"The most soul-satisfying gardening book in years." -New York Times (March 1982, reviewing the 1981 cloth edition from IU Press). "Genuinely a classic . . ." -Los Angeles Times (on the occasion of Houghton Mifflin's paperback edition, which came out in 1994). "Is there anyone alive with the slightest interest in gardening who doesn't know that Henry Mitchell is one of the funniest and most truthful garden columnists we've got?" -Allen Lacy "Mitchell is a joy to read. He has tried and failed, persevered and triumphed, and he ...
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"The most soul-satisfying gardening book in years." -New York Times (March 1982, reviewing the 1981 cloth edition from IU Press). "Genuinely a classic . . ." -Los Angeles Times (on the occasion of Houghton Mifflin's paperback edition, which came out in 1994). "Is there anyone alive with the slightest interest in gardening who doesn't know that Henry Mitchell is one of the funniest and most truthful garden columnists we've got?" -Allen Lacy "Mitchell is a joy to read. He has tried and failed, persevered and triumphed, and he has many sound recommendations for us fumblers and failures." -Celestine Sibley, in the Atlanta Constitution. "Henry Mitchell is one of America's most entertaining and enlightening garden writers. . . . 'Garden writer' fails, in truth, to describe this man. He gardens and he writes-the former, if we take him at his word, with lust and loathing, foolhardiness and finesse; the latter with gentle irony and consummate skill." -Pacific Horticulture "Mitchell mixes practical advice, encouragement, philosophic consolation and wit. He is the neighbor you wish you could talk to over the back fence." -House and Garden Henry Mitchell was to gardening what Izaak Walton was to fishing. The Essential Earthman is a collection of the best of his long-running column for the Washington Post. Although he offered invaluable tips for novice as well as seasoned gardeners, at the heart of his essays were piquant observations: on keeping records; the role of trees in gardens (they don't belong there); how a gardener should weather the winter; on shrubs, bulbs, and fragrant flowers-and about observation itself. Here's one example: Marigolds gain enormously in impact when used as sparingly as ultimatums. Henry Mitchell came to his subject with reverence, passion, humor, and a contagious enthusiasm tempered only by his sober knowledge of human frailty. The Essential Earthman is for all who love gardening-even those who only dream of doing it.
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Fine. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 256 p. Contains: Unspecified. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
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Good-Bumped and creased book with tears to the extremities, but not affecting the text block, may have remainder mark or previous owner's name-GOOD PAPERBACK Standard-sized.
The Essential Earthman was delightful from beginning to end. I loved curling up with it and having lots of chuckles during the glum month of January when most gardeners are wishing for spring. Henry Mitchell's wiry sense of humor combined with a deep understanding of what drives the gardener to dirt, insects, trial and error, disappointments and the height of great success when our garden survives the four seasons, does not disappoint the reader.
I highly recommend the book.
Nutcasegardener
May 16, 2007
Garden writing for gardeners
Henry Mitchell wrote a gardening column for the Washington Post for many years, and this is a collection of those essays organized by theme - seasons, vines, trees, bulbs, particular groups of flowers - which could be dull but is instead engaging, funny , reassuring and challenging. Mitchell's writing is gardener to gardener; he covers plant descriptions, design, and technique but most importantly he captures the rapture and frustration of gardening, and the humanity of gardeners. He is passionately fond of some plants, scathing about others, but a constant advocate of growing what you find to be beautiful. A wonderful book for inspiration.
