One Man's Garden

'A gardening friend of mine has quite lost her mind---not that it distresses her much---and no longer makes an effort to conceal her madness." So begins one of my favorites, "How the garden grows and grows," among Henry Mitchell's essays.There were about 3,000 of them over the 20 years in which he wrote the Washington Post's Sunday Earthman column. I used to read Earthman even before "Prince Valiant," even before the Herblock political cartoon, and even before the book reviews and the editorial pages. It is glorious to report that "How the garden grows and grows" is included in the ninety gardening delights in "One Man's Garden."The essays are arranged in 12 sections, using the tried-and-generally-true approach of sharing what is happening each month of the year. Thus for June, the essay titles are:--Roses, the secrets of success--The right bedfellows for roses--I try not to do stupid things--Foliage for nooks and crannies--Daylilies by the bouquetful (he was quite addicted to puns)--Small gardens: the big picture--The grand and noble magnoliaMitchell's essays are lively first person stories, rich with opinion and information. For example, he was slaughterous regarding Norway maples and disdained spraying to control bugs and weeds. His article on "Staying in the pink" emphasizing carnations' strong preference for a gravelly, dry soil and their other foibles may help newish gardeners reach their hearts content as to these charming clove-scented flowers.He clearly had a long affair with iris, not at all clandestine, which contributed to his advocacy of planting a lot of what makes you happy even if it blooms only a few weeks each year. He knew full well gardens are not only place of joy & life, but also struggle & death, and shared his more shadowed feelings.And so on and on and mostly happily on to December, where Earthman suggests "Gifts for the gardener," ending with"I never knew anyone easier to please than myself or the guys I know. Someone once gave my wife and me an old Meissen soup tureen that thrilled my wife witless for a month. It was lovely and most generous and I like to see people happy, but, my G*d, do you have any idea how much rabbit wire you could buy?" (p. 254)Reader Alert: As these examples suggest, this is not a how-to book on gardening. The 3 or 4 page essays, adapted from the newspaper columns, are too brief, the organization is not sufficiently sequential for a how-to, nor are topics adequately covered. The nuggets throughout, however, can help make us better gardeners and better persons.There is an index which splendidly locates the specific plants that happen to be discussed (both botanical and common names) and honest as to what else is considered: thus, 13 entries on water lilies and two on wisterias, one entry on pruning and 14 on soil. Readers who want to learn more adequately about lilies, wisterias, pruning, soil and such will have to find in-depth, specialized books on these topics.Also, although this book was copyrighted in 1992, the articles may go back to 1975, and reflect plants available then, not those available now some of which may have more admirable habits or features. (The date when each article first appeared is not given. It should be.) And while many essays transcend space and time, such as Mitchell's recollections of the gardens of his southern youth, he mostly gardened in Zone 7.No matter, really. "How the garden grows and grows" is among my favorites because it encapsulates Mitchell's own passion for gardening in his quarter-acre Washington D.C. home. The lady of whom he spoke was besotted with plants, wanting to grow them all even to the point of accepting a sequoia seedling. Although Mitchell advocated looking on gardens more architecturally than botanically, his own stories make clear he was perpetually re-arranging the furniture, trying out this rose here and that crinum there. Many gardeners may recognize a fellow spirit, rejoicing in his wit---he was often a very funny writer---wisdom, and humanity,Highly recommended for readers who like to garden or gardeners who like to read in any zone whatsoever.

Have read several of his books and love them all. He connects well with gardeners and reminds me of a beloved uncle who is sharp and full of kick and has endless garden stories/advice.

good book, good price, fast delivery - Thanks

At first I thought it was just another gardening book, but Henry Mitchell insights on nature and human nature in the garden was delightfully entertaining! He spoke from experience and from his heart. .I'd advise anyone trying to understand a gardener's mind and why the are so passionate about plants should read this book. As an avid gardener, Henry Mitchell spoke to me.

I loved reading the crazed efforts to grow things out of temp zone, although his mud mess on the carpet tops my tales of enlisting husband and sons to lug huge pots up and down the stairs every fall and spring. That further supports my decision to get rid of carpeting all together, and stick with rugs over nice flooring! Going month by month is how gardeners think-the wheel of the year so to speak. I most enjoyed being reminded that my obsessions aren't so crazy after all, no matter what non-gardeners think.

A great gift for serious gardeners or newbie gardeners like myself looking to learn more and understand the trials, triumphs, and errors that all gardeners make. Mitchell has an appealing down to earth style of writing that made me nod in agreement, smile and even laugh out loud at times. If you know your plant taxonomy, it will make reading this book more enjoyable. Mitchell often refers to various plants by their genus. For example, knowing what plants constitute the genus epimedium, commonly called fairy wings, will make Mitchell's comments both more instructive, and at times, even more humorous. Reading this gave me pleasure and will hopefully help me to relax and enjoy my garden more -- Mitchell makes clear that great gardeners understand that the joy in gardening is about the process, not the finished product, because there will always be a new plant to try or a plant to move to a "better" place.

I know this book is going to stay for a long while. That's why I am sewing the book-cover. It is a reference book as well as a good read. It is very rare to see these two factors in one book. This is the book of the year for me.

To say Henry Mitchell is the funniest gardening writer you're likely to encounter is to sell him short. Mitchell is quite likely one of the funniest writers you're likely to encounter, period. If you happen to have an interest in gardening, all the better. You may or may not find a lot of useful gardening information from this book, but you'll enjoy the sensibilities of this delightful southerner, who for years wrote a gardening column for The Washington Post.

interesting, but n not quite as good as i expected, given that the writer was recommended by the late, very, very great Christopher Lloyd, whom I worshipped