AROUND HOME : Notes on Perfect Pasta, Closet Space and French Empire Furniture : The Book of Pressed Flowers

BY PENNY BLACK

(Simon & Schuster; 1988)

PENNY BLACK SHOWS HOW the simple act of drying flowers and leaves and arranging them within a frame can be an art, not just a pastime. Although the book is worth its price ($17.95) just for the detailed lists and photographs of supplies, techniques and useful plants, the pictures of Black’s own arrangements are breathtaking. She makes her craft sound almost simple, but her finished “flower pictures” are complex and inspiring.