On Flowers: Lessons from an Accidental Florist

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

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Description

Amy Merrick began her life on a family farm in the countryside; became a darling of the design world, working out of her small Brooklyn floral studio, arranging flowers at the Met and collaborating with brands like Kinfolk and Rifle Paper Company; then gave it all up to travel and teach her style of wild, natural flower arranging all over the world, from chteaus in France to villages in Morocco, high-rises in China to ancient temples in Kyoto. Now, in her first book, she distills all that shes experienced, teaching readers to really see the natural beauty that is all around them whether a bunch of brightly coloured carnations from the corner bodega or a single lucky four-leaf clover and how to use it to create simple arrangements that celebrate the unique qualities of whatever space, mood, and season they are in.

Merrick begins with a primer on flower arranging, from selecting your blooms to creating pleasing proportions, before moving into the heart of the book five eclectic chapters that follow her personal journey: City Things, Country Things, Fancy Things, Humble Things, and Faraway Things. Each chapter features dozens of beautiful blooms, reflections on topics ranging from the exquisite pleasure of heritage roses to museums well suited for flower lovers, and tips and tricks for creating your own stunning arrangements. It all adds up to an incredibly informative, deeply personal, visually lush treasure trove of a book.

Reviews

Named a Best Gift Book of the Year byInStyle,Real Simple, Better Homes Gardens, and the Wall Street Journal

On Flowers is far more beautiful than I imagined. It is part journal, part meditation on humble and decadent blooms alike that is filled with soulful photography and illustrations.
New York Times

If coffee tables could make . . . wish lists, [this book] would certainly be on them.
Better Homes Gardens

In this gorgeous coffee table book. . . . Merrick shares flower-arranging secrets and essays about her inspirations.
Real Simple

Amy Merrick's On Flowers (Artisan) is full of the lush, poetic arrangements and pictures that made her an early lnstagram star. She teaches how to cut blooms to the proper height, make roses last, and let tulips be unruly, while sharing snippets from her world travels.
Martha Stewart Living

Amy Merricks delightful hodgepodge of photos, diagrams, and lists decodes the art of the soulful bouquet.
Wall Street Journal

A celebration of all things floral, championing the exceptional and commonplace with equal enthusiasm. . . . A richly illustrated work.
The English Garden

Merrick is known for her wild, natural flower arranging and here she teaches us how to create simple yet stunning displays of flora to celebrate any style or season.
Gardens Illustrated

A love letter to flowers, from hardworking tips to more romantic notions.
Flower Magazine, Our Favorite Books of the Year

The book is somehow even MORE Beautiful than I could have imagined. . . . Its perfect. From the typography to the layout to the guides, its impeccable. . . . Its a book for flower lovers and people who didnt even know they are flower lovers. Only read it if youre willing to escape from your current world for a bit.
The House that Lars Built

Merrick's first booka love story to flowers, and finding beauty in the humblest of placesis a composite of journals, lists, practical advice, and photographs and illustrations of both plain and fancy blooms and greens. . . . This is as much to be experienced as to be read.
Booklist, starred review

This opulent, scrapbook-style gift book . . . will inspire creativity in some, and envy in others. . . . Seductive.
Publishers Weekly

Author Bio

Amy Merrick is a floral designer, writer, and stylist based in London. Her writing on design, flower arranging, and entrepreneurship has appeared in books and magazines and across the web. She creates evocative arrangements of flowers, foliage, fruits, and branches for events around the world, often gathering materials herself from the surrounding landscape. Merrick has worked with Ralph Lauren, Brides, Today, Design*Sponge, Nylon, Country Living, CNN, and Kinfolk. Find her on Instagram @amy_merrick.