Latin for Gardeners (Univ. of Chicago, $25), by Lorraine Harrison, may sound off-putting, but it’s quite the opposite. A small coffee table book full of meticulous illustrations from the Royal Horticultural Society, it’s also a highly useful source for the etymology of over 3,000 plant names. Harrison’s straightforward organization makes this appealing volume easy just to pick up and browse. And it’s not just for gardeners—any lover of language will find surprises and delights, and no doubt feel a little more clever after perusing just a couple of pages. The delicate thinking that went into the naming of plants was a revelation to me: I gained a new appreciation for the intellectual legacy of gardening, and for the correlation between the names and the plants themselves. Latin for Gardeners is a charming companion for a chilly winter afternoon and a handy reference any time.