Gardening

The Royal Horticultural Society's The Rose tells the story of the world's favourite flower through 40 of the most popular and interesting species and hybrids. Arranged chronologically, The Rose brings to life the arrival of each flower in European gardens, detailing the history of the layout of rose gardens and the role that roses play in the 'language of flowers'.

From the first recorded reference to a rose over 7,000 years ago, these extraordinary flowers have captivated botanists, artists, poets, perfumers and gardeners. A symbol of love and patriotism, a scent and flavour synonymous with the East, and the jewel in the crown of ornamental gardens, roses in all their forms bear a special meaning that spans centuries and crosses oceans.

Extraordinary botanical illustrations and extracts from classic texts held in the Royal Horticultural society's world-famous Lindley Library, such as Redouté's Les Roses, Henry Andrew's Roses, Mary Lawrence's Selection of Roses and Victor Paquet's Choix des Plus Belles Roses, complete this authoritative celebration.

Weeds is a beautiful collection of the most fascinating vagabond plants around. Gorgeous botanical illustrations from the Royal Horticultural Society's archives highlight the delicate charms of 50 captivating species, while in-depth profiles provide key information for the modern gardener on the identification, cultivation and usefulness of weeds.

These subversive species no longer need to be seen as "plants out of place". Their natural untamed beauty, ability to thrive under challenging conditions, and the attraction of growing species native to their surroundings have all taken weeds from undesirable to covetable. In the modern wild garden, where harmony with nature is key, weeds are finally getting their moment in the sun.