This week, you have a chance to win "The Paper Garden," Molly Peacock's biography of a fascinating, 18th Century woman who -- at age 72 -- is credited with inventing the artform of mixed media collage. Working from snips of paper, Mary Granville Pendarves Delany crafted hundreds of beautiful, and scientifically accurate, botanicals.
The illustrations of Flora Delanica alone are worth picking up the book. Delany's artistry is stunning -- here's an example from the British Museum.
Add to that the prose of Peacock, an award-winning poet, and you'll have a great read for spring, as flowers bloom.
For a chance to win, leave a comment that details what's blooming in your part of the world. At my house, I was surprised to see a Bleeding Heart pop up -- in a spot that I don't even recall planting one.
Let's also congratulate Nancy Johnston, the winner of a random drawing for "Caleb's Crossing" in our last giveaway. I asked folks to describe their ideal two-home life. David Eberhardt had the most entertaining suggestions for a long-distance commute -- between Betelgeuse and Messier 481. Nancy's choice was commuting between Italy and Lewes, Delaware.