Re: What is your favorite humorous gardening book?

**"* C* <y*@ispnet.ca>**

Thank you Hilda for a reminder of Dirr's humor. I have always enjoyed his
woody plants book for its humor, in addition to its extreme usefulness as a
reference work.

One of the stories that has always made me smile is Dirr's reference to
Viburnum trilobum and the possible use of its berries for jams and jellies:

 "I have refrained from giving recipes primarily because I like Snickers
bars better than ornamental plant concoctions. I relent here and present
what sounds like a recipe for a fine jam. Simmer clean fruit for 10 minutes
in one third of its weight of water; put through a sieve, use a little more
water to remove pulp from seeds; add sugar to equal weight of cleaned the
fruit; boil to 222°F 70: pour into jars and immediately seal; yields
beautiful ruby jam with distinctive flavor."

Cheers/Yvonne
Web: http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/
Blog:  http://countrygardenerblog.com/
Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CountryGardener

-----Original Message-----
From: gardenwriters-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[g*@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Hilda Morrill
Sent: February 25, 2010 3:48 PM
To: Garden Writers -- GWL -- The Garden Writers Forum
Subject: Re: [GWL] What is your favorite humorous gardening book?

Although it has been noted already, "Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs, An 
Illustrated Encyclopedia" gets an additional nod from me for its frequent 
humor and personal anecdotes.

I once reviewed it for a publication and they removed all references to 
humor or Dirr's personality. After all, encyclopedias are supposed to be dry

and stuffy, they implied. It seemed as though I was reviewing a magazine 
article, I was told.

So, here's my chance again to quote the man:

"I have tried to love this species ..."

"...overgrown specimens  ...  tend to assume the appearance of an old brush 
pile."

"...you might as well send a formal dinner invitation to the bronze birch 
borer."

"...in the real shrub sweepstakes, this plant would never survive the first 
round of cuts."

"The exceptionally foul-smelling flowers ... can ruin a late-spring 
barbecue."

"The fierce, drying winds ... do not faze this tough hombre."

"Although promoted as stress adaptable, it has not lived up to the press 
clippings."

"... a somewhat persnickety landscape plant."

"The variation in this species has caused many good taxonomists to lose 
their minds."

"... has been around forever ... [appears] worn-out, tired, and bedraggled."

"Newton's Law of Gravity had nothing to do with falling apples; falling 
osage-oranges prompted the theory."

Of course, I also loved his many references to Boston and Cape Cod. I had 
the pleasure of meeting him several times the year (?) he spent at the 
Arnold Arboretum.

Best regards,  Hilda

Hilda M. Morrill, Writer/Editor
Garden Writers Association, Member
www.bostonevents.com
www.bostongardens.com
www.bostontravel.com

_______________________________________________
gardenwriters mailing list
gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters

GWL has searchable archives at:
http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters

Send photos for GWL to gwlphotos@hort.net to be posted
at: http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos

Post gardening questions/threads to
&quot;Gardenwriters on Gardening&quot; &lt;gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org&gt;

For GWL website and Wiki, go to
http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters

_______________________________________________
gardenwriters mailing list
gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters

GWL has searchable archives at:
http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters

Send photos for GWL to gwlphotos@hort.net to be posted
at: http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos

Post gardening questions/threads to
&quot;Gardenwriters on Gardening&quot; &lt;gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org&gt;

For GWL website and Wiki, go to
http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters