Pretty Dirty: The Life of Flowers, from Creation to Compost

By Melanie Stapleton

Pretty Dirty is no ordinary flower book: it's a richly illustrated ode to the life cycle of flowers, from how they've grown to arranging them in unique ways, to their inevitable decomposing and disposal.

Melanie Stapleton, of floral studio Cecilia Fox, is a tireless advocate for making the flower industry more sustainable. Pretty Dirty is richly illustrated with beautiful images of flowers in the wild, floral collaborations, both by Mel and her 'flower folk' from around the world, as well as stylized images of compost and floral waste that prove beauty is not just in the eye of the beholder. Presented with a flat-lay format and exposed stitching this is a stunning package that reflects the book's innovative content. Mel shares her tips and tricks from a lifetime spent with flowers and feature stories from some of her favorite 'flower folk', from the growers and wholesalers to other florists and those leading the charge on changing this pretty dirty industry.

Flower Folk featured:

Lisa Waud (Detroit)
Ren MacDonald-Balasia, Renko (LA/Hawaii)
Liza Lubell, Garbage Goddess (New York)
Hattie Fox, Hattie Fox Studio (London)
Hannah Martin, COM: POST (London)
Chloe Szukilojc, CS Studio (Dubai)
Christy Ralphs, Nourish Gardens (Aotearoa New Zealand)
Mandy Purvis, Organic Herbs and Seedlings (Aotearoa New Zealand)
Isabel Johnston and Lydia Reusser, Isadia (Aotearoa New Zealand)
Wayne Horrobin and Sarah Hodge, Horrobin and Hodge (Aotearoa New Zealand)
Meg and Joe, Monvale Flowers (Monvale, Australia)
Kristy Tippett, Soho Rose Farm (Drysdale, Australia)
Tamsin Carvan (East Gippsland, Australia)
Rita Feldmann, Sustainable Floristry Network (Victoria, Australia)
Sophie Wolanski, Muck Floral (Sydney, Australia)
Azzmin Rayment, Braer (Byron Bay, Australia)
Katie Marx (Naarm/Melbourne, Australia)
Shahn Stewart, Alchemy Orange (Naarm/Melbourne, Australia)

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 176145126X
• ISBN13: 9781761451263
• Release Date: March 2026
• Publisher: Hardie Grant Books
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 3.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 9.3" x 11.1"