Pretty Dirty

Pretty Dirty by Melanie Cecilia Stapleton (Cecilia Fox) is a modern floristry book that looks past the vase to the full, fascinating life cycle of flowers. Thoughtful, artful and a little rebellious, it’s built on Stapleton’s ethos of Creativity, Community and Compost—perfect for readers who love beauty with values.

Across richly photographed pages, you’ll move from how blooms are grown and sourced to fresh, unexpected approaches to floral arranging, then on to the overlooked afterlife: waste, decomposition and compost. Alongside Melanie’s own practice are stories and insights from “flower folk” around Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond—growers, makers and sustainability advocates reshaping a traditionally resource-heavy industry.

Ideal for flower lovers, creative spirits, eco-minded readers and anyone curious about sustainable floristry, floral design and the craft behind seasonal flowers.

Add it to your shelf and see flowers—and their footprint—with new eyes.