“A ‘tuzzy mussy’ is a bunch or spray of flowers.” This definition first appeared in print in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1440. In this delightful book, “Tussie-Mussies,” you find the history and explanations of what a grand bouquet or a tiny nosegay mean when given to another. Flowers are symbols of emotions and thoughts and have meaning. Although there may be more than one meaning for any given flower, a bouquet can be given and received in a thoughtful way, and historically have been “read” for meaning as a way of communication. Having read and reviewed the new novel ‘The Language of Flowers’ by Vanessa Diffebaugh I did further research and this was one of the enjoyable books that I discovered.
The book is well illustrated with photographs and drawings which represent the ways that flowers were and may still be used. It has a strong Victorian era feel but is complete readable and current in content. Not only is it filled with information, but the photographs of bouquets and the identify of the flowers that compose them are given meaning and artfully displayed. This is a joy of a book to read, browse and enjoy. If you are a gardener, historian or flower lover this would be a fun for you to read. I not only enjoyed “Tussie-Mussies” but learned I a great deal when reading it. Enjoy ( )