Gardener, artist and columnist Julia Atkinson-Dunn hosts at festivals and events, advocating the magic of gardening to her peers.
"""Julia is a talented writer, clever with a camera, and her flower arrangements have a simple spontaneity which are easy to follow. The plants she has chosen to be in this book create an ethereal airiness in gardens. Julia's little tips on growing from seed will be treasured by all who are interested in beginning a new garden or revamping an older one, at whatever stage in life. The summaries on each of her 12 favourite plants show a deep and natural understanding of the plant world."" Penny Zino, Flaxmere Garden (NZGT 6-star Garden of International Significance) on Petal Power ""It's a book of two halves, beginning with a good digestible advice on types of plants, tools you'll need, plant care and design principles. But it's mostly given over to celebrating her 12 favourite plants which are largely whimsical such as cosmos, sweet peas and snapdragons. It has lovely photographs and rounds out with a guide to picking and arranging, and has recommendations for other resources."" NZ House and Garden on Petal Power"