A Horticultural Correspondence: Celebrating 23 Years of ‘A Year in Our Gardens’
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast:
March 12, 2021
On this day, twenty-three years ago, two esteemed figures in the horticultural world, Nancy Goodwin of the landmark Montrose Gardens and Allen Lacy, the American garden writer and columnist, unveiled their literary masterpiece, A Year in Our Gardens.
This tome, dear readers, is a treasure trove of horticultural wisdom, a veritable bouquet of correspondence between two of the most illustrious gardeners of our time.
Allow me to paint a picture, if you will, of this enchanting literary garden.
Imagine, if you would, a collection of letters, each one a seed of knowledge, sprouting with the changing seasons.
These missives, exchanged over the course of a single year, reveal not just the triumphs of our green-thumbed heroes, but also their trials and tribulations.
What makes this epistolary adventure so captivating, you ask?
It is the raw authenticity that permeates every page.
Despite their renown in horticultural circles, Alan and Nancy prove themselves to be true gardeners in every sense of the word. They bare their souls, sharing not only their botanical victories but also their moments of defeat at the hands of Mother Nature.
Their letters are a cornucopia of delights, brimming with discussions of plants, dreams for their gardens, and even forays into the realms of music and family life. It's as if we're privy to a private conversation between two dear friends, united by their passion for all things green and growing.
But what truly sets this horticultural dialogue apart is the stark contrast between our protagonists' gardens and philosophies.
Picture, if you will, Alan's plot: a modest 100- by 155-foot parcel of former farmland in Southern New Jersey, its sandy soil thirsting for constant hydration.
Now, juxtapose this with Nancy's approach - a champion of native plants, she eschewed irrigation entirely, allowing her garden to thrive au naturel, without human intervention.
As Nancy herself once remarked, "A garden should be a reflection of its environment, not a conquest over it."
Can you believe, dear readers, that it has been twenty-three years since this landmark garden book first graced our bookshelves?
If, by some unfortunate circumstance, you find yourself bereft of this horticultural gem, I implore you to make haste to your nearest bookseller or online emporium.
This is not merely a book; it is a portal to two of the most fascinating gardens in America, guided by two of its most passionate cultivators.
So, get ready to transport you to a year of gardening bliss.
A Year in Our Gardens awaits you, a bargain at a mere two dollars for a used copy on Amazon, and in procuring it, you shall not only enrich your horticultural library but also lend your support to this humble broadcast.
