter very useful. The flowers and foliage chapter is also a good guide to what is available. There is a hell of a lot in this book and I think it is great value for money.

Fab little flower arranging book!, 24 Mar 2006
If like me, you fancy trying to replicate some of those more trendy bouquets, wreathes or arrangements you see in the florists (that normally cost a bomb) - this is the book for you! It is full of projects and techniques - all well illustrated and taught me a lot. I didn't follow the colours or the flowers she used slavishly; I just used the idea and learnt the techniques and it inspired me enough to tackle all my wedding flowers! Great for the novice!

Great Guide, 27 May 2001
As a complete novice to flower arranging, I was looking for an easy-to-follow, informative book that would give me some background knowledge. I wasn't disappointed. The photography is clear and shows the displays to their full beauty. The text is simple and doesn't use jargon.

I think this book would suit any flowr-arranging novice and offers some great ideas to try.

If you only buy one book this is it., 19 Nov 2005
A fantastic book for anyone who is interested in floristery. Full of pictures and instructions, beautifully laid out.
A brilliant buy and a must have.

Excellent, 29 Mar 2004
Purchasing this book was money well spent. It is extremely comprehensive covering all aspects of floristry in easy to follow steps. I found both the modern and traditional designs extremely well illustrated and they were easily understood. This book is a must buy for anyone and everyone who is interested in floristry, whether or not they are in the profession!

excellent, 15 Feb 2004
i am a student currently studying Floristry, my boyfriend bought me this book for valentines day, and i have to say it is excellent. It gives so much information on a variety of subjects from conditioning flowers to tips on taking a wedding booking. Alot of the info works well with what i am studying at college, and the pics and descriptions are great. this book is a must, take my advise!

PROFESSIONAL FLORISTRY TECHNIQUES, 08 Jan 2004
I found this book very useful as I am currently studying floristry at college. There were lots of helpful pieces of information to help me with my coursework.

professional floristry techniques, 03 Nov 2003
This book is just simply fantastic, It show's you in great detail all floristry techniques hence the title.
I am on a floristry course and the book's that were recomended were not as useful as this book.
This book cover's all and more of our course and is a fabulous reference book.
It cover's buying, care and storage,
colour, balance, scale and proportion,
Wiring, Hand-tied, flower arrangements,
weddings, funeral and much, much more.
As I have said this book is great for a ref: and would be of great use to anybody in the floristry industry be it college or in the work place.
If you are looking for way-out design's then this is not the book for you, this book teaches the foundation's of floristry, the core to perfection once you have mastered this book you can the move on to "way out" and be a success!
Good luck on the jouney to floral heaven.

I adore this book, 12 Dec 2007
The pictures in this book gets you excited and you just want to recreate the images.There is also a number of step by step guides to follow in order to make wonderful designs.worth buying!

A lovely book, 05 Apr 2006
Lots of good ideas from more traditional to contemporary. Also details what is in season when. Nicely presented

Inspiration for every bride, 10 Aug 2005
This is a great book to inspire any bride-to-be. I used it constantly for ideas for my own wedding as it features a myriad of real life weddings. It did illustrate a few practical projects, which I admit is why I bought the book initially. In the end, even though, I did all my own wedding flowers, I never used the project bits and simply used this for ideas on colour and styles! The photography is great and there are little stories about each wedding which makes it really enjoyable to flick through.

an inspiration, 19 Jan 2004
Paula Pryke has done it again! This book is as good as her previous ones! I a florist, found so many inspirational ideas from this book, beautiful photos, with clear and easy to read explanations and tutorials for those who need them!
Try as i might i can't find anything negative to say about it!!
I would reccomend this book to everyone!

Not the right book to buy!, 28 Jul 2008
I have been an organic gardener and garden designer for years. I bought this book out of curiosity to see what Ms Raven's insights might be. I was disappointed not to learn any 'tricks of the trade' from it and, in fact, was scandalised by some of its irresponsible, old-fashioned content. For example, Ms Raven suggests, when growing sweet peas, that it is essential to place mousetraps around them otherwise the seeds will be eaten by mice. I've been growing sweet peas since I was a child and nothing has ever eaten my seeds. Ms Raven also states it is essential to use slug pellets around the plants. This is also nonsense. I never use any pesticides or chemicals on mine and they are always fabulous and superior to neighbours who do use pellets (which can poison beneficial wildlife). My current crop - my best ever - has no slug damage at all. Her advice here is draconian and cruel; mousetraps are an appalling way to deal with mice and also kill other creatures like shrews, who are useful in the garden. Additionally, she says the long stemmed varieties don't smell as good as the short stemmed ones. Tell that to mine! Her comments about mildew are also incorrect in my experience. Ms Raven is very self-opinionated and has obviously not spoken enough to other gardeners about their own experiences with growing flowers for the house - especially 'green', progressive gardeners. Rather strangely, she then later gives 'organic' advice on how to deal with earwigs. This has very obviously been thrown in to please those who garden organically, which is rather condescending but easily seen through.

Sadly, Ms Raven speaks with great authority, which is rather disturbing given the sometimes poor and misguided advice being offered in this book.

Lovely pictures, yes. But for those I could have bought a book on flower arranging. One thing this book did do was inspire me! Yes, it has inspired me to develop my own website about organic gardening where no chemicals or cruel traps are used and the wildlife does all the pest control. Many people have been doing it that way for years with as good, if not better results than Ms Raven, and we have the photos to prove it!

Not what I thought, 18 Dec 2003
I just thought I would write a review for this book incase anyone makes the same mistake as me. I bought this book thinking that it would be a comprehensive guide to growing cut flowers with detailed information on lots of plants, cultivation, disease, storage, etc. For someone who wants specialst advice, has gardening knowledge and who wants more detail and information on producing cut flowers this is not the book for you. However although a lovely book,this is more a book for someone who likes to look at nice pictures, wants a brief idea of how to lay out their back garden to grow a few detailed flowers for their kitchen table. The idea is great but if you are passionate and wnat more than a browsing book I think this one may let you down - if you have average gardening knowledge, an idea of flowers you like and know how to continually cut flowers so they keep producing over a long season, then this book won't give you any more useful information. It would be good for someone who has never contemplated cutting a flower before and needs to be tempted to do so.

Fantastic book - highly recommended, 06 Dec 2003
This is a great book for anyone interested in growing their own cut flowers or for anyone wishing to learn the basics of flower arranging. The book takes you, step by step, through the basics of both so you do not need any prior knowledge. The photographs are fantastic and the ideas can be adapted to any size of garden. This is a very inspirational book - well worth buying.

Refreshing, modern and inspirational, 07 Mar 2002
I picked up this book because of the vivid colours on the front and was not disappointed with the insides. This is a brilliant and stylish guide to growing flowers, in your garden and even in windowboxes, and to cutting and arranging them for the house and for friends. The plant lists are particularly good, with tips and recommendations from Sarah Raven, who has such a warm, personal writing style, and pictures of every one mentioned. The book focuses on the simple aesthetics of flowers - colour, smell and texture - with stunning pictures, many of them taken from Sarah's own garden. All in all this is a highly original book, full of ideas and practical information, but a joy to look at as well.

"practical as well as inspirational", 25 Feb 2002
This is a follow on to 'The Cutting Garden', not an alternative version. It reflects Sarah Raven's concentration on growing bulbs, annuals and biennials to give cut and come again flowers for the house. As well as beautiful and inspirational photographs there are masses of practical tips, clear instructions and an honesty about what Sarah Raven has learned from experience. Her views on planting distances, feeding plants and siting bulbs have changed during since writing 'The Cutting Garden' and the results of her experiments appear here.
An enjoyable and encouraging book to read while dreaming of harvesting armfuls of flowers.

how to have to the most stunning flowers crunch or not, 24 Nov 2008
this is in my opinion the most beautiful of jane packers books to date. several of my friends who looked through it said it was so beautiful they felt emotional after. i thought it was just me.
seriously, credit crunch or not, you can have all the wedding flowers of your dreams by following the instructions in the book.
so cleverly done , it does not come across as a how to book but one that would grace any table. covers also large displays and simple few bloom ideas . a great gift for any friend the least bit creative, or who is getting married and needs to watch the pennies without losing out on great style. I have bought three as presents. simply gorgeous. mrs b.

Ideal Present, 17 Oct 2008
I followed the advice of the previous reviewers as I needed a present for a friend. I was not disappointed. This is a super book. It is useful because it has all kinds of designs, not just huge displays which not everyone wants to make. There are simple methods to follow so designs can be tried out easily at home. I like the history of flower designs too which is presented interestingly with some historical photos. There are also large glossy pictures for just browsing. This book is an ideal present. I have never been very tempted to try out flower arranging myself but this flower design encyclopaedia is a real inspiration and has given even me some ideas.

Best flower arranging book, 27 Sep 2008
I am a flower-arranging novice and this book was recommended to me by someone who has run (for a couple of decades) one of the many NAFAS branches dedicated to flower arranging, after I complained that all the flower books from my library basically just had many pretty pictures that didn't really support me in creating good arrangements for myself, based on bunches I could get at the supermarket. I wanted a flower arranging book with principles and theories, a really good teaching book.

I was more than impressed with this one: over two dozen classic and modern design principles for bigger arrangements plus easy-to-follow smaller ideas, examples of show-work, equipment and techniques, how to condition the plant material (vital if you want your arrangement to continue looking good for more than a couple of days), and much more. Clear text and great photos. If you only want one book on flower arranging, this is it. For a collection, this is a must-add or a wonderful starting point.


Excellent Book!, 01 Sep 2008
This is book is jam-packed with techniques, tips & advice.
It has loads of info on various styles & flowers, with very clear instructions for beginners. Highly Recomended!

Just what I wanted, 08 Sep 2006
Lovely photographs and great contents just about sums this book up. There is lots to inspire you in this book and I, being a novice, particularly found the Equipment & Techniques chapter very useful. The flowers and foliage chapter is also a good guide to what is available. There is a hell of a lot in this book and I think it is great value for money.

Fab little flower arranging book!, 24 Mar 2006
If like me, you fancy trying to replicate some of those more trendy bouquets, wreathes or arrangements you see in the florists (that normally cost a bomb) - this is the book for you! It is full of projects and techniques - all well illustrated and taught me a lot. I didn't follow the colours or the flowers she used slavishly; I just used the idea and learnt the techniques and it inspired me enough to tackle all my wedding flowers! Great for the novice!

Great Guide, 27 May 2001
As a complete novice to flower arranging, I was looking for an easy-to-follow, informative book that would give me some background knowledge. I wasn't disappointed. The photography is clear and shows the displays to their full beauty. The text is simple and doesn't use jargon.

I think this book would suit any flowr-arranging novice and offers some great ideas to try.

If you only buy one book this is it., 19 Nov 2005
A fantastic book for anyone who is interested in floristery. Full of pictures and instructions, beautifully laid out.
A brilliant buy and a must have.

Excellent, 29 Mar 2004
Purchasing this book was money well spent. It is extremely comprehensive covering all aspects of floristry in easy to follow steps. I found both the modern and traditional designs extremely well illustrated and they were easily understood. This book is a must buy for anyone and everyone who is interested in floristry, whether or not they are in the profession!

excellent, 15 Feb 2004
i am a student currently studying Floristry, my boyfriend bought me this book for valentines day, and i have to say it is excellent. It gives so much information on a variety of subjects from conditioning flowers to tips on taking a wedding booking. Alot of the info works well with what i am studying at college, and the pics and descriptions are great. this book is a must, take my advise!

PROFESSIONAL FLORISTRY TECHNIQUES, 08 Jan 2004
I found this book very useful as I am currently studying floristry at college. There were lots of helpful pieces of information to help me with my coursework.

professional floristry techniques, 03 Nov 2003
This book is just simply fantastic, It show's you in great detail all floristry techniques hence the title.
I am on a floristry course and the book's that were recomended were not as useful as this book.
This book cover's all and more of our course and is a fabulous reference book.
It cover's buying, care and storage,
colour, balance, scale and proportion,
Wiring, Hand-tied, flower arrangements,
weddings, funeral and much, much more.
As I have said this book is great for a ref: and would be of great use to anybody in the floristry industry be it college or in the work place.
If you are looking for way-out design's then this is not the book for you, this book teaches the foundation's of floristry, the core to perfection once you have mastered this book you can the move on to "way out" and be a success!
Good luck on the jouney to floral heaven.

I adore this book, 12 Dec 2007
The pictures in this book gets you excited and you just want to recreate the images.There is also a number of step by step guides to follow in order to make wonderful designs.worth buying!

A lovely book, 05 Apr 2006
Lots of good ideas from more traditional to contemporary. Also details what is in season when. Nicely presented

Inspiration for every bride, 10 Aug 2005
This is a great book to inspire any bride-to-be. I used it constantly for ideas for my own wedding as it features a myriad of real life weddings. It did illustrate a few practical projects, which I admit is why I bought the book initially. In the end, even though, I did all my own wedding flowers, I never used the project bits and simply used this for ideas on colour and styles! The photography is great and there are little stories about each wedding which makes it really enjoyable to flick through.

an inspiration, 19 Jan 2004
Paula Pryke has done it again! This book is as good as her previous ones! I a florist, found so many inspirational ideas from this book, beautiful photos, with clear and easy to read explanations and tutorials for those who need them!
Try as i might i can't find anything negative to say about it!!
I would reccomend this book to everyone!

Not the right book to buy!, 28 Jul 2008
I have been an organic gardener and garden designer for years. I bought this book out of curiosity to see what Ms Raven's insights might be. I was disappointed not to learn any 'tricks of the trade' from it and, in fact, was scandalised by some of its irresponsible, old-fashioned content. For example, Ms Raven suggests, when growing sweet peas, that it is essential to place mousetraps around them otherwise the seeds will be eaten by mice. I've been growing sweet peas since I was a child and nothing has ever eaten my seeds. Ms Raven also states it is essential to use slug pellets around the plants. This is also nonsense. I never use any pesticides or chemicals on mine and they are always fabulous and superior to neighbours who do use pellets (which can poison beneficial wildlife). My current crop - my best ever - has no slug damage at all. Her advice here is draconian and cruel; mousetraps are an appalling way to deal with mice and also kill other creatures like shrews, who are useful in the garden. Additionally, she says the long stemmed varieties don't smell as good as the short stemmed ones. Tell that to mine! Her comments about mildew are also incorrect in my experience. Ms Raven is very self-opinionated and has obviously not spoken enough to other gardeners about their own experiences with growing flowers for the house - especially 'green', progressive gardeners. Rather strangely, she then later gives 'organic' advice on how to deal with earwigs. This has very obviously been thrown in to please those who garden organically, which is rather condescending but easily seen through.

Sadly, Ms Raven speaks with great authority, which is rather disturbing given the sometimes poor and misguided advice being offered in this book.

Lovely pictures, yes. But for those I could have bought a book on flower arranging. One thing this book did do was inspire me! Yes, it has inspired me to develop my own website about organic gardening where no chemicals or cruel traps are used and the wildlife does all the pest control. Many people have been doing it that way for years with as good, if not better results than Ms Raven, and we have the photos to prove it!

Not what I thought, 18 Dec 2003
I just thought I would write a review for this book incase anyone makes the same mistake as me. I bought this book thinking that it would be a comprehensive guide to growing cut flowers with detailed information on lots of plants, cultivation, disease, storage, etc. For someone who wants specialst advice, has gardening knowledge and who wants more detail and information on producing cut flowers this is not the book for you. However although a lovely book,this is more a book for someone who likes to look at nice pictures, wants a brief idea of how to lay out their back garden to grow a few detailed flowers for their kitchen table. The idea is great but if you are passionate and wnat more than a browsing book I think this one may let you down - if you have average gardening knowledge, an idea of flowers you like and know how to continually cut flowers so they keep producing over a long season, then this book won't give you any more useful information. It would be good for someone who has never contemplated cutting a flower before and needs to be tempted to do so.

Fantastic book - highly recommended, 06 Dec 2003
This is a great book for anyone interested in growing their own cut flowers or for anyone wishing to learn the basics of flower arranging. The book takes you, step by step, through the basics of both so you do not need any prior knowledge. The photographs are fantastic and the ideas can be adapted to any size of garden. This is a very inspirational book - well worth buying.

Refreshing, modern and inspirational, 07 Mar 2002
I picked up this book because of the vivid colours on the front and was not disappointed with the insides. This is a brilliant and stylish guide to growing flowers, in your garden and even in windowboxes, and to cutting and arranging them for the house and for friends. The plant lists are particularly good, with tips and recommendations from Sarah Raven, who has such a warm, personal writing style, and pictures of every one mentioned. The book focuses on the simple aesthetics of flowers - colour, smell and texture - with stunning pictures, many of them taken from Sarah's own garden. All in all this is a highly original book, full of ideas and practical information, but a joy to look at as well.

"practical as well as inspirational", 25 Feb 2002
This is a follow on to 'The Cutting Garden', not an alternative version. It reflects Sarah Raven's concentration on growing bulbs, annuals and biennials to give cut and come again flowers for the house. As well as beautiful and inspirational photographs there are masses of practical tips, clear instructions and an honesty about what Sarah Raven has learned from experience. Her views on planting distances, feeding plants and siting bulbs have changed during since writing 'The Cutting Garden' and the results of her experiments appear here.
An enjoyable and encouraging book to read while dreaming of harvesting armfuls of flowers.

Ideal for floral students or beginners, 18 Jan 2005
hi I am currently trainging to become a florist and bought this book on the off chance that it would help me......well i must say this book is excellent and i am so pleased with my purchase, not only does it show what you need to become a florist but it shows step by step guide to make floral arragements for all occassions. I would recommend this book to all flower arranging lovers.

Beginners Guide to Floristry, 26 Aug 2004
This book is wonderful. I will use it whilst at college in the evening and after the course is finished. Easy to understand. You could make anything even if you didn't attend a class!

Would reccomend to anyone. Most wonderful displays, colours and pictures.

A Great buy and worth the money.....Will be invaluable for my coursework and classmates.

a good book, 22 Nov 2003
this book is very good if you want to start in floristry,it's very easy to understand and work from and to learn in your own house,be for you go to college.i followed this book when i did my sisters wedding which turn out excellent.enjoy reading and learning.

Beginners Guide to Floristry, 11 Nov 2003
This is a brilliant informative book, having done an Intense Floristry Course at WCOH and now doing C& G in Floristry this book is now my bible. I would throughly recommend it to any students of floristry.

Beginner's Floristry, 16 Sep 2003
This is a interesting book with great illustrations. You will not learn floristry by just using the book on its own, however it compliments a beginners course extremely well. Great for practising indoors and for refreshing your memory later on.

how to have to the most stunning flowers crunch or not, 24 Nov 2008
this is in my opinion the most beautiful of jane packers books to date. several of my friends who looked through it said it was so beautiful they felt emotional after. i thought it was just me.
seriously, credit crunch or not, you can have all the wedding flowers of your dreams by following the instructions in the book.
so cleverly done , it does not come across as a how to book but one that would grace any table. covers also large displays and simple few bloom ideas . a great gift for any friend the least bit creative, or who is getting married and needs to watch the pennies without losing out on great style. I have bought three as presents. simply gorgeous. mrs b.

Ideal Present, 17 Oct 2008
I followed the advice of the previous reviewers as I needed a present for a friend. I was not disappointed. This is a super book. It is useful because it has all kinds of designs, not just huge displays which not everyone wants to make. There are simple methods to follow so designs can be tried out easily at home. I like the history of flower designs too which is presented interestingly with some historical photos. There are also large glossy pictures for just browsing. This book is an ideal present. I have never been very tempted to try out flower arranging myself but this flower design encyclopaedia is a real inspiration and has given even me some ideas.

Best flower arranging book, 27 Sep 2008
I am a flower-arranging novice and this book was recommended to me by someone who has run (for a couple of decades) one of the many NAFAS branches dedicated to flower arranging, after I complained that all the flower books from my library basically just had many pretty pictures that didn't really support me in creating good arrangements for myself, based on bunches I could get at the supermarket. I wanted a flower arranging book with principles and theories, a really good teaching book.

I was more than impressed with this one: over two dozen classic and modern design principles for bigger arrangements plus easy-to-follow smaller ideas, examples of show-work, equipment and techniques, how to condition the plant material (vital if you want your arrangement to continue looking good for more than a couple of days), and much more. Clear text and great photos. If you only want one book on flower arranging, this is it. For a collection, this is a must-add or a wonderful starting point.


Excellent Book!, 01 Sep 2008
This is book is jam-packed with techniques, tips & advice.
It has loads of info on various styles & flowers, with very clear instructions for beginners. Highly Recomended!

Just what I wanted, 08 Sep 2006
Lovely photographs and great contents just about sums this book up. There is lots to inspire you in this book and I, being a novice, particularly found the Equipment & Techniques chapter very useful. The flowers and foliage chapter is also a good guide to what is available. There is a hell of a lot in this book and I think it is great value for money.

Fab little flower arranging book!, 24 Mar 2006
If like me, you fancy trying to replicate some of those more trendy bouquets, wreathes or arrangements you see in the florists (that normally cost a bomb) - this is the book for you! It is full of projects and techniques - all well illustrated and taught me a lot. I didn't follow the colours or the flowers she used slavishly; I just used the idea and learnt the techniques and it inspired me enough to tackle all my wedding flowers! Great for the novice!

Great Guide, 27 May 2001
As a complete novice to flower arranging, I was looking for an easy-to-follow, informative book that would give me some background knowledge. I wasn't disappointed. The photography is clear and shows the displays to their full beauty. The text is simple and doesn't use jargon.

I think this book would suit any flowr-arranging novice and offers some great ideas to try.

If you only buy one book this is it., 19 Nov 2005
A fantastic book for anyone who is interested in floristery. Full of pictures and instructions, beautifully laid out.
A brilliant buy and a must have.

Excellent, 29 Mar 2004
Purchasing this book was money well spent. It is extremely comprehensive covering all aspects of floristry in easy to follow steps. I found both the modern and traditional designs extremely well illustrated and they were easily understood. This book is a must buy for anyone and everyone who is interested in floristry, whether or not they are in the profession!

excellent, 15 Feb 2004
i am a student currently studying Floristry, my boyfriend bought me this book for valentines day, and i have to say it is excellent. It gives so much information on a variety of subjects from conditioning flowers to tips on taking a wedding booking. Alot of the info works well with what i am studying at college, and the pics and descriptions are great. this book is a must, take my advise!

PROFESSIONAL FLORISTRY TECHNIQUES, 08 Jan 2004
I found this book very useful as I am currently studying floristry at college. There were lots of helpful pieces of information to help me with my coursework.

professional floristry techniques, 03 Nov 2003
This book is just simply fantastic, It show's you in great detail all floristry techniques hence the title.
I am on a floristry course and the book's that were recomended were not as useful as this book.
This book cover's all and more of our course and is a fabulous reference book.
It cover's buying, care and storage,
colour, balance, scale and proportion,
Wiring, Hand-tied, flower arrangements,
weddings, funeral and much, much more.
As I have said this book is great for a ref: and would be of great use to anybody in the floristry industry be it college or in the work place.
If you are looking for way-out design's then this is not the book for you, this book teaches the foundation's of floristry, the core to perfection once you have mastered this book you can the move on to "way out" and be a success!
Good luck on the jouney to floral heaven.

I adore this book, 12 Dec 2007
The pictures in this book gets you excited and you just want to recreate the images.There is also a number of step by step guides to follow in order to make wonderful designs.worth buying!

A lovely book, 05 Apr 2006
Lots of good ideas from more traditional to contemporary. Also details what is in season when. Nicely presented

Inspiration for every bride, 10 Aug 2005
This is a great book to inspire any bride-to-be. I used it constantly for ideas for my own wedding as it features a myriad of real life weddings. It did illustrate a few practical projects, which I admit is why I bought the book initially. In the end, even though, I did all my own wedding flowers, I never used the project bits and simply used this for ideas on colour and styles! The photography is great and there are little stories about each wedding which makes it really enjoyable to flick through.

an inspiration, 19 Jan 2004
Paula Pryke has done it again! This book is as good as her previous ones! I a florist, found so many inspirational ideas from this book, beautiful photos, with clear and easy to read explanations and tutorials for those who need them!
Try as i might i can't find anything negative to say about it!!
I would reccomend this book to everyone!

Not the right book to buy!, 28 Jul 2008
I have been an organic gardener and garden designer for years. I bought this book out of curiosity to see what Ms Raven's insights might be. I was disappointed not to learn any 'tricks of the trade' from it and, in fact, was scandalised by some of its irresponsible, old-fashioned content. For example, Ms Raven suggests, when growing sweet peas, that it is essential to place mousetraps around them otherwise the seeds will be eaten by mice. I've been growing sweet peas since I was a child and nothing has ever eaten my seeds. Ms Raven also states it is essential to use slug pellets around the plants. This is also nonsense. I never use any pesticides or chemicals on mine and they are always fabulous and superior to neighbours who do use pellets (which can poison beneficial wildlife). My current crop - my best ever - has no slug damage at all. Her advice here is draconian and cruel; mousetraps are an appalling way to deal with mice and also kill other creatures like shrews, who are useful in the garden. Additionally, she says the long stemmed varieties don't smell as good as the short stemmed ones. Tell that to mine! Her comments about mildew are also incorrect in my experience. Ms Raven is very self-opinionated and has obviously not spoken enough to other gardeners about their own experiences with growing flowers for the house - especially 'green', progressive gardeners. Rather strangely, she then later gives 'organic' advice on how to deal with earwigs. This has very obviously been thrown in to please those who garden organically, which is rather condescending but easily seen through.

Sadly, Ms Raven speaks with great authority, which is rather disturbing given the sometimes poor and misguided advice being offered in this book.

Lovely pictures, yes. But for those I could have bought a book on flower arranging. One thing this book did do was inspire me! Yes, it has inspired me to develop my own website about organic gardening where no chemicals or cruel traps are used and the wildlife does all the pest control. Many people have been doing it that way for years with as good, if not better results than Ms Raven, and we have the photos to prove it!

Not what I thought, 18 Dec 2003
I just thought I would write a review for this book incase anyone makes the same mistake as me. I bought this book thinking that it would be a comprehensive guide to growing cut flowers with detailed information on lots of plants, cultivation, disease, storage, etc. For someone who wants specialst advice, has gardening knowledge and who wants more detail and information on producing cut flowers this is not the book for you. However although a lovely book,this is more a book for someone who likes to look at nice pictures, wants a brief idea of how to lay out their back garden to grow a few detailed flowers for their kitchen table. The idea is great but if you are passionate and wnat more than a browsing book I think this one may let you down - if you have average gardening knowledge, an idea of flowers you like and know how to continually cut flowers so they keep producing over a long season, then this book won't give you any more useful information. It would be good for someone who has never contemplated cutting a flower before and needs to be tempted to do so.

Fantastic book - highly recommended, 06 Dec 2003
This is a great book for anyone interested in growing their own cut flowers or for anyone wishing to learn the basics of flower arranging. The book takes you, step by step, through the basics of both so you do not need any prior knowledge. The photographs are fantastic and the ideas can be adapted to any size of garden. This is a very inspirational book - well worth buying.

Refreshing, modern and inspirational, 07 Mar 2002
I picked up this book because of the vivid colours on the front and was not disappointed with the insides. This is a brilliant and stylish guide to growing flowers, in your garden and even in windowboxes, and to cutting and arranging them for the house and for friends. The plant lists are particularly good, with tips and recommendations from Sarah Raven, who has such a warm, personal writing style, and pictures of every one mentioned. The book focuses on the simple aesthetics of flowers - colour, smell and texture - with stunning pictures, many of them taken from Sarah's own garden. All in all this is a highly original book, full of ideas and practical information, but a joy to look at as well.

"practical as well as inspirational", 25 Feb 2002
This is a follow on to 'The Cutting Garden', not an alternative version. It reflects Sarah Raven's concentration on growing bulbs, annuals and biennials to give cut and come again flowers for the house. As well as beautiful and inspirational photographs there are masses of practical tips, clear instructions and an honesty about what Sarah Raven has learned from experience. Her views on planting distances, feeding plants and siting bulbs have changed during since writing 'The Cutting Garden' and the results of her experiments appear here.
An enjoyable and encouraging book to read while dreaming of harvesting armfuls of flowers.

Ideal for floral students or beginners, 18 Jan 2005
hi I am currently trainging to become a florist and bought this book on the off chance that it would help me......well i must say this book is excellent and i am so pleased with my purchase, not only does it show what you need to become a florist but it shows step by step guide to make floral arragements for all occassions. I would recommend this book to all flower arranging lovers.

Beginners Guide to Floristry, 26 Aug 2004
This book is wonderful. I will use it whilst at college in the evening and after the course is finished. Easy to understand. You could make anything even if you didn't attend a class!

Would reccomend to anyone. Most wonderful displays, colours and pictures.

A Great buy and worth the money.....Will be invaluable for my coursework and classmates.

a good book, 22 Nov 2003
this book is very good if you want to start in floristry,it's very easy to understand and work from and to learn in your own house,be for you go to college.i followed this book when i did my sisters wedding which turn out excellent.enjoy reading and learning.

Beginners Guide to Floristry, 11 Nov 2003
This is a brilliant informative book, having done an Intense Floristry Course at WCOH and now doing C& G in Floristry this book is now my bible. I would throughly recommend it to any students of floristry.

Beginner's Floristry, 16 Sep 2003
This is a interesting book with great illustrations. You will not learn floristry by just using the book on its own, however it compliments a beginners course extremely well. Great for practising indoors and for refreshing your memory later on.

Great Book, 30 Jul 2008
This book is beautifully laid out, with plenty of pictures to guide you, with every theme you could think of, A great buy.

how to have to the most stunning flowers crunch or not, 24 Nov 2008
this is in my opinion the most beautiful of jane packers books to date. several of my friends who looked through it said it was so beautiful they felt emotional after. i thought it was just me.
seriously, credit crunch or not, you can have all the wedding flowers of your dreams by following the instructions in the book.
so cleverly done , it does not come across as a how to book but one that would grace any table. covers also large displays and simple few bloom ideas . a great gift for any friend the least bit creative, or who is getting married and needs to watch the pennies without losing out on great style. I have bought three as presents. simply gorgeous. mrs b.

Ideal Present, 17 Oct 2008
I followed the advice of the previous reviewers as I needed a present for a friend. I was not disappointed. This is a super book. It is useful because it has all kinds of designs, not just huge displays which not everyone wants to make. There are simple methods to follow so designs can be tried out easily at home. I like the history of flower designs too which is presented interestingly with some historical photos. There are also large glossy pictures for just browsing. This book is an ideal present. I have never been very tempted to try out flower arranging myself but this flower design encyclopaedia is a real inspiration and has given even me some ideas.

Best flower arranging book, 27 Sep 2008
I am a flower-arranging novice and this book was recommended to me by someone who has run (for a couple of decades) one of the many NAFAS branches dedicated to flower arranging, after I complained that all the flower books from my library basically just had many pretty pictures that didn't really support me in creating good arrangements for myself, based on bunches I could get at the supermarket. I wanted a flower arranging book with principles and theories, a really good teaching book.

I was more than impressed with this one: over two dozen classic and modern design principles for bigger arrangements plus easy-to-follow smaller ideas, examples of show-work, equipment and techniques, how to condition the plant material (vital if you want your arrangement to continue looking good for more than a couple of days), and much more. Clear text and great photos. If you only want one book on flower arranging, this is it. For a collection, this is a must-add or a wonderful starting point.


Excellent Book!, 01 Sep 2008
This is book is jam-packed with techniques, tips & advice.
It has loads of info on various styles & flowers, with very clear instructions for beginners. Highly Recomended!

Just what I wanted, 08 Sep 2006
Lovely photographs and great contents just about sums this book up. There is lots to inspire you in this book and I, being a novice, particularly found the Equipment & Techniques chapter very useful. The flowers and foliage chapter is also a good guide to what is available. There is a hell of a lot in this book and I think it is great value for money.

Fab little flower arranging book!, 24 Mar 2006
If like me, you fancy trying to replicate some of those more trendy bouquets, wreathes or arrangements you see in the florists (that normally cost a bomb) - this is the book for you! It is full of projects and techniques - all well illustrated and taught me a lot. I didn't follow the colours or the flowers she used slavishly; I just used the idea and learnt the techniques and it inspired me enough to tackle all my wedding flowers! Great for the novice!

Great Guide, 27 May 2001
As a complete novice to flower arranging, I was looking for an easy-to-follow, informative book that would give me some background knowledge. I wasn't disappointed. The photography is clear and shows the displays to their full beauty. The text is simple and doesn't use jargon.

I think this book would suit any flowr-arranging novice and offers some great ideas to try.

If you only buy one book this is it., 19 Nov 2005
A fantastic book for anyone who is interested in floristery. Full of pictures and instructions, beautifully laid out.
A brilliant buy and a must have.

Excellent, 29 Mar 2004
Purchasing this book was money well spent. It is extremely comprehensive covering all aspects of floristry in easy to follow steps. I found both the modern and traditional designs extremely well illustrated and they were easily understood. This book is a must buy for anyone and everyone who is interested in floristry, whether or not they are in the profession!

excellent, 15 Feb 2004
i am a student currently studying Floristry, my boyfriend bought me this book for valentines day, and i have to say it is excellent. It gives so much information on a variety of subjects from conditioning flowers to tips on taking a wedding booking. Alot of the info works well with what i am studying at college, and the pics and descriptions are great. this book is a must, take my advise!

PROFESSIONAL FLORISTRY TECHNIQUES, 08 Jan 2004
I found this book very useful as I am currently studying floristry at college. There were lots of helpful pieces of information to help me with my coursework.

professional floristry techniques, 03 Nov 2003
This book is just simply fantastic, It show's you in great detail all floristry techniques hence the title.
I am on a floristry course and the book's that were recomended were not as useful as this book.
This book cover's all and more of our course and is a fabulous reference book.
It cover's buying, care and storage,
colour, balance, scale and proportion,
Wiring, Hand-tied, flower arrangements,
weddings, funeral and much, much more.
As I have said this book is great for a ref: and would be of great use to anybody in the floristry industry be it college or in the work place.
If you are looking for way-out design's then this is not the book for you, this book teaches the foundation's of floristry, the core to perfection once you have mastered this book you can the move on to "way out" and be a success!
Good luck on the jouney to floral heaven.

I adore this book, 12 Dec 2007
The pictures in this book gets you excited and you just want to recreate the images.There is also a number of step by step guides to follow in order to make wonderful designs.worth buying!

A lovely book, 05 Apr 2006
Lots of good ideas from more traditional to contemporary. Also details what is in season when. Nicely presented

Inspiration for every bride, 10 Aug 2005
This is a great book to inspire any bride-to-be. I used it constantly for ideas for my own wedding as it features a myriad of real life weddings. It did illustrate a few practical projects, which I admit is why I bought the book initially. In the end, even though, I did all my own wedding flowers, I never used the project bits and simply used this for ideas on colour and styles! The photography is great and there are little stories about each wedding which makes it really enjoyable to flick through.

an inspiration, 19 Jan 2004
Paula Pryke has done it again! This book is as good as her previous ones! I a florist, found so many inspirational ideas from this book, beautiful photos, with clear and easy to read explanations and tutorials for those who need them!
Try as i might i can't find anything negative to say about it!!
I would reccomend this book to everyone!

Not the right book to buy!, 28 Jul 2008
I have been an organic gardener and garden designer for years. I bought this book out of curiosity to see what Ms Raven's insights might be. I was disappointed not to learn any 'tricks of the trade' from it and, in fact, was scandalised by some of its irresponsible, old-fashioned content. For example, Ms Raven suggests, when growing sweet peas, that it is essential to place mousetraps around them otherwise the seeds will be eaten by mice. I've been growing sweet peas since I was a child and nothing has ever eaten my seeds. Ms Raven also states it is essential to use slug pellets around the plants. This is also nonsense. I never use any pesticides or chemicals on mine and they are always fabulous and superior to neighbours who do use pellets (which can poison beneficial wildlife). My current crop - my best ever - has no slug damage at all. Her advice here is draconian and cruel; mousetraps are an appalling way to deal with mice and also kill other creatures like shrews, who are useful in the garden. Additionally, she says the long stemmed varieties don't smell as good as the short stemmed ones. Tell that to mine! Her comments about mildew are also incorrect in my experience. Ms Raven is very self-opinionated and has obviously not spoken enough to other gardeners about their own experiences with growing flowers for the house - especially 'green', progressive gardeners. Rather strangely, she then later gives 'organic' advice on how to deal with earwigs. This has very obviously been thrown in to please those who garden organically, which is rather condescending but easily seen through.

Sadly, Ms Raven speaks with great authority, which is rather disturbing given the sometimes poor and misguided advice being offered in this book.

Lovely pictures, yes. But for those I could have bought a book on flower arranging. One thing this book did do was inspire me! Yes, it has inspired me to develop my own website about organic gardening where no chemicals or cruel traps are used and the wildlife does all the pest control. Many people have been doing it that way for years with as good, if not better results than Ms Raven, and we have the photos to prove it!

Not what I thought, 18 Dec 2003
I just thought I would write a review for this book incase anyone makes the same mistake as me. I bought this book thinking that it would be a comprehensive guide to growing cut flowers with detailed information on lots of plants, cultivation, disease, storage, etc. For someone who wants specialst advice, has gardening knowledge and who wants more detail and information on producing cut flowers this is not the book for you. However although a lovely book,this is more a book for someone who likes to look at nice pictures, wants a brief idea of how to lay out their back garden to grow a few detailed flowers for their kitchen table. The idea is great but if you are passionate and wnat more than a browsing book I think this one may let you down - if you have average gardening knowledge, an idea of flowers you like and know how to continually cut flowers so they keep producing over a long season, then this book won't give you any more useful information. It would be good for someone who has never contemplated cutting a flower before and needs to be tempted to do so.

Fantastic book - highly recommended, 06 Dec 2003
This is a great book for anyone interested in growing their own cut flowers or for anyone wishing to learn the basics of flower arranging. The book takes you, step by step, through the basics of both so you do not need any prior knowledge. The photographs are fantastic and the ideas can be adapted to any size of garden. This is a very inspirational book - well worth buying.

Refreshing, modern and inspirational, 07 Mar 2002
I picked up this book because of the vivid colours on the front and was not disappointed with the insides. This is a brilliant and stylish guide to growing flowers, in your garden and even in windowboxes, and to cutting and arranging them for the house and for friends. The plant lists are particularly good, with tips and recommendations from Sarah Raven, who has such a warm, personal writing style, and pictures of every one mentioned. The book focuses on the simple aesthetics of flowers - colour, smell and texture - with stunning pictures, many of them taken from Sarah's own garden. All in all this is a highly original book, full of ideas and practical information, but a joy to look at as well.

"practical as well as inspirational", 25 Feb 2002
This is a follow on to 'The Cutting Garden', not an alternative version. It reflects Sarah Raven's concentration on growing bulbs, annuals and biennials to give cut and come again flowers for the house. As well as beautiful and inspirational photographs there are masses of practical tips, clear instructions and an honesty about what Sarah Raven has learned from experience. Her views on planting distances, feeding plants and siting bulbs have changed during since writing 'The Cutting Garden' and the results of her experiments appear here.
An enjoyable and encouraging book to read while dreaming of harvesting armfuls of flowers.

Ideal for floral students or beginners, 18 Jan 2005
hi I am currently trainging to become a florist and bought this book on the off chance that it would help me......well i must say this book is excellent and i am so pleased with my purchase, not only does it show what you need to become a florist but it shows step by step guide to make floral arragements for all occassions. I would recommend this book to all flower arranging lovers.

Beginners Guide to Floristry, 26 Aug 2004
This book is wonderful. I will use it whilst at college in the evening and after the course is finished. Easy to understand. You could make anything even if you didn't attend a class!

Would reccomend to anyone. Most wonderful displays, colours and pictures.

A Great buy and worth the money.....Will be invaluable for my coursework and classmates.

a good book, 22 Nov 2003
this book is very good if you want to start in floristry,it's very easy to understand and work from and to learn in your own house,be for you go to college.i followed this book when i did my sisters wedding which turn out excellent.enjoy reading and learning.

Beginners Guide to Floristry, 11 Nov 2003
This is a brilliant informative book, having done an Intense Floristry Course at WCOH and now doing C& G in Floristry this book is now my bible. I would throughly recommend it to any students of floristry.

Beginner's Floristry, 16 Sep 2003
This is a interesting book with great illustrations. You will not learn floristry by just using the book on its own, however it compliments a beginners course extremely well. Great for practising indoors and for refreshing your memory later on.

Great Book, 30 Jul 2008
This book is beautifully laid out, with plenty of pictures to guide you, with every theme you could think of, A great buy.

Still a worthwhile investment so long after publication., 03 Dec 2007
Having already got hold of "Grow your own cut flowers" by the same author, I agonised for a long time about whether to buy this as well. Although there is some repetition, there is also a lot of different material. There are more arrangements and techniques in this book than in the later "Grow your own...", more detail on floristry equipment, and more information about more plants, which are organised by time of year and colour in this book, rather than by bulb/perennial/annual/half hardy annual, etc.

Although the styling of some of the photos is perhaps a little dated, the arrangements still look fresh and modern, and could be adapted if you want something a little less prescriptive. My only real complaint is that you would need a very extensive garden to grow as much as she suggests you would require for the really impressive arrangements (highly invasive, pond-liner wrecking bulrushes? Really?), which would not be practical for most people.

However, this book is very much a step up in volume of flowers and scale of arrangements from "How to Grow Your Own Cut Flowers". If you are after larger scale and more variety, this is definitely a worthwhile buy.

(If you want to see more pages, search for it on google books - more are available than on "Search Inside" here.)

This excellent book is a pleasure to read and to look at., 11 Jan 2000
I bought this book originally as a resource for planning my own wedding flowers. That was a year ago now, and ever since that time I have been able to dip in and out of it for information, inspiration and pure pleasure. Sarah Raven gives an overview of how to create a cutting garden from scratch, her book drawing on her own experience of her beautiful cutting garden in Sussex. She also has useful chapters on flower arranging through the seasons. Everything has a distinctive modern/romantic edge to it. The photography throughout is fantastic. Photographs not only illustrate different types and shapes of flower arrangements but also accompany a glossary of Sarah's own favourite range of flowers for cutting. This book can be recommended for anyone who has a love of flowers, gardening or entertaining.

how to have to the most stunning flowers crunch or not, 24 Nov 2008
this is in my opinion the most beautiful of jane packers books to date. several of my friends who looked through it said it was so beautiful they felt emotional after. i thought it was just me.
seriously, credit crunch or not, you can have all the wedding flowers of your dreams by following the instructions in the book.
so cleverly done , it does not come across as a how to book but one that would grace any table. covers also large displays and simple few bloom ideas . a great gift for any friend the least bit creative, or who is getting married and needs to watch the pennies without losing out on great style. I have bought three as presents. simply gorgeous. mrs b.

Ideal Present, 17 Oct 2008
I followed the advice of the previous reviewers as I needed a present for a friend. I was not disappointed. This is a super book. It is useful because it has all kinds of designs, not just huge displays which not everyone wants to make. There are simple methods to follow so designs can be tried out easily at home. I like the history of flower designs too which is presented interestingly with some historical photos. There are also large glossy pictures for just browsing. This book is an ideal present. I have never been very tempted to try out flower arranging myself but this flower design encyclopaedia is a real inspiration and has given even me some ideas.

Best flower arranging book, 27 Sep 2008
I am a flower-arranging novice and this book was recommended to me by someone who has run (for a couple of decades) one of the many NAFAS branches dedicated to flower arranging, after I complained that all the flower books from my library basically just had many pretty pictures that didn't really support me in creating good arrangements for myself, based on bunches I could get at the supermarket. I wanted a flower arranging book with principles and theories, a really good teaching book.

I was more than impressed with this one: over two dozen classic and modern design principles for bigger arrangements plus easy-to-follow smaller ideas, examples of show-work, equipment and techniques, how to condition the plant material (vital if you want your arrangement to continue looking good for more than a couple of days), and much more. Clear text and great photos. If you only want one book on flower arranging, this is it. For a collection, this is a must-add or a wonderful starting point.


Excellent Book!, 01 Sep 2008
This is book is jam-packed with techniques, tips & advice.
It has loads of info on various styles & flowers, with very clear instructions for beginners. Highly Recomended!

Just what I wanted, 08 Sep 2006
Lovely photographs and great contents just about sums this book up. There is lots to inspire you in this book and I, being a novice, particularly found the Equipment & Techniques chapter very useful. The flowers and foliage chapter is also a good guide to what is available. There is a hell of a lot in this book and I think it is great value for money.

Fab little flower arranging book!, 24 Mar 2006
If like me, you fancy trying to replicate some of those more trendy bouquets, wreathes or arrangements you see in the florists (that normally cost a bomb) - this is the book for you! It is full of projects and techniques - all well illustrated and taught me a lot. I didn't follow the colours or the flowers she used slavishly; I just used the idea and learnt the techniques and it inspired me enough to tackle all my wedding flowers! Great for the novice!

Great Guide, 27 May 2001
As a complete novice to flower arranging, I was looking for an easy-to-follow, informative book that would give me some background knowledge. I wasn't disappointed. The photography is clear and shows the displays to their full beauty. The text is simple and doesn't use jargon.

I think this book would suit any flowr-arranging novice and offers some great ideas to try.

If you only buy one book this is it., 19 Nov 2005
A fantastic book for anyone who is interested in floristery. Full of pictures and instructions, beautifully laid out.
A brilliant buy and a must have.

Excellent, 29 Mar 2004
Purchasing this book was money well spent. It is extremely comprehensive covering all aspects of floristry in easy to follow steps. I found both the modern and traditional designs extremely well illustrated and they were easily understood. This book is a must buy for anyone and everyone who is interested in floristry, whether or not they are in the profession!

excellent, 15 Feb 2004
i am a student currently studying Floristry, my boyfriend bought me this book for valentines day, and i have to say it is excellent. It gives so much information on a variety of subjects from conditioning flowers to tips on taking a wedding booking. Alot of the info works well with what i am studying at college, and the pics and descriptions are great. this book is a must, take my advise!

PROFESSIONAL FLORISTRY TECHNIQUES, 08 Jan 2004
I found this book very useful as I am currently studying floristry at college. There were lots of helpful pieces of information to help me with my coursework.

professional floristry techniques, 03 Nov 2003
This book is just simply fantastic, It show's you in great detail all floristry techniques hence the title.
I am on a floristry course and the book's that were recomended were not as useful as this book.
This book cover's all and more of our course and is a fabulous reference book.
It cover's buying, care and storage,
colour, balance, scale and proportion,
Wiring, Hand-tied, flower arrangements,
weddings, funeral and much, much more.
As I have said this book is great for a ref: and would be of great use to anybod