For ten years, Abbie Zabar – artist and bestselling author of The Potted Herb – had unique early-morning access to the Great Hall at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Each week, from 1994 to 2004, she drew the magisterial bouquets that adorned the soaring neoclassical entrance to one of the world’s most visited art institutions.

Published for the first time, Abbie’s exquisite colour pencil drawings of these floral masterpieces are presented in a beautifully fashioned gift book. Each drawing showcases her signature flair, her understanding of botanical elements, and her subtle use of colour. Whether a Christmas arrangement with magnolia leaves, red berries and flyaway branches, or a summer fiesta of palm leaves, red hot pokers, and birds of paradise, in the hands of their secret chronicler, these floral arrangements are alive with all the beauty and joy of nature. A timeless treasure for patrons of the museum; anyone drawn to florals and botanical art; gardeners and long-time fans of Abbie’s work. The perfect gift for any occasion.