I was asked to list 15 books that have lingered on in my being since I first read them and on my list, I only put one garden book... Green Thoughts: A Writer in The Garden by Eleanor Perenyi published in 1981.
much talk about mistakes lately (to weed or to wait to weed with students), so here are two quotes from her section Failures...
Sooner or later every gardener must face the fact that certain things are going to die on him. It is a temptation to be anthropomorphic about plants, to suspect that they do it to annoy. One knows, after all, that they lead lives of their own: plant the lily bulb in the center and watch it come up under a brick near the edge; pull out a sick little bush and throw it on the compost heap, and ten to one, it will obstinately revive. Usually, though, gardening failures, like airplane crashes, are the results of 'human error,' of not reading the directions or paying attention. ...
Nevertheless, not all failures are self-imposed, the result of ignorance, carelessness or inexperience. It takes a while to grasp that a garden is not a testing ground for character and to stop asking, what did I do wrong? Maybe nothing. ...
Any fans of Perenyi out there? If you have not read the book, I hope in some way I have inspired you to look for this wonderful book.
6 comments:
You are the second blogger to mention this book - so I really must get it.
What a great passage you have quoted.
K
Karen--- her words and attitude constantly brought a smile to my face.
Like Karen, I had never heard of Eleanor Perenyi, but both Daffodil Planter and Interleafer are fans like yourself and have also blogged about her.
I tend more towards practical gardening books where I can learn something, but the outpouring of respect and affection for her writing makes me realize I've been missing something. Is this the book you were referring to in your recent comment on my blog?
Susan--- yes.. it was the reference I made at your blog. as I see it, this m=book informs and entertains... it is good reading!
Trust your judgement, Wayne, and thanks for your input.
Joey--- I will. May your judgment do well for yourself.
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