Growing Pains: Time and Change in the Garden [Paperback]

Patricia Thorpe (Author), Judy Clifford (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1995

In the last 20 years more Americans began more ambitious gardens with less information and less help than at any time in the last two centuries. This witty, provocative endlessly informative book describes, in a light but no-nonsense tone, how to help a garden after it has been growing for several years. Illustrated throughout.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

New York gardener Thorpe gives advice on how to assess and redesign aging gardens experiencing "midlife crisis."
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Few gardening books mention, let alone concentrate on, the growth that is the essence of gardening. Thorpe helps the gardener confront "mid-life crisis" in the garden-one that like its creator seems suddenly to have developed scantiness in some areas and too much growth in others. She wisely and wittily explains how the instant meadow becomes a field of weeds, what to grow under ever-spreading trees, and how to cope with overgrown shrubs and an unbalanced border. She helps the former novice temper enthusiasm with wisdom, rethinking a garden plan to use more suitable material in more imaginative ways. Anyone who has gardened for a decade or has purchased an overgrown lot should go out with this book in one hand and pruning shears in the other. Highly recommended for the uniqueness of the subject and the quality of the writing. [Garden Book Club main selection.]-Molly Newling, Piscataway P.L., N.J.
--Molly Newling, Piscataway P.L., N.J.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 206 pages
• Publisher: Harvest Books (April 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0156002019
• ISBN-13: 978-0156002011
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,102,877 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sophisticated and realistic approach to gardening, August 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Growing Pains: Time and Change in the Garden (Paperback)

This is an extraordinary book. Though aimed at those who are re-assessing and re-vitalizing older gardens, is an excellent book for novice gardeners. It would help people avoid the pitfalls of creating gardens out of only plants they adore rather than using their instincts and intelligence in creating dynamic, highly personal gardens. Ms. Thorpes' writing style is very engaging and she addresses ecological issues in a thought-provoking way. This is simply a superb book, and is far superior to many glossy picture gardening books which "gloss" over the surface of critical processes required to make healthy gardens. Gardening requires work, thoughtfulness and knowledge, as Ms. Thorpe knows. I would give this book and "Dirt" by Dianne Benson to every gardener I know.

5.0 out of 5 stars The gods have answered my garden prayers with this book!, July 29, 1999

By 

Jane E. Applebee - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Growing Pains: Time and Change in the Garden (Hardcover)

Oh what a fabulous book! Since I began reading this book two days ago my relationship to my inherited garden has changed from subserviant care-taker to self-empowered garden visionary. It contains such helpful information on issues of landscaping - the basic rules for movement through the garden, perspective and proportion - debunks some garden myths - perrenials are not forever - and gave me the permission I've been waiting for to rip my columnular junipers out with a light heart and easy mind. I am making plans to annialate and create all over the place! Yippeeee! The best part is I am still only halfway through the book. My day and night dreams are filled with new designs for my garden and my life as a gardener has had a wonderful refreshing boost. I am going to use this book as a landscaping reference, study guide and source of inspiration whenever the gardening blues set in. Thanks Patricia!