When I read the paragraph below from Grace Peterson’s new book, I realized I’d stumbled onto a gardener who had the same desires I did: someone else who wanted the whole package. Grace’s book is funny and poignant, full of pure fancy and useful information. You’ll love it.
“I think one of the perks of gardening is what we learn about ourselves in the process. We learn what our strengths and weaknesses are. Through years of trial and error, blunders and blisters, I’ve learned that I require more than a crop from the land that I’m fortunate enough to call my own. I’m not satisfied with straight rows of corn or lettuce. I want an oasis. I want to feed my soul as well as my palate. I want the whole package.”
Grace will give away a signed copy of her book to someone who leaves a comment on this blog, Life-Change-Compost. The selection will be random, however it will be someone who lives in the continental USA because of shipping costs.
If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Grace in the Garden, there is a link to Amazon below. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the excerpt from Chapter Sixteen of the book. Oh, and be sure to hover over each photograph to read about the plants you are seeing.
Also–as always–you can click on any photo to enlarge it. Enjoy!
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Advice for the Newbie
If you are fortunate enough to get bit by the gardening bug, it won’t be painful as long as you hand over your wallet to the unafflicted partner.
There are no twelve step meetings for gardeners. Why? Because there’s not one garden addict that wants to give up the addiction. Not a one. Not when the fruit of the obsession is a prettier earth.
There are a few guidelines that will make the intoxication that much sweeter.
To become proficient requires a working knowledge of plants. This doesn’t happen overnight. Information, both print and picture, is easy with the Internet at the ready. Further inquiry to local Horticultural Extension Services will reveal whether the plant is suitable to the local climate. I prefer to check with the Extension Service rather than local nurseries because, well, nurseries have an interest in selling plants.
Studying plant genera is nothing like being in school where studying was pure drudgery—at least it was for me. Now, as an adult, studying is a self-imposed pleasure and a delightful way to interact with gardening peers, because eventually, we enjoy learning about the plants so much that we are emailing photos to our gardening buddies and figuring out ways we can both get our mitts on the coveted specimen.
Eventually, our beloved pursuit borders on obsession, sometime…oh around the twentieth plant sale of the season.
It is not uncommon at the plant sale to observe people who appear to be wandering around in a daze. This is probably because they are tentative about purchasing a plant if it is very expensive or not reliably winter-hardy, or both.
We’ll read the tag several times while our mind bounces back and forth from images of our dwindling bank account and how many days we’ll be eating microwave popcorn before payday rolls around again. If someone shows an interest in this plant, we’ll engage in friendly conversation but make it unequivocally clear that the plant is mine all mine.
Time passes. Now, it’s becoming dark. There is a strong East Wind. Sleet bites at our face. We’re barefooted, or wearing our worn-out flip flops, straining our back muscles in an effort to move that heavy pot indoors because the tried-and-true local Weather Guy has uttered the words “below freezing tonight.”
For a split second, we’ll remember the terrible pain we felt when that freak cold front killed all of our supposedly winter-hardy New Zealand Flax.
Do we really want to make even more work for ourselves by growing another cold-sensitive plant? We’ve been ruminating about scaling back, simplifying. Maybe it would be better to be altruistic and leave this plant for some other sucker—I mean gardener.
Okay, we think, suddenly needing coffee. As we back away, an image of someone else buying the plant pops into our head. Gardeners are very forgiving people, but only to a point.
Stepping in closer, we reach out and touch our beloved’s foliage, check the price again and ponder how long we’ll be eating canned soup and popcorn. It’s too late. We’ve fallen for the plant.
Now… it’s time for stage two of the Plant Sale Caper.
The car is loaded and we head for home with our fellow Die Hards—all of us honoring our code of mutual enabling.
We pull into the driveway and squint to see if our life Partner is visible or not. Of course, we’re hoping not, so we can—as stealthily as possible—haul our purchases to the backyard before Life Partner sees us and we have to make up something quick like, “Oh, that? It’s been here since March. You just now noticed it?”
Once everything is safely tucked into our secret holding area in the backyard and there is no indication that Life Partner is on the phone with the divorce lawyer, we tiptoe inside to wash up and get something savory going for dinner because food covers a multitude of sins and we’re well aware that we’re skating on thin ice right now.
The next day, after sufficiently placating Life Partner in a bevy of….um….creative ways, our guilt has assuaged some. We promise ourselves that we will be happy with the purchases of yesterday, that, oh heck, we don’t really need more plant sales despite all their alluring photos on Facebook. We’ve got chores to keep us busy and my how righteous we are feeling at the moment.
And that friend, is the beginning of what the newbie gardener needs to be successful.
(Excerpted from Chapter Sixteen of “Grace in the Garden”)
Note from Susie: This is the first time I’ve reviewed a book on this blog and also provided an excerpt. Did you enjoy the idea? If you have a book you’d like to review, please get in touch by leaving a comment with your email address.
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Grace Peterson, certified Master Gardener, is an author, garden columnist, and blogger who lives in western Oregon. Her memoir, Reaching, was awarded the gold standard of literary excellence by Princeton Literary Review.
Please visit her blogs, Subplots by Grace for “weekly posts about current events, writer and author information and whatever is on my mind.” at www.gracepete.com, and Gardening with Grace where she shares brief discussions with ample photos of her garden’s current state at www.gracepete.blogspot.com.
“Grace in the Garden” may be purchased though this link to Amazon.
I’ve never gardened much. Probably because for many years (before the advent of the blessed allergy shots) I was completely put out of commission when ever I stepped outdoors in the Spring and Early summer. This year I shall attempt a “deck garden” and have several plants poking their heads out of seed pots in my window. Congrats, Grace, on another book. I may have to give this a read. And, Susan, the excerpt is a great idea!! I now want to read Grace’s book, despite the fact that I haven’t caught the “bug” yet!
Uh oh Brandie. Once you start, you may have to make regular appointments with your doc for those allergy shots-:)) Good luck with your pots this summer. You might want to check in with Grace on her site about some good choices for container gardening that will last you all summer long. That will make it more satisfying.
Thank you Brandie. Best of luck on your deck garden. You’re smart to start small and see where it takes you. Not everyone has gardening in their blood but if you do, you’ll soon find out soon. Maybe gardening will cure your allergies. One can hope. Take care.
Thank you Susan for the excerpt of Graces new book. I’ve got the bug and I can so relate with “Mine all mine”! So awesome to see I’m not nuts and I can relate with someone. So glad you wrote this book Grace. 🙂 I’ve had so many trips to the nursery and stayed for hours and then wanting to take ALL the plants home. I have had that moment where you fall in love with the plant and you know it needs you and the all familiar voice in your head says “too much” now walk away! So I leave and I say you’re so strong but then I turn the car around and go back and rescue the large leaf Hostas anyway. I’m obsessed Grace and I need to win that book so you can teach me an abundance of new tips. :0)
Very clever Lois–putting in a plug for yourself to win Grace’s book LOL.
She tells the sad, funny and the true extent we will go to as a gardener and our need to create a beautiful world for us so we can set upon our garden bench thrones and view the work of our hands. Grace you have let out all our hidden vices. 🙂
Great book review and so nice to read the excerpt of Grace’s new book! I love her wit and writing skills (highly recommend her memoir “Reaching”), so I’m sure I will thoroughly enjoy this entire book. I would welcome my name being drawn for the signed copy, but either way, Amazon here I come. I think this book could become my go-to gift for other gardening fanatics–I mean buddies.
“Mutual enabling”–absolutely perfect way of putting any trip to the nursery or plant sale.
I’m glad you liked the idea of the excerpt and I will for sure put your name in the hat for the drawing! Yes, isn’t “mutual enabling” just perfect?
I am chuckling as I read this because I’m headed to a plant sale this weekend. Can’t wait to get my fingers in the soil. It’s been a long old winter here in Iowa. Your book sounds wonderful, Grace.
Lois, Lona, Kit and Carol, you are definitely kindred spirits of the gardening kind! Thank you for your kind words. Isn’t it nice to know we’re not alone in our sometimes agonizing but always addicting pursuit of beautifying our backyards? I wish you each much success at your respective plant sales! 🙂
Looks like I need to buy another book!! 🙂 Excellent review! I could relate to everything Grace wrote about. After telling my husband that I wasn’t ordering any plants this year, I found several nurseries selling pesticide-free plants and some died this winter, so I had no choice. Orders were placed. 🙂
Tammy, I actually thought of you when I read that part about hiding your plants from “Life Partner”…it just sounded like something you would do. “Orders were placed.” lol, Susie
I like that you “had no choice” Casa. Orders were placed. I hear you. It’s how we roll.
Let me tell ya, ignorance is bliss and a happy husband goes a long way. But dictating how a woman spends her hard earned money will end badly every time. Orders will always be placed. 🙂
Amen to that! I think anybody dictating anything is bound to end badly…
Oh my god – that part about hiding the haul from your life partner had me laughing out loud! I have also been known to empty the car after dark falls… Surely he must know, but somehow tolerates and forgives my constant excesses! Congratulations on the book, Grace! I have a feeling that reading it will feel as if I’m reading about myself… Susan, I love that you included an excerpt!
Hello Anna K, thanks for your comment and for visiting my blog. I hope you’ll come again. Thanks also for noting that you liked the excerpt–there is nothing like actually reading part of a new book to discover that you have to have it-:))
I have been following Grace’s blog for years now and am always inspired by her gardens of pink! I love her sense of humor, her knowledge, her self. She’s a dear soul.
I look forward to reading more here on your blog now that I’ve found you.
If I’m not the winner I plan to buy Grace’s book. I know it is one I will enjoy over and over.
Have a great day ~ FlowerLady
Hello FlowerLady–what a great name you have! I’m sure Grace will get back with you here too, but I just wanted to say that I’m so pleased to have you visit my blog and hope you will check back. I write garden stories that make people laugh, as well as musings about life and growing older with some semblance of panache and sass-:))
Oh my! That book looks facinating! I would love to be in the drawing.
Then you certainly will be Teresa! Your site looks interesting too, I’ll be paying you a visit and you are always welcome here. Susie
Hi Anna, Lorraine and Teresa. As any author can attest, having positive feedback is what keeps us operating. The fact that you all can relate to the silly, sometimes peculiar antics of the die hard gardener is music to my ears. Thank you for your comments.
Susie, perhaps I have spoken with you about this before… it happened only once really, when I realized what my first solo attempt to garden meant for me. I was still in Boise on my own before joining Brian in Virginia, and decided to plant a tiny plot behind my town home. There was certainly a mothering instinct I felt while I was doing what I was doing (gardening? no clue…) and the patience that comes with mothering. But one evening in particular after tending to my little baby plants I walked into my home realizing I had almost no thoughts in my head and was feeling really grounded. That was a revelation for me. No thoughts? quite unusual for me unless I enter a deep calm state I wish to be in when I practice Qigong.
I have a memory of talking about this with you Marisol. And I know exactly what you mean. There is definitely something about working the earth that is not only grounding, but brings out some nurturing instincts. (Unless of course, moles have upended your plants, gophers have dragged your plants to Hades, or deer have eaten your new favorite rose…)But onward. I remember feeling REALLY connected the first time I harvested stuff to make my first dinner from the garden. I was almost giddy from happiness. So I get it that gardening can be a meditation. Thanks so much for checking in Marisol, sono stata contentissima sentirti amica. Ciao bella.
How wonderful Susie to have found Grace and her book. I will be reviewing the book in June and giving away a copy as well. I love that you are doing book reviews as well. Great idea!
Thanks Donna, it’s great that people are finding my blog. It takes awhile and a lot of effort doesn’t it? I had a particular affinity for Grace’s style of writing as I write zany garden stories myself, but I won’t be doing book reviews anywhere near as frequently as you do. You have a very special niche and style with your reviews, I doubt I will ever do anything as thorough. But I did want to provide an excerpt! I wanted readers to be able to dip their big toe in the water -:))I love the generosity of gardeners and garden bloggers, we tend to help each other out.
Marisol, I think this might be why gardening is so addictive. It really does alter our brain chemistry when we look at what we’ve created, partnering with nature. It’s so gratifying and it really does calm us down.
Donna, thank you for commenting. I always enjoy our conversations. I hope you’re getting out in the garden.
I am so happy to be able to call Gracie a friend of mine : ) thank you Gracie for being there for me even at such a long distance girl !
We have connected on a lot of different fronts, but gardening is such a special one to both of us. That never ending quest for our little Eden to escape to. Plant hunting in stealth mode .. all the signs of garden and plant addiction.
Something we just love to bits!
Gracie has been blessed with the capability of writing about her thoughts on the whole adventure and that is a true gift : ) Well done girl !
Joy (in Canada eh!)
Thanks for visiting Joy. I think you’ve been by before and you are always so welcome. I’m another writer of quirky garden stories, so you’ll feel right at home. -:)) Grace and I haven’t met yet, but it may be in the cards; we are both Oregonians.
I have been in awe of Grace’s garden since I discovered her blog after retiring and moving to Alabama from Portland. It’s a different world of gardening here – summer is an indoor season for me – but the plant addiction is the same. Your blog looks very interesting, Susie, and I will have to do some exploring on it. Thanks for doing the giveaway. I’d love to win Grace’s book.
Hi Barbara, your name will certainly go in the hat! I’ll probably do the drawing in two weeks or so to give everyone who is interested a chance to write in. Yes, your garden world is very different from Portland, that’s for sure. Thank you very much for exploring my blog. Here is a sample of my garden writing–a piece bought by one of our wonderful cooking sites: http://www.culinate.com/articles/first_person/The+beet+goes+on
Hope you enjoy the story–let me know your take if you think of it. BTW, all the photos enlarge if you click on them, and the title of the pic is there if you hover. And the way the blog works is that this first time I had to approve your message, thereafter any comments you leave will go straight up on the site. Thanks for visiting…
Susan, I enjoyed your piece a lot and left a comment there. Thanks!
I don’t quite remember how I stumbled upon Grace, but I’m happy I did. Whenever I read what she has written, it makes me pause for a moment, take a breath, and focus on the things in life that keep it simple and beautiful. Gardening is a passion of mine, it keeps me excited, frustrated, challenged, and amazed that I can never stop learning! Garden on Grace♥
What a beautiful statement on Grace’s writing. I’m sure any garden writer would be so honored to hear something like that. Thanks for visiting. Susie
Thank you Joy, Barbara and Valerie… such kind words. I appreciate them more than I can ever express. Major hugs to you all.
I’m not sure if being in Canada makes me ineligble for the draw? Regardless I’m thrilled for Grace. After a lot of hard work her dreams are coming true.
I’m not sure Susan, I’ll check in with Grace. I think we did indicate continental U.S. in the opening bit about the contest for the book, if only to save on mailing costs. But I LOVE it that you have become a regular reader and hope you will continue. I am kind of partial to my Canadian readers having worked there for many years and fallen in love with the people.
I’m so excited to read the book! I read her memoir and loved it to pieces.
And now, I’m happy to have been led to your blog, I shall poke around a bit…..
Wonderful post and I can’t wait to set my eyes on Grace’s book. I love opening my email to the latest Grace in the garden:)
P
That’s a pretty wonderful endorsement Patti. I bet Grace will love hearing that. I’m a subscriber myself and appreciate seeing those posts in my inbox. Thank you so much for stopping by. You are so welcome anytime!
Aw, Susan you’re so sweet. Thank you so much!
I enjoy both of your blogs and it’s so nice to get to know kindred gardener spirits. 😉 I also agree with Carol in Iowa–it’s been a long, cold winter here in the Midwest and I’m just getting ready to head to my favorite nurseries for some annuals for hanging baskets. I figure I can pull them in if we get frost. That will just be the start–I always spend way to much on plants this time of year! Good luck with your book, Grace!
Hi Beth, so nice to see you here. It’s hard to believe that you need to think about hanging baskets that you may have to protect in MAY. Global Weirding, is the term I’ve heard. Just more extremes of everything. I can relate to spending way too much on annuals at this time of year, I do it every May.-:)) I’ve been learning many new things from Grace’s blog, she is the real deal.
Thank you Beth. I really enjoy your blog too. You’re so right about the exceptionally long winter you all had. What is up with that? Let’s hope it was a hundred-year anomaly. And now, my friend, celebrate spring! <3
I like reviews especially as a novice gardener…. Thank you both… Michelle
Michelle, with your love of the natural world, you will be gardening in no time. I can see you planting things for pollinating bees, then migrating butterflies, then…oops! got to have those seeds for extra energy for the birds when winter is coming on….hey wait a minute, I’ve become a gardener!
I have visited Grace’s blog for years. Her description of sneaking in the plants is spot on. I always find the perfect plant that I must have when I am broke. And of course I buy it anyway!
Of course you do–obsession is obsession-:)) (And doesn’t it always seem to happen like that–the perfect thing when you are broke!) So nice to have you visit Carol and I’ll put your name in the hat to win a copy of Grace’s book. If you are interested in humorous garden stories, please check back from time to time, it would be great to have you visit.
Michelle and Carol, I appreciate your feedback. It’s so nice to know I’m not the only one. 🙂
I would love to read this book. Thanks for the chance to enjoy it. This is my first time at your blog and loved it. I’ll be back.
Hi Karen, I’m so pleased that you enjoyed the excerpt. I do hope you come back and visit. The next two articles will be a little different. My little sister passed away on July 3rd and I will write about that because many readers know my family, and then there will be a very interesting summary of my pilgrimage to southern France just before this sad happening. If you want to subscribe, the box is on the home page on the far right. Easy as can be! Then you receive notification of any new articles. Susie