Ruth Binney has been studying the natural world for most of her life. She holds a degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University and has been involved in countless publications during her career as an editor. She is the author of many successful natural history and gardening books including Weeds on Trial 9781910821275, Flower Garden Secrets 9781910821428, The English Countryside 9781910821459 and Coasts 9781910821398. She lives in Cardiff.

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• 1 Introduction 82 The wonder of flowers 123 Modesty and chastity: floral virtues 144 Degrees of passion - the language of flowers 155 Flowers and their meanings 166 Flower 'mania' 187 Cherry blossom beauty 198 Faces to the sun 209 The rose of love 2110 The pure lily 2211 Flowers arranged 2412 Flowers that tell the time 2513 Petal power 2714 Liquid roses 2815 The poppy of oblivion 2916 Foxglove to strengthen the heart 3117 Efficacious chamomile 3218 The May, a flower of mixed fortunes 3319 Flowers of fate 3420 Bringing home the May 3521 Floral pick-me-ups 3622 Flowers of St John's Eve 3723 Dreams of flowers 3824 Fairy flowers 3925 The lotus: flower of creation 4026 In floral form 4127 The lore of trees 4228 The wild wood 4429 The apple of immortality 4530 The powerful divining rod 4631 The prophetic oak 4832 The ash: tree of life 4933 Wand of wood - and magic 5034 Branches in flight 5135 Branches of the gallows tree 5236 Trees of wisdom and curiosity 5337 The mysterious upside-down tree 5438 The immortal olive 5539 Victory bay and palm 5640 The useful coconut 5741 The precious vine 5842 Tree cures 6043 Healing branches 6144 Remedies from bark 6245 Fruits for fertility 6446 Around the maypole 6547 O Christmas tree! 6748 Trees of the graveyard 6849 Trees of immortality 6950 In the form of trees 7051 The power of plants 7252 The green, green grass 7453 The wonder of wheat 7554 Precious rice grains 7755 Potato lore 7856 Mystery maize 8057 Harvest time 8158 Witches' plants 8259 Deadly insect-eaters 8460 Tobacco smoke - wafting up to heaven 8661 Mind-changing hemp 8762 Sacred fungi 8863 Plants of remembrance 8964 Painting with plants 9165 Plant music 9266 The garden of delights 9367 The story of incense 9468 What's in a name? 9569 The living pharmacy 9770 Soothing seeds 9871 Root cures: ginger and liquorice 10072 Herbs for a better night's sleep 10173 Full of (coffee) beans 10274 Tea: the cup that heals 10475 The blessed garlic bulb 10576 Plant purges - nasty medicine 10677 Healing essences 10878 Easing the toothache 11079 Against the gout 11180 Hair tomorrow? 11281 Pain from plants 11382 Deadly vegetation 11483 Nature's pick-me-ups 11684 Passing water 11885 Against unwelcome warts 12086 For problem skin 12187 To cool a burn 12288 Better memories 12389 Coping with alcohol 12490 Safe at home 12591 Lucky leaves 12692 Reading the leaves 12893 Ensuring conception 13094 Who'll be my love? 13195 Nature at Halloween 13296 Christmas evergreens 13497 New Year, new start 13698 Index 138