A Florilegium

As someone lacking even a trace of artistic ability, perhaps the most astonishing thing is how all the illustrations manage to be in recognisably different styles, without in any way sacrificing botanical accuracy. So much beauty for a mere £25. – Ken Thompson * Professional Gardeners Guild *An illuminating record of the treasures of Sheffield’s Botanical Garden, recording the beauty and lifecycle of both native and exotic plants. – Ambra Edwards * Gardens Illustrated Issue 304 *The amount of visual information in each artwork and the different ways in which different artists accomplish that, paired with the accompanying plant profile text, give a satisfying experience of each plant as drawn by the Society’s artists. Affordably priced, this “hidden garden” would be a good addition to any botanical or horticultural library and to the personal libraries of botanical art lovers. – Charlotte A. Tancin Librarian Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation * Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries Newsletter *

Valerie Oxley has inspired students from all over the world with her enthusiasm for natural history, and plant illustration in particular. She developed the first Diploma in Botanical Illustration with colleagues at the University of Sheffield, where plant drawing is still taught alongside the related botany. Valerie is the founding chair of The Florilegium Society at Sheffield Botanical Gardens. Valerie Oxley has inspired students from all over the world with her enthusiasm for natural history, and plant illustration in particular. She developed the first Diploma in Botanical Illustration with colleagues at the University of Sheffield, where plant drawing is still taught alongside the related botany. Valerie is the founding chair of The Florilegium Society at Sheffield Botanical Gardens.