Emily Dickinson's Gardening Life: The Plants and Places That Inspired the Iconic Poet

Description

From New York Times bestselling author Marta McDowell, an illustrated exploration of how gardening and plants inspired Emily Dickinson, one of the most beloved poets of all time. A new perspective on one of America's most enigmatic literary figures. Emily Dickinson is among the most important of American poets, a beloved literary figure whose short, complex life continues to fascinate readers. But she was also an avid gardener and plant lover. In Emily Dickinson's Gardening Life, Marta McDowell traces Dickinson's life as gardener and reveals the many ways in which her passion for plants is evident in her extensive collection of poems and letters. The book follows Dickinson through an entire year in the garden. You'll learn that she forced hyacinth bulbs in winter, saved seeds in the summer, and pressed flowers to include in her correspondence. You will also find tips on how to plant a poet's garden and an annotated list of all of the plants Dickinson used. Packed with contemporary and historical photography, botanical illustrations, excerpts from Dickinson's letters, and some of her most cherished poetry, this revealing book is a must-read for Dickinson fans. AUTHOR: Marta McDowell lives, gardens, and writes in Chatham, New Jersey. She consults for public gardens and private clients, writes and lectures on gardening topics, and teaches landscape history and horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden, where she studied landscape design. Her particular interest is in authors and their gardens, the connection between the pen and the trowel. 100 photographs and illustrations

Marta McDowell lives, gardens, and writes in Chatham, New Jersey. She consults for public gardens and private clients, writes and lectures on gardening topics, and teaches landscape history and horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden, where she studied landscape design. Her particular interest is in authors and their gardens, the connection between the pen and the trowel. Other books by Marta McDowell: Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life All the Presidents' Gardens The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder Emily Dickinson's Gardening Life Unearthing The Secret Garden

"Offers an excuse (if one is necessary) to linger yet again over the observations of a poet who, as Dickinson herself proclaimed, 'was always attached to Mud'...wandering through this book, we can smell the hyacinth that bloomed on the poet's windowsill in winter, hear the thrum of hummingbird wings, smell the cooking odors from the kitchen and imagine Dickinson pruning, staking, digging -- and listening and watching." --The New York Times Book Review "Emily Dickinson's garden might not get as much love in Dickinson as it did in real life, but that's all the more reason to read this book." --Bustle "Dickinson admirers will find much that is new and affirming here, while this will also delight all who love plants and readers who enjoy unusual approaches to biography." --Booklist "A must-have keepsake for Dickinson fans." --Literary Ladies Guide "Delightful...Part biography, part poetry, and a whole lot of gardening inspiration." --Pages and Cup "In these pages, you are beside Emily Dickinson's elbow--feeling the dense heat of summer, noting the gay attire of the scarlet runner beans, learning the skills of an ultra-observant plantswoman, finding the poetry in nature." --Tovah Martin, horticulturist, lecturer, and author of The Garden in Every Sense and Season "Emily Dickinson's Gardening Life evokes the vibrant, vanishing world of the poet's nineteenth century and reminds us of our still more charged responsibilities as twenty-first-century gardeners." --Marta Werner, professor of English, Loyola University, Chicago "This engaging book imagines our great poet's days among her plants and flowers." --Judith Farr, author of The Gardens of Emily Dickinson "A visual treat as well as a literary one... 'Emily Dickinson's Gardening Life' will be deeply satisfying for gardeners and garden lovers, connoisseurs of botanical illustration, and those who seek a deeper understanding of the life and work of Emily Dickinson." --The Wall Street Journal "Emily Dickinson's Gardening Life offers an enchanting perspective on one of America's most celebrated literary figures." --Bookriot "Deftly weaving together poems, plants, and historical detail, the book takes us down the same pathways that Emily Dickinson trod." --Bellewood Gardens' Garden Diary "In Emily Dickinson's Gardening Life, we get not just Dickinson's history, but a slice of horticultural history, plus a charming palette of plants for a poet's garden." --A Way to Garden "Marta McDowell brings Emily Dickinson to life as a gardener, one who was as enchanted and passionate about the plants and flowers of the Homestead's gardens, the wildflowers of the field, and those she grew in a little conservatory... It's a gardener's life, one who happened to be a poet." --Growing Interest "Makes a beautiful connection between pen and trowel." --The Financial Times "Marta McDowell invites the reader to enter the seasonal world of the enigmatic poet, providing an intimate portrait of her gardening universe...an elegant reminder of how gardens and landscapes nurture the creative life." --The Mercury "For those who might welcome literary odes to plants and flowers, with history added to the mix." --The Santa Fe New Mexican "An absolute treasure trove." --Greenfield Recorder "This is a lovely addition to any gardening or poetry library." --Green Valley News "Charmingly engaging... Dickinson's poems, historical photographs, lovely botanical art and excerpts from letters are woven throughout the book." --Empire-Tribune "A book that beautifully combines history, gardening, poetry and perseverance." --The News Tribune "A book to treasure... A full color, lushly illustrated homage to an enigmatic woman who was not only a brilliant poet, but a keen observer of the natural world around her." --Literary Ladies