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Search - Old-Fashioned Gardening; A History And A Reconstruction

Old-Fashioned Gardening A History And A Reconstruction
Author: Grace Tabor

OLD-FASHIONED GARDENING A HISTOltY AND A lECONSTItIJCrlION - 1913 - - TO THE MEMORY OF ALL THOSE WHO-DISDAINING NOT TO CONSlDER SO SMALL A THING AS THE PLANTING OF A SEED OR THE OPENING OF A BUD--KEPT THE HOMELY RECORDS WHICH HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO WRITE THIS BOOK. l DEDICATE IT -- FOREWORD -- When the idea of this book first came to me... more », long ago, suggested by the question that has continually been asked me by a great many people, it shaped itself in my imagination as something very dif- ferent from what I now find the actuality to be. The sorcery of the phrase was upon me and I never dreamed that old-fashioned gardening could lead me on other than a gentle, sweet and sentimental pilgrimage through flowery ways, along which fine, shadowy figures flitted to keep me goodly, if ghostly, company. For it has been a term to conjure with for many a day-to lead the fancy along paths of pleasant dalli- ance through whose dim distances the laughter of dainty dames in powder and patches echoed against the deeper tones of bewigged gallants with whom they coquetted. But to tell the story of gardening has been very different than to dream of it, I find. Peopled with these delightful shades the old nooks and corners are, to be sure but of the truth about their flowery retreats they will tell nothing. They only laugh when urged to seriousness, and disappear with a flash of bright eyes, a twinkle of high heels and a clatter of side arms, where the path vanishes in a spicy tangle of cinnamon rose-gone back to their love making of course. So from them at last I parted company, uncon- sciously I must confess-for the interest in learning what they would not be persuaded to tell was very absorbing-and not indeed, until I had finished my task were they missed Not until then did I know that here was not what I had expected to do, here was not what it had seemed must inevitably be done, in writing the book of my dream. They are not here no lovely ladies nor courtly cavaliers cast so much as one quick glance out from behind a single page as it is turned. For here all is sober reality and no dream here is the truth about old gardens, not select glimpses of a path, or a gate- way, or a time-stained dial, hung like pictures upon the silver cord of romance. Hence there is herk a cer- tain measure of disillusion, perhaps, for some. Be warned, therefore, such of you as cherish the shadow and reject the substance. Put down the book it is not the thing you are seeking. Yet let justification be mine for I at the very first invited all those whom you expected to find here, to be present-indeed, I urged them with all the elo- quence at my command. But they knew better than I the places where they might linger and they knew, before ever I suspected it, that among the things which would come clamoring to be told, they would be jostled perhaps, and sor-rletimes thrust aside. So they declined. And I cannot offer you a book of old gardening dreams, but only of old gardening. STATIN ISLAXD, SEW YORK, In the Indian Sumrrcr of 19 1 a. PART I. HISTORICAL CHAPTER PAGE I OF BEGINNINGS . . . . . . . . . I 11 SPANISH GARDENS OF THE SEMI-TROPICS . . I4 I11 GARDENS OF THE ENGLISH GENTLEMEN ADVEN- TURERS . . . . . . . . . . 30 IV NEW AMSTERDAM HOUSEWIVES GARDENS V AUSTERE PURITAN GARDENS V1 CATHOLIC AND QUAKER ALONG V11 THE PRESIDENTS GARDENS PART 11. RECONSTRUCTION . . 56 . . . . . . 80 THE DIVIDE . 109 . . . . . . 132 ILLUSTRATIONS FACING PAGE Wyck, Germantown, a fine example of the Quakers well-loved long extended lines . . . . . . 124 The lawn and Mansion House at Mount Vernon . 132 In the boxwood garden at Mount Vernon . . . . 136 Washingtons plan of Mount Vernon . ,. . , . . 138 Within the kitchen garden at Mount Vernon . . . 140 Plan detail of the north garden, Mount Vernon . . 142 The Mansion, Monticello . . . . . . . ...

ISBN-13: 9781408610596
ISBN-10: 1408610590
Publication Date: 10/26/2007
Pages: 352
Rating:

Currently 5/5 Stars.

5 stars, based on 1 rating

Publisher: Hamlin Press
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

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