Gardening by the book in 2020

I read more books this past year than in any other period in my life. I read books digitally on my iPhone and iPad. I read physical books via curbside pickup from the library and my favorite local independent bookstores. I ordered online from the great Timber Press and from Princeton University Press. And yes, I did get a few things from Amazon.

This is not even the entire pile of garden books I bought. I've read a few of them, am halfway through a couple more and have delved into most of them. I found it harder to focus and follow through on many books this year; something that has rarely happened in the past. 

The garden titles that I did finish were satisfying and well-worth recommending. They all had a few things in common: they were deeply personal, regardless of where the author lived and gardened. They were all written by women and none of the authors were professionals in the horticulture field. 

. . .

Life in the Studio: Inspiration and Lessons on Creativity by Frances Palmer.

Having followed author Frances Palmer on line, I was greatly looking forward to her book. Though it has much to recommend it, it wasn't quite as inspiring as I hoped; maybe that's because I like to draw and she's a potter (those are her beautiful blue and white creations below).

On the plus side: I definitely liked the fact that the book was divided into what I would called essays, rather than chapters. You can just dip into it, where and for how long you want. I don't think you really need to start at the beginning and go straight through the way I did, as each essay is essentially self-contained. The forward is by Dominique Browning, editor of the late HG magazine, and should not be missed.

I don't grow Dahlias, one of Palmer's signature flowers for her vases and photos, but they were a swoon-worthy part of the book, including photos of individual flowers with their name. When I've gone to her website and looked at her flower filled vases I am usually in awe of her skill at flower arranging. But here, I found many of her creations too full and fussy; clearly our tastes were mismatched on this score; but her 10 point advice on flower arranging is very instructive and useful.

One of the unexpected highpoints of the book are the recipes Palmer included. I tried two of them, which we enjoyed so much I immediately added them to my cooking repertoire. Excellent dishes and clear instructions. Artisan/Workman publisher.

. . .

Uprooted: A Gardener Reflects on Beginning Again by Page Dickey.

I’ve owned and read just about every book Page Dickey has written, whether she profiled her own garden or those of others. A few are no longer on my  bookshelf, but all have been worthy of recommendation.

I loved Dickey's former garden at Duck Hill and followed stories about it in books, magazine and newspaper articles over the years. So it was a given that I had to read about how and why she left that landscape where she'd gardened for more than three decades. "Uprooted" is an inspiriting story of starting over in one's later years. The new property is larger than the one she left behind; but much of it is native woodland that Dickey and her husband are clearing of invasive plants and restoring. The high maintenance flower garden is smaller, nearer the house and not so high maintenance as before. 

I've been gardening and reading about it almost as long as Dickey has, so I particularly enjoyed her references to the first gardeners I heard of: Nancy McCabe, Linc and Timmy Foster and Fred and Mary Ann McGourty. Like me, Dickey planted a dwarf witch hazel, H. 'Quasimodo.' And like me, the rabbits devoured it. That's the kind of anecdote that endears an author to a reader. 

"Uprooted" includes a fair amount of specific information on what they planted, how they did certain tasks and what they had to learn to care for this new property, including thinking in terms of natives/invasives/sustainability. It also deals with larger themes about the value of gardens and gardening. As Dickey says, "In the years I have left, I simply want to savor the outdoors and garden for the joy of it." Her new approach to gardening is "less curation, more appreciation."

This is a Timber Press book which means beautiful design, high quality paper and lots of photos of plants, pets, pots of flowers and the wider landscape.

. . .

I'm a longtime reader — and fan of — author Loree Bohl's blog, "Danger Garden." But I was more than a bit surprised when Timber Press asked me to review her new book, "Fearless Gardening." She lives in the Pacific Northwest and I'm in the Upper Midwest. Our climates, USDA hardiness zones and planting palettes are dramatically different. Turns out I was wrong; this will prove a valuable book no matter where you garden. That's because Bohl does not present lengthy must-have plant lists or trendy topics. She talks, instead, about much more broad and deep aspects of gardening. Her garden mantra is right there on the cover: 

• Be Bold
• Break the Rules
• Grow What You Love

I had to laugh at the colors on the cover. They reflect Bohl's plants, pots, front door and interior design. I've never seen anyone with such a fully realized sense of design identity as Bohl. But it's important to know that despite the beauty of her garden, she's a hands-on gardener who is always looking and learning, just like the rest of us. As Bohl says, "I did it poorly until I did it well."

Don't let the pictures of plants you don't know or can't grow, scare you off. What makes Bohl's book valuable for every gardener, newbie or experienced, is that her ideas and information are useful in so many situations. She is the queen of containers with as amazing array of plants and pots as I've ever seen anywhere. She covers winter plant protection, vertical gardening and crevice gardening (think Allen Centennial Garden on the UW-Madison campus.)

Though she talks about — and shows — her own garden, Bohl also looks at the gardens of those whose ideas influenced her as well as showcasing a number of gardens in the U.S. and even the U.K. (She provides a page of metric conversions for those of us, like me, who can never quite figure that system out). 

I was particularly struck by all of Bohl's short bursts of advice like using your camera as a garden tool, turning an obstacle into an advantage, bringing the garden indoors. There's even a clever list of unusual tool tips. She ends her book with five "take-aways" that encapsulate her style and her garden philosophy. You will have to buy the book to discover what she says.  

"Fearless Gardening" is yet another title published by Timber Press. It's beautifully designed with a clear logic and flow to the chapters, and the book overall. At the end Bohl includes a great list of mail-order nurseries, blogs and books. Half of the titles on her list are books or authors who are likely to be familiar to gardeners in my zone; one more example of how useful a broad swath of gardeners will find her book. (Due out today, Jan. 5, 2021)

. . .

Garden books I reviewed on the blog earlier this year:

Chasing Eden

A Year in My Garden

The Earth in her Hands (reviewed for the Wisconsin Hardy Plant Society newsletter)

Comments

[Lisa at Greenbow]

I really liked UPROOTED too. I think one reason is because I have moved from a much beloved garden to another and we seem to be about at the same era of gardening in our life.
I am glad I read your review of The Earth in Her Hands. I was doubtful about that book when I bought it. After I bought it I looked at it unopened for a few days wondering why I bought it. Then when I finally started reading it I couldn't believe I liked it so much. Like you I didn't know many of the gardeners but I was sure happy to meet them and read about their experiences. It turned out to be a real treat.
I can't wait to read Loree's book. Even though I can't grow so many of her plants I enjoy the verve she brings to of and about gardening. It sounds like her book will be a hit.

[Linda Brazill]

LISA — It sounds like our reactions were very similar. Loree's book was so much more interesting and useful that I imagined it would be. Very Loree. 
I ordered the book mentioned by Jennifer Jewel called "Farming While Black." 

[Gerhard Bock (Succulents and More)]

What a great review of Loree's book! My favorite phrase of yours: "fully realized sense of design identity." That describes Loree to a T, doesn't it?

[Kris P]

I've read Windcliff and Uprooted. Although I have another book by Dickey, I was not particularly acquainted with Duck Hill. I admit I expected something different from Uprooted, more on the order of how an older gardener adapts - not everyone can afford the kind of hired garden support she has. I've also read Loree's book and expect to publish my post tomorrow!

[danger garden]

Looks like I'm in fabulous company here! Thank you so much for taking the time to read Fearless Gardening and share your thoughts here. I was quite thrilled with how perfectly my "style" was captured in the book's design and I'm glad you saw it too. From other authors I've talked with I know what's not always the case.

[Barbara H.]

Thanks for these great reviews, Linda. I've had a difficult time with eye issues over the last two years so have been limited to Large Print and digital books. Yesterday I had a procedure done and though there are still issues with one eye this morning I can easily read again on the computer. So there's hope for being able to read "real" books and float through the world of pictures again. I've always enjoyed your book reviews, no matter the subject, but gardening has kept me sane for a long time.

[Pam/Digging]

I enjoyed your reviews of Dickey's and Loree's books, Linda, having read both myself. They are quite different, aren't they, but both worth reading. I'm deep in a few others right now. It's a good season for bookworming.