Hard to believe a nonfiction book about plants could be this much fun. ( )

I enjoyed this handsome little compendium of plant facts and lore. But it's also scary too. There's more than a few plants in this book that I never want to come in contact with. One that is native to Australia called the stinging tree can leave you in pain for up to a year. I also learned about several very invasive species of plants that are taking over both land and sea. There was also poisonous plants that need only hours to kill you after ingesting; and plants good for getting high (mostly mildly) although some of them look very much like other plants that will kill you. Lesson learned? Just say no. This book includes handsome etchings. ( )

Excellent. Interesting, informative, well-written and humorous. Excellent book for the nightstand. ( )

A lovely book. An alphabetic list of "plants behaving badly." The text is interesting and full of stories concerning each weed. The drawings - etchings, really - are beautiful and of botanical accuracy. You have to wait until the W's to find "the weed that killed Lincoln's mother." It is white snakeroot, and was a poison that cattle fed on and passed the poison to humans who drank the milk. Nancy Hanks Lincoln died of "milk fever" when her son was five years old. ( )

That cute little petunia is trying the kill you! Well, maybe not, but Mother Nature still has plenty of ways to do you in. Amy Stewart explores the dangers lurking in backyards, woodlands and even potted plants with wit and charm. In addition to the delightful writing, the book is beautifully produced with lovely etchings and excellent graphics in general. It's a treat to experience a book like this but please, don't pick the berries! ( )