By Pen & by Spade: An Anthology of Garden Writing - Hardcover

9780671742744: By Pen & by Spade: An Anthology of Garden Writing

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0671742744 ISBN 13: 9780671742744

Publisher: Summit Books, 1991

A collection of articles from the gardening journal "Hortus" describes castle and courtyard gardens and addresses a range of gardening topics, from unusual plants and ornamental herb gardens to gardens created for and by children

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From Publishers Weekly:

Gardeners in search of practical tidbits about "mealy bugs and hanging baskets" will discover much more than just that kind of down-to-earth information in this charmingly idiosyncratic collection of essays compiled from Hortus magazine, a British journal founded by Wheeler in 1987. Lyrical in tone, with a decidedly literary bent, these essays occupy a considerably more high-minded perch than most how-to manuals: they explore the pleasures of gardening through various writers' personal reminiscences and singular preoccupations. Robert Dash, for example, ponders the similarities between gardening and poetry, while Rosemary Verey contemplates Charleston's small courtyard gardens. Hermia Oliver fastens on Flaubert's gardens; Dennis Wood muses on the particular joys of gardening after retirement. For all their lofty intent, however, these essays also contain all sorts of good gardening advice, from how to plant a scent garden ("Stick to a sunny, sheltered spot," advises Stephen Lacey) to how to grow blue-hued gentians (seek out an acid soil, counsels Stephen G. Haw). In his foreword, Sir Roy Strong states that garden writing is a "peculiarly British phenomenon." From reading the essays in this anthology, it's clear that the tradition is still thriving.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal:

Thirty-three essays from the early issues of Hortus magazine provide expert information on plants and gardening by mostly English writers. The geographic range is broad, with articles focusing on gardens in England, the United States, China, Italy, France, and the Azores. Citing specific examples, four essays discuss how fiction writers use gardening in their work. This small volume underscores the interest in gardening for emotional satisfaction and intellectual challenge shared by plant enthusiasts everywhere. For comprehensive gardening collections.
- Dale Luchsinger, Athens Area Technical Inst., Ga.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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