Wayside and Woodland Blossoms

I got another bargain in the little second hand book shop near my work the other day. It was one of those rare but instantly satisfying purchases that require little or no reasoning in the shop. I made a rudimentary assessment of the book and handed over the cash in less than a minute. Leaving the shop with this little leather-bound gem in my pocket was a pleasing as the first intoxicating sip of a glass of wine. No guilt in treating myself whatsoever there.

If you’ve ever read any of the posts I throw up here, you’ve probably noticed I have a soft-spot for botanical guides. There is something alluring about the way in which scientific fact is presented in them. There is usually a charming hand-drawn illustration of a plant and then the formal description; each one subtly affected by the author’s attitude or personality. For instance, I particularly love the understated way that deadly plants can often be passed off fairly nonchalantly in the typically matter-of-fact manner that scientists are used to. This is especially apparent in the older guides.

My purchase was first published in 1909 (but I think my copy was a little later than this), but what drew me initially to this book was the title. Wayside and woodland blossoms. Even the very sound of it is prosy and inviting. It evokes scenes of pastoral ruminations, uninterrupted afternoons of rambles through copses and byways and hedgerows heavy with musky blossom under a perpetual May sky. After my first scan, I couldn’t help but notice little details like the rounded page corners, the vast array of typography styles and the splendid gilt cover work.

The guide’s botanical artist was a Mrs Mabel E Step. She did over 125 separate illustrations for the book’s 390+ species and their simple beauty is striking, but I can’t find anything else by her out there (Although art.com sells some of her prints). It appears that the author, a Mr. Edward Step, was probably her husband. The idea of this husband and wife combination working on the book makes it all the more special. I imagine them sat at desks across from each other under the soft light of bankers lamps in their front room. He with horn-rimmed spectacles, sleeves rolled up and a patterned tank top. Her with quick elegant hands and sparkly eyes.

Step also wrote two other versions of this book, which together form a set. He also wrote other books to compliment the series including one of fungi and one on ferns – The latter of which I will be searching out.