South Africa has lost 116 indigenous flower species to three extinction categories: 'Extinct', 'Extinct in the Wild' and 'Critically Endangered, Possibly Extinct'. Mindful of the fact that extinctions are mainly due to people, Cape-based photographer Anneke Kearney compiled this photographic record of endangered plants to make people aware of the dire future of our beautiful plants, so that nobody can say, 'I didn't know'. Cape Town has more threatened species than any other area in the country. The most important other hotspots are Coega, Albany, Pondoland, KwaZulu-Natal midlands and Drakensberg, Magaliesberg, Sekhukhuneland-Drakensberg and Barberton. Renowned botanist and conservation campaigner, Dr Tony Rebelo, says in the Foreword that a call to action is not just for us. "It is for our children. It is not just for esoteric and idealist reasons. Thousands of visitors come ... every year just for the biodiversity. Hundreds of thousands more have it as one of the reasons for their visit. Our health, our relaxation, our existence is enhanced by living in a biodiversity showcase. The Littlest Kingdom on earth must retain its splendour ... there is space for everyone, including the biodiversity that occurs nowhere else on earth. This book with its spectacular photographs of rare and little seen plants, is sure to make a huge contribution to raising awareness of and spreading critical information on our indigenous flora.

'n Vars blik op inheemse tuinmaak, of jy nou geleidelik uitheemse plante met inheemses wil vervang, of van voor af begin en volledig op ons eie plante fokus. Hierdie plante verg minder werk as uitheemses, het gewoonlik minder water nodig, wil byna geen chemiese kunsmis en insekdoders he nie, en kos heelwat minder omdat jy hulle nie kort-kort hoef te vervang nie. Elke plant in die titel is spesiaal gekies omdat dit blom, soms besadig, maar meer dikwels baldadig. Benewens 'n nabyfoto en volledige beskrywing van byna 100 plantspesies is hier interessante inligting oor grondvoorbereiding, voeding, voortplanting en instandhouding.