Rosemary Verey:
the life and lessons of a legendary gardener
by Barbara Paul Robinson
A biography about one of England's most famous gardeners, Rosemary Verey, this book was written by an American that knew Mrs. Verey personally. Mrs. Verey's personality - the good and the bad - is apparent throughout the book, and it gave me a renewed respect for her accomplishments.
All the years of her life are covered, from 1918 to 2001, and I enjoyed having Mrs. Verey revealed to me in this chronological order.
Did you know...
... at one time Mrs. Verey grassed over her mother-in-law's flower beds? (pg. 25)
... that it was her husband's idea to replace the flower beds that she had grassed over? (pg. 30)
... that it was the garden designer Percy Cane that originally suggested the four beds that are known as the Parterres? (pg. 32)
... that the Potager was so beautiful that visitors sent out to get vegetables for dinner often came back empty-handed, unwilling to disrupt the perfect patterns? (pg. 56)
... that after her husband's death, she was shocked and dismayed to find that she was faced with extensive debt? (pg. 94)
... that she traveled to Kentucky to design a garden at age 82, two months before her death? (pg. 200)
Of course, there are some design lessons in the book, little tidbits here and there, which made the book even more compelling to me. And through it all, Mrs. Verey's personality is shown. She is demanding, drinks a little too much, fun-loving, generous, hard-working, and most of all, driven.
I wish the author had included more photos, and incorporated them throughout the book. It was frustrating to me for the author to talk about an area of the garden, or another garden that Mrs. Verey had designed, and not have a photo of it in which to relate.
Still, it's a good book about one of the most famous garden designers of our time.
Now it's your turn! You're invited to join us on the 20th of every month with your own Garden Book Review. Any book with a garden influence qualifies.
And as always, please take some time to visit the other participants.
Rosemary Verey's garden is just half and hour by car from where I live, and it is a gem.
ReplyDeleteWhen we first started our Cotswold garden we visited her little plant nursery and garden. We arrived and found her working alone in the garden. We were experiencing difficulties putting plants in our ground because it is full of oolitic limestone. She told us in no uncertain terms to 'go through it with a pick axe, my dears, make a large hole and fill it with compost'.
It is a treasured memory, she died a couple of years later.
If you are interested, I did a post about our encounter here:-
http://wherefivevalleysmeet.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/garden.html
I am surprised that the hole filled with compost would work - and not become a bowl of water when it rained. But, I suppose there would be no other solution! Thanks for the link to your post. I think it would have been wonderful to have seen her, especially working in her own garden.
DeleteOolite is like a sponge which drains the water down the hills and into the valley below. Our garden never stays wet for long following rain.
DeleteThanks for the explanation. I only know clay! :)
DeleteHer biography is on my must read list. Ken Druse interviewed the author in podcast interview you can hear here: http://kendruse.typepad.com/ken_drusereal_dirt/2012/10/ken-druse-real-dirt-10-19-12.html
ReplyDeleteThanks! After reading the book, it will be interesting to hear her speak!
DeleteI am with you Holley...sometimes I do tire of the garden book and need a break and I love finding boks that have a garden theme but not just a straight garden book. I have a special, but well known book for Earth Day when I will link in on Monday.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to it! I love when I'm reading a fictional or historical book, and a garden is an important part of it. Maybe I'll do more reviews on these type of books.
DeleteNot familiar with Rosemary Verey. The book sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteHer design was very much formal structure, with abundant plantings. She was extremely famous in the 80's, etc., before the prairie type plantings became popular. She also was a celebrated garden designer, with no formal training. She just had lots of drive!
DeleteI would like to read some books on great gardeners like Penelope Hobhouse and Rosemary Verey. I think there is a lot to learn from these modern gardening pioneers. I like your "Did you know?" section of this post. It makes me even more intrigued to read about Rosemary Verey.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading about her personality. The author worked for her at Barnsley, and remained her friend. Although she was a friend, I did feel that throughout the book, she revealed Mrs. Verey in a non-prejudicial way, showing her good sides as well as her bad.
DeleteSounds like a great book, Holley. Mrs. Verey sounds like quite a character! I've been reading a lot of fiction and nonfiction historical books for my book club lately. The last one had quasi ties to botany: "The Poisoner's Handbook." But it's a stretch to call it a gardening book. ;-) I do, however, plan to participate in the meme as much as possible. My faves, too, are the books that are historical or fictional and overlap with gardening and/or botany. Thanks so much for hosting this meme! I've found so many great ideas for future reads.
ReplyDeleteThe Poisoner's Handbook sounds intriguing! It's always a bit disconcerting, but interesting, how many plants are actually poisonous! Glad you enjoy the meme. I've found a lot of great books through it, too, which has been wonderful.
DeleteAs much as I like my resource gardening books, a good story revolving around a garden is always a nice change.
ReplyDeleteMy review is very short compared to yours and I'll expand a little for next month.
Thanks for hosting, I found your meme surfing blogs one day.
Judith
I enjoyed your review, and thanks so much for joining in! I hope you'll join in again next month, too. I have found so many great books through other gardener's suggestions.
DeleteRosemary Verey is a gardener I'd sure love to hear more about. Designing a garden at age 82 is wonderful. I hope I can do that!
ReplyDeleteShe wasn't in great health at that time, and her friends were astonished that she had actually flown to America to design a garden! But, it was her generous nature that made her do it, I think. She was asked, and hated to say no.
DeleteThank you for a fun review. I confess I have never heard about this particular gardener... I learned something new today, thank you again.
ReplyDeletePerhaps Rosemary Verey's name is not familiar, but I'm certain you've seen pictures of her garden at Barnsley. Her laburnum walk is the most photographed feature, I think.
DeleteI confess, I hadn't heard of Rosemary Verey before, but you make her book sound very intriguing and worth a read. I've added it to my 'to buy' list.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy it. I do wish the author had included more photos for those of us that are not as familiar with Barnsley as the author obviously was.
DeleteOkay, Holley..prob asked you this a hundred times but favorite garden book?
ReplyDeleteCheck out the March 2012 garden book reviews! I reveal all there! :)
DeleteI have admired Rosemary Verey's garden for years, and your review has stimulated my interest! It is always fascinating to learn the personality behind the garden!
ReplyDeleteIf you like her garden, you will probably like reading this book. I knew some of her background, but there was so much I didn't know - and really enjoyed learning.
DeleteI have two books on Rosemary Verey's designs. They are two of my favorites. I'd be interested in reading this one.
ReplyDeleteMy current garden project is based on a layout I saw in one of her books. It was garden that was designed but never planted. And although it doesn't really "look" like the one on the page, I appreciate the many designs she has done. Very inspirational.
I have several of her books, but I need to go back and look at them again. How wonderful to have taken one of her designs and made it your own. I bet it going to look fabulous!
Deletehttp://www.themarthablog.com/2013/05/this-years-trade-secrets-what-a-great-event.html
DeleteThere's a "shout out" to Rosemary Verey in this recent post from Martha Stewart. She posts pics of a garden inspired by Verey at Bunny William's home. Lovely! (Go backwards and it is pics 66, and 65) All the pics are fun though!
Thanks for letting me know. I enjoyed seeing photos of Bunny William's garden. Just beautiful! I would love to see more!
DeleteI have this book also. I like her no nonsense approach to writing and gardening.
ReplyDeleteShe had a lot of knowledge, and was a good teacher, too. I knew her garden took a lot of work, but I didn't realize just how much until I read this book. It was amazing, too, that she was so particular in her garden, seeing everything that needed to be done.
Deletedear Holley, I have missed joining in the reviews - must get organized again. I get sick of reading 'straight' practical gardening books too. I love reading biographies of garden designers - that could almost be a specialized meme in itself. The RV book sounds like a good read - thanks for reviewing it.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read many biographies of garden designers, but I would love to read more. I always learn something new, not only about the designer, but also about designing!
DeleteVerey has always been an icon for me. And what gardener hasn't been driven to drink a bit much trying to restrain nature day in and day out. Wish someone would do the same for Christopher Lloyd. I bet his hairdresser could spin a few tales.
ReplyDeleteVerey has always been an icon for me. And what gardener hasn't been driven to drink a bit much trying to restrain nature day in and day out. Wish someone would do the same for Christopher Lloyd. I bet his hairdresser could spin a few tales.
ReplyDeleteMaybe someone will do that sometime. I would definitely read it! And your statement about trying to restrain nature made such sense! It really is hard to do that sometimes, and that is exactly what we as gardeners do!
DeleteThis looks like a great title - I love biographies anyway, and when you throw in gardening, it's guaranteed to be a delight! I'll have to put this on my must-read list. Thanks for sharing this with us! ~ Sheryl @ Flowery Prose
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed hearing about another gardener, and I enjoyed hearing about the times in which she grew up, too.
DeleteI love hearing about a gardening book that's more about a person than garden tips. I love garden books as reference material but they can be a bit dry. I usually alternate with novels so I don't get too bored :)
ReplyDeleteI agree, garden books can be great reference material, but not always the best reading material!
DeleteI like to read books by famous gardeners. They have so much to teach us. The book I just reviewed A Gentle Plea for Chaos mentions Rosemary Verey several times. Apparently the author knew Rosemary Verey and Ms Verey wrote a very nice review for the book. (Holley, the photo of my book appeared with a ?...I tried to crop it myself and Linky wouldn't let me go back to re do it. Oh, I'm so technologically challenged!)
ReplyDeleteI fixed your ? photo. :) According to the biography of Rosemary Verey, she was very generous, and always helped others to become successful. I expect she truly meant the nice review that she gave.
DeleteThanks for fixing my photo...much better now!
DeleteI've not read any garden books but I do love flipping through my mother-in-law's David Austin roses books.
ReplyDeleteOh, those David Austin catalogs are the best! They make me want all of them!
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