a good book
- Subject: a good book
- From: E*@aol.com
- Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2002 12:10:12 EDT
Sometime ago a writer named Mirable Osler wrote a book entitled "A Gentle
Plea for Chaos". This is illustrated by her, then, husband and is entirely
written about their own garden. Ms. Osler is a writer first, then a gardener
so the prose is very good.
The book tells the story of two people, an old property and contains pages
and pages of non-traditional opinion. I read it years ago and re-read
chapters many times since. This is easily found on half.com or any used book
site. The last line in the book tells that Michael Osler died before the
book publication date.
Ms. Osler then went to France and wrote some more things but never one I
found good reading until "A Breath From Elsewhere".
"A Breath From Elsewhere" is Ms. Osler now in a new home of her own and
garden made on her own and still the writer first, outrageous opinion on all
sorts garden traditions. She is say this is her last garden and she will
have it as she wishes and goes to explain why that is a very reasoning.
At the end of a long dry summer, this is good reading, actually wonderful
reading from a skilled writer who treats her garden very seriously. She has
great loves and things she hates, she says all the things you would like to
say but fear being drummed out of the gardening clan.
"If you have never gardened before, take heart. There is such a wide
spectrum of horticultural temptations available that you are sure to get it
wrong".
This is one quote, many more are such fun to read. A gardener who is
enjoying the garden. Remembering the discussion on orange flowers, here, Ms.
Osler would be right at home. The second book is now remaindered on Hamilton
for 3.98. There is good discussion on getting rid of grass, a surprising
chapter on why you should not smoke or more particularly smoke in her garden.
Expect really good observation, this writer has lived is several countries
and now is back in the UK.
Claire Peplowski
NYS z4
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