Classic Irises
- Subject: Classic Irises
- From: "* G* C* <j*@cox.net>
- Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2006 12:43:01 -0500
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Yesterday, I attempted without success to post this
message on both iris-talk and iris-photos. I finally sent it to Anner, who
successfully forwarded it to iris-talk. Hoping that today will bring
better luck, I'm trying iris-photos again. Here goes:
My copy of Classic Irises and the Men and Women
Who Created Them, by Clarence Mahan, was delivered yesterday evening.
I slid the book from its packaging and gasped at its external
beauty. One should not, they say, judge a book by its cover. But it
is also said that there is an exception to every rule. Believe me, this is
a book that you should judge by its cover. It is,
literally, a work of art from beginning to end -- simply
magnificent. I guarantee that the beauty of the illustrations will tear at
your heart -- the paintings by Ethel Anson S. Peckham, the
outstanding color photographs by Mike Lowe, as well as other artistic renderings
selected by Clarence from his own collection and from other sources. I
forgot supper as I scanned the pages and, serendipitously, read passages here
and there. You will recognize names of friends as Clarence credits those
who helped him to produce this gorgeous piece of work. The book is a
series of stories, intertwining the development of great garden irises with
the lives of their developers, all told in Clarence's uncomplicated but richly
informative style. I need not comment on the scholarship, the humor . . .
all that one would expect from the author is there in plenitude.
This is not a book review. If it were, I
would be a long time in producing it, because I, at least, must savor its
delights in small portions and at length. In the preface, Clarence says of
the persons of whom he writes, " . . . they were not just gardeners.
They were also artists. They created beauty by breeding irises." This is a
book worthy of its subjects and their work, by an author who is of the same
breed.
It's a bit late to add this book to your Christmas
wish list, so give it to yourself as a present. It will be one of the best
gifts you'll receive. -- Griff
zone 7 in Virginia Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: i*@yahoogroups.com?subject=Email Delivery: Digest | i*@yahoogroups.com?subject=Change Delivery Format: Traditional Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | i*@yahoogroups.com?subject= .
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