Customer Reviews

The Once and Future Gardener: Garden Writing from the Golden Age of Magazines, 1900-1940

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THE ONCE AND FUTURE GARDENER, GARDEN WRITING FROM THE GOLDEN AGE OF MAGAZINES 1900 to 1940, by Virginia Clayton is a collection of articles printed in leading "women's" magazines over the first half of the past century. Although some of the ideas in these articles remain salient, and Clayton has inserted the current scientific (Latin) notation beside each named plant described and/or recommended by the various authors, this book is not as much a garden book as it is a useful resource for garden historians or readers who want to take a trip down memory lane.

Clayton has organized the book into seven sections that cover these topics "A year in the garden"; "Gardening with trees, roses and shrubs"; "Flower garden designs"; "Wild gardens"; "Old-fashioned gardens"; "Formal Italian gardens"; and "The Philosphical gardener." Most of the articles are relatively short, and a few are several pages. I most enjoyed the section on Italian gardens which Americans seem to dislike, according to several of the authors, but are the basis for most western garden design. I don't know that I agree with this notion, or even if it is true, but these authors make convincing cases.

I had not realized what a profound affect Edith Wharton had had on the garden writers of her time--the early 1900s. She traveled quite a lot in her mature years, principally with Henry James, and she spent a good deal of time in Italy. Her observations about her trips are quoted in several places. This is an interesting book and good reading for those who may wonder what their grandmothers read on those cold winter nights during winter when they planned next year's garden.

Its handsome period illustrations and subtitle--garden writing from the golden age of magazines--suggest that this is just a charming exercise in nostalgia. Far from the case. These articles offer a great deal of practical gardening information from hands-on gardeners that is often very hard to find. It's particularly helful on gardening with native plants and I find myself consulting it repeatedly.

I bought this book (great price!) hoping that I could get some idea of how to plan a new garden/yard around my 1927 house (which I am restoring). This book more than met my hopes and expectations. I now feel confident to move ahead with borders and flower beds that will look like they would have if I had been here in 1927 and planned the perfect yard for this wond4erful little house. I got this book used and the price was incredibly low! What a buy, what a wonderful book of beautiful writing, what a great resource as I continue to plan and plant!