The American Gardner: A Sampler

Allen Lacy has gathered together a colorful sampler of American gardening writing from Thomas Jefferson to our own day. Among the fifty-two writers represented are such national treasures as Celia Thaxter, Neltje Blanchan, Elizabeth Lawrence, and Katherine S. White.

In this fascinating and amusing collection, over fifty writers address seven major topics: gardening pleasures and benefits, color, fragrance, native American plants, plant names, pests, and the conflict over the appropriate location for a garden.

Allen Lacy has gathered together a colorful sampler of American gardening writing from Thomas Jefferson to our own day. Among the fifty-two writers represented are such national treasures as Celia Thaxter, Neltje Blanchan, Elizabeth Lawrence, and Katherine S. White.

Library Journal

Lacy chose pieces from contemporary garden writers such as Bostonian Thalassa Cruso and Atlanta Constitution columnist Celestine Sibley, and mixed them with the giants among garden writers such as Louise Beebe Wilder and Helena Rutherfurd Ely. He arranged selections from about 50 writers by themes: color, fragrance, native plants, plant names, pests, lawns, and the urge to garden. Charles Dudley Warner's ``The Love of Dirt'' (1870) nicely summarizes why readers will spend time with this book. Marranca chose highlights from writers who greatly enjoyed writing but who also made other contributions with their lives. She includes selections from Henry David Thoreau, Joseph Wood Krutch, and Edith Wharton, among others. Beginning with the 17th century and coming into the 20th century, her anthology provides insights into the feelings and rationale that American gardeners have for their interest in plants. Together, these two titles provide selections of garden writing to inspire those who garden for fun. Readers will discover joys of gardening beyond their initial appreciation of beauty. Librarians bewareyou may need to go after some of the original sources on interlibrary loan. Or if you're lucky enough to own some of the originals, dust off the covers and share some gardening delights and wisdom with your current gardening clientele. Dale Luchsinger, Athens Area Techical Inst. Lib., Ga.

Allen Lacy is professor of philosophy at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and the author of numerous books on gardening, including The Garden in Autumn and The Glory of Roses. He lives in Linwood, New Jersey.