Flowers at My Feet

Book excerpt: Explore the legends and lore connected with the wildflowers of the west. Does the lotus bloom in Lotusland? Why does a clover leaf adorn the suit of clubs in a deck of cards? What do Roman soldiers shaving their legs have to do with wildflowers? Author Brenan Simpson answers these and other questions in Flowers at my Feet. Simpson roots around in lore, legend, literature and language as he takes a light-hearted look at the wildflowers of the West. Writing about both native and nonnative plants, Simpson finds the process of identification by common and botanical names leads to many interesting stories behind the names. Quoting from such sources as Chauncer, Homer and the Bible, the author goes beyond the plain botanical facts and into our cultural heritage.