Description
Book SynopsisIn 1957, the revered garden writer Elizabeth Lawrence began a weekly column for the
Charlotte Observer. This book presents 132 of the more than 700 pieces that she wrote for the
Observer over fourteen years.
Trade Review“[This] attractive book offers information and advice on a wide range of plants and a myriad of gardening topics. Armstrong and Wilson’s choice to arrange the essays in the book by subject matter provides the reader a valuable resource on plant material to which he/she may return over and over. The book’s exhaustive and helpful index augments its practical usability.” -- Deborah Moore Clark * Carolina Landscape *
“Fans of Elizabeth Lawrence will want to get their hands on
Beautiful at All Seasons. . . . Those unfamiliar with Lawrence will find themselves enchanted with her thoughtful and conversational writing, akin to a modern day blog.” * American Gardener *
“Fifty years after her columns for the
Charlotte Observer were first published, Elizabeth Lawrence inspires a new generation of garden enthusiasts. Her vast knowledge of plants delights both novice and experienced gardeners.” * Southern Accents *
“Here are revealed Lawrence’s wide gardening interests—plant culture, lore and literature, flowers of the church calendar, and correspondence with literary luminaries. . . . Elizabeth had a graceful writing style—warm, engaging, and conversation-like.” -- Bobby J. Ward * Rock Garden *
“Lawrence displays the virtues of a dedicated plantswoman: she is generous, patient, watchful and above all curious as she delves into the histories of her favorite plants or consults her favorite experts . . . on the more arcane aspects of plant lore.” -- Jennifer Potter * TLS *
“This collection is possessed of many virtues. Though the columns were written decades ago, they are not dated, offering ideas, descriptions, and tips that are valid both now and in the future. One virtue is that the collection can be used as a reference book for plants that will easily snuggle into Southern gardens, from peonies and hellebores to hydrangeas and smilax. . . . But more—much more—recommends this book than its undoubted value as a reference volume. Lawrence's way with words enchants.” -- Janet Lembke * News & Observer *
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments xiii
Introduction xv
Note to the Reader xxi
One: Seasonal Flowers
Garden Resolutions 1
Flowers for Christmas Time 3
Flowers Greet the New Year 5
Winter Flowers 7
The Green Winter 8
A Hard Winter 9
Bamboo 11
Storm Damage 13
The Merry Month of May 14
Tender Perennials for Hot-Weather Gardens 16
Flowers in the Fall Border 18
Fragrance in the Garden 19
Fall Additions to the Border 21
Sow Hardy Annual Seeds During September 22
Planting Annuals in Autumn 24
Late-Blooming Flowers 25
The Gardening Year Is Just Beginning 27
Two: Perennials and Annuals
Planting in Relays 29
Badge of Gardening Includes Black Knees 31
Gardening Surprises 33
The Law of Supply and Demand 34
Variegated Foliage 36
Selections for the Rock Garden 38
Tropical Plants 39
Annuals 41
Sweet Peas 43
Peony 45
Tree Peonies and Others 46
Clematis also Flowers in Shade 48
Beautiful Lilies 49
Asteromoea mongolica-- Kalimeris pinnatifida 51
Hellebores 53
The Christmas Rose and Other Hellebores 54
Giridlian . . . A Master of Plants 56
Night-Blooming Cereus 58
The Dividends of Fall Planting 59
Savannah Lands of East Carolina 61
Petasites 62
Three: Bulbs, Corms, and Tubers
Planting Bulbs, Corms, and Tubers 65
Bulbs Through the Seasons 66
Some Early Spring Bulbs 68
Daffodils Need Early Start 70
Specialty Bulbs 72
Crown Imperials 73
Lycoris radiata 75
Amaryllis Family 77
The Surprise Lily 78
Lilies Grow Where None Were 79
Garden Casualties 81
Four: Trees and Shrubs
Planting for Ice Storms 83
Plants for Parking Strips 85
Flowering Trees for the City 86
Street Trees 88
Trees with Colored Bark 90
Witch Hazels 92
Flowering Cherries 93
Serviceberries and Sloes 95
Dogwoods 97
Buckeyes 98
Eucalyptus 100
Honey Locust 102
Osmanthus 103
Hollies 105
Conifers 106
Firs and Cedars 108
Flowering Shrubs 110
March-Flowering Shrubs 111
Viburnums and Other Flowering Shrubs 113
June-Flowering Shrubs 114
Viburnums 116
Pyracanthas 118
Nandinas 119
Hydrangeas 121
Sasanquas 122
Camellia saluenensis 124
E. A. Bowles's Lunatics 125
Five: Vegetables and Herbs, Climbers and Creepers
Fall Vegetables 129
Two Vegetable Gardens 130
Mrs. Hobbs and Her Herbs 132
Sweet Woodruff 134
Dandelions 136
Vines Are Useful Tools 137
Smilax 139
Clematis Hybrids 140
Akebia and
Rosa banksiae 142
Ground Covers 144
Ground Covers Pose Problems 146
Tiny Creepers 148
Six: Gardeners and Gardens
Wing Haven 151
Importance of Garden Details 152
Steps in Your Garden 154
Walks and Paths 156
Terraces and Patios 158
Water in the Garden 159
Mr. Krippenndorf's Garden 161
Physic Garden at the Country Doctor Museum 162
Mr. Busbee's Garden 164
A Visit to Italy's Oldest Botanic Garden 166
Colette's Mother's Garden 167
The Splendor of Royal Gardens 169
Gotelli's Collection of Dwarf Conifers 171
The Scented Garden 172
The Gardens of a Soldier's Wife 174
Pioneer Seedsman 176
Young Belgian Guided Southern Horticulture 177
Meet Caroline Dormon 179
She Talks to the Birds 181
The Hunt Arboretum 182
Seven: Gods, Legends, and Rituals
The Gods of the Garden 185
The Ash, a Symbol in History 187
The Tale of the Magical Hawthorn Tree 189
The Holy Thorn Blooms for Royalty 190
The Christian Year Parallels the Garden Year 192
Holiday Wreaths 194
The Advent Wreath 196
Legend and Lore of the Christmas Tree 197
International Christmas Trees 199
The Flowers of the Trinity 201
The Flowers of Passiontide 203
The Story of the Passion Flower 205
Rituals of the Palms 206
Rogation Days-- The Blessing of the Crops 208
Eight: Bits and Pieces
Asafetida 211
Feeding the Birds 213
Honey 214
Organic Gardening 216
Pruning 218
Pruning Should Be Done Every Day 219
Historic Flower Arrangements 221
Bouquet Carried Messages 223
Pomanders 224
Creatures Add to a Garden 226
Index 229
