No matter how busy you are, there’s always time to enjoy flowers. The trick is to choose quick and easy ways to arrange and display them. For ideas, you’ll find “Easy Flowers-Stylish Flower-Arranging Ideas for Every Room of Your Home” by Jane Durbridge and Antonia Swinson with exquisite photos by Polly Wreford.

Originally published in 2003, this is now available as a compact edition, released by Ryland Peters and Small.

This title is especially suitable for novice flower arrangers. Beginners will like the fact that the authors cover all the basic principles of floral design in an easy to understand fashion. The authors include details on vases, and other containers, and all the equipment you’ll need. There is also a helpful chapter on how to condition and care for flowers.

This inspiring title features simple, yet striking displays that will help you personalize your living space. For example, one design uses cut stems of ivy in tall, slender glass cylinders, while another uses coffee beans in the vase to hold the flowers in place. You’ll learn how to use all sorts of florals—from leaves and pods to stems and flowers.

There are more stunning designs than you can use in a year’s time. There is a chapter for each monochromatic color scheme, including green. The blues and purples are combined into one chapter. In addition, this section features a chapter on the use of forced stems for spring and foliage throughout the year. As if that isn’t enough, this also has a chapter on combo arrangements containing numerous shades.

Throughout this invaluable book there are tips for displaying your designs to the best advantage. The authors emphasize the fact that anyone can arrange flowers for his/her own pleasure. You need not memorize rules or principles to get the desired effect.

The appendix contains helpful lists of suppliers.

The index is very complete with entries for each kind of plant by both Latin and common name. The colors are also listed as well as the different kinds of arrangements, containers, and supplies.