The Wild and Garden Plants of Ireland

(Hardback)

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Description

Elegant and unconventional, this book of jewel-like watercolours by acclaimed Irish botanical artist Wendy Walsh portrays a personal selection of over 100 plants. Presented thematically, the plants range from well-loved and distinctive native plants to exotic species introduced from the New World and Asia, unusual plants that grow in some of the more extreme environments in Ireland, and striking hybrids created by plant breeders. Lively and accessible horticultural descriptions by distinguished botanist Charles Nelson accompany the paintings, celebrating the story of each plant along with its natural history. The great gardens, famous plantsmen, fascinating journeys and natural phenomena that have shaped the flora of Ireland spring to life in Dr Nelson's engaging text.

Reviews

'Such beauty! a glorious new book from the always excellent Thames & Hudson. If ever a book could lift the spirits it is this one' - The Irish Times
'Reading this book feels a bit like a beautifully illustrated ramble in the countryside an enjoyable book, designed to intrigue and delight a real treasure' - Reference Reviews

Author Bio

Wendy Walsh exhibited widely and received many honours including gold medals from the Royal Horticultural Society of London. She lived and worked in Ireland for over 50 years. In 1997 an honorary doctorate was conferred on her by the University of Dublin. Dr Charles Nelson for 19 years held the post of horticultural taxonomist at the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin. An acknowledged expert on the wild and cultivated flora of Ireland, his encyclopaedia of garden plants of Irish origin, A Heritage of Beauty, was voted 'Best Reference Book 2001' by the Garden Writers' Guild.