Imagine a book that's part history, part folklore, and part poetry anthology, all centered on the plants growing outside your window. That's what Richard Folkard created. He didn't write a single, continuous story. Instead, he compiled an encyclopedia of beliefs. He shows us the oak tree as a symbol of strength for druids, the lily as a sign of purity in religious art, and the humble daisy used in love divination. It's a tour through the human imagination, using plants as our guides.

Why You Should Read It

This book changes how you look at a garden or a walk in the woods. Suddenly, every plant has a backstory. Folkard connects the dots between ancient Greek myths, medieval European superstitions, and literary references from Shakespeare. It’s not just about 'what' people believed, but 'why'—showing how our fears, hopes, and understanding of the world were projected onto nature. The writing itself is from the 19th century, so it has a charming, old-fashioned feel, but the stories are timeless.

Final Verdict

If you're a gardener who wants to know the history behind your heirloom roses, a fantasy reader looking for the real-world roots of magical herbs, or just someone who enjoys odd bits of history, you'll find something to love here. It's a book to dip in and out of, not read cover-to-cover in one sitting. Keep it on your shelf and open it when you need a dose of wonder about the ordinary green world around us.