The Curious Gardener's Almanac: Centuries of Practical Garden Wisdom

The Curious Gardener's Almanac, centuries of practical garden wisdom, by Niall Edworthy, published by The Penguin Group in New York is not a book about ponds. In fact, it is not a book about gardens either. This book has no pigeon hole in which to be pushed. Curious gardeners will love this compendium of over 10,000 tips, tidbits, facts, quotes, recipes, customs, quotes and general ephemera contained in this delightful little volume. Did you know that you can fry zucchini with cumin and paprika and have spicy zucchini. That's nice to know after you have exhausted every possible way to use zucchini in the summer and the neighbors will not open the door if you have a bag of it in your hand. Did you know that the paper stuff that wasps make their nests out of is from wood they chew? So humans are not the only creature who makes paper from wood. I wonder if the first paper makers learned it from watching wasps. Onions can treat gunshot wounds and was used widely during the Civil War. (Or the war of Northern Aggression as it is known in the Southern parts of the US.) Garrison Keiller said, "Sex is good, but not as good as fresh sweet corn." Well, we don't have to agree with everything in this book, now do we? Saffron is the most expensive spice needing 4000 crocuses to make 1 ounce. Daffodil bulbs can last up to 80 years. Ronald Reagan declared the rose the National Floral Emblem of the United States in 1986. And it took him a good many words to do so. Britain is the only country that grows apples expressly for cooking. If you boil rhubarb leaves, you can spray the resulting liquid to control aphids. It's the poisonous oxalic acid in the leaves that kills the aphids. The pond is probably the most beneficial thing you can have in your garden for it gives a habitat to frogs and toads which are disappearing due to the pollution on our earth. "A house though otherwise beautiful, yet if it has no garden belonging to it, is more like a Prison than a House." William Coles, 1656 Cora Lea Bell says, "An addiction to gardening is not all bad when you consider all the other choices in life." And she certainly was right. This book is chock full of these little bits of things to think about or just smile about and nod your head knowingly. Do not plan to sit and read this book in a sitting or two. Leave it in a convenient spot so you can pick it up when you have a few minutes to open it and smile for a time. As a pond builder and garden designer for the last 20 years of my working life, I have read and owned many books: technical books, pretty coffee table books, design books, hundreds of garden books about the hundreds of aspects of gardening, even more about ponds, their building and design. The Curious Gardener's Almanac is a joy to have in the house, a great book to give as a gift whether to a gardener or non-gardener. It may start a lifetime addiction to gardening in you or a friend. Be careful. This is a powerful book.

I bought this as a gift for a friend, and have been reading it myself, and I love it. I might just keep it :-) or order another one. Any gardener would love this book on their shelf. And it's pretty too, and has a ribbon bookmark in it.

This is such a delightful book! If you collect garden books, as I do, then I know you'll want to add this one. Full of tidbits, lists, advice, recipes, quotes and all sorts of gardening information arranged by season...you're sure to find bits that will also make you laugh! I'm so glad Mr. Edworthy moved to the country and became so curious! You'll be glad you bought it!