From Publishers Weekly
whole Gardening Gardening as work and play and as an activity that involves the soul are topics considered in Zen Gardening: a Down-to-Earth Philosophy by Veronica Ray. In essays that are refreshingly free of prescription or how-to advice, Ray captures the essence of gardening as a restorative, instructive process that offers more valuable rewards than just the anticipated harvest. Addressing an outdoor statue of St. Francis of Asissi as "Frank" and calling for gardeners to work with?rather than in?their plots of earth, Ray reminds us of the joys as well as the demands of gardening. (Berkley, $10 192p ISBN 0-425-15299-5; June) In Growing Myself: A Spiritual Journey through Gardening, Judith Handelsman draws on her personal experience with growing things to offer advice to others. Notable here is her conviction that the gardener can?and should?communicate with plants to establish a nurturing bond that will facilitate their mutual growth. The book includes accounts of the author's travels and environmental tips, e.g., philodendrons can reduce the amount of formaldehyde in the air. (Dutton, $21.95 192p ISBN 0-525-94057-X; June)
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Handelsman writes about the deep levels of love and connection with plants--the healing power of "inner gardening." In her travels from Brazil to Scotland, Handelsman has explored this holistic approach to gardening, which stresses the role of the gardener as a nurturing figure. If you apply an inner perspective to gardening, she believes that you can add a new dimension to garden tasks, such as watering, pruning, transplanting, and feeding. She notes that plants as living beings need the same things we do: food, air, water, and love. Handelsman surely takes the concept of talking to your plants to the extreme and assures gardeners that the dividends are ample for both them and their flowers.
George Cohen
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