Author: Joan Solomon

Publisher: Grynwild Publishing

ISBN: 0-9786166-0-X

Joan Solomon is an artist, writer and photographer whose love for nature is ever-growing. She lives and works at her lakeside studio surrounded by friends, animals and Nature Spirits.

This book has to be one of the most beautiful photography books I have ever come across. I loved it as soon as I saw it, even before I opened the first page. The front cover captures your attention instantly with the stunning photograph of the Violet flower. It is just the perfect cover for a book that is too splendid for words.

Spirits in The Garden is such a fitting name to this lovely coffee-table collection full of unretouched photographs of flowers, plants and trees amid beautiful gardens.

These flowers and plants really can become our “plant teachers” for they are always watching us. This is certainly the case if you take just a moment to glance through the book and see that yes, flowers and plants really are watching.

One picture that proves this is of the Iris Dragon. It is quite clear that the flower has two large yellow eyes and is peeking out from behind leaves. Flowers are always watching, it is just whether you choose to see them.

Inside this anthology full of these wonderful, colourful nature beings are quotes from keen observers. One passage, from Henry David Thoreau, sums up this book quite well “It’s not what you look at…it’s what you see” . How very true that is.

Have you ever gazed up into the sky and thought “I can see a land up there”? Joan agrees with this and has given her passage in this book to that vision. A lovely picture accompanies it on pages 16 and 17 of a large puffy cloud and the rushing, dramatic waves from the sea below.

I also loved the gateway to the garden and another wonderful quote by Thomas Moore:

“Entering a garden is like passing through a mystical gate. Things are not the same on the other side”.

There is also a page on Plant Spirits, showing pictures of things we naturally recognize and then comparing them to plants and flowers and other such things. I adored the image of a cute kitten and the picture next to it of a Dandelion Kitten flower. They are so alike in many ways, both fluffy and delicate and such loveable beings.

Did you know there are hundreds of uses for flowers? That dandelion is rich in vitamins and is also used as a natural dye? That Sunflowers can be used to treat colds and bronchitis? These are to name just a few tips that Joan has carefully added to this wonderful collection with a special section dedicated to plant recipes as well.

Finally, towards the end of this stunning volume are some pages devoted to the lovely art work of the author. The Awakening is a painting the author drew from her experience when she first started to draw.

One of Joan’s first paintings she handed her friend to hang in her shop sold that same day. It is clear to see why her paintings are so popular, they are colourful, bright and spiritual. My favourite has to be Return of Joy, I absolutely love this painting and only wish I had it to hang in my room. There are so many faces of fairies and other spiritual beings hidden in this beautiful painting featuring water, a bridge and lush green trees. Can you spot them I wonder…

Words will simply not sum up this book which is beautifully illustrated making every page a joy to read and behold. It is not only a book for those of you who perhaps own a garden, but for anyone who enjoys plants and flowers with a passion. And even if you don’t believe in the spirits of nature, you never know, it may just convert you.

The above review was contributed by: Jessica Roberts: Jessica has been a book reviewer for a newspaper and a national women's magazine and is working on a novel. To read more of Jessica's reviews CLICK HERE 

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