50 Mile Bouquet: Seasonal, Local and Sustainable Flowers,

I have a bit of an art crush on David Perry. His images consistently speak to me in a way that few others do. I don’t think that it’s just their beauty–-there are lots of beautiful images out there-–it is something more. It could be the luminosity and the depth of the colors, but again, there are other pictures that have those qualities. It seems that David somehow shows us the soul of his subjects--be they human, landscape, flower or even fighter planes. His photos have a decisive poetry that makes them memorable and captivating.

The 50 Mile Bouquet: Seasonal, Local and Sustainable Flowers, gives the reader a taste of David’s images. Wonderfully written, by Debra Prinzing, the book is a series of profiles of flower growers who practice sustainable methods. Also featured are several extraordinary designers who create art with these flowers. The 50 Mile Bouquet is a wide-ranging exploration of why and how people have chosen to work with flowers that are grown close to home. Without bashing factory farming, the book gently leads the reader to realize that sustainably grown flowers are not only better for the world, they are simply better. They smell better, feel better and are more beautiful. Flowers grown with care, touch us in a way that factory flowers just don’t. Like the locavore movement, this could be called locaflore.

Along with interesting personal stories there are great tips from the experts. For example, according to Joan Thorndike of Le Mera Gardens in Oregon, for the longest vase life, the perfect time for cutting peonies is while they are in bud. She suggests, “Gently squeeze the bud. If it’s squishy like a marshmallow, with an easy give, the time is right.”

The combination of gorgeous photographs, interesting profiles and useful tips make The 50 Mile Bouquet a great book especially for gardeners, flower lovers and visual artists.

• 50 Mile Bouquet Website
• A Photographers Garden Blog David Perry's Website
• Debra Prinzing's Website

Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.