100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names

Looking back on it now, I had thought there would be funny little stories behind how these flowers got their common names (forget-me-not: imagine the possibilities!). Turns out most of them are just named after a botanist, a friend/family member of a botanist, or someone with whom the botanist was trying to curry favor.

This delightful little book tells the historical and scientific stories of 100 flowers from abelia to zinnia. You learn that african violets were sent to Europe in 1892 whereas begonias did not become an important garden flower until the nineteenth century. Chrysanthemums symbolized a scholar in retirement and were considered a "noble plant." The short stories tell of the struggles of the botanists, herbalists and rulers that saved, propagated and found new homes for many of the flowers we know today. There is only a simple drawing of each flower but the information is full of words that paint the stories in full color. A small gem of a book.

100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names
by Diana Wells
This is laid out well with the name and drawing (which is so good yet simple I used to practice drawing the flowers from here), and lots of information about the flower besides where it got it's name. 100 flowers! I enjoyed the book! Got this from the library.