The Roots of My Obsession: Thirty Great Gardeners Reveal Why They Garden

This charming little book offers a new vista in our gardens of earthly delights. Here Hieronymous Bosch might have painted 30 figures--well more, if he included such splendid family members as Fergus Garrett's Turkish grandmother whose flowers "were her great love and joy" or Panayoti Kelaidis's rock-garden besotted brother-in-law, Allan."The Roots of My Obsession" began when editor Thomas C. Cooper invited some well-known garden writers to reflect on "Why do you garden?" Whatever the original number so invited may have been, he obtained brief (5 to 6 page, probably as long as requested) replies from 30 gardeners.Some are legendary figures such as the venerable Penelope Hobhouse and the greatly admired Margaret Roach. All are suitably obsessed, some to that point described by the late, great Henry Mitchell, garden writer for the Washington Post, of the understandable madness of a friend who planted hundreds of packages of seeds for a narrow city garden. Mitchell's essays are available elsewhere but the obsessions here are as he described.Every one of these 30 gardeners writes splendidly, in a unique voice, and every one of them has a fascinating story to tell. One expects such prowess with words as well as plants from the likes, say, of Amy Stewart whose "Wicked Bugs" is a gardening best seller and who has written five books and appeared on hundreds of TV and radio shows, or from Stephen Orr, editorial director for gardening of Martha Stewart Living, whose essay "The Flower Thief" may have you LOL.That is, these are professionals and it shows!Most of the writers interpreted "Why do you garden?" as "How did you get so involved to begin with?"--that is, the origins of their vegetable love. Others interpreted the question as "Why do you NOW carry on with such intensive, passionate gardening?" This gives us a happy dialog of past and present, perhaps a felix culpa that the editor wisely let stand. None-the-less, all the essays live up to the book's title, the ROOTS of their obsession.Among the joys of this book that will while away some happy hours when the readers can not be out in their own gardens are--meeting with a surprising intimacy so many different gardeners compared to a book by a single author--this is about GARDENS not farms not forests but gardens--having a common starting place gives a coherence beyond the pleasant but quite different effect of excerpts from the published writings of various gardeners--the intelligence of the editing and sequencing of the essays--the space blessedly is taken up by the stories rather than a few paragraphs between photos although picture books of splendid gardens have their joys too--while in no way a how-to book, there are fruits & blossoms of useful insights and advice in every essay.--the excellent value, an affordable gift to yourself and to your gardening friendsAmong the garden of books about "How do you garden," what delight to have one about the "Whys" of their obsessions in which we gardeners may recognize the roots of some of our own. I just ordered four more copies for friends.

Great book with inspirational stories from renowned gardeners

I just love this collection of writings - each one different; each one giving me some reason for connection to the author; each one short enough to be read in a few minutes. If you are a gardener at heart as well as in the dirt then you will enjoy this collection of short essays. Might even give you reason to think about the roots of your own obsession.

I haven't finished the book but am enjoying savoring a story or two at a time when I'm looking for a little inspiration for my own gardening obsession. The book is filled with the stories of lots of passionate gardeners, some I'm familiar with and some I'm not, and it's wonderful to read about how they got started on their paths. An underlying theme seems to be that great gardeners are born that way. It is an obsession that one just cannot walk away from for long. This is one of those books that I'll go back to many times.

Thirty gardeners write about what (or who) inspires them and how they became devoted to gardening. Each essay is about 5-6 pages long. I bought this for my Kindle and enjoyed it very much. The writers include: Tony Avent, Thomas Christopher, Rosalind Creasy, William Cullina, Rick Darke, Page Dickey, Helen Dillon, Ken Druse, Sydney Eddison, Fergus Garrett, Nancy Goodwin, Susan Heeger, Daniel Hinkley, Thomas Hobbs, Penelope Hobhouse, Panayoti Kelaidis, Roy Lancaster, Tovah Martin, Julie Moir Messervy, Stephen Orr, Anna Pavord, Anne Raver, Margaret Roach, Marty Ross, Claire Sawyers, Amy Stewart, Roger Swain, Douglas Tallamy, Richard Turner and David Wheeler.

Interesting and well done for the avid gardener who likes to swap views with other gardeners. My mother is almost 90 and found enjoyment reading the essays.

Bought this as a gift for my favorite gardener. He was totally delighted with it and called it "a wonderful book"!

Of all the books I have read for, about and by gardeners in my many decades of life, I have never read one that has resonanted with me as this book has done. I carry it with me to every medical appointment and have shared information about it with countless people I have met as I have been reading or carrying it. Wish there was a sequel with thoughts revealed by thirty more great gardeners! Buy this book.

It was the title and cover design that drew me to this book. I am glad they did for it is an enjoyable read with different gardeners giving their take on why they garden. It is amazing how many disparate reasons are included in this collection of essays. Some of the authors are very well known others less so, but they all have equally valid things to say.

An interesting mix of reasons why folk get their hands dirty- some of them are sublime and thought provoking.Cultural mix of offerings is a strength and makes the book a 'must read' for enthusiasts.

An interesting compilation of short essays by a who's who of the gardening world. Some write about how they came to be gardeners, while others discuss what keeps them digging year after year. A slight book, it doesn't take long to read, but it is a pleasure to share a passion for gardening with these leading lights of their field.

Passionnant de lire comment peut naître une passion pour le jardinage et les jardins. Mon seul regret est que le livre ne fasse pas le double de pages. Cela donne envie de lire plus de livre des auteurs qui ont contribué à ce livre.