This is a book about flower arranging from the perspective of a gardener. Unlike the demands that florists are under to produce perfection, we at home are only out to please ourselves, or if they are lucky, our friends. Moments of meditation, creativity and connecting with nature are often difficult to find, but we are well reminded of the benefits when we do – the pinching of 30 minutes in a day to wander with secateurs in hand and the calm comfort in playing with foliage and flowers to be enjoyed during daily, domestic life. The author offers an accessible guide to picking, conditioning and arranging home-grown treasures, celebrating their quirks and encouraging unexpected combinations. Seasonal chapters profile arrangements she has made, detailing plants in season and inviting readers to play without the hunt for perfection, or restraint. All the flowers and plants used in Flowers for Friends can be grown in any temperate climate across the globe, including the US.