The Royal Horticultural Society Diary: 1996

Illustrated with 19th-century flower paintings from The Royal Horticultural Society's Lindley Library, this diary takes a look at a subject first made popular in Victorian times. The meaning of each illustrated flower is given, often revealing an intriguing message: a yellow tulip, for instance, denotes "hopeless love"; a musk rose "capricious beauty"; and a pansy, "loving thoughts". Each week in the diary is printed to view, with a facing full-colour illustration by a celebrated artist, such as Pierre-Joseph Redoute. British, Commonwealth, European and North American holidays are listed, along with religious holidays and astronomical information. Brent Elliott, the Society's librarian, who has made a study of the language of flowers, provides an introduction to the diary. He is the author of "Victorian Gardens" and "Treasures of The Royal Horticultural Society".