Background:

These prints are from Edward Step's Favourite Flowers of Garden and Greenhouse published in England in the late 1800s.  It featured illustrations of over 300 plants. As described in the Introduction to this series, Step sees his work differing from others of that period in that "It treats not so much upon gardens and gardening as upon the plants which give brilliance and charms to the garden".  Cultivating directions for each of the plants was provided by William Watson, assistant curator of the Royal Gardens at Kew.