SUCCULENTEN

SUCCULENTEN IN BEELD EN WOORD
G D DUURSMA

I found this book in Antwerp, to add to my Flora collection. The cover made the biggest impression with its almost cactus like texture.

L’ECOLE DU BOUQUET AU JAPON IKEBANA

L’ECOLE DU BOUQUET AU JAPON IKEBANA
HOUN OHARA

Sometimes when you become obsessive over collecting a certain type of book, you can become so focused on one particular aspect that you can almost forget the subject matter or author. In this case I was so much more interested in the colours of the photographs that it wasn’t till later that I started researching the background of Ikebana and the famous school of Ohara.

IKEBANA CARD BOOKS

IKEBANA CARD BOOKS

I found the set of 4 in Rotterdam. They all date from the late sixties to early seventies, untouched, not even a single card has been pulled out. I wonder if they belonged to someone that kept making the same promise ‘this Sunday I will arrange flowers’ and then never did, till they passed away.

FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS OF THE OHARA SCHOOL

FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS OF THE OHARA SCHOOL
ARRANGED AND EXPLAINED BY HOUN OHARA

Found in a sales bin on a Sunday in the Hague book market. I expected exquisitely drawn illustrations but instead I found a series of amateur water colours, I like the idea that this book doesn’t follow my preconceived ideas about Japanese perfection.

DIE SCHONHEIT UNSERER KAKTEEN

DIE SCHONHEIT UNSERER KAKTEEN
HARRY MAASZ

To add to my collection of Flora books, Jane gave me this book, found in an Amsterdam bookstore. The prickly title and awkward cactus illustration for a cover matched with a very inconsistant graphic interior of green tinted photos makes this quite a find.

ALPENPLANTEN

ALPENPLANTEN
N.R.V.

Another book I found in the Netherlands regarding Alpine plants. I assume the Dutch must miss the mountains, its the only excuse I can find for all these Alp related books.

ALPEN-FLORA

ALPEN-FLORA
VON L. & PROF. C. SCHROSTER

Although I collect flora books, its always the last section I visit in a book shop. I remember being quite disappointed with not find anything until I found this. Although I have seen a few variations of this book, this by far has the most beautiful cover, the combination of a dead brown with the artificial reds and blues is what makes it so particular.

FLOWER ARRANGING IN COLOUR

FLOWER ARRANGING IN COLOUR
BETTY MASSINGHAM

A great title for a book that is 50 percent in black and white. This book is part of a collection I started recently regarding flowers and flower arranging.

VAN NATURE

VAN NATURE
RIA LOOHUIZEN

A gift from the Belgiums, Sausage and Dominik, a comprehensive guide of wild plants, fruits, nuts and mushrooms for cooking, with historical references and illustrated.