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The Garden in Autumn
Tells how to take advantage of the often neglected possibilities of autumn gardening, detailing how to grow and where to buy a variety of unusual fall-flowering plants
- GenresGardening
Hardcover
Published January 1, 1990
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March 17, 2012
I love anything that Alan Lacy has written, but particularly enjoyed "The Garden in Autumn." I first became aware of Lacy when he wrote for the Wall Street Journal in the 1980's – his articles appeared each Wednesday for many years. His flowing words brought out a sensitivity to flowers and other garden writings that I have not found with other garden writers.
As author of "A Garden of Love", I revisited this book to see if I could understand what makes his writing style so unique. Notice his vibrant choice of words as seen in this brief excerpt from page 94 as he writes about the flower 'Cimicifugas':
"Beginning in midsummer with Cimicifuga racemosa, the cimicifugas have pride of place as one of the noblest American wildflowers. Their elegant beauty continues into autumn when C. racemosa bursts into bloom along back roads, where woodlands come almost to the pavement's edge. Growing up to seven feet tall, these plants bear long and narrow cylindrical spikes of creamy white florets on stems that branch like a candelabrum. They light up shady spots with all the drama of rockets or roman candles, the flowers lasting for weeks above large and ferny leaves."
It is not just the use of verbs, as your English teacher may state, that makes his words come so alive. It is also the many adjectives and the vivid use of imagery. I commend Lacy for writing for so many years, appealing to the hearts of many gardeners.
As author of "A Garden of Love", I revisited this book to see if I could understand what makes his writing style so unique. Notice his vibrant choice of words as seen in this brief excerpt from page 94 as he writes about the flower 'Cimicifugas':
"Beginning in midsummer with Cimicifuga racemosa, the cimicifugas have pride of place as one of the noblest American wildflowers. Their elegant beauty continues into autumn when C. racemosa bursts into bloom along back roads, where woodlands come almost to the pavement's edge. Growing up to seven feet tall, these plants bear long and narrow cylindrical spikes of creamy white florets on stems that branch like a candelabrum. They light up shady spots with all the drama of rockets or roman candles, the flowers lasting for weeks above large and ferny leaves."
It is not just the use of verbs, as your English teacher may state, that makes his words come so alive. It is also the many adjectives and the vivid use of imagery. I commend Lacy for writing for so many years, appealing to the hearts of many gardeners.
Displaying 1 of 1 review