On Flowers: Lessons from an Accidental Florist

Merrick, a stylist turned florist, delivers an homage to all things flower-related in this opulent scrapbook-style gift book that will inspire creativity in some, and envy in others, toward the Instagram-ready lifestyle it portrays. Merrick’s trendy use of unstructured, wild-looking bouquets are a key part of the book, as are her accounts how she acquired and honed her style—at Elmwood, her family’s summer home in New Hampshire; by collaborating with a Japanese florist in a flower-arranging class; designing informal arrangements for small social events; and picking wildflowers in a Brooklyn parking lot. The perfectly curated evocation of another, more genteel era, through china teacups, gingham wallpaper, and ginger jars—as well as, of course, floral arrangements—should prove seductive to many readers. In one of the most memorable essays, Merrick vividly recalls describing the “smallest bedroom” (her own) where “from my pillow (with its antique, lace-trimmed case), I can watch the moon rising over the lake and see a thousand stars glow over the mountains.” There is plenty of aspirational appeal to Merrick’s flawless, seemingly effortless arrangements, but longtime floral enthusiasts may find a sense of the perspirational lacking from her expertly appointed guide. (Oct.)