Drawing upon the most notable floral styles throughout history, and particularly on the paintings of the impressionists, flower experts Derek and Carolyn Fell espouse a lovely "natural" aesthetic of flower arranging that stresses a casual elegance. Their beautiful book covers all aspects of the art: elements of style (line vs. mass, symmetrical vs. asymmetrical, harmony and proportion); the properties of each color and the most important flowers in each; the appropriateness of different containers for various types of arrangements; conditioning methods to prolong the life of cut blooms; choosing the proper display location; and growing a cutting garden. Crammed with specifics, the informative text offers terrific grounding in learning how to create your own arrangements rather than documenting the step-by-step construction of particular arrangements, effectively teaching you how to develop the skills and knowledge that will enable you to arrange flowers like a pro. --Amy Handy