A book with illustrations of humans that look like flowers; volumes with hundreds of wood samples; a 40-pound tome.

See all these rare books, and more, during a monthly talk at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

Anderson Horticultural Librarian Kathy Allen gives talks entitled “Inside the Collection,” noon to 1 p.m., the first Wednesday of every month at the library.

The talks, held in the Arboretum’s Snyder Building, are $7.50 for members and $12 for non-members (plus a gate entry fee, which is redeemable for one re-entry).

The fall 2012 schedule is:

”Flowers Personified,” Sept. 5: Flowers have long been associated with special meanings, with poetry, and with magical creatures. Learn some phrases in the “language of flowers” and examine books from the middle decades of the 19th century that pair floral bouquets with poetry. Allen will share an especially charming book which the library has in both French and English: “The Flowers Personified,” or, “Les fleurs anime’es.” Take home a print scanned from this lovely book.

”Out of the Woods,” Oct. 3: Allen will share some unique and finely illustrated works including a multi-volume set of actual wood slices from hundreds of different trees and a volume of portraits of majestic trees in their pastoral surroundings.

”Look at a Book,” Nov. 7: Sometimes the design and construction of a book is as interesting as its contents. Andersen Horticultural Library has some exquisite examples that Allen will share, including a 40-pound volume of “The Highgrove Florilegium,” wrapped in its own handmade blanket. Other items include a book created in 1651, and fine printmaking examples by artist and book maker C.B. Sherlock and wood engraver Gaylord Schanilec.

”Curator’s Choice,” Dec. 5: Allen has selected a number of choice items from Andersen Horticultural Library’s climate-controlled “vault.” They are currently her favorites for their beauty, design, rarity, or just plain quirkiness. In addition to books, an array of antique seed and nursery catalogs and miscellaneous objects will be shared.