Green Thoughts by Eleanor Perenyi

Green Thoughts by Eleanor Perenyi

This book came out in  2002, and the subtitle is A Writer in the Garden.

Oh, my dear, have you ever stumbled upon a book that is as delightful as a secret garden, brimming with unexpected delights and a touch of the whimsical?

If not, I implore you to seek out Eleanor Perényi’s Green Thoughts. This literary gem, penned by a woman who possessed a wit as sharp as a gardener’s shears and a love for nature as deep as the earth itself, is a veritable feast for the senses.

Eleanor, a master of the written word, invites us into her Connecticut garden, a place where the mundane becomes magical and the ordinary takes on extraordinary hues. She shares her trials and triumphs, her loves and loathes, with a candor that is both refreshing and endearing. Petunias, she declares, are "as hopelessly impractical as a chiffon ball dress," a sentiment that any gardener who has ever battled with their unruly blooms can surely relate to.

But Green Thoughts is more than just a gardening manual. It is a collection of essays, each a miniature masterpiece filled with wit, wisdom, and a touch of the absurd.

Eleanor's prose is a joy to read, her observations both insightful and amusing.

She muses on the "double hoops for peonies" that are "beyond description maddening to unfold," and the "dreadful object" that is her modern martin house, "unpainted, it looked like a cheap motel; painted blue and white, it looked like a cheap Greek motel and had to be thrown out."  

As you delve into this literary treasure trove, you'll find yourself nodding in agreement, chuckling at her anecdotes, and perhaps even feeling a pang of guilt for your own less-than-perfect gardening efforts.

But fear not, for Perényi’s message is clear: gardening is not about perfection but the joy of the journey.

We lost Eleanor in 2009 at the age of 91.

Many consider this book a classic of garden writing. This was Eleanor's only book.

You can get a copy of Green Thoughts by Eleanor Perenyi and support the show using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for under $3 .