Have you ever had a great idea but never the opportunity to put it into effect? Well, one woman got her chance when a routine walk gave her the idea for a children’s book.

Author Natalie Knudsen will be signing her book, “A Child’s Garden of Flowers,” today at 4 p.m. at the University Book Store in the Memorial Union.

As Knudsen walked, she asked herself if she could come up with a flower for every letter of the alphabet.

This idea turned into various verses relating specifically to each flower, which wasn’t hard for her to do since she is an avid flower gardener.

“A” for aster. “A delicate color beckoning from the roadsides.” “B” for balloon flower. “Pop the balloon to reveal a beautiful surprise.” “C” for crocus. “Bravely pushing up through the crushing weight of winter’s snow to welcome the coming of spring.”

Knudsen, a 1992 ISU graduate, got the idea for a children’s book when she read an ISU alumni publication. It said that Reiman Gardens was dedicating a garden especially to children.

A writer for various agriculture magazines, “Soybean Digest,” “Ag Retailer” and “Successful Farming” and the owner of a public relations business, Knudsen was unsure about where to begin.

She had the names of the flowers and the verses to go along with them, but no pictures.

“I draw stick people badly,” Knudsen said.

C. Arthur Croyle, professor of art and design, along with four of his students, Teena Marie Case, Megan O’Dea, John Smith and Heather Straszheim, volunteered to do the illustrations for the book.

Watercolor and colored pencil sketches include images of the flowers and also depict many scenes from Reiman Gardens.

“It’s been a really unique project because so many people at Iowa State were involved,” Knudsen said.

Along with the illustrations and the verses are fact boxes. They list the common name, the scientific name, characteristics and hardiness zones for each flower.

Hardiness zones are areas where a plant or flower will survive according to the climate. In areas with warm weather, the zone number will be high and in areas with cold weather, the zone number will be low.

Since the book consists of ABCs and plant information, it is ideal for both children and parents.

“It’s a whole-family kind of book,” said Heather Straszheim, one of the illustrators.

Straszheim, senior in biological and pre-medical illustration, said the book is not only aesthetically pleasing, but educational.

Knudsen describes the book as very personal and special to her.

“I grow almost all the flowers that are in the book,” she said.

The book is available for $9.95 at University Book Store, the front desk at Reiman Gardens, Barnes and Noble and online.