Grandmother's Garden [Hardcover]

May Brawley Hill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 1995

The first serious study of traditional American perennial gardens, which attained great popularity in the years between the Civil War and World War I, this abundantly illustrated volume explores this old-fashioned garden style--frequently referred to as "grandmother's garden"--as seen in small towns, artists' colonies and craft villages, mining towns, and settlements on the Western frontier. 159 illustrations, 75 in color.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This history covers a period of tremendous change in American gardens. The Centennial of 1876 and the garden displays of the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 fanned popular interest in old-fashioned gardens, here called "grandmother's gardens" and characterized as small gardens near the home, often enclosed by a fence and exhibiting an exuberant mix of hardy perennials, native American plants, and self-sown annuals. Hill, an art historian, traces these gardens through contemporary paintings and photographs as well as poems, letters, and gardening literature. This well-researched and beautifully presented book also covers the history of American garden and flower painting and photography and contributes to women's studies, because many of these small gardens were created and maintained by women. Highly recommended.?Daniel Starr, Museum of Modern Art Lib., New York
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

An art historian specializing in American art, Hill combines her expertise in this area with her passionate interest in gardening in a splendid book focusing on gardening in the U.S. between the Civil War and World War I. She traces the development of a native garden style through poems, letters, journals, and garden writing found in period books and magazines. The book's most impressive aspect is the 75 opulent impressionist paintings reproduced in full color. For avid garden lovers. George Cohen

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; 1St Edition edition (September 30, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810933896
• ISBN-13: 978-0810933897
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #648,094 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Photos and paintings of antique gardens make a lovely book!, October 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Grandmother's Garden (Hardcover)

Written by May Browley Hill, an art student and passionate gardener, this book is terrific! Using archival photographs and paintings of famous gardens, she creates a beautiful book. For lovers of Monet's Giverny, there are photos plus Monet's paintings of the gardens. Childe Hassam's paintings of Celia Thaxter's garden on Appledore Island joined with actual photos are wonderful. Many other equally charming gardens are featured. After reading and savoring this book, budding artist-gardener types may be inspired to capture their own gardens on paper.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book!, May 15, 2006

By 

Leslie Mc. "Leslie" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grandmother's Garden (Hardcover)

I am stunned to see some bad reviews for this book! I came across it accidentally at the library and intend to buy it soon. It is certainly not a "garden book" in the sense of what to plant where. What it is is an extraordinary history of grandmothers' gardens and accompanying art, culture, and values. I love cottage gardening, history, the Arts and Crafts movement, Gertrude Jekyll, etc. and this book is about many of these things. I've also learned through it of many interesting books and writers and plan to research them. Highly recommended. Well written too.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars More like History of Gardening, July 22, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Grandmother's Garden (Hardcover)

I was disappointed. It was more a history of gardens than anything else. They described historic gardens in cursory detail. Yes, it's a pretty book but most of the photos are in black & white because these gardens are the real thing (i.e. from the turn of the century), the color photos are of artwork. If you're looking for inspiration or how-to's, bypass this one.