A Jungle in Your Living Room
Michael Holland and Philip Giordana
Flying Eye Books

Despite being given many houseplants of various kinds over the years by pupils, friends and relations, I have never been any good at nurturing them for long, so I was interested to see the sub- title of this book – ‘A Guide to Creating Your Own Houseplant Collection’.

There are three main sections: All About House Plants, The World of Houseplants and Houseplant Care.
The first presents basic classification, discusses some reasons for growing plants in our homes, plants used in celebrations in the home, talks about how some plants have adapted in order to survive in specific habitats, the conditions under which they survive best in a home environment. There’s a look back to houseplants in ancient history, including the origins of growing miniature trees that most of us know as bonsai. I was fascinated to read of the invention of the Wardian Case and some if its outcomes;

sadly including the triggering of journeys to remote locations of plant hunters to collect exotic plants. Better to paint them in the wild as did Marianne North and later, Margaret Lee, both of whom are mentioned in this book.

The second section is the longest and introduces houseplants of different kinds – succulents, cacti, various crassulaceae, members of the asparagus family, philodendrons, ferns, palms, a number of carnivorous plants

and several others. Interspersed with these are some DIY projects such as creating a desert garden and bonsai for beginners.

Section three looks at houseplant care and there’s a final glossary and index.

Drawing on his wealth of experience in the field, expertise and knowledge, Michael Holland’s straightforward text provides all young readers and beginning indoor plant growers with all they need to know and much more. Each spread is eye-catchingly, sometimes playfully, illustrated in vibrant colours by Philip Giordana.