Far beyond "roses are red, violets are blue," flowers have long fired writers' imaginations, at least as far back as the time of Solomon, and inspired more than a few artists as well. This lovely collection from Britain's Royal Horticultural Society pairs exquisite floral illustrations with 60 poems and extracts dedicated to particular flowers, written by authors spanning Shakespeare's day and the 20th century. You'll find "The Last Chrysanthemum" by Thomas Hardy; a poem by John Betjeman celebrating the Rhododendron; Eleanor Sinclair Rhode's ode to Lilium regale; "Queen Anne's Lace" by William Carlos Williams; and Marianne Moore's "Rosemary."