When Martin Frobisher reached the coast of North America in 1576 'he commanded his company, if by any possible means they could get ashore, to bring him whatsoever thing they could first find, whether it were living or dead, stock or stone...and some brought flowers.'
"Talk about specialized books! This is a botanist's view of Canadian history, a survey of the exploration and settling of Canada in terms of the plants that the strangers from Europe encountered. Downie and Hamilton have collected hundreds of quotations in which Europeans from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries recorded their delight and astonishment at the variety of plants they discovered in the New World. Revell has made seventy drawings...in a fresh, easy, watercolour style. The result is original and delightful." --Canadian Heritage
"I have been absolutely delighted by 'and some brought flowers'...The book is beautiful. E.J Revell's pictures are exquisite, a real joy. I like so much that you give the common names (many of which are like small pieces of poetry), and the selections from old diaries, explorers' notebooks etc. are fascinating. It is wonderful that the [publisher] has given the fine production job that it deserved." --Margaret Laurence
About the Author: Mary Alice Downie is the author of many books for both adults and children, including The Well-Filled Cupboard, Bright Paddles, The Wind Has Wings, Honour Bound, and Danger in Disguise. She lives in Kingston, Ontario.
Mary Hamilton has written poetry, articles, and several books including The Tin-Lined Trunk, The Sky Caribou, A New World History, and Wild Edibles. She lives in Kingston, Ontario.
E.J. Revell began painting flowers in 1968 at his summer home near Coldwater, Ontario. His work now hangs in many private collections. He is Professor Emeritus of the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilization at the University of Toronto. He currently resides in Oxfordshire, England.
Adéle Crowder, Technical Consultant, is Professor Emeritus of the Department of Biology, Queen's University.
