Praise for PANSIES
“This delightful book does a deep dive into the beautiful world of pansies, chronicling their rich history, providing detailed growing instructions, seed-saving tricks, and secrets to producing the longest stems for cutting, along with profiles for 50 stunning varieties. Brenna is the pansy queen and her love for these precious flowers shines through every page. Pansies is the first book of its kind and is a must-add to your garden library.”
– Erin Benzakein, Floret, author of Cut Flower Garden and NYT bestseller A Year in Flowers
“In Pansies, Brenna Estrada has given all of us pansy obsessives an absolute treasure of a book. Rich in history, and filled with clear advice on cultivation, her passion for this magical, precious flower is infectious. Pansies is a must have for anyone who wants to invite these wondrous beauties into their world.”
– Ariella Chezar, floral designer and author of Home in Bloom
Pansies is a triumph! This definitive guide is a real ode to the pansy. A beautiful book that has left me feeling inspired, but also well-equipped and encouraged to grow this most charming of flowers in greater abundance.
– Milli Proust, author of From Seed to Bloom
“Brenna’s heartfelt paean to the garden pansy is as charming as the flower it celebrates. Richly illustrated and highly informative, Pansies delves into the fascinating history of the flower and makes us look at this humble beauty anew. Brenna also shares her expert tips for growing pansies and using them in the vase as well as in the kitchen. This book will surely find its way into every gardener’s library.”
– Ngoc Minh Ngo, author of In Bloom
“In her wonderful new book, Brenna champions the future of the pansy, elevating these charming plants from bedding scheme status to the world of floral artistry. Pansies is both heart-warmingly sentimental and brilliantly informative. After years of trialing, Brenna shares the very best varieties we can grow for both our gardens and for use as a cut flower. She delves into their fascinating history, and guides us on how to propagate them and save seed for the future too. Pansies is a real treasure and a much needed fresh take on this beautiful but often overlooked genus.”
– Becky Crowley, cut flower garden designer and botanical artist
“Brenna Estrada’s beautifully illustrated and photographed new book provides detailed information on cultivating pansies and incorporating them into your garden. I especially enjoyed learning about the history of this delightful flower and its popularity in the 19th century. This book will create a renewed enthusiasm for growing pansies— and rightfully so.”
– Frances Palmer, ceramic artist and author of Life in the Studio
“Pansies is a magical book! I am thrilled that Brenna wrote this very informative book to spread so much information about these sweet flowers. She explains so much about the details of successfully growing them from seed, and how to propagate them by cuttings, root divisions and by layering. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that pansies can overwinter in the Pacific Northwest and how to extend their blooming season in the garden. The descriptions of the vast selection of varieties and the stunning pictures to illustrate them is true eye candy. This lovely flower is an absolute favorite to grow in the garden and to design with for woodland arrangements and botanical couture. I cannot wait to grow many new varieties next spring! Thank you Brenna for writing this wonderful book – it belongs in every gardener’s library!”
– Francoise Weeks, floral designer, author of Wonder of the Woodlands
“With ‘Pansies’ Brenna has conjured a brand new doorway, to a world of unexpected – and overlooked – colour, texture, and poetry which I simply didn’t know existed. Her blooms, and her book, are very magical things indeed.”
– Joseph Massie, International award winning floral artist, author of The Flower School
“A fully comprehensive (and beautiful!) tribute to these tiny but exquisite botanical wonders. All of the eye candy and everything you didn’t know you didn’t know about the history, care and design of the viola”
– Max Gill, floral designer
“Such an exciting and comprehensive guide that shares a wealth of information and interesting insights about pansies and violas. Every gardener and botanical artist needs this book in their library. Brenna shares her passion for this humble flower in her thoughtful text and many gorgeous images. This book inspires me to grow these spectacular flowers! As an artist who uses flowers as a subject matter, this book is a must have for my floral reference library. It not only covers the history of this fascinating flower, but also helps me learn how to grow it in my own garden.”
– Ann Wood, paper flower artist
“Pansies is a delightful book written by a true pansy aficionado. I look forward to following Brenna’s guidance to find the perfect varieties for my gardens and vases; read this and you too will be addicted to pansy growing. It is time for a pansy resurgence!”
– Jenny Rose Carey, author of The Ultimate Flower Gardener’s Guide
“Brenna Estrada delivers the ultimate underdog story of the pansy— the wallflower of flowers! Pansies sheds light on this magical flower, revealing all its power and complexity. I grow pansies every season, and I never knew you could grow them for cutting. This stunner of a book will have you digging through seed catalogs and ordering all the varieties– I know I am!”
– Amanda de Beaufort, botanical dyer and founder of Dye Kween
“This book is simply beautiful, with a fantastic design and outstanding photography of pansies in a range of delicate colours. Pansies is a stunner!”
– Jacqueline van der Kloet, garden designer and author of Growing Bulbs in the Natural Garden