Customer Reviews

Sleeping with a Sunflower: A Treasury of Old-Time Gardening Lore

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Tucked in between these pages are quotes, poems, symbolism, old wife's tales, recipes and more that keep you well entertained. Brings to mind some of the things your grandmother told you but you never quite understood why. Like why am I putting eggshells by this plant and bananna peels by this plant? This book not only tells you why but in a humerous and easy going way. This is a great book for anyone who appreciates gardening and a desire to understand the old ways.

Sleeping with a Sunflower: A Treasury of Old-Time Gardening Lore. Louise Riotte

Louise Riotte, whose popular books on companion planting Carrots Love Tomatoes and Roses Love Garlic have sold many thousands of copies, shares some of her vast knowledge of North American gardening in this 220 page book. She starts by paying tribute to the native people who taught settlers enough about growing crops to enable them to survive and she also mentions some of the well-known early farmers and gardeners, such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Quincey Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

The author has arranged her material chronologically throughout the year, but instead of naming the first chapter "January" she has chosen to use the native American name "Wolf Moon". Each month, or moon, is named for the natural events that could be relied upon - Strawberry Moon in June, Hunter's Moon in October and Cold Moon in December. In each chapter you will find gardening tales, gardening lore and gardening advice appropriate to the time of year. In January she tells the reader (among other things) about early seedsmen, about almanacs, about forcing blooms and about planting by the moon. She wraps up the month with a recipe for Oklahoma Pecan pie, made with the last of the pecans that the January wind shakes from the trees in that state.

This a book of garden wisdom dispensed in small doses - a little of this and a little of that. Scientific it is not, but it will deepen your understanding of plants, how they grow and how they can be used.

For gardeners who enjoy reading and particularly about the topic they love this book be a welcome surprise. The organization of this book is unique The author has arranged her material chronologically for each month of the year. In each chapter you will find gardening tales, gardening lore and gardening advice appropriate to the time of year. This is not a technical gardening manual, but make no mistake, even seasoned gardeners will learn some new tricks, and best of all they will enjoy themselves along the way.

Chris

SunflowerOcity

This is one of the most entertaining companion gardening books that I have read. A fun read for anyone interested in gardening.