It's a beautiful day today and I wish I were gardening, but instead it's been a day for work and errands. While doing those errands, however, I just happened to be sucked into (by forces beyond my control) the Alameda Library's used book sale. And jackpot! Although there was only one small table of gardening books, I still managed to snag five books that look promising.First up is Through the Garden Gate by Elizabeth Lawrence, who wrote a gardening column for the Charlotte Observer from 1957 to 1971. This book is a collection of some of her articles.
Next is Spanish Gardens by C.M. Villiers-Stuart. This book is from 1929 and I got it mainly because it has some lovely black-and-white photos of old Moorish gardens. I visited Spain and Portugal in 2001 and was struck by how similar the terrain is to California and how well the Spanish gardening style
would translate to here.I also got Men and Gardens by Nan Fairbrother, published in 1956. This provides a historical view of gardening--I'm really looking forward to this one.
Next is Home Ground by Allen Lacy, which looks to be a fairly light-hearted first-person account of gardening. Lacy was a gardening columnist for
the New York Times. Also in this vein is the last book I purchased: Beds I Have Known by Martha Smith. I must confess that I picked this one mostly for the title. I wish I'd thought of it!
Thank god for gardening books and gardening blogs! They're almost as enjoyable as actually gardening, and they're definitely easier on my back.
What a treasure find at that sale all those gardening books.Good for long evenings curled up on the bed or chair with a drink.Reading thoughtful prose, and looking at pictures.Im still reading the garden an english love affair.I am in the 18th century now with that.I keep rereading chapters and looking at the copious pictures.Im lucky that artists painted grand houses and their gardens so we have a visual representation.
ReplyDeleteDo you ever have the bermuda buttercup in your garden?The noxious`oxalis?
I'm just getting started on my first Henry Mitchell book. I've got some major catching up to do. ;-)
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