Flores Book

And now, for some hand drawn flowers.

When trying to think of the perfect holiday present, I came up with an idea for a new book arts project.

My love for old things, 18th and 19th century botanical drawings, flora, and books decided to tie themselves together for this one. You have probably already seen my post about P is for Plants, the second book in this as yet untitled series, so I won't bore you with too many unnecessary details but this is the book project that began it all. 

In this book I worked only with lettering and line drawing, keeping things rather simple to see how it would play out. It was also less like a field journal, with just common and Latin names for each of the flowers, instead of details about them as well. 

Having done two books in this style so far, I'm feeling like there is a lot of potential for further projects and for turning this into some sort of series. I guess we'll see where it goes!

For L

These flower images have a different purpose from my other flowers pictures. 

L's birthday was earlier this month and her parents sent her a lovely little flower arrangement. Not wanting to keep it at work, she brought it home where it would potentially face the wrath of my two crazy cats. Hiding in our little sink area wasn't much of an existence for the arrangement either so in an attempt to prolong their lifespan, I decided to photograph the flowers. These images are a bit of a belated birthday present for L.

Flora Zine

I have always been drawn to plants and flowers. I am sure there are a million reasons why, from my childhood love of climbing trees to read books among the branches, to my high school education at an agricultural school. 
While wandering through the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers (yet again) I began scheming a new small photo book/zine idea incorporating quotes and writing about plants, flowers, and growing with my photographs. The idea has a long way to go but here I'm doing a bit of exploring.  

I like it better here where I can just sit quietly and smell the flowers. -Ferdinand the Bull

Bloom where you're planted. -Mary Engelbreit

We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses. -Abraham Lincoln

Every flower must grow through dirt. -Laurie Jean Sennott

Normality is a paved road: it's comfortable to walk but no flowers grow on it. -Vincent Van Gogh

A weed is but an unloved flower. -Ella Wheeler Wilcox

There are always flowers for those who want to see them. -Henri Matisse

Flowers and plants are silent presences; they nourish every sense except the ear. -May Sarton

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow. -Audrey Hepburn