Book excerpt: Showcasing more than 250 designs by more than 130 gifted amateur arrangers under the auspices of the World Association of Flower Arrangers (WAFA USA), Flower Arranging the American Way is a contemporary celebration of an art form dating back to the third millennium bce. Superbly photographed by Mick Hales and other talented photographers, with each arrangement explained in clear and inviting detail by author Nancy D'Oench, the selection of designs shown here is distinctly American. In addition to flowers and foliage, each design incorporates natural materials from the seashore, the roadside, and even the compost heap to make dramatic mixedmedia creations. Arrangers at all skill levels will find inspiration and advice aplenty.