'A brilliant book that in one easy read has turned me into an 'expert' on just about every aspect of plants and gardening' Joe Swift'Great fun for the festive season if you want to learn some fascinating facts about amazing plants.' Independent 'This entertaining book is packed with intriguing facts, anecdotes and helpful advice to satisfy and enlighten any gardening enthusiast. Much enhanced by superb botanical illustrations, Horti Curious is a delightful book to dip into. Written with a light touch, it does a fine job of showing just how rich, diverse and fascinating the plant world is.' Mail on Sunday'This is the perfect diversion for green-fingered friends when the winter weather forces them indoors. Six easy-to-read chapters are filled with interesting - and often surprising - facts and figures relating to all aspects of the horticultural world.' House & Garden***What is xeriscaping? How do you make a seed bomb? Why should you avoid the gympie-gympie tree? When was the first botanical garden created? What type of tulip was once as expensive as a house?Delve into the lush world of Horti Curious, where you will find the answers to of all of these questions, along with hundreds of other entertaining and enlightening facts. Written by gardener and columnist for The Times, Ann Treneman, with the expert advice of the RHS, every page is a verdant oasis brimming with knowledge and inspiration for gardeners and plant lovers.From forgotten folklore to famous gardeners, and from incredible edibles to poisonous plants, this compendium of curiosities celebrates the diverse wonders of horticulture and botany.Beautifully illustrated with botanical diagrams and graphics, this miscellany will inform and delight gardeners and plant lovers. A 'pick and mix' of horticultural knowledge, it ranges from local to global, filled with maps, historical biographies, scientific explorations, plant profiles, fun and unbelievable facts, recipes and tips.