Winsome, charming, and brilliant are just three of the adjectives that crocuses typically elicit from grateful, color-starved gardeners. Indeed, few flowers can rival crocuses for the cheer they bring to the barren, late-winter garden and for the affection in which they are held by millions of gardeners. But though they’re viewed as an icon of early spring, crocuses aren’t just one-season wonders: there are also dozens of striking autumn-blooming species that appear just when they’re most needed, as summer’s flowers wind down. And because many species originate in the Mediterranean basin, they’re ideal for gardens in which summer irrigation has been reduced or eliminated. In this comprehensive, up-to-date volume, bulb expert Janis Rukšans surveys all the known species in this remarkable genus, including those that have been discovered since the appearance of Brian Mathew’s 1982 monograph. A seasoned plant explorer, Rukšans has observed many species in the wild, and so is able to offer valuable insights into how they may best be grown. He also discusses their use in the garden, their botanical characteristics, and classification—all in nonspecialist language so that even readers without a botanical background can profit by his knowledge and broad experience. Illustrated with 300 stunning photographs, this book will be indispensable for all those with a serious interest in crocuses, from collectors and bulb enthusiasts to nursery professionals and garden designers.

Book #9 of the Port Danby Cozy Mystery series. The new year is off to a smooth start. Pink's Flowers is doing well and Lacey is growing even closer to her wonderful boyfriend, Detective James Briggs. But when a local man is killed, one of Lacey's dearest friends is implicated in the murder. Briggs has asked her to step away from the case but Lacey is determined to find the real killer. Will her meddling cause irreparable damage to their relationship? Lacey must risk everything, including her heart, to find the truth. More in the series: 1. Marigolds and Murder 2. Carnations and Chaos 3. Mistletoe and Mayhem 4. Roses and Revenge 5. Tulips and Trouble 6. Dahlias and Death 7. Peonies and Poison 8. Hyacinths and Homicide 9. Crocuses and Crime 10. Sunflowers and Sabotage 11. Lavender and Lies 12. Freesias and Foul Play 13. Cornflowers and Corpses 14. Jasmine and Jealousy 15. Shamrocks and Shenanigans 16. TBA

"The World of Crocuses is a much-awaited encyclopaedia on crocuses. Published by the Latvian Academy of Sciences, it is the most comprehensive monograph currently available on this botanical family. Its author, Jānis Rukšāns, Dr Honoris Causa from the Latvian Academy of Sciences, grows thousands of crocuses. An internationally renowned expert on crocuses, he studied them extensively in their natural habitat, obtained many hybrids as a crocus breeder, and authored several books on bulbous plants and crocuses. In this monumental work he exhaustively and in much detail describes the 235 species of crocus currently listed."--Publisher

Originally published: Berkeley, CA: Flaming Chalice Press, 2010.

“A visual treat as well as a literary one…for gardeners and garden lovers, connoisseurs of botanical illustration, and those who seek a deeper understanding of the life and work of Emily Dickinson.” —The Wall Street Journal Emily Dickinson was a keen observer of the natural world, but less well known is the fact that she was also an avid gardener—sending fresh bouquets to friends, including pressed flowers in her letters, and studying botany at Amherst Academy and Mount Holyoke. At her family home, she tended both a small glass conservatory and a flower garden. In Emily Dickinson’s Gardening Life, award-winning author Marta McDowell explores Dickinson’s deep passion for plants and how it inspired and informed her writing. Tracing a year in the garden, the book reveals details few know about Dickinson and adds to our collective understanding of who she was as a person. By weaving together Dickinson’s poems, excerpts from letters, contemporary and historical photography, and botanical art, McDowell offers an enchanting new perspective on one of America’s most celebrated but enigmatic literary figures.