The Reason for Flowers

June 29, 2015
Buchmann (The Forgotten Pollinators), a biologist specializing in pollination ecology, uses his eighth book to enthuse about the importance that flowers have played in human civilization. While his excitement is both palpable and contagious, and while some of his anecdotes are fascinating (for example, some flowers might be losing their scents because of climate change), the book doesn’t work well as a whole because Buchmann only has time to touch lightly on all of his myriad topics. The section on the modern flower industry is captivating, as he discusses the worldwide movement of flowers and the centrality of the Amsterdam auction house where every day millions of flowers are flown in, sold, and then redistributed around the globe. Unfortunately most other sections do not meet the standard he sets there; too often they read merely like interesting, eclectic lists of subjects that have some passing relationship to flowers. Few readers, for instance, will be surprised to learn that artists have painted flowers for centuries or that such paintings have occurred across many cultures. A modest number of photographs are included, but the book would be more accessible had other descriptions been paired with pictorial examples. Buchmann’s passion is not matched by the content. Photos.

June 15, 2015

Flowering plants feed, clothe, heal, and brighten our lives. Buchmann (ecology & environmental biology, Univ. of Arizona; Letters from the Hive), a pollination ecologist specializing in bees, shares stories of the biology of flowers, along with their myriad relationships with humans and other animals. In accessible language, Buchmann offers information about flower anatomy, flowers' past and present uses by humankind, the evolution of blossoming plants, pollinators and pollination, flowers in art and literature, plant breeding, the floral industry, and the language of flowers. Entire books have been written on many of Buchmann's topics, thus readers seeking more details about a specific subject would do well to look elsewhere, and there are unfortunately too few photographs. VERDICT This well-researched book is best for those interested in an overview of the many aspects of flowers, both biological and cultural.--Sue O'Brien, Downers Grove P.L., IL

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
Flowers: showy, demure, exotic, ordinary. What would we do without them? Nothing, it turns out. Flowers and their resultant fruit are the ultimate source of the food we eat and the clothes we wear. But they do more than meet the physical needs of humans and other creatures; they also uplift spirits, inspire art, and symbolize the very essence of human nature. Buchmann, a prolific and ardent pollination ecologist, peels back the petals to reveal fascinating aspects of floriculture. From beetle and butterfly pollination to pleasure gardens both ancient and contemporary, from production flower farming to roadside stands, the cultivation and appreciation of flowers crosses all economic, political, and cultural strata of society. Whether one actively raises roses in one's backyard, artfully arranges lilies in a vase, or thrills to the first sign of tulips in the spring, it is hard to imagine a world without the beauty and benefits of flowers. Intensely researched, well paced, intricately detailed, and delightfully accessible, Buchmann's exploration of this trove of living sensory delights is a boon to both casual and committed flower lovers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)