Secrets of a Devon wood
A beautiful book , great illustrations , so detailed. Lots of information on each drawing . A definate keeper .
We say: With its stunning illustrations and fascinating notes, this is a book you'll want to keep coming back to
Read our Q&A with Jo Brown HERE
Walking one day in the woods behind her cottage in Devon, nature illustrator and blogger Jo Brown became captivated by the sight of a Green Dock Beetle on a leaf and took a photograph of it in order to be able to draw it.
That first tiny emerald bug was followed by more insects, and then birds, fungi, plants and flowers.
The result is Secrets of a Devon Wood, a rich illustrated memory of her discoveries in the order in which she encountered them, so that the book flows smoothly with the seasons and the emergence of different wildlife.
In enchanting, minute detail she zooms in on a bog beacon mushroom, a buff-tailed bumblebee, or a native bluebell. And she notes facts about their physiology and life history: The flowers are narrow & darker than H. hispanica & H.x. mossartiana, she writes. Drooping stem. Almost all flowers are on one side. Sweet scent.
This journal is a treat for the senses, both a hymn to the intricate beauty of the natural world and a quiet call to arms for all of us to acknowledge and preserve it. It is a book that will stay with you long after you finally put it down.
The natural world fascinates me and fills me with wonder. The best thing about it is that it makes me smile... and it's all completely free, just outside the door.
A beautiful book , great illustrations , so detailed. Lots of information on each drawing . A definate keeper .
A beautiful book which is very informative. I love it even more as I live in Devon and have a wood next to my property. You will revisit this book for years.
A really lovely book , beautiful and fascinating illustrations and facts . Highly recommended
Ideal for picking up and flicking through. Good for sharing, the we are able to.
A beautifully illustrated book, a joy to read, very informative
Such a special book. Really beautiful.
Beautifully illustrated in muted colours. Scientific comments, so suitable for those with more advanced knowledge and those with none. Lovely to follow Jo's forays into the natural world, very necessary just now.
A most beautiful book that takes you into the realm of peace, order and the wonder of creation. Just lovely to hold and inspire in these difficult days.