Synopses & Reviews
Ken Druses passion for gardening has always been the unmistakable force behind each of his books. Now, with
The Passion for Gardening, Druse writes about this inspiration, the underlying spirit that is shared by all gardeners. This is not a simple how-to book, but a why-to. Why do we garden? And how are our lives immeasurably enriched by the process? As the world around us grows more chaotic each day, Druse, in rich and thoughtful prose, reminds us to slow down, put a trowel to the earth, and consider the wonders and healing powers of tending a garden. Gardening, he tell us, is an antidote for todays hectic pace.
In The Passion for Gardening, Druse meditates on the issues close to heart of all gardeners: the notions of giving back and of conservation, of taking risks and the creative process of collaborating with nature and ones community. Along the way, he introduces us to a variety of extraordinary gardeners and their gardens, revealing how they have cultivated their natural spaces and, in turn, have themselves been transformed in the process. Druse visits ten remarkable gardens, including a Michigan landscapers 60-acre natural habitat, a West Coast garden inspired by “the Japanese aesthetic,” and Chanticleer, a delightful public estate on Philadelphias Main Line that Druse dubs “a paradise in progress.” Of particular note is a special section on Druses own garden, including an unprecedented view of natures contribution through the seasons that provides us with a deeper understanding of how gardens truly live.
With more than 250 dazzling color photographs, as well as practical advice on replanting shrubs and trees, creating garden paths and sculptures, and controlling pests naturally, The Passion for Gardening is an inspirational and intimate look at gardening for a lifetime.
Synopsis
Widely praised for his how-to books about gardening, which have sold more than 200,000 copies, award-winning author Ken Druse now addresses the whys of gardening with inspiring prose and dazzling photographs. In Ken Druse: The Passion for Gardening, Ken Druse writes eloquently of the wonders and rich rewards of slowing down, putting a trowel to the soil, and incorporating the life of the garden into our own. Druse writes of a variety of gardens and their creators, revealing how they have tended their natural spaces and, in turn, have themselves been changed in the process. Druse takes us to ten extraordinary gardens, including an eclectic combination of indigenous plants and a "Japanese aesthetic" in Seattle; a Long Island space that a novice gardener has filled with local flora; and Chanticleer, a public garden near Philadelphia. Of particular note is a special section on Druse's own garden, documenting its subtle transformation over the course of two years. With more than 200 remarkable photographs, as well as practical advice on replanting flowers, creating paths, and incorporating vegetables, Ken Druse: The Passion for Gardening conveys the true wonder of a passion shared by millions.
About the Author
KEN DRUSE is recognized as one of Americas foremost gardening authorities, and has contributed both articles and photographs to numerous gardening publications. His most recent book,
Making More Plants, received the 2001 Award of the Year from the Garden Writers Association and was named best book of the year by the American Horticulture Society. He lives and gardens in New Jersey.
Visit him at www.kendruse.com.