Hello blossoms! Beauty of the natural world captured by the pen of Adriana Picker

Adriana Picker captures the beauty of flowers in her work as a botanical illustrator. In her latest release she goes deeper, with recipes, tips for floral arrangements and lessons in floral anatomy and drawing.

Blossom, by Adriana Picker. Illustrations by Adriana Picker.

Adriana Picker’s lifelong love of flowers is at the heart of her work as a botanical illustrator, designer, artist and author, exploring ways to celebrate the beauty of flowers. Her latest creation is Blossom: Practical and Creative Ways to Find Wonder in the Floral World (Hardie Grant, $45), which follows her previous book Petal: A World of Flowers Through An Artist’s Eye. “Gardening and plants are part of my family history and DNA,” says Picker, an Australian based in New York. “My life is punctuated by plants. I’ve always been attuned to the rhythms of nature.” Blossom takes a seasonal approach, presenting nearly 50 flowers, most of which are edible. Some are weeds, some common plants, others rare. They range from cold climate (saffron) to tropical (vanilla orchid). The illustrations are beautiful but there’s much more of interest, including observations on tastes, smells and colours, and heartfelt reflections. From making natural oils and perfumes to crafting floral vinegars and pickles, Picker provides recipes, tips for floral arrangements and lessons in floral anatomy and drawing, all inviting you to find beauty in the everyday.

Fancy pansies

Pansies flower from autumn through to late spring. The Cool Wave series are fast-growing, long-lasting, trailing pansies – ideal for hanging baskets, containers and as a groundcover.

Matrix Morpheus.

Whiskers

There are yellows, white, blues and berry colours, as well as mixes.

Pansy Matrix White Blotch

Pansy Ultima Morpho

Q&A

Our new home has an 8m-tall London plane tree that provides great shade – but the roots are starting to lift our driveway pavers, just 40cm away, and next door’s driveway. Is the tree still growing? Is there a remedy or should we replace it – and if so, with what?

Hanmei Wang, Perth

Your tree is just a youngster, as plane trees can reach 20-30m tall and 20m wide, making them unsuitable for home gardens. The roots are known to lift paving and invade sewer pipes, and the fruits’ hairs have a reputation as irritants. Your tree will certainly keep lifting the paving; the mature trunk would probably touch the driveway edge. Severing roots so close to the trunk would destabilise the tree. You’ll need council permission to remove it. Potential replacements include one of the Indian Summer crepe myrtles, Cercis ‘Oklahoma’ or golden shower tree (Cassia fistula).

Our Japanese windflowers have been lovely this autumn but I’d like to move them to a different spot. When and how should I do this?

Frank S, Sydney

They transplant readily, either now or in spring. Cut back the spent flowers and foliage first. You can divide large clumps with a sharp spade. However, windflowers grow readily from root cuttings, so you’re likely to see them pop up again from where you dug them up.

What’s the best lemon to grow in a pot?

Gina Edwards, Brisbane

Look for dwarf lemons, which produce full-size fruit on smaller plants. ‘Lemonicious’ and ‘Lots A Lemons’ are dwarf Meyer lemons, grown on their own roots, that fruit prolifically. You can also buy Meyer and Eureka lemons that are grafted on to dwarfing rootstock. Meyer is a lemon-orange cross with rounder, sweeter fruit. Eureka is the classic lemon, as it fruits all year and is nearly thornless.

Send your questions to [e-mail] the best question for June wins an aurus 450 low smoke fire pit with cover, valued at $149.

The Aurus low-smoke fire pit. Photo: Supplied