Fresh Cuts (Hardcover: 144 pages)

The one hundred elegant photographs by John M. Hall and the charming, informative text by garden designer Edwina von Gal show that one's choices for natural decorative arrangements need not be limited to flowers. Rather, von Gal and Hall emphasize the intrinsic beauty of each part of the plant, including buds, stems, leaves, berries and fruit. In tune with the current trend toward minimalism in interior decorating, the arrangements featured in this book are appealingly spare and simple. Among the many inspired ideas are a gathering of delicate periwinkle, the flowers a perfect complement to the leaves; a tabletop arrangement of beautifully textured pods and seeds; the rich, red stems of rhubarb chard in a clear glass vase; and a single rose of Sharon in glorious full bloom.

Von Gal's whimsical, anecdotal text offers facts, observations, and folklore, as well as practical guidance for the care and maintenance of the plants featured in her creative arrangements. Her provocative captions invite us to stop, take a closer look, and experience plants in ways we might not have thought of before--in vases or in their natural settings.

Filled with novel, accessible ideas, "Fresh Cuts" also suggests that the enjoyable act of decorating one's home or office can be combined with a dedicated foraging expedition, a casual nature walk, or a spiritual lesson in understanding our own symbiotic connection to the world of plants.