Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life: The Plants and Places That Inspired the Classic Children's Tales Hardcover – November 5, 2013

I bought this for a friend who is into gardening and fascinated by the life of Beatrix Potter. I think she will love it.

Marta McDowell's "Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life" is almost sure to delight all who lovingly remember the stories of Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin, and Jemima Puddle-Duck which readied us for meeting Mole, Water Rat, Toad, and Badger. Even better, if these admirers of Beatrix Potter are slightly mad about gardens and wander in their dreams among the dreaming spires of English foxgloves & delphiniums. (In this review, as in McDowell's book, Beatrix Potter is sometimes referred to as Beatrix, sometimes as Beatrix Potter, and after her marriage, sometimes as Mrs. Heelis. Hopefully, this won't be confusing.)This richly created book offers on almost every page superbly reproduced water colors of landscapes, plants, and the small creatures of hedgerow and streams, or photographs of the more than 10 homes in which Beatrix lived and gardened. No one, not even Durer, has drawn bunnies like Beatrix Potter, bunnies with the softest fur, and on p. 106, the roundest tummies, as six lie together sleeping off the soporific effects of a lettuce orgy.Part One of this three part tale describes Beatix Potter's life in McDowell's framework of a plant: germination, offshoots, flowering, roots, ripening, and setting seed (140 pages bursting with the child's precociously talented paintings through her final flowering as a conservationist who wills 4,000 acres of Lake District lands to the National Trust).Beatrix was the only daughter of second generation wealth. To her supremely status-conscious parents, almost no one was good enough for her company or her love, making her early life lonely. She turned to drawing & botanical research. But a scientific society rejected her exquisite portfolio of mushroom paintings & original studies of spore germination, turning her forever away from formal scientific work. We share her sorrow at her first betrothed's sudden death and we cheer for her eventual declaration of independence in marrying a second suitor, Mr. William Heelis of Sawrey in the Lake district, with whom she shared 33 years.Part Two has the happy format of classics on gardening: following a year in Beatrix Potter's gardens. The wealthy Potters had summer, winter and spring abodes & Beatrix planted where she bloomed. Here, McDowell relies on Beatrix's letters and diaries as well as her own professional knowledge to tell what Mrs. Heelis & her Willie were seeing, planting, harvesting----and she uses the Tales & their paintings to show how closely Potter intertwined her plants and the poetry of her stories. For instance, the plants surrounding that devious ginger-whiskered fellow, Mr. Tod, are foxgloves. Peter's iconic radish picture is so precise, we can plant seeds of the same fine nibble. The writing in this section is enchanting: for instance, "Poppies unfurl their buds like butterflies from cocoons." (p 127). That's McDowell, not Potter.The third major section is to me, most magical. Mc Dowell followed the path of Potter, visiting each place she once lived or visited. The result is both a travel guide and history. Photographs and paintings of Beatrix's gardens in her time are shown next to pictures and descriptions of what remains now. This is written as informally as letters home, with details on roads to take, car parks (or not), inns, B&Bs, as well as the gardens themselves.As with all gardens, even those as lovingly maintained as Sackville-West's Sissinghurst, much is changed. McDowell writes of Hill Top Farm, Beatrix's first "all hers" home place:"As you look at the garden and its swath of flowers, [you must] realize that few of [Beatrix's] actual plants...are still growing in the garden. The trick to preservation gardening is to keep the garden looking more or less as it did in her day, while dealing with the inexorable fact that plants grow, spread, and sooner or later die."So do we all, but in this book, the landscapes of Jeremy Fisher and of Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail live again, as does that remarkable artist, gardener, and woman, Beatrix Potter.For gardeners, this book is enhanced by lists of plants Beatrix Potter grew in her farms and showed in her books (splendid idea!). In "The Tale to Tom Kitten," for instance, 18 plants are painted in loving detail, from Japanese anemones to water lilies.Any reader alerts? This is a gardening biography, not a comprehensive analysis of Potter's tales & writing, not an in-depth analysis of her life and art, and definitely not a guide for gardeners on design & planting. McDowell gives generous and extensive recommendations for in-depth reading on all these points, together with a good index and a comprehensive bibliography of Potter's books. It is rather something magical, the tale of how a great talent unfolded against the odds, and was realized in earthly gardens and in the numinous landscapes of her stories.If this appeals to your child, reader, artist, and the gardener within----highly, very highly recommended. It is a unique, beautiful, and altogether lovely book.

I have been inspired by the life and tales of Beatrix Potter my whole life and try to read a biography of her every year. I say this book and was curious as to the contents inside, did NOT disappoint. There is so much of her art in this book, in their full color glory. The pictures and paintings were always relevant to the subject Marta McDowell was talking about, and she pointed out so many interesting botanical details I never noticed, for instance that in Jemima Puddleduck every time "the foxy whiskered gentlemen" appears fox gloves are shown nearby. Or that the Tower Bank and Arms shown in the same illustration with Kep the sheep dog in Jemima is still standing and you can go visit it in the lake district! There is so much I learned about Beatrix Potters life, which frankly going into this book I thought the biographical aspect would be repetitive, but everything was so new to me. Beatrix Potter felt more real and dear and wonderful than ever. I think the beauty of this book lies in the fact that it has spoken much to do with the small details, places, and people that made an impact on her life, her garden, her art, and her home. Even if your not a gardener (which rest assured, there is PLENTY of gardening details and practices kept by Beatrix Potter), you can equally appreciate this book because plants were so intertwined with Beatrix Potters life. The art of Beatrix Potter (you'll be surprised as to what a range she had!) and pictures of English gardens (formal and informal) are enough to purchase this on its own (and tidbits from her letters as well). Plus for those interested in the specific plants Beatrix grew there is a whole catalogue of her plants in the back of the book, one catalogue of her garden and one of the plants in her books. Also as a side note this is not boring reading in the slightest, the writing is well written yet not hard to comprehend, I say this as someone who's brain wanders off a lot while reading dry non fiction. You can tell Marta McDowell had/has a passion for gardening and books, this really shows through on how well done this book is. Also I love how she discovered the work of Beatrix Potter as an adult, I think this shows that childrens lit (specifically Potters) can be enjoyed and appreciated by any age. Incase your confused as to where I stand, do not hesitate to buy this book, and if your buying as a present for a Potter fan there is nothing more inspiring and delightful then this book! So whether your a gardener, a artist, a history enthusiast, a scientist, a resident of the lake district, a traveler (yes there is a section for a Beatrix Potter garden trip around England), or a Beatrix Potter fan you will find something to love about this book.

So interesting and book is great

This was a really charming book. I learned a few gardening tips and a lot about Beatrix. I recommend this book for anyone who loves her books.

As the author suggests, reading is enhanced if you have Beatrix Potter's tales nearby for reference, as many scenes are described from real life (existing buildings and gardens) which are depicted in the stories. Some scenes of the stories are included near the detailed descriptions, but not all.The writer is straightforward and accurate. She notes in the preamble that she wasn't really 'aware' of Beatrix Potter until she received a cookie jar figurine at her wedding shower. I grew up with these books. I placed myself in the scenes; went into the rabbit burrow, fell into the watering can, ate bread and milk and blackberries for supper. Although I am only halfway through my copy of this as of last night and I feel there is a lack of the deep appreciation of humor and irony which is throughout Beatrix Potter's writing. Kids won't care, but as an adult, this almost feels more like I am reading a school book report. (Thus my 'good' vs 'great' rating on the writing itself.)Still, this is a nice connection between Peter Rabbit's life on the page and the reality of Beatrix Potter's inspiration. It is also an inexpensive way to feel as if you have visited her still existing farm.If you don't have it already, buy this one first:At Home with Beatrix Potter: The Creator of Peter Rabbit Paperback – May 1, 2009by Susan Denyer