Gardening Literature for Green and Non-Green Thumbs
Whether you're the type who likes to get your hands dirty in the garden or
you simply wish to dig out some free time to turn the pages of
gardening-inspired literature, bookstores are blooming with a host of
titles.
In Why Every Man Needs a Tractor, Charles Elliott, former
publisher at Knopf, details his gardening labors in Wales. Elliott's essays
combine personal experience with interesting tidbits and facts about some of the
world's most notable, history-making gardens and gardeners.
The World of Wild Orchids by Christian Ziegler contains
dazzling color photographs and a fascinating text accompaniment exploring the
mysterious aura of these exotic beauties.
Lane Smith's illustrated children's book Grandpa Green, while aimed at ages 4-8, translates across
generations. A young boy shares a poignant, heart-tugging narrative that bears
witness to his forgetful grandfather's love for topiary gardening.
Family secrets take center stage in the novel The Girl in the Garden by Kamala Nair. In this tale, told
via an extended flashback, an off-limits, walled garden in India might hold the
key to one woman's search to reclaim her past and reinvent her future.
A foster mother inspires a troubled girl by planting seeds, both literal and
figurative, in The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. This
heartbreaking, yet hopeful debut novel resonates with the way flowers can become
symbols that inspire us to believe in the power of tomorrow.
In the mood for a great whodunnit? Dig into the quirky, original gardening mystery series by Rosemary Harris (Pushing Up Daisies, The Big Dirt Nap, Dead-Head, Slugfest). Her lovable protagonist, Paula Holliday, gives up a high-powered job in New York City and sets off to Connecticut to finally cultivate her life-long passion for professional gardening. In each installment, Holliday not only winds up pulling weeds but also rooting out killers.
