“Flowers of the Brazilian Forests” is a 1968 publication by the very talented and intrepid Margaret Mee (1909-1988) and is an excellent introduction to the flora of the Amazon River and is of a quality that matches many earlier artists. Her work also made clear the 
environmental disaster overtaking the river ecosystem with the destruction of the forest for farming and other pursuits.
The famous 20th century Brazilian landscape architect, Roberto Burl Marx, said of Mee: she “seeks to portray the intricate beauty of the many plants which have so far passed unnoticed in a world where greed and ambition ruthlessly destroy our wonderful heritage, the gift of life.”
Reviewed by: Brian Thompson on February 24, 2025
Excerpted from the Spring 2025 issue of the Arboretum Bulletin