Dimensions
189 x 246 x 19mm
In this unique book established garden writer Patricia Cleveland-Peck tells the story of the auricula's journey from its native Alpine habitat into the gardens of Europe and beyond. She introduces the reader to some of the interesting characters who felt passionately about the auricula and discovers the important social role it played as it was transformed by skilled florists from the simple Bear's Ear to one of today's most refined and exquisite cultivars. Auriculas Through the Ages contains sixty full colour plates painted from life over several seasons by leading botanical artist Elisabeth Dowle. In all, eighty-seven varieties are depicted providing a unique record of today's magnificent auriculas. AUTHOR: Patricia Cleveland-Peck is an established freelance garden writer and author who was educated at the Sorbonne and Trinity College Dublin. She has contributed to The Garden, Gardens Illustrated, Hortus, The English Garden, History Today and many other publications. Her travels have taken her to historic gardens in Europe, jungles of Borneo, temple gardens in Japan and on a botanical safari in Kenya. ILLUSTRATOR: Elisabeth Dowle is a botanical illustrator working in watercolour on paper and vellum. She has received seven gold medals from the RHS including one for a selection of plates from this book. She has had two solo exhibitions at the Hortus Gallery in London. Her work is in many private collections including The Shirley Sherwood Collection, The RHS Lindley Library, The Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation in the United States and The Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine. She has illustrated fifteen books including The New Book of Apples. ILLUSTRATIONS 60 colour plates r25 colour illustrations *