'A flower is not a flower alone; A thousand thoughts invest it' All over the world, flowers are an integral part of human culture whether it is the perfect table centre for a wedding, a beautiful bouquet for a birthday, a message of thanks, or to pay one's respect at a funeral. But, while everyone knows that red roses signify love, few may realise that an entire language of flowers exists with every bloom, folliage and plant having a particular emotion attached, be it hazel for reconcilliation, wisteria for welcome or ivy for fidelity. This unique language was created by the romantic early Victorians who carefully planned every bouquet and posy so as to deliver a desired message. Bringing the language to a new generation, this beautifully illustrated miscellany contains fifty profiled flowers, a dictionary searchable by emotion, and ideas for creating bouquets and arrangements for specific occasions. This gift book is a novel present that any flower lover will want to own.

Author Biography: Mandy Kirkby is an editor and flower enthusiast. Vanessa Diffenbaugh is the writer of the internationally bestselling novel The Language of Flowers.                                            

Meet the four-legged friends who frolic, walk, and romp in New York City's biggest playground. Move over Westminster! There's a live canine show happening in Central Park seven days a week, 365 days a year. On top of the 25 million people who visit New York's iconic park each year are those with an extra two legs who utilize the 800-plus acres, be it to soak in the sun, fraternize with fellow canines, or promenade along the walkways with their well-heeled owners. Big dogs. Little dogs. Multibreeds. Photographer Fran Reisner captures all these playful creatures throughout the seasons in their furry splendor as they delight in the natural wonders of New York's biggest green lawn. There's snow-loving Lenny, an elderly Golden Retriever who was born in Austria and has traveled the world with his owners, an opera singer and his wife. Charley is a Standard Poodle and a certified "Delta Dog," doing volunteer therapy at Mt. Sinai Hospital. And there's Daisy--a mixed breed with piercing blue eyes who hails from the Bronx and to whom Roberta Flack once stopped and sang "Daisy Daisy"--exudes cool as she relaxes on a bench. Calmly mugging for the camera, displaying panache and flair as they pose in front of Bethesda Fountain or Belvedere Castle, these urban sophisticates are all adorable prancers who make it clear that New York City is their turf.Whimsical, humorous, and genuinely endearing, The Dogs of Central Park is a unique love letter to dogs and to New York, and is a wonderful souvenir for tourists and dog lovers alike.