The Posy Book

April 1, 2019
Santa Cruz florist Sabankaya presents a guide to creating expressive bouquets distinguished by its thoughtfulness, attentiveness to purpose, and wild enthusiasm for creative expression (“Oh boy! Talk about textures!” she writes in one headnote). A posy is a small bouquet, “domed” in shape and presented with a small tag that describes the meaning of each flower. For example, “The Cheer Up Posy” is made from hellebore (“a beautiful year ahead”), pieris (“happy thoughts”), forsythia (“good nature”) and lamb’s ears (“softness, support”) intended to help “someone get out of a down-low state, and into happier thoughts.” Sabankaya shares 22 such recipes: a list of ingredients, a labeled photograph, a guide to seasonal availability and alternate ingredients, and sometimes a design tip, such as to use “both the bloom and the leaves,” the latter being a “way to add fullness and/or color and texture.” She also provides a brief history of posies, general instructions for making one, and lists of florists’ sources for materials. Most notably, she includes an 80-page “New Language of Flowers Dictionary,” an anthology of definitions from history, with her original entries added. Her accessible recommendations for crafting a distinctive message in flowers will inspire crafters and gardeners alike to give more meaning to their creative gifts. Agent: Lindsay Edgecombe, Levine Greenberg Literary Agency.