I wanted to like this book, I really did. I have long admired the work and writings of the authors, Vermont gardeners Joe Eck and Wayne Winterrowd. I long to see their famous (bordering on legendary) garden at North Hill. Eck and Winterrowd are amazing gardeners and designers, providing great inspiration for those of us who garden in a cold climate.
This book is not so much a gardening book as a book about gardening. There are no photographs or diagrams. Instead, it is a series of short essays arranged alphabetically. I found it an enjoyable read, chocked full of useful information and wonderful descriptions.
But like a hangnail that keeps one up at night, not really painful but a constant irritant, the issue of invasive plants spoiled this book for me. The Nature Conservancy has listed Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) as an invading plant species in Vermont for its invasions of Vermont's forests and fields. Dame's Rocket (Hesperis) is on the Vermont invasive plant watch list. Yet in "Our Life in Gardens" there is an essay extolling the virtues of Berberis thunbergii, and Dame's Rocket is touted in the section on biennials. Compounding the problem is that North Hill is surrounded by woodland and a National Forest.
I thought my concerns would be allayed by the chapter entitled "Rampant Plants." Sadly, they were not. The authors avoided the concept of invasiveness ("invasive" plants are those which disrupt habitats and food sources for native plants and animals) (see The New England Wildflower Society). Instead, they admit to the inoffensive spread of a few Primula Japonicas and a couple of other plants not on the invasive species or watch lists. (I do like their mention of a Ring of Hell for those who knowingly plant invasives. I imagine that ring would be a garden filled with nothing but Marigolds, Buckthorn, and Kudzu.) I'm sure this won't bother many readers, but for hypersensitive, fanatical obsessives such as myself, it grates.
Aside from this shortcoming, this is a book worth reading. The most useful part of the book is the essay about hardiness, with specific advice for creating microclimates and encouragement to treat zone information as merely advisory. I'm particularly enamored of the essay about trowels. Who knew trowels could be so interesting?
28 comments:
I'm surprised they didn't catch that before sending it off to print. Odd.~~Dee
My method of dealing with invasive plants is to eat them.
I know they have had those barberries from the beginning, and it is hard to give up a plant you've become attached to. But it would be better to acknowledge their invasive nature and concede you're not doing all you could be in that regard, than to just ignore those kind of issues.
I actually bought seed of Dame's Rocket and planted it before I learned it was invasive, and I've never yet been able to bring myself to pull up every. last. bit. Mea culpa.
It is nice to see a review of this book. I have their other book, "A Year at North Hill". I saw a blurb about the new one somewhere a few weeks ago. I'll have to take their plant suggestions with a grain of salt since plants tend to really go rampant here in our southern heat.
Hi MMD, thanks. A friend sent me the review in the NYT that was a glowing endorsement. A link to their gardens was great too. Those Primulas are mentioned as invasive? In what universe? It is the most beautiful flower in their extensive gardens, IMHO. Many of us have planted invasives without being aware of it, nothing like kudzu though. Nandinas are a good example in our area, and the nurseries are still filled with them. Hypersensitive fanatical obsessives maybe should not review general garden essay books! HA But maybe all reviewers fit that mold. Now I do have a thing about shovels...
Frances
I'm sorry you found the book a bit disappointing, but thank you for the review. :)
I was glad to see you reading again (and telling about it!) ;-) I'm very curious as to the discussion on trowels... !
Dee - I can only think that the omission was deliberate.
Gorilla Bananas - I've heard that Garlic Mustard is mighty tasty fried up in a pan.
Kathy - I'm guilty too. I have a Burning Bush (Euonymus alata) that came with the property that I have been avoiding removing because of its size. But I don't recommend them or extol their virtues.
Phlillip - you will like their section on Agapanthus.
Frances - I don't think the Primulas are invasive, just that their seed has taken hold further downstream from their property.
Nancy Bond - I'm sure there will be plenty of people who will love this book, but I hope this review helps those who have invasive plant hangups from being disappointed.
Shady - it's definitely worth reading. And I'm always reading something. I just don't often take the time to write a review.
MMD, I had to pop over to see their gardens and they are beautiful. Your review seems very fair and balanced and possibly a good read. Being aware that there are plants that have negatively impacted wetlands and woodlands is a good thing...certainly not something that we need to discount as obsessive or hypersensitive. gail
Thanks for the link to their garden site. So do they have an army of volunteers to keep up the place or do they just not sleep? It looks breathtaking, barberry excepted :-)
VW
Rereading that sounds like I meant your review might be a good read...It is but, I meant the book sounds like a good read...I must do a better job of editing! gail
Somehow it gets harder to deal with invasive species being brought over in the 1600's with the Pilgrims. After all this is when the Europeans introduced themselves and all their associated bio-organisms to the continent as well. Seem hard to imagine that we are going to undo all that by digging up the Dames Rocket, as pretty as they are...
That said, you are probably right that they should touch upon the topic.
Just read your note above the comment here; LOL, MMD, the economy is getting to all of us:)
I'm not a big reader of garden books, MMD; there has to be a plot for me to get really interested:) I do like gardening books, though, that not only provide helpful information but also suggestions for new plantings. I'd have to pass on this one if it doesn't have pictures!
I like the cover's kind of retro feel (with the line drawing and font and whatnot), but I'll assume, abused on what you wrote, that the book was in fact recently published. Both barberry and dame's rocket are also on the city of Ann Arbor's invasive plant list, i.e. it's no big secret anywhere. The dame's rocket especially is highly detrimental to spring ephemerals. So that's really a bummer that neither of the authors, nor the editors, caught this.
Um... "abused on" should have been "based on"!
Don't you just hate it when you are all set to really really like a book and then one thing is painfully sticking out like a sore thumb? I've got books like that. ;-)
Primula's are welcome to invade my garden any time they like. I simply adore them.
Gail - I figured you meant that the book is a good read, and it is.
VW - from the essay "The Garden Trowel," I gather that they do have help in their gardens.
MacGardens - it's a case of "you do the best you can when you become aware of the problem." The point is to prevent further spread of these things by discouraging people from buying & planting them. I refuse to give in and simply declare the damage is already done. We can reclaim our wetlands, we can reclaim our woods! (Sorry, I got a bit carried away there.)
Rose - this book is kind of like those back page essays in garden magazines. If you read those, you'll like this. If you skip those, you should skip this too.
Monica - it's good to know I'm not the only one concerned about this.
Yolanda Elizabet - I must confess, I have no Primulas and have never grown them. I think I should remedy that!
MMD, I'm very aware that you're always reading! :-) That's a good thing. I really meant that I enjoy hearing about what you read! We had a LOT of rain today! I'm so glad it was RAIN! (Did you detect my sigh of relief?)
MMD,
Thank you so much for the book review. Joe Eck and Wayne Winterrowd will be speaking at the Vermont Flower Show in March, and they will be using essays from this most recent book. I have been holding out on purchasing the book until after the show (I figured this would be kind of a sneak peek). I'm glad to learn that you felt the book was worthwhile!
Just bought a copy so I will see how I like it. If you have plants that are on the invasive list, I agree it can be tough to pull them out esp. if they are doing a particular job. I have three red barberries that I can't bring myself to get rid of — but I am not buying any more and I would be careful to add a disclaimer in a talk or article.
A couple of years ago I did a big Sat. cover story (newspaper) about Dame's rocket. I think that's one that many people are not aware of. I had already managed to get rid of it in my garden. But it is all over my neighbor's yard. I actually took the photos in her garden and I see it self seeded in wild areas in the neighborhood.
Shady - I heard that if it had been cold, we'd have gotten 20" of snow yesterday, so I too am very relieved that it rained.
Liisa - get a copy before the show so you can get them to sign it! I'd love to hear them speak.
Ms. Wis. - I used to think Dame's Rocket was a wildflower before I learned otherwise. I grew it here until I found out it was invasive. Then I yanked it all out. I suppose it's not really a problem in the middle of a city, unlike near wooded areas. At least it's not Garlic Mustard!
Oh, dear...I had forgotten all about garlic mustard.This cold winter put it out of my mind. It will get the best of me yet. I could write a book about it. Eat it...I don't think so! Good book review.
I was apprehensive when I began to read your review because the cover is so lovely I didn't want to find the book isn't!
Relief.
I think, perhaps, a 'good' book isn't necesssarily one with which one agrees but which holds interest from beginning to end - which this seems to have done. (?)
Lucy
Sounds like a good read despite the invasives. I don't think you are hyper sensitive either. Just acutely aware. ;)
Balisha - Garlic Mustard is never far from my thoughts. I keep finding it in the garden, even in the middle of winter I find plants of it that I missed during the growing season.
Lucy - yes, it is a good book, and one that I do recommend. There are enough good things in it to counterbalance this area of shortcomings. And the line drawings at the beginning of each essay are lovely.
Lisa - I did employ a bit of hyperbole, but I spend a good chunk of my time pulling Buckthorn seedlings and Garlic Mustard out of my garden, so acute awareness is a constant state.
I understand your discomfort about their book not addressing something many consider a pressing concern, but look at it this way--you probably gave the book, and what it did say, more thought than if it had hit all the right buttons.
Books, like salad, need a little vinegar to make you pay attention and think.
The old stirring up controversy to get publicity! Who was it who said "I don't care what they print about me as long as they spell my name right"?
This was a wonderful review. If I do decide to read the book, I feel I'll be making an informed decision. Thank you.
--Kate
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