African-American Gardens and Yards in the Rural South [Hardcover]

Richard Westmacott (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In this scholarly yet understandable work, landscape architect Westmacott describes African American gardens in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Employing the methods of historical and ethnographic research, he uses oral interviews with the gardeners to ascertain the evolution, patterns, and functions of African American yards and gardens. Because "African- American gardens have received little systematic attention to date," and because there is no book comparable to this interdisciplinary contribution to the fields of garden history, landscape architecture, and African American material culture, this liberally illustrated book will surely satisfy. Highly recommended.
- Angela Washington-Blair, Brookhaven Coll. Learning Resource Ctr., Farmers Branch, Tex.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 198 pages
• Publisher: Univ of Tennessee Pr; 1 edition (December 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870497618
• ISBN-13: 978-0870497612
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,213,629 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Pros, May 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: African-American Gardens: Yards In Rural South (Paperback)

Richare Westmacott writes this book with love. Not a native of Georgia, you wouldn't know it from his wonderful depth of knowledge about the history of plants and gardening in the state. This book is good for gardeners, good for those who love Georgia and the south, and good for anyone who enjoys a well written book. Informative and entertaining and the perfect book to read in a hammock in the garden!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like visiting grandma's garden, August 4, 2001

By 

Kimberley Wilson (VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: African-American Gardens: Yards In Rural South (Paperback)

My mother and I both really enjoyed this book. The gardens pictures reminded us both of my grandmother's garden. The book doesn't just show garden pictures though. It explains why Black gardens tend to look the way they do. I always thought my grandmother kept a dirt front yard because nothing would grow there. The book explained that this practice was a common method of controlling the bug population. I'd reccomend this book to anyone who loves gardens or has an interest in anthropology.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nancy's Thoughts, March 20, 2009

By 

Nancy L. Wall "wallflower" (Winton, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: African-American Gardens: Yards In Rural South (Paperback)

This book has brought back a lot of childhood memories that feel all warm and fuzzy. The photography was especially good for me.