Beds I Have Known: Confessions of a Passionate Amateur Gardener

By Martha Smith

Book Overview

A funny, feisty, personal memoir of gardening as both foible and a passion. -- Boston GlobeWith her characteristic sense of humor, Martha Smith introduces this new edition by describing the Mae West Memorial Garden that adorns her four-shades-of-purple Victorian house, planted to complement the color scheme with huge dahlias, violet gladioli, lilac lilies, and roses cloaked in a heady perfume.In The Seed Is Hope; the Crop Is Joy, meet Peter Neff, who has sculpted an English cottage garden at the Alzheimer's unit of the Eleanor Slater State Hospital. In Who Ya Callin' Yellow?, visit the Tranquil Lake Nursery with Warren Leach and Philip Boucher to view lilies at their peak. Compare the author with her nemesis, the tall, blonde, rich other Martha, with her own publishing and entertaining empire. Prowl about the grounds of Blithewold, the turn-of-the-century Rhode Island seaside mansion, with chief horticulturist Julie Morris. Chat about academia, women, and wildflowers with the legendary Irene Stuckey, retired professor of plant physiology at the University of Rhode Island.For Martha Smith, gardening is not so much about winning prizes as it is about people and the secrets they generously share, and about friendships firmly rooted in a common passion. By the last chapter, readers will have learned many valuable tips about gardening, and will have laughed even more.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689120826
• ISBN13: 9780689120824
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Atheneum
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Fun and Sassy

Martha Smith is entertaining and light. A great read to lighten your heart and load after working outside in the heat all day.

Feisty and Funny

I found this gardening memoir to be both feisty and funny. I love the way Martha Smith describes her "Mae West Memorial Garden". I could almost smell the lilacs and dahlias as I was reading. For anyone who loves gardening essays with a humorous slant this book is a must read!!

Hilarious!

My husband and I are both avid gardeners and on a recent road trip, I read this book aloud to him as he drove and he almost wrecked from laughing so hard. This is a very funny book and the author knows too well the joys as well as the back-breaking hard work that gardening can be. My favorite chapter - "Canna lily kill you?" - a must read for gardeners who enjoy a spike of humor.

Best gardening book I've read!

This is a must read for anyone who loves the joy of gardening and knows it's Nature's Prozac. Smith is a funny, witty, spirited writer and my only woe was that it was too short. Yes, 300 plus pages was simply not enough of her wonderful outlook on life and gardening and people and giving. As a writer and writing teacher, I'm sensitive to good writing and Martha Smith's work exceeded my expectations.Please take my advice and read this collection. Then go out and get your hands dirty. You'll be in good company. I'd say more, but my garden and my dog are waiting!