I liked this a lot ... I just read a "birdwatching" book ([book:The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America|41188319]) with a very similar setup. Name of the bird, scientific name, some information and a picture. Whereas the latter was snarky and a little over the top silly (while still being somewhat informative), this one was lovely.

Another book I read recently - a dystopian world ([book:The Grace Year|43263520]) where flowers are used almost as part of the language, every flower having a meaning. It really didn't have much to do with the story overall, but I think the idea (and knowing that flowers DO have meanings behind them in our world) made this book catch my eye.

This was included in KindleUnlimited ... I read it on my app, rather than my paperwhite, as the illustrations NEED to be seen in color. They are lovely! Definitely my favorite part of the book. Could be a nice coffee table book in hardcover.

I already knew some of the "meanings" and origins of meanings for some of the flowers ... many come from Greek myths, with some bible or Shakespearean references too. 

In today's day and age though ... I think people just give flowers because they think they are pretty. I'd get a little stressed out of I thought I had to decipher a hidden meaning/message behind a bouquet.

I wish the Kindle copy had a more extensive/linked Table of Contents ... FLOWERS as a chapter is too general. Although the flowers are all organized and entered alphabetically, it would be easier for me to glance through two pages of TOC, and see exactly where to go to read up on a specific flower, rather than having to flip through the book to find what I'm looking for (in Kindle, the search function might be helpful here), although as mentioned, I'm not sure I want to stress over the hidden meaning of flowers (who knew the petunia represented anger and resentment ... I've gifted a flat of petunias to my mother, because she likes them, great summer flower to plant ... I meant no anger or resentment!). Beyond flowers, some blossoms, trees, herbs and even stinging nettle were covered. Imagine gifting someone a bouquet with stinging nettle in it (meaning - cruelty, origin a fairy tale "The Wild Swans") ... "Pair with petunia to tell someone their apology has been deemed insincere" ...  Tansy ... "In Victorian times, sending a bouquet of tansy flowers was a way of declaring that the recipient had made the sender sick to their stomach" ... really, people sent flowers as a MEAN thing?

Loved the illustrations and enjoyed getting some history ... but I think I'll just enjoy flowers for their beauty, not secret meanings.